How to transfer all data from Samsung to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Why migrating data between Android smartphones of different brands is not as easy as it seems

The transition from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi, POCO or Mi is not just a change of gadget, but the migration of all digital life: contacts, photos, correspondence and even app settings. It would seem that both devices run on Android, but manufacturers add their shells (One UI from Samsung and MIUI from Xiaomi), which complicate direct data exchange. For example, the standard Android Beam is no longer supported, and proprietary utilities like Samsung Smart Switch and Xiaomi Mi Mover are not always compatible with each other.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods of transfer, from official tools to manual methods for power users. SIM-map (which is often lost in standard sync), why WhatsApp requires separate attention, and how to avoid duplicate contacts when using a Google Account, and what data is better to manually transfer so as not to lose quality (for example, HEIF-photo S23 turn into JPEG automatic migration).

Spoiler: If you have Samsung on Android 12+ and Xiaomi on MIUI 14+, it will take no more than 20 minutes to process. Older models (like the Galaxy A5 2017 or Redmi Note 5) will require workarounds, which we have described.

Method 1: Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s official tool (not working with all Samsungs)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary application for transferring data from other Android devices, pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones (starting with MIUI 9), and the main advantage is that it supports Wi-Fi Direct transmission without an Internet connection, which speeds up the process and saves traffic.

But there are nuances:

• 🔹 It doesn't work with all Samsung models, like the Galaxy. S20 There may be more errors due to conflict with the One. UI 5.0+.
• 🔹 Does not carry applications (only their data if they support backup).
• 🔹 The maximum size of the transmitted data is 40 GB (for high-resolution photo / video this may not be enough).
• 🔹 Samsung must pre-disable Battery Optimization for Mi Mover, otherwise the connection will break.

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover (or find the app through search).
2. On Samsung, download Mi Mover from Google Play (official app).
3. On both phones, select Me sender (on Samsung) and I receiver (on Xiaomi).
4. Scan it. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi camera Samsung.
5. Select data for transfer (contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, notes) and confirm the transfer.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Battery optimization for Mi Mover on Samsung is disabled|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (unless you use Wi-Fi Direct)|Xiaomi has enough free space (data will take up as much as Samsung)|Google Account Synced (to avoid contact duplicates)-->

⚠️ Note: If Mi Mover is stuck in the Preparation phase, try restarting the app on both phones and reconnecting. If the error is repeated, use alternative methods (see below).

Method 2: Samsung Smart Switch + Manual Export (for full control)

Samsung Smart Switch is a Mi Mover mirror tool, but it's from Samsung. It's better at porting data from Samsung devices, but it can't send it to other brands. But there's a workaround: first save data to a PC, and then upload it to Xiaomi.

This method is suitable if:

• 📱 You have a Galaxy with a lot of data (>50GB).
• 🔄 You want to choose which files to transfer (for example, only photos from the last year).
• 🛠️ You need to save your application settings (for example, progress in games).

Instructions:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Install Samsung Smart Switch on your PC and back up (select PC Reservations).
3. In the backup folder, find Contacts.spb (you can import Contacts to Google). Photo/video: DCIM or Pictures folder. Messages.xml (you will need third-party software like SMS Backup & Restore to transfer).

Xiaomi

Download

DCIM

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If you need to migrate WhatsApp, use the built-in backup feature in Google Drive. On Samsung, backup (in WhatsApp settings), then install the app on Xiaomi and restore data from the same Google account.

Method 3: Google Account – universal, but with limitations

Syncing through Google Account is the easiest way, but it is not suitable for all types of data, for example, photos and videos in their original quality will not transfer (Google Photos compresses them when stored for free), and messages and calls are not synchronized at all.

What can be transferred via Google:

• 📇 Contacts (in full, with photos and groups).
• 📅 Calendar (events, reminders).
• 📝 Notes (if you use Google Keep).
• 🎮 Data of certain games (if linked to Google Play Games).
• 🔑 Passwords (from Google Smart Lock).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management.
2. Select your Google Account and enable sync for all the services you need.
3. On Xiaomi, add the same Google account to Settings → Accounts → Add an account.
4. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to an hour if there is a lot of data).

⚠️ Note: If there were duplicate contacts on Samsung (e.g., from the SIM-Maps and Google, after synchronization on Xiaomi, they will be combined into one contact with multiple numbers!

Method 4: Transfer over OTG + adapter (for large data volumes)

If you have a lot of photos/video (e.g. 100+GB) and Wi-Fi transfer is too slow, you can use an OTG cable and a USB-C to USB-C adapter (or USB-A to USB-C, depending on the ports), which works on all models but requires additional accessories.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C to USB-C (if on both phones USB-C) adapter USB-A to USB-C.
• 📱 Samsung should be in the mode USB-drive (in the developer settings).
• 🔋 Battery charge > 30% (when transferring large files, the phone can discharge faster).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via cable/adapter.
2. On Xiaomi, select File Transfer (USB) in the notification panel.
3. Open Explorer on Xiaomi and go to the section USB-storage device (this is Samsung memory).
4. Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Download, WhatsApp, etc.) into Xiaomi’s internal memory.
5. Use Total Commander or FX File Explorer to speed up, which supports multithreaded copying.

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When copying via OTG, do not interrupt the process, this can cause file damage. If the transfer is frozen, safely disable the cable and try again.

Method 5: Cloud Services (for selective transfer)

If you don’t have to transfer all the data, but only individual files (like photos from the last month or documents), it’s easier to use cloud services, and the main advantage is that you can selectively download only what you need, and not clutter up Xiaomi’s memory.

Comparison of services:

How to move data through the cloud:

1. On Samsung, upload files to the selected service (e.g., through the Google Drive app).
2. On Xiaomi, log in to the same account and download files.
3. For photos, it is more convenient to use Google Photos (automatic download in original quality, if there is space).

Please note:

• 📸 Google Photos compresses photos up to 16 MP and videos up to 1080p If you have free storage, to keep the original quality, buy a place on Google One.
• 🔒 Do not upload personal data (document scans, passwords) to the cloud without encryption. Use Cryptomator to create secure archives.

What to do if data is not transferred or is carried over with errors

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems, and here are the most common solutions.

If none of these methods worked, try manual transfer:

1. Copy all important files from Samsung to your PC.
2. Sort them by folder (photos, documents, music).
3. Move to Xiaomi via cable or cloud.
4. Install the apps you want from Google Play and restore their data (if supported).

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If you’re migrating data from Samsung to Xiaomi to sell an old phone, remember to reset it to factory settings after checking file integrity on the new device. Use Settings → General Management → Reset → Data Reset.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions