How to transfer all data from Samsung to Xiaomi: Contacts, photos, messages and apps

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a smartphone change, but a full migration of digital life. Even if you bought a top model like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 13, the process of transferring data can seem complicated: there are different operating systems (One). UI vs MIUI), And there's unique branded services (Samsung Cloud vs Mi Cloud) and synchronization features, but in practice, everything is solvable, so you know the right tools and avoid the typical mistakes.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible portability options, from standard Android features to specialized apps that will save even your call history and Wi-Fi settings. We’ll focus on porting data from Samsung Knox (Secure Storage of Contacts and Notes), as this point is often overlooked in general instructions.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on a Samsung phone

Before you start migrating, make sure your Samsung is ready for the procedure, which will save you from mistakes like a transmission failure or loss of some data.

First, update your firmware to the latest version. → Update of the PO → Download and install. Up-to-date version of One UI (For example, 6.1 based on Android 14 guarantees compatibility with modern data transfer protocols. Second, make room: if the device has less than 10% of free space, the system can block backups.

• 🔋 Charging both phones at least 50% (preferably 80%) is a lot of energy.
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably 5 GHz for speed).
• 🔐 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, Graphic keys for the time of transfer – this will speed up the process.
• 📁 Delete unnecessary files: app cache, duplicate photos, old videos.

If you use Samsung Knox to store contacts or notes, export them in advance.

1. Open the Knox app.
2. Go to Settings. → Export of data.
3. Select the.vcf format for contacts or.zip for notes.
4. Save the file in the internal storage → Download.

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If you have Samsung Account sync enabled, check if all data is uploaded to the cloud. Go to account.samsung.com and log in.

2. Standard transfer via Mi Mover (official method)

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi app that automatically detects an old smartphone and transfers data over Wi-Fi Direct, and it supports contact, message, photo, video, music, calendars, and even some of the system's settings.

• ✅ Works with most Samsung models (starting with Android 5.0).
• ❌ Does not tolerate applications and their data (for example, saves in games).
• ⚠️ Can "hang" at the connection stage, if Samsung is power saving mode.

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, select Data Transfer when you first enable (or run Mi Mover from Settings) → The phone. → Data portability).
2. On Samsung, install the Mi Mover app from Google Play.
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 types to transfer and wait for completion.

Install Mi Mover on Samsung|Turn off the power saving mode|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Close background annexes|Check the free space on Xiaomi (at least 20% of the data portable)-->

⚠️ Warning: If the process is stuck in the Connection stage, restart Mi Mover on both devices and repeat the scan QR-If the error is repeated, try using a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi.

3. Alternative ways: Google Account, Smart Switch and third-party apps

If Mi Mover failed (e.g., didn't move a message or a calendar), use alternative methods. You can combine them to transfer it completely.

3.1 Synchronization through Google Account

This is a way to use contacts, calendars, notes (from Google Keep) and email.

1. Go to Settings. → Accounts and archiving → Account management.
2. Select your Google Account and enable sync for the right categories.
3. Wait until completion (check in Settings) → Google → Synchronization of the account).

On Xiaomi, just add the same Google account – the data will be automatically pulled up.

3.2. Samsung Smart Switch (for backup)

Samsung’s Smart Switch app lets you create a full backup on your PC and then restore it to Xiaomi.

• 📱 It only works with Windows/macOS (There is no direct transfer to Xiaomi).
• 📁 Transfers contacts, messages, photos, videos, but not apps.
• 🔄 Requires a connection to USB (The cable should support data transmission).

Instructions:

1. Install Smart Switch on your PC from Samsung’s website.
2. Connect Samsung to the USB and create a backup (select Backup).
3. Connect Xiaomi and recover data (select Restore).

Third-party apps: Clone Phone, SHAREit, Send Anywhere

If the standard methods don’t work, try the universal tools:

4. Applications and their data portability: what works and what doesn’t

One of the most difficult steps is to migrate installed applications and their internal data (for example, save in games or setup in instant messengers).

The good news is that most apps from Google Play can be migrated through backup and recovery.

1. On Samsung, enable backup in Settings → Google → Backup.
2. On Xiaomi, when you first start, select a recovery from Google’s backup.
3. Install applications manually from the Play Store – the data will be automatically pulled up.

The bad news is that some apps are tied to the Samsung ecosystem and are unparalleled:

• 🏃 Samsung Health → Mi Fitness (Transfer of the history of training is impossible).
• 📝 Samsung Notes → Mi Notes (export notes to.pdf manually).
• 🎵 Samsung Music → Mi Music (Playlists are not portable).

⚠️ Note: If you used Samsung Pay, delete all bank cards before data transfer. on Xiaomi this service does not work - instead Mi Pay is available (in Russia it is not supported).

5.Photo and video transfer without loss of quality

Photos and videos are often the largest data type, and if you don't transfer them correctly, you can lose quality (e.g., when you compress them via messengers) or metadata (date of shooting, geotags).

Method 1: Direct transmission via cable (OTG)

• 🔌 Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via USB-OTG adapter.
• 📂 On Xiaomi, open the Explorer and select USB-device.
• 📷 Copy the folders. DCIM and pictures in the internal memory or SD-map.

Method 2: Cloud Services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)

If your photo is over 10 GB, use Google Photos:

1. On Samsung, install Google Photos and enable autoload in Settings → Backup and synchronization.
2. Wait for the download to complete (check in the web version of photos.google.com).
3. On Xiaomi, install the same app and enable synchronization.

Method 3: Local backup on PC

For maximum reliability:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC and copy folders DCIM, Pictures, Movies on hard disk.
2. Use FastStone Image Viewer to verify file integrity.
3. Transfer data to Xiaomi via USB or SD-map.

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Never send a photo through messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) – they compress images to 12 MP and remove metadata.

6. Deferral of communications (SMS/MMS) call history

Messages and call history are the data that is most often lost when you change your smartphone, and fortunately, there are reliable ways to save it.

Method 1: Through Mi Mover

If you were using Mi Mover in the initial setup phase, the messages should have been automatically transferred, but sometimes errors occur:

• 📱 On Samsung, messages must be stored in the standard Messages app (not in Google Messages or Truecaller).
• 🔄 If messages are not moved, repeat the process by selecting only the Message item.

Method 2: SMS Backup and Restore

It is a universal backup tool. SMS/MMS:

1. Install Backup & Restore SMS on Samsung.
2. Create a backup in.xml format (save the file to Internal Storage).
3. Transfer the file to Xiaomi (via the USB, Google Drive or Mi Cloud).
4. Install the same app on Xiaomi and restore the messages.

Method 3: Exporting through Samsung Messages

If you are using the standard Samsung Messages app:

1. Open the messages. → ⋮ → Settings → Additionally. → Export of communications.
2. Select the.txt or.csv format and save the file.
3. Open a file on Xiaomi via Google Tables or WPS Office.

⚠️ Note: Call history is only transferred via Mi Mover or Smart Switch. If you missed this stage, it will not be possible to restore it later - the operating system does not store call logs for more than 30 days.

7. Transfer of notes, passwords and other data

Notes, saved passwords, browser data, and other "little things" are often left on an old phone.

Notes

• 📝 Samsung Notes: Export every note to.pdf via ⋮ → Exports.
• 📝 Google Keep: synced automatically when you add a Google account.
• 📝 Microsoft OneNote: Sign in to a new device with the same account.

Passwords and autocomplete

If you have used the Samsung Pass:

1. Export passwords to Settings → Biometrics and safety → Samsung Pass → Export of data.
2. Save the file in a safe place (like Google Drive).
3. On Xiaomi, import passwords through Google Password Manager or Bitwarden.

7.3. browser data (bookmarks, history)

For Samsung Internet:

1. Export bookmarks to ⋮ → Bookmarks → Bookmarking management → Exports.
2. Transfer the bookmarks.html file to Xiaomi.
3. Import it to Google Chrome or Mi Browser.

Wi-Fi settings

To avoid entering passwords from networks manually:

• 📶 Use Mi Mover – it carries saved Wi-Fi networks.
• 📶 Or export the settings through ES Explorer (root rights required): copy the file /data/misc/wifi/WifiConfigStore.xml.

8.Inspection and cleaning after transfer

After the transfer is complete, perform a few checks to make sure everything goes well:

• 📞 Check contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place (including groups and contact notes).
• 📷 Open the Gallery and check the photos and videos: scroll the tape to the oldest pictures.
• 💬 Send a test. SMS To make sure that the messages are transferred.
• 🎮 Run several games and apps to check for saves.
• 🔊 Check audio files (ringtones, notifications) in Settings → Sounds and vibrations.

If something is missing, go back to the relevant section of this article and repeat the transfer for the specific type of data.

After a successful check, you can reset Samsung to factory settings (if you sell or give it away).

1. Make a final backup (in case you miss something).
2. Go to Settings. → General management → Reset → Data resetting.
3. Enter. PIN-code and confirm reset.

⚠️ Note: If you sell Samsung, remember to log out of all accounts (Google, Samsung, WhatsApp) and disable Find My Mobile in Settings → Biometrics and safety → Find My Mobile. Otherwise, the new owner will not be able to activate the device.

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After a Samsung reset, check the status of the device on Find My Mobile – it should show as “Offline”.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data portability from Samsung to Xiaomi