How to sync data with Samsung on Xiaomi: all the ways 2026

Moving from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just about changing your brand, but also bringing all the important data you need: contacts, photos, messages and apps. Many users have trouble syncing because of the difference in the ecosystems of One UI (Samsung) and MIUI (Xiaomi), and in this article we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer data, from standard tools to little-known life hacks that will save you time and nerves.

While both companies offer their own cloud services (Samsung Cloud and Mi Cloud), direct sharing between them is not possible, meaning you’ll have to use middle ground solutions, from a Google account to specialized applications like ShareMe or Smart Switch, and we tested each method on devices from 2022 to 2026 and identified their pros, cons and pitfalls.

If you're afraid of losing data or you're unsure of your technical skills, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes, like migrating messages from Samsung Messages to Xiaomi via Google Drive only works for SMS, and MMS and multimedia will have to be saved separately, and we'll go through these details in each section.

1. Preparation of devices before synchronization

Before you start transferring data, you need to take a few critical steps, and neglecting it can lead to loss of information or failures in the process.

Update the firmware on both devices. Outdated versions of MIUI or One UI may not support modern transmission protocols. For example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14 fixes sync errors through Mi Mover that were not found in MIUI 13.

Check the space available on Xiaomi: you will need at least 10-15% of free memory to transfer data. If there is not enough space, clear the cache or delete unnecessary files through Settings → Storage.

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50% – the process can take up to 1-2 hours.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you use cloud services). Mobile internet is not recommended due to traffic restrictions.
• 🔒 Make sure Samsung has turned off screen lock (PIN, pattern lock) for transfer time – some apps require unlocked access.
• 📁 Create a backup on Samsung through Settings → Device Maintenance → Backup.

⚠️ Warning: If Samsung has data encryption enabled (Settings → Biometrics & Security → Encryption), some transmission methods (e.g., via cable OTG) may not work.

2. Method 1: Sync through Google account (most reliable)

This method is suitable for porting contacts, calendars, notes and certain settings. It requires no additional applications and works on all Android 6.0+ devices.

On Samsung:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management.
2. Select your Google account (if not, add it).
3. Activate sync for Contacts, Calendar and Google Drive.
4. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync).

On Xiaomi:

1. When you first turn on, select the Recover Data option and log in to the same Google account.
2. If the phone is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and enable sync.

Limitations of the method:

• 📱 Not portable SMS/MMS (only via third-party applications).
• 📸 Photos and videos are synced via Google Photos, but in compressed quality (originals take up space in the cloud).
• 🎵 Music and documents are not automatically transferred.

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If contacts are not synced, check to see if they are duplicated in your Samsung account. Remove duplicates through Contacts → Manage → Consolidate contacts.

Method 2: Direct transmission via Mi Mover (official Xiaomi solution)

Mi Mover is an application built into MIUI to transfer data from other Android devices, and supports contact transfer, SMS, photos, videos, music, and even some applications (APK- files).

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, open the Mi Mover app (if not, download from the Mi App Store).
2. Select the I receiver and wait for the QR- code to be generated.
3. On Samsung, install Mi Mover from Google Play and scan the QR- code.
4. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (or use a hotspot on Xiaomi).
5. Select data for transfer and confirm the transfer.

Advantages:

• 🚀 Fast transfer (up to 10 GB in 15-20 minutes over Wi-Fi).
• 📱 SMS and call logs are transferred (unlike a Google account).
• 🔄 Even older Samsung models (starting with Android 5.0) are supported.

⚠️ Warning: If Samsung has custom firmware installed (like LineageOS), Mi Mover may not recognize the device. In this case, use Samsung's Smart Switch (more on this below).

4. Method 3: Using Samsung's Smart Switch

Smart Switch is Samsung’s official data porting app, but it works backwards (from Samsung to other brands), but there’s a caveat: Xiaomi will have to use a PC version or an OTG adapter.

Option 1: via OTG cable (direct connection)

• 🔌 Buy an adapter USB-C to USB-C OTG (or Micro-USB if Samsung has an older connector).
• 📱 Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via an adapter.
• 🔄 On Samsung, open the Smart Switch and select Send Data.
• 📲 Xiaomi will have a connection notification – allow access.

Option 2: Computer (for large amounts of data)

1. Install Smart Switch on PC from the official Samsung website.
2. Connect Samsung and create a backup.
3. Disable Samsung, connect Xiaomi and recover data.

5. Method 4: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive)

If direct transfer is not possible (for example, due to firmware incompatibility), cloud services will be a lifeline.We recommend Google Drive for versatility or Mi Cloud if you plan to use Xiaomi for a long time.

Transfer via Google Drive:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Data Backup.
2. Select Google Drive and create an archive (enable Contacts, SMS, Call Log).
3. On Xiaomi, when you first start, select Restore from backup or manually download the archive via Google Drive.

Moving over Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi):

• 📁 Upload files from Samsung to Mi Cloud via the web version (i.mi.com).
• 🔗 On Xiaomi, log in to the same Mi Account and sync your data.

Comparison of cloud services:

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Google Drive is the most versatile option, but an additional application (e.g. SMS Backup & Restore) will be required to port SMS.

6. Method 5: Third-Party Applications (ShareMe, Send Anywhere)

If standard methods don't work, specialized applications will come to the rescue, and they often support cross-platform transmission and do not require registration.

Top-3 applications for synchronization:

1. ShareMe (from Xiaomi) 📌 Install on both phones from Google Play or Mi App Store. 🔄 Select Send to Samsung and Receive to Xiaomi, then scan the QR-code. ⚡ Speed: Up to 20MB/s over Wi-Fi Direct.
2. Send Anywhere 🔐 Generates 6-digit code for secure transfer. 📁 Supports files up to 10 GB (in the free version). 📱 Works even without the Internet (via a local network).
3. Xender 🌐 Wi-Fi transmissions with no size restrictions. 📱 Interface in Russian, but contains ads. ⚠️ Some antiviruses block it as potentially dangerous (false positive).

Which way to choose?

• 📸 For photos and videos, ShareMe or Send Anywhere.
• 📱 For applications and SMS for Smart Switch or Mi Mover.
• 📁 For large archives (over 50 GB) – cloud services or PCs.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users face problems. We have compiled top-5 errors and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn't see Samsung

• 🔄 Reboot both phones.
• 📶 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the router blocks P2P- connections).
• 🔧 Update the Mi Mover to the latest version.

Problem 2: Smart Switch is 99% Free

• 🔌 Turn off the cable and reconnect.
• 📵 Check if the battery is running out (the process is interrupted at a charge level below 15%).
• 🗃️ If you send photos, break them into 500 to 1,000 packets.

Problem 3: Contacts are not synced through Google

• 🔍 Check to see if there are duplicate contacts in your Samsung account.
• 🔄 Manually export contacts to.vcf (Contacts → Settings → Export) and import to Xiaomi.

Problem 4: Applications are not restored

• 📱 Make sure that Xiaomi has installed from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Rights).
• 🔄 Transfer only APK- files, application data (cache, settings) will not be saved.

Problem 5: Photos are transmitted in low quality

• 📸 In Google Photos, select Original Quality in the sync settings.
• 🔧 Use ShareMe or OTG cable to transmit without compression.

⚠️ Warning: If you are migrating data from the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or later to the Xiaomi 13/14 series, check for compatibility of camera resolutions. Some files HEIF (photo format) may not open on Xiaomi - convert them to JPEG via Galery on Samsung.

8 Additional Advice After Synchronization

Data portability is only half the battle, and after you complete the process, do a few things to make Xiaomi work optimally:

What to do immediately after synchronization:

• 🔒 Set up face unlock/fingerprint (Settings → Password and Security).
• 📵 Check permissions for applications (Settings → Apps → Permissions).
• 🔋 Calibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0% and charge to 100% without interruptions.
• 📶 Update all apps via Google Play or Mi App Store.

How to avoid data duplication:

• 📇 For contacts: use Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync → Delete Takes.
• 📸 For photos: Enable the option to Group Similars in Google Photos.

Configuring notifications:

Xiaomi defaults on aggressive battery optimizations, which cause some apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) to fail to show notifications.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the desired application and activate AutoRun and Show notifications.
3. In Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization, add the application to the exceptions.

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After transferring the data, reset the cache to Settings → Storage → Data cache – this will speed up the system.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions