Changing a smartphone brand to another always raises a number of questions, especially when it comes to privacy. Samsung device owners moving to the Xiaomi ecosystem often face the need to quickly and without loss move the image gallery. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to do this in several ways, each of which has its own advantages depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet.
The migration of media files can take anywhere from minutes to hours if you change your storage device entirely. In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from built-in utilities to cloud storage and wired connections, and learn how to avoid common mistakes when converting formats and storing image metadata.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are charged at least 50% so that the process does not stop halfway. Also check for free space on a new smartphone Redmi or Poco, as modern high-resolution photos can take up a significant amount of memory.
Using the Mi Mover app for migration
The most effective and preferred way for Xiaomi users is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for migrating data from any Android smartphone, including Samsung devices, and allows you to transfer not only photos, but also contacts, messages and app settings.
The data transfer process takes place over a local Wi-Fi network created by one of the phones, which ensures high copy speed without the consumption of mobile traffic. The interface of the program is as simple as possible: after choosing the type of device being transmitted (sender or recipient) and scanning. QR-The system will then select file categories. Direct Wi-Fi Direct transmission via Mi Mover provides speeds up to 20-30 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth.
☑️ Preparing for migration through Mi Mover
Importantly, when transferring large amounts of data (over 50 GB), the process can take considerable time, so it is better to leave the phones alone and not switch between applications. If the transfer is interrupted, Mi Mover usually allows you to continue from the stop place, rather than start anew, which is a critical feature when working with heavy 4K video files.
⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, phone screens can often turn on and off – this is normal behavior to maintain a connection, do not interrupt the process manually.
Sync through Google Photos and Cloud Services
For those who prefer wireless methods without installing additional software, the ideal solution is Google Photos. This service is installed by default on most Android devices, including Samsung and Xiaomi, and automatically syncs the media library with the cloud. Just log into the same Google account on both devices, and all photos will be available instantly.
The main advantage of this method is the ability to free up space on an old phone immediately after downloading. the “Free up” function removes local copies of files that have already been successfully saved in the cloud. However, it is worth considering that free storage is limited to Google 15 GB, and large archives may require a subscription to Google One.
Upload quality settings in Google Photos
Alternatively, other cloud storages such as Yandex Disk, Dropbox or Mi Cloud can be used, and the way they work is the same: installing an app on an old phone, downloading files, then logging in to an account on a new Redmi or MI device. Autoupload must be enabled in the application settings so that new images immediately enter the cloud.
Wired connection and use of PC
The classic method of using a computer remains one of the most reliable, especially when you need to transfer terabytes of data or when wireless methods are unstable. To do this, you will need a USB cable and a computer with a Windows or macOS operating system. Connect Samsung to a PC, select File Transfer Mode (MTP) in notifications, and copy the DCIM folder to your hard drive.
Once you've finished copying, disable your old phone and connect your new Xiaomi. Drag your saved photo folders to the new device's appropriate directory. This is a good way to do file revisions: delete duplicates, sort photos by year or event before downloading them to your new smartphone.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No. | Low. |
| Google Photo | Depends on the network. | Yes. | Minimum |
| USB Cable + PC | Maximum | No. | Medium |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | No. | Low. |
When working with a file system via a PC, it is important to observe the folder structure so that the gallery on Xiaomi correctly displays dates and albums. Storage/DCIM/Camera. If you move them to the root directory, the system may not recognize them as media files or confuse the chronology.
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Use the file manager on your PC for quick sorting: sort files by date of change before copying so that they stand in the correct order on the new phone.
Transfer via Bluetooth and Quick Share
If you only need to flip a few dozen photos, there is no point in running heavy applications. Built-in Bluetooth module or Quick Share technology (formerly known as Nearby Share) will solve the problem quickly. On Samsung devices, the feature is often called Quick Share, and on Xiaomi it is also supported natively in the latest versions of MIUI and HyperOS.
To transfer, select a photo in the gallery, click the "Share" button, and select the device from the list of available nearby. On the receiving device, you need to confirm the request for files. Bluetooth transmission speed is low (about 2-3 MB / s), so this method is not suitable for video, but for hundreds of photos it is quite acceptable.
Quick Share is faster, using a combination of Bluetooth for search and Wi-Fi Direct for data transfer, which allows you to achieve speeds comparable to the Mi Mover, but without installing additional applications, the main condition is that both phones must be enabled Bluetooth and geolocation.
Solving problems with HEIC formats and compatibility
One of the frequent problems when switching from Samsung to Xiaomi is the incorrect display of some files. Samsung smartphones by default can shoot in the HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) format, which saves space, but is not always opened by standard means of older versions of Android or third-party applications on a new device.
If you see black squares instead of a photo or format error message after transfer, you need to convert images. On Xiaomi, you can use the built-in gallery editor or third-party converter apps from Google Play. You can also change the camera settings on the old phone before transferring, switching the format to universal JPEG.
⚠️ Attention: Format HEIC It may not appear on some social media or messengers after transfer without converting beforehand, so it is best to check compatibility in advance.
In some cases, the problem is not format, but access rights. Once the data is transferred to the new Xiaomi, the MIUI security system may restrict the gallery's access to new files. Check the permission settings in the Settings → Applications → Gallery → Permits and make sure that access to the storage is allowed.
Cleaning the old device and checking the integrity
After successfully transferring all photos to Xiaomi, don’t rush to reset the old Samsung to factory settings. First of all, do a thorough check: open random photos and videos on the new device, make sure they open, have the right resolution and geo-tags.
Pay special attention to hidden albums and secure folders (Secure Folder on Samsung), files from a secure folder will not be transferred by conventional methods until you extract them from there to a regular gallery, a common mistake of users who later can not find some important documents or personal pictures.
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Always remove files from Secure Folder before migrating, otherwise they will remain on the old device forever or will be lost when reset.
Only when you make sure that all the data is intact and accessible can you start cleaning your old smartphone, ensuring you don’t lose any memories as you change your device, and the new Xiaomi phone is ready for full-leakage use.