Switching to a new smartphone is always stressful, associated with the fear of losing important contacts, photos or correspondence in messengers, especially when changing the ecosystem, for example, when you change the device of the Samsung brand to a device from Xiaomi. Fortunately, modern Android operating systems allow you to make this process as smooth and automated as possible, minimizing user participation.
There are several proven migration methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information being transferred and the speed of your Internet connection, and we will look at the full-time utilities, cloud services and manual methods so that you can choose the most suitable option for your situation.
Preparing devices for the migration process
Before you start copying files, you need to perform a number of preparatory actions that will ensure the stability of the transfer and data security, ignoring this step can lead to a connection break or partial loss of information, which is extremely undesirable when working with large data sets.
Both smartphones should be charged at least 60-70%, as the process of active data exchange via Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth significantly consumes battery power.
Also make sure that both devices are enabled wireless modules. VPN-services and antiviruses that can block local network connection between gadgets. Check the availability of free space on the target Xiaomi device: the amount of available memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to transfer from the old Samsung.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Using the Mi Mover app for full portability
The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app (or Mi Drop in older versions), developed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem.This utility creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, allowing you to transfer files at high speed without using Internet traffic.
On the new Xiaomi smartphone, the app is often preinstalled in the Tools folder. If it isn't, download the installation file from the official GetApps store or Google Play. On a Samsung device, the program also needs to be installed from the Play Market. Run the app on both gadgets.
The interface will suggest you select the role of the device. On Xiaomi, click "I am the recipient" and on Samsung, "I am the sender." QR-code or connect to the access point you created. Once you have established the connection, you will see a list of data categories that are available for copying.
- 📂 Multimedia: photos, videos, music and dictaphone recordings are transferred in full with the preservation of the folder structure.
- 📞 Contacts and messages: phone book, call history and SMS-Messages migrate automatically.
- 📱 Applications: the list of installed programs will be copied, but the APK-Files will have to be reloaded from the store.
- ⚙️ System settings: Some interface settings and alarm clocks can be moved if Android versions are compatible.
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If the process is stuck in the Connection phase, try to turn off mobile internet (4G/5G) on both devices, leaving only the Wi-Fi module active.
Synchronization through Google account
The alternative and most reliable method is synchronization via Google’s cloud service, ideal for those who don’t want to mess with cables or install additional software, and requires a stable Internet connection on both devices.
On an old Samsung, make sure your Google account settings are synchronized with contacts, calendar and app data. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and check the status of sliders. It’s also worth uploading photos and videos to Google Photos by enabling the “Upload” feature.
When the new Xiaomi is first enabled, it will prompt you to log in to your Google account, and after authorization, you will automatically lift your contacts, notes, and list of installed apps, and the photos will appear in the gallery as they are downloaded from the cloud.
⚠️ Attention: Google Photos compresses images in “Save space” mode if you run out of free storage of 15 GB. To maintain original quality, check the download quality settings.
Manual transfer of files via computer
If automatic methods don’t work or you need to transfer specific files, use your computer as an intermediate, a method that is considered the “gold standard” for carrying heavy video files and archives, as it does not depend on the speed of the wireless module.
Connect Samsung to your PC via USB-cable and select the mode of operation File transfer (MTP). Copy the right folders (DCIM, Download, Documents) to your computer's hard drive. Then disable your old phone and plug in Xiaomi, transferring the data to the appropriate internal memory directories.
When working with the file system, it is important to observe the structure of the folders so that the media files are correctly displayed in the gallery. DCIM/Camera, And music is in Music.
| Type of data | Recommended method | Speed. | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts, Calendar | Google Account | Instantly. | Tall. |
| Photo and Video (lots) | Computer (USB) | Tall. | Maximum |
| Annexes | Mi Mover / Play Market | Medium | Medium |
| System settings | Mi Mover | Quickly. | Depends on the OS version. |
Transfer of messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers deserve special attention, since their correspondence history is often stored locally or in specific clouds. Telegram does not have problems: just log in to your account by phone number, and all chats will be downloaded from servers.
WhatsApp is more complicated. When you move from Samsung to Xiaomi, you need to back up your chats on Google Drive on your old device. In WhatsApp settings on Samsung, go to Chats → Backup Chats and click Backup.
On the new Xiaomi, install WhatsApp, enter the same phone number, and when asked, restore a copy from Google Drive. It's important to use the same Google account as on the old phone.
What to do if WhatsApp’s recovery doesn’t start?
Problem Solving and Compatibility
While migrating, users may experience incompatibility with Android versions, and if Samsung has the old Android 9 and Xiaomi has the new Android 13, some of the settings may not be transferred, and you should rely on manual copying of media files.
File formatting may be another problem: Some Samsung applications create specific note or voice record formats that are not readable by standard Xiaomi tools, and in such cases, it is recommended to export data to universal formats (TXT, MP3, MP4) before transferring.
- 🔋 Battery discharge: If the process is interrupted, charge the devices and start transferring again by selecting only untransferred files.
- 📶 Wi-Fi Break: When using Mi Mover, keep devices close to each other and away from routers that cause interference.
- 🚫 Memory Lack: Before you start, check that Xiaomi has more space than Samsung’s backup weighs.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to interrupt the process of writing data to the disk of the new smartphone. this can cause damage to the file system and loss of already copied data.
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The fastest results come from a combination of methods: contacts and apps through Google, and heavy photos and videos through Mi Mover or cable.
Completion of new device configuration
After the successful data transfer, it is recommended to restart the new Xiaomi smartphone, which will allow the system to index new files, update thumbnails in the gallery and correctly display contacts in the phone book.
Check the basics: call someone, open a few apps, browse through the gallery. Make sure the Wi-Fi passwords are saved and the alarms are set correctly. If you used Mi Mover, delete the temporary application files to free up space.
Now your Xiaomi is fully ready to go, keeping all the important information and familiar environment.The old Samsung can be prepared for sale or transfer by pre-performing a full reset to factory settings.