How to securely transfer all data from Samsung to Xiaomi: from contacts to apps

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just about branding, but also about migrating all your data — photos, contacts, messages, even app settings — and many users fear this process, thinking they’ll lose important information or spend hours manually rewriting it. In fact, transferring data between these two ecosystems can be done quickly and without loss — if you know the right tools and nuances.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to copy information from the Galaxy S23, Note 20 or any other Samsung smartphone on Redmi, POCO or Mi 13. From official utilities (Smart Switch and Mi Mover) to universal cloud services and manual transfer over the computer. You will learn what method is suitable for your case, how to avoid typical errors (for example, losing your call history when using Google Account) and what to do if standard tools fail to work.

We will focus on the hidden limitations: why some applications (such as WhatsApp or banking programs) are not automatically portable, how to bypass the data limit in Mi Mover (500 MB), and what to do if your Samsung is running an outdated version of Android (below 8.0).

1.Official method: Smart Switch + Mi Mover

The most reliable method is to use a combination of two proprietary utilities: Samsung Smart Switch (for backup) and Mi Mover (for recovery on Xiaomi), which cover up to 90% of data types, including:

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and notes)
• 📷 Photos and videos (folder structure is maintained)
• 💬 Communications SMS/MMS (But not messenger chats!)
• 📅 Calendars and reminders
• 🔊 Calls (history and recorded conversations, if any)
• 🎵 Music and documents (except DRM-secure files)

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, install Smart Switch from the Galaxy Store or Google Play. Launch the app and select Backup → On an external drive (or to the Samsung Cloud if you have an account).
2. Connect Xiaomi to Wi-Fi and install Mi Mover from the App Store (on new models it can be pre-installed). Launch the utility and select I'm a new user → Samsung.
3. On Samsung in Smart Switch, click Share Data → Send Data → Wireless. Smartphones should be up to 10 meters away.
4. On Xiaomi, confirm the data. The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the volume (for example, 64 GB photos are copied ~40 minutes).

Make sure that Xiaomi has enough free space (minimum) +20% of the volume of data transferred)|

Battery charge for both smartphones >50%|

Turn off VPNs and firewalls (they can block transmission)|

Update Smart Switch and Mi Mover to the latest versions |

Create a backup on Samsung in case of a crash

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Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Not portable: apps (only their data if they support backup), Wi-Fi settings, account passwords.
• 🔋 Mi Mover can "hang" on the 99% — Don’t interrupt the process, wait. 10-15 minute.
• 📱 Samsung with Android 10 and below may need to enable Settings → Developer → Debugging by USB.

⚠️ If you have a Samsung with One UI 5.0+ and Xiaomi MIUI 14, use Mi Mover version 3.0.1.2 or later.Old versions do not support Samsung's 2023 data protocol.

2.Move over Google Account: Pros and pitfalls

Syncing through Google Account seems like a universal solution, but in practice it doesn’t work perfectly, and it’s suitable for basic migration, but has critical limitations:

How to transfer data via Google:

1. On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Archiving and Recovery → Data Archiving. Enable backup for all available categories.
2. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore from a backup and log in to the same Google Account. If the phone is already set up, reset it to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset).
3. Once restored, make sure all data is in place. Often Xiaomi forgets to restore wallpaper, lock screen settings, and some system settings.

Critical nuances:

• 🔄 If Samsung has multiple Google accounts, link the one you need as your primary in Settings → Accounts.
• 📸 Google Photos compresses images with free backup. To transfer photos in their original quality, use Settings → Backup → Quality. → Original (you have to pay for the place).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords are not portable! You'll have to re-enter them or use Google Home for export.

3. Computer Transfer: Reliable but Longer

If wireless methods don’t work (for example, because Android versions are incompatible), the most reliable way is to use a computer as an intermediary, which guarantees 100% control over data and works even with outdated models.

What you need:

• 🖥️ PC or laptop Windows/macOS
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original)
• 💾 ~10 GB of free space on the hard disk
• 📂 Copyware (e.g., Total Commander or Standard Explorer)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC via USB. From the phone's notification menu, select File Transfer (MTP).
2. Copy the following folders to your computer (they are in the root directory of internal memory): DCIM (photos and videos), Downloads (downloads), Pictures (additional images), WhatsApp (if you need to move chats), Documents (documents)
3. Turn off Samsung and plug in Xiaomi. Move the copied folders to the root directory of the internal memory of the new phone.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to Samsung in a file. VCF: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Export.Next import this file to Xiaomi via Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Imports.

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If Xiaomi is not displayed on a PC, install Mi PC Suite drivers from the official website or turn on the developer mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times) and activate Debugging over USB.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works with all versions of Android (even Android 5.0 on older Galaxy).
• ✅ You can selectively copy only the files you need (for example, only the photos from the last year).
• ✅ There are no data limits (unlike the 500MB Mi Mover).

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ It takes longer (copying) 100 GB can take up 2-3 hour).
• 🔌 You need a computer and two cables.
• 📁 The folder structure may “break” when transferred (for example, WhatsApp will stop seeing backups).

4. Cloud services: Dropbox, Yandex Drive, Telegram

If you have slow internet or little PC space, the alternative is to upload data to the cloud and then download it to Xiaomi, a method that is convenient for transferring small volumes (up to 20 GB) or specific file types (e.g., documents only).

Comparison of services:

Telegram has no strict limit, but files are stored only in the cloud (not automatically downloaded to the device).

How to move data through the cloud:

1. On Samsung, install the application of the selected service (for example, Yandex Drive).
2. Upload files to the cloud. Use 5GHz Wi-Fi or cable connection (if supported) to speed up.
3. On Xiaomi, log in to the same account and download files. Google Drive can use the Backup → Recovery feature.

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To move contacts through the cloud, export them to a VCF file on Samsung, upload it to the cloud, and then import it to Xiaomi. This method works even if the phones are in different countries.

Life hacks for cloud transfer:

• 📎 Google Drive can create an archive ZIP foldered DCIM Downloads to download everything in one file.
• 🔄 If the internet is slow, use Yandex Drive with the option “Download only over Wi-Fi” in the settings.
• 📱 To transfer WhatsApp, download the folder WhatsApp/Databases To the cloud, then download it to Xiaomi and restore chats through Settings → chat → Backup copy.

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

One of the most painful things about changing phones is to move apps, and unfortunately, not all programs support backups, and some (such as banking) prohibit transferring data between devices altogether.

Categories of applications and their portability:

How to migrate applications with data storage:

1. The list of installed apps can be exported through Google Play: Menu → My apps → Library → Installed. On Xiaomi, they will appear in the Installed previously section.
2. To transfer application data (e.g., saves in games), use Helium or Swift Backup (root rights to Samsung are required).
3. For WhatsApp: 1. On Samsung: Open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy. 2. Connect Samsung to your PC and copy the folder WhatsApp/Databases. 3. On Xiaomi: Install WhatsApp, log in and restore chats from local copy.

⚠️ Note: When you transfer WhatsApp from Samsung to Xiaomi, you may experience a “Can’t Recover Media Files” error. To fix this, rename your WhatsApp Media folder to Media before you restore it.

6. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when you follow instructions, users have problems. TOP-5 errors and ways of eliminating them:

• 🔌 Mi Mover doesn't see Samsung: Check that both phones have Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth enabled. Reboot both devices. If it doesn't work, use Smart Switch to back up your phone. SD-Map, then restore it to Xiaomi via Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.
• 📱 Contacts not transferred: Make sure they are saved to Google Account, not to phone memory. → ⋮ → Settings → Imports/Exports.
• 🔋 The transfer process "hangs" on 99%: Don't interrupt the transmission! 15-20 If nothing changes, turn off battery saving on both phones.
• 📸 Photos moved, but not displayed in the gallery: On Xiaomi, open the Gallery → ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files. If it doesn't work, move the folder. DCIM root.
• 🔑 Wi-Fi Passwords Are Not Recovered: Use Google Home to Export Networks: On Samsung, Open the App, Go to Wi-Fi → Settings → Export Networks. On Xiaomi, import the file through Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Imports of networks.

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If neither method works, try resetting Xiaomi to factory settings and repeating the data port on a clean device. Often conflicts arise from previously installed applications or settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions