Introduction: Why Transferring Backup Between Brands Is a Non-Trivial Task
The switch from Samsung to Xiaomi is often accompanied by a desire to save all the data: contacts, messages, application settings and even system settings. However, direct restoration of Samsung backup on Xiaomi is impossible – these brands use fundamentally different backup formats, encryption systems and data storage structures. While Samsung relies on the proprietary.sbk format (for Smart Switch) and integration with Samsung Cloud, Xiaomi works with.xbk via Mi Cloud or local backups in the Samsung Cloud. /MIUI/backup.
The problem is compounded by the fact that even when manually extracting data from the Samsung backup (for example, through the Titanium Backup or the Samsung backup). ADB) Compatibility conflicts arise. Xiaomi uses a modified Android kernel with its own add-ons MIUI, However, partial portability (contacts, media files, some application settings) is still possible, and we will discuss all working methods in detail.
Preparation of devices: what to do before transfer
Before you start recovery, you need to follow a number of critical steps on both devices.Neglecting preparation can lead to data loss or even a “brick” (inoperability) Xiaomi.
On Samsung:
- 📱 Turn off Samsung Knox protection (if it's active). Go to Settings → Biometrics and safety → Other security parameters → Knox and deactivate it. Otherwise, the backup could be blocked.
- 🔐 Make sure the backup is not encrypted. If you used a Smart Switch with a password, you'll have to unseal it through Settings. → Accounts and archiving → Backup and restoration → Backup settings.
- 📁 Export the backup to an accessible format. If the copy is stored in Samsung Cloud, download it locally in.zip or.tar format.
On Xiaomi:
- 🔓 Unlock the bootloader (if you plan to use it) TWRP). This is a must for custom recavator installation.Instruction: unlock Bootloader on Xiaomi.
- 📦 Install the latest version MIUI. Old firmware may not support modern backup formats. Check relevance in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 🛠️ Activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About the phone, tap 7 times on the version MIUI, Then turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi has global firmware installed (for example, MIUI Global, and Samsung used a Korean or Chinese version of Android, you may have problems encoding text data (contacts, SMS). In this case, before transferring the backup to UTF-8.
Method 1: Partial recovery through Google Account (the safest way)
This is a way to port contacts, calendars, Google Keep notes, and some app settings. It doesn't require unlocking the bootloader and works on any device.
Instructions:
- On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts & Archiving → Account Management and select your Google Account.
- Activate synchronization for all data categories (contacts, calendars, tasks, etc.).
- On Xiaomi, add the same Google Account to Settings → Accounts → Add an account.
- Enable sync in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
Limitations of the method:
- ❌ Not tolerated. SMS/MMS, call log, Wi-Fi settings.
- ❌ Applications will have to be installed manually (but their data can be tightened if they support cloud sync).
- ❌ Samsung system settings (e.g., power saving modes) won’t work on Xiaomi.
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If after synchronization contacts are displayed in characters, check the regional settings on Xiaomi. → Additionally. → Language and region and set the same region as Samsung.
Method 2: Manually extract data from Samsung backup (for power users)
If you have a local Samsung backup (e.g., created via Smart Switch or Titanium Backup), you can Attempt to extract data manually. ADB, TWRP and possibly editing files manually.
Tools required:
- 🖥️ Computer with Android installed SDK Platform-Tools (for the purposes of ADB fastboot).
- 📱 Xiaomi with unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP (instruction: TWRP Xiaomi).
- 🔧 Programme for the management of archives (e.g, 7-Zip WinRAR).
Steps to extract data:
- Connect Samsung to your PC and copy the backup file (usually.sbk,.zip, or.tar) to a separate folder.
- If the backup is.sbk, use the sbk-extractor utility to extract data: python sbk-extractor.py backup.sbk output_folder
- For.tar or.zip backups, just unpack the archive. Look for folders: /contacts — contact in.vcf format; /sms — SMS.xml; /apps — Application data (if backup is made via Titanium Backup).
- Transfer the extracted files to Xiaomi via ADB Push: adb push contacts.vcf /sdcard/
- On Xiaomi, import data: Contacts: Open the Contacts app → Imports/Exports → Import from the device. SMS: use the app SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play.
⚠️ Note: If you are porting application data (e.g. game saves), make sure that the versions of the apps on Samsung and Xiaomi are the same.
☑️ Preparation for manual data transfer
Method 3: Use TWRP for the recovery of sample data
If Xiaomi has a custom recavator installed TWRP, You can try to restore separate data sections (for example, /data/media for media files or /data/data This method is risky, but allows you to transfer more data than through a Google Account.
Step-by-step:
- Copy Samsung backup (unpacked) to Xiaomi memory card in folder /TWRP/BACKUPS/.
- Upload Xiaomi to mode TWRP (hold on to food + Volume up when switched on).
- V TWRP Select Restore and specify the path to the backup folder.
- Important! Do not restore the Boot or System partition, this will cause the device to fail. Select only: Data (with caution - there may be conflicts); Internal Storage (for media files); EFS (if necessary IMEI, But it's risky!).
Wipe → Dalvik / ART Cache
| Backup section | What does it contain? | Risk of recovery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data | Application data, settings | High (conflicts) MIUI) | Restore selectively |
| Internal Storage | Photos, videos, music | Low. | It can be rebuilt. |
| EFS | IMEI, serial numbers | Critical (risk of network loss) | Don't repair |
| Boot | Core system | Critical (brick) | Never regenerate |
What to do if Xiaomi does not boot after recovery?
Method 4: Transfer through ADB (developer)
This method is suitable for transferring specific files or application databases without fully restoring the backup. ADB Android structures.
Example: Database transfer SMS
- On Samsung, find a database file. SMS (usually /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db).
- Copy it on PC: Adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db
- Connect Xiaomi and move the file to a similar folder: adb push mmssms.db /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/
- Assign the correct access rights: adb shell chmod 660 /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db adb shell chown system:radio /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db
- Reboot Xiaomi.
Limitations:
- ⚠️ Not all applications store data in /data/data. Some (such as WhatsApp) store backups in the /sdcard.
- ⚠️ The database structure may differ between Samsung and Xiaomi (e.g., due to different versions of Android).
- ⚠️ To access /data/data Xiaomi requires root or Magisk.
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Transfer through ADB — The most flexible method, but requires a deep knowledge of the Android structure.
Alternative ways: cloud services and third-party applications
If manual methods seem too complicated, you can use third-party solutions that won't give you 100% transfer, but will make the process easier for beginners.
Popular tools:
- 📱 Clone Phone (from Xiaomi): transfers contacts, messages, photos and some apps. Works on a device-to-device basis via Wi-Fi Direct.
- 🌐 Dr.Fone - Phone Transfer: paid software for PC, supports transfer between different brands.
- ☁️ Local Backup (built-in to the MIUI): Allows you to create a backup on Samsung in a format compatible with Xiaomi (via Settings) → The phone. → Backup).
Comparison of methods:
| Method | Difficulty | What's transferable | Need root? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | ⭐ | Contacts, calendars, some settings | No. |
| TWRP | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Media, Application Data (selectively) | Yes. |
| ADB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Any files (if available) | Yes. |
| Clone Phone | ⭐⭐ | Contacts, SMS, Photos, some applications | No. |
Typical errors and their solutions
When you move data between Samsung and Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
1. "Incompatible backup format" error
If you are trying to recover from MIUI Local Backup appears this message, which means the backup file has a structure not supported by Xiaomi:
- Use it. 7-Zip to extract the contents of the backup manually.
- Try converting.sbk to.zip using sbk-extractor.
2.After recovery, the applications fly out
This is due to mismatched application versions or processor architecture (Samsung often uses the same software). ARM64, The old Xiaomis — ARMv7). Decision:
- Update your Xiaomi apps to the latest versions.
- Delete the application data (Settings) → Annexes → [Annex] → Warehouse → Clear the data) and log in again.
3. Not recovering. SMS call-book
The problem is with different storage formats for this data.
- Use it. SMS Backup & Restore for export SMS Samsung in.xml format, then import to Xiaomi.
- For a call log, try Call Logs Backup & Restore from Google Play.
4. Xiaomi doesn't see media files after porting
This is often due to the fact that MIUI It doesn't update the media base:
- Reset the device.
- Install Rescan Media from Google Play and start the scan.
- Check the access rights to the folder /sdcard/: adb shell chmod -R 777 /sdcard/
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi starts to overheat or discharge quickly after transferring data, check the background activity of the applications. Some Samsung services (such as Samsung Push Service) may remain in the system and consume resources. ADB: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.sec.android.app.pushservice