Samsung to Xiaomi Redmi Data Transfer: A Complete Guide to Smart Switch and Alternative Methods

The transition from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi is not only a brand change, but also a migration of all digital life: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Many users mistakenly believe that Smart Switch (a branded solution from Samsung) is incompatible with Xiaomi devices, but in practice there are at least 5 working ways to transfer data - from official utilities to cloud services. UI Samsung and MIUI Xiaomi uses different synchronization protocols.

In this article, we will discuss all current methods, from automatic transfer via Mi Mover (similar to Smart Switch for Xiaomi) to manual copying of files via PC. 12/13, Redmi 10C And the new Redmi Turbo, which often has problems with device recognition, and you'll also learn how to avoid data loss when you change your Google and Mi Account accounts.

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1.Can I use Smart Switch to migrate data to Xiaomi?

The official Samsung Smart Switch app is designed to migrate between Galaxy devices, but it doesn't support direct data transfer to Xiaomi.When you try to connect, you'll see a "Device Not Supported" error or an offer to use alternative methods.This is because Samsung blocks data transfer to other brands' devices through its protocol.

But there's a workaround: Smart Switch can export data to a PC in a format that can then be downloaded to Redmi.

• 📱 Connect Samsung to your computer via USB and run Smart Switch on PC.
• 💾 Select the option "Backup" (not "Data Transfer").
• 📁 Save the backup file in.sbk or.zip format.
• 🔄 Use third-party utilities (such as Backuptrans) to convert a file to a readable format for Xiaomi.

⚠️ Warning: Smart Switch (.sbk) backup files are encrypted and not opened by standard archivers.

The alternative is to use Smart Switch to export contacts and calendar to a Google account, then sync them with Redmi, a method that is free but only carries basic information, without messages or apps.

2.Mi Mover: Official Solution from Xiaomi for Samsung Transfer

Mi Mover is an analogue of Smart Switch, developed specifically for Xiaomi devices. the application supports data transfer from most Android smartphones, including Samsung Galaxy (S, A, Note, etc.), The main advantage is direct transmission over Wi-Fi without intermediaries, which speeds up the process and preserves privacy.

To transfer data through Mi Mover:

1. Download Mi Mover on both devices: 📲 On Samsung: From Google Play. 📱 On Redmi: the app is preinstalled (find through the menu search).

Xiaomi Redmi

"This is a new device."

Samsung

"It's an old device."

Redmi

Samsung

Select data for transfer: contacts, messages, photos, video, audio, applications.

Confirm the transfer and wait until the completion (can take 10 to 60 minutes depending on the volume).

⚠️ Note: On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ The newer Mi Mover can request unlocking the bootloader to transfer some system data. If you don't plan to unlock, you can opt out of System Settings, which will avoid errors.

If the Mi Mover can’t see the Samsung device, check:

• 🔌 Both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or use the access point on Redmi).
• 📶 Samsung has power saving mode disabled for Mi Mover (Settings) → Caring for the device → Battery → Background restrictions).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices and try again.

Charge both phones at least 50% |

Disable VPNs and firewalls |

Release. 10-15% Redmi memory for temporary files|

Make sure Samsung has a debugging feature on it. USB (for some)-->

3. Transfer through Google Account: a universal method

Syncing with a Google Account is the most reliable way to transfer basic data, because it doesn't depend on the phone model.

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and labels).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.
• 📎 Notes (if Google Keep is used).
• 📷 Photos (via Google Photos).
• 🎵 Music and documents (via Google Drive).

Instructions for transfer:

1. On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management.
2. Select your Google account and enable sync for all the data you need.
3. On Xiaomi Redmi, add the same Google account (Settings) → Accounts. → Add an account).
4. Turn on sync on Redmi and wait until it is completed (can take up to 30 minutes).

To transfer photos and videos:

• Install Google Photos on both devices.
• On Samsung, turn on autoboot (Settings) → Backup and synchronization).
• On Redmi, wait for media files to download from the cloud (check the Google Photos folder). → Photo Photo).

⚠️ Note: If Samsung used a Samsung Account to back up, its data is not synced with Google.In this case, export contacts and notes manually through Samsung Cloud → Export of data.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No cables or third-party applications required.
• ✅ Data is available on any device with the same account.
• ✅ Free (up to 15 GB in Google Drive).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, call log and application settings.
• ❌ A stable connection to the Internet is required.

💡

If you have a slow Internet connection, go to Settings before syncing Google Photos → Save traffic and select "Only when connecting to Wi-Fi".

4. Manual copying of files via PC or OTG

If you need to transfer large amounts of data (for example, 100)+ GB photos or videos, the most reliable way to do this is to copy through a computer, and this method ensures that files are safe and that you can selectively transfer only the right things.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to your PC via USB-cable (select File Transfer mode on your phone).
2. Copy the required folders to the computer: 📸 Photos and videos: DCIM, Pictures, Movies. 🎵 Music: Music or Media. 📄 Documents: Documents, Download.

Samsung

Xiaomi Redmi

"File transfer"

Redmi

You can use it for transfer without a computer. OTG-wire-drive:

• 🔌 Connect. OTG-Adapter to Samsung and insert the flash drive.
• 📁 Copy files to a flash drive through any file manager (e.g. Files by Google).
• 🔄 Connect the flash drive to Redmi and transfer the data back.

For transfer SMS and log calls use applications like SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app on Samsung and back up (XML-file).
2. Move the file to Redmi via PC or cloud.
3. Install the same app on Redmi and recover the data.

5. Alternative applications for rapid transfer

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party apps, and here are the proven options that support transfer between Samsung and Xiaomi:

Instructions for SHAREit (the most popular option):

1. Install the app on both phones from Google Play.
2. On Samsung, select “Send” and on Redmi, “Get”.
3. Scan it. QR-code or connect via the access point.
4. Select the files to transfer and confirm acceptance on Redmi.

⚠️ Note: When using CLONEit on Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 14 and later, you may need to temporarily disable the function "Cloning Protection" in Settings → Privacy. Otherwise, the application will not be able to transfer SMS call-book.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🚀 Faster than cloud services (no internet speed limit).
• 📱 Supports older Samsung models (e.g. Galaxy) S7 Note 5).
• 🔄 Data can be transferred selectively (for example, only photos from the last year).

💡

For maximum transfer speed, use the access point on Redmi (enable in Settings). → Access point and modem) and connect Samsung to it.This eliminates the delays associated with the router.

6. Transfer of applications and their data

Move it yourself. APK-Application files are simple (for example, via Mi Mover or SHAREit), but their data (save games, settings, cache) require special attention:

Method 1: Through Google Account (for supported applications):

• 📱 On Samsung, check which apps are synced with Google: 🎮 Games: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of applications. 📝 Applications: Many (such as WhatsApp, Telegram) have their own cloud backups.
• 🔄 On Redmi, log in to the same Google account and install apps from the Play Market.
• 🔙 Data will be automatically restored at the first start-up.

Method 2: Manually transfer via Titanium Backup (requires root rights):

• 🛠️ Install Titanium Backup on Samsung (available for rooted devices only).
• 💾 Create a backup copy of the necessary applications and their data.
• 📁 Transfer the backup file to Redmi.
• 🔧 Install Titanium Backup on Redmi (root is also required) and recover data.

Method 3: For WhatsApp and Viber:

• 📱 On Samsung, create a local backup: For WhatsApp: Settings → chat → Backup. For Viber: Settings → Account. → Backup.
• 📁 Copy the folder. /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (or Viber/Backup) on the Redmi.
• 🔄 Install the app on Redmi, confirm the phone number and restore data from the local copy.

⚠️ Note: When you transfer WhatsApp from Samsung to Xiaomi, you may experience an error called “Can’t restore backup.” To avoid this, rename the backup file with the backup file. msgstore.db.crypt14 on msgstore.db.crypt12 (For older versions of WhatsApp).

List of applications that can not be transferred without root rights:

• 🎮 Local save games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, etc).
• 🏦 Banking applications (e.g. Sberbank Online, Tinkoff).
• 🔒 Two-factor authentication applications (e.g. Google Authenticator).

1. On Samsung, press ⋮ → "Export of credentials" → select accounts.

2.Generate QR-code and scan it on Redmi via "Import credentials" in Google Authenticator.-->

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you migrate data from Samsung to Xiaomi Redmi, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If after transfer to Redmi there are problems with:

• 📞 Call log: export it manually through Settings → Google → Backup → Call log (only for some Samsung models).
• 🔔 Notifications: Check the settings in Settings → Annexes → Managing Notifications on Redmi.
• 🎵 Music: If files are not recognized, update tags via the Music Tag Editor app.

To diagnose problems with Mi Mover:

1. Check the error log in Settings → Annexes → Mi Mover → Memory. → Logs.
2. If the error is related to the "Incompatible Version" MIUI", Update your firmware to Redmi to the latest version.
3. For the “Unconnected” error, try using a mobile hotspot instead of Wi-Fi.

💡

If none of the methods worked, reset your settings to Redmi (Settings). → The phone. → Reset settings) and repeat the data transfer. This eliminates conflicts with previous settings.

8 Optimize Xiaomi Redmi after data transfer

After the data transfer is successful, several steps are recommended for Redmi to work optimally:

1. Cleaning of cache and unnecessary files:

• 🧹 Go to Settings. → Memory. → Clean and delete temporary files.
• 🗑️ Manually check Download and Bluetooth folders for duplicates.

Account settings:

• 🔑 Add all accounts you use (Google, Mi Account, social media) to Settings → Accounts.
• 🔄 Enable sync for contacts, calendar and Google Photos.

3. Personalization MIUI:

• 🎨 Set up theme and wallpaper in Settings → Screen. → Wallpaper.
• 🔊 Adjust sound profiles in Settings → Sound and vibration.
• 🔒 Set up the unlock (fingerprint, Face) ID) In Settings → Password and security.

4. Performance optimization:

• 🚀 Enable Performance Mode in Settings → Special facilities → Performance mode (available on some models).
• 🔋 Turn off auto-run of unnecessary apps in Settings → Annexes → Auto-start.

Verification of updates:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Update all apps in the Play Market.

⚠️ Note: New Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) By default, the function "Optimization" is enabled MIUI", If notifications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) stop coming after the transfer, disable optimization for these applications in Settings. → Annexes → Battery management.

For users switching from Samsung DeX to Xiaomi:

• 🖥️ Install Mi Desktop Mode (available on Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ and newer) for a similar desktop mode.
• 🔌 Connect your phone to the monitor through USB-C or wireless display (Miracast).