How to transfer applications from Samsung to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Why migrating apps between Android smartphones from different brands is not as easy as it seems

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a change of gadget, but a migration between two ecosystems with unique chips. Even if both devices are running Android, manufacturers add their shells (One UI from Samsung and MIUI from Xiaomi), which affect how app data is stored, where backups are located and what tools are available for transfer. In theory, just log into the same Google Account and all the apps will automatically appear on the new phone.

Not all apps are synced via Google (e.g. banking or some games)

Application settings (logins, game progress, chat history) may not be transferred;

Cache files and app data (such as downloaded maps in Google Maps or offline music in Spotify) often stay on the old phone.

In this article, we will discuss 5 ways to migrate applications, from the simplest (via Google) to the most advanced (using ADB and manual file copying), and what data will never be transferred automatically and how to save it manually.

Method 1: Automatic synchronization through Google Account

This is a basic method that works on any Android device, and the main advantage is minimal effort: just log in to an account on a new Xiaomi, and most applications will install themselves.

• 📱 What will be transferred: list of installed applications (from Google Play), contacts, calendar, some system settings.
• ❌ What will NOT be transferred: application data (for example, save in games), cache files, widget settings, SMS (unless backup is enabled SMS Google Drive).
• ⚡ Speed: Depends on the number of applications and internet speed (can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours).

How to do this:

1. On old Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Archiving and Recovery and enable Data Archiving in Google Drive.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google Account. If the phone is already set up, go to Settings → Google → Restore.
3. Select the last backup and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has enabled the Auto Update feature through the Galaxy Store, these apps will not be migrated to Xiaomi, since the Galaxy Store is not on Xiaomi devices.

Method 2: Using Smart Switch (official solution from Samsung)

Samsung Smart Switch is a proprietary tool for transferring data between Samsung devices, but it also supports transfers to smartphones of other brands, including Xiaomi.

• 📁 Multimedia (photo, video, music);
• 📞 Call log and SMS;
• 📅 Calendar and notes (if stored in standard Samsung apps);
• 🎮 Save some games (if the game supports cloud-based saves via Samsung Cloud).

Instructions for transfer:

1. Install Smart Switch on both phones from Google Play (Xiaomi may need permission to install from unknown sources).
2. On Samsung, select Send Data, on Xiaomi, Receive Data.
3. Connect your phones via Wi-Fi Direct or USB-cable OTG-Adapter for Xiaomi, if it has a Type-C, and Samsung has a microUSB).

⚠️ Note: If you are on Xiaomi MIUI 12 or later, the Smart Switch may not see the phone due to security limitations.In this case, try using Restore Mode (see Method 4).

Download Smart Switch to both phones | Charge both devices at least 50% | Connect to the same Wi-Fi network (if using wireless port) | Free up space on Xiaomi (needs at least 20% free space) | Disable screen locking during transfer-->

Method 3: Mi Mover – the official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is an analogue of Smart Switch, but from Xiaomi. It is optimized for data transfer to devices with MIUI and supports transmission from Samsung, Huawei, iPhone and other brands.

• 🔄 It works even on older Xiaomi models (starting with the new model). MIUI 9);
• 📲 Transferred SMS, Call log and notes in standard applications MIUI;
• 🎵 Stores wallpaper, sound settings and vibrations.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover (or find the app in the menu).
2. On Samsung, install Mi Mover from Google Play.
3. Select the role of sender on Samsung, and the role of receiver on Xiaomi.
4. Connect the phones through QR-code (wi-fi) or cable (required) OTG-adapter).

The main point: Mi Mover only carries the APK-So, apps will be installed, but you'll have to log in and configure them, except for apps that are synced themselves over the cloud, like WhatsApp or Telegram).

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If Mi Mover doesn’t see Samsung, try turning off the VPN and firewall on both phones. Also check that Xiaomi has developer mode and USB debugging enabled (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, tap 7 times).

Method 4: Manual transfer via OTG cable and file manager

If the automatic methods don't work, or you need to migrate specific application data (e.g., saving games or setting programs), you can copy files manually, which takes longer, but gives you complete control over the process.

What you need:

• 🔌 OTG-Adapter (if the ports on the phones are different);
• 📁 File Manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or standard Files on Xiaomi);
• 🔧 Access to root folders (some Samsung models may require unlocking).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via cable (use) OTG-adapter if necessary).
2. On Xiaomi, open a file manager and select USB-The device (should appear Samsung).
3. Go to Samsung in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ – this is where the application data is stored.
4. Copy folders with the names of the desired applications (for example, com.whatsapp for WhatsApp) on Xiaomi in the same directory.
5. Install these apps on Xiaomi (if they haven’t already been installed) and check if the data has pulled up.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications store data in a folder Android/data. Some (like Google Chrome or Facebook) store settings in the cloud and don’t require manual porting. PUBG Mobile often saves progress locally – it’s worth copying.

Method 5: Transfer over ADB (for advanced users)

If you need to migrate all of your application data without loss (for example, for rare games or specialized programs), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires command line skills, but gives you maximum control.

What can be transferred through ADB:

• 📦 Full backups of applications (.apk) + data);
• 🔐 System application settings (if root access is available);
• 🖥️ Application data that is not synced through the cloud.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
2. On both phones, turn on Developer Mode (tap 7 times on the build number in Settings → About Phone) and allow Debugging over USB.
3. Connect Samsung to your PC and execute a command to create a backup: adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all (Note: the phone will have a request to confirm backup.)
4. Connect Xiaomi and recover data: adb restore backup.ab

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not all applications support backup through ADB (For example, banking applications);
• ❌ On Xiaomi MIUI It may be necessary to disable data protection MIUI developer-setting;
• ❌ A backup can weigh tens of gigabytes – make sure there’s enough space on your PC.

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ADB is the only way to migrate application data that is not synced through the cloud and is not manually copied (for example, local databases or rare program settings).

What you can’t do in any way (and how to get around it)

Even with ADB and manual copying, there is data that is tied to a particular device or account and won’t be carried to Xiaomi.

It’s also worth remembering that some apps (like banking or messengers with two-factor authentication) may require re-authorization on a new device, even if you’ve copied their data.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions