The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just about changing your brand, but also migrating all your data: apps, contacts, photos and settings. Many users fear that it will take hours or lead to loss of important information. In fact, the transfer can be done in 15 to 40 minutes if you know the right tools and avoid typical mistakes.
In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to port applications, from official utilities (Smart Switch and MI Mover) to manual methods through Google Account and third-party services. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances that manufacturers do not keep silent: why some applications are not portable, how to keep progress in games and what to do if the data “hangs” during transfer.
Important: the procedure differs depending on the Xiaomi model (for example, the Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra use different versions of MIUI) and the Android version on Samsung.
1.Official method: Smart Switch + MI Mover
The most reliable method is to use proprietary utilities from both brands: Samsung Smart Switch exports data, and MI Mover (built into MIUI) imports it, which even works with large amounts of data (up to 100 GB), but there are limitations.
How it works:
- 📱 On Samsung: Install Smart Switch from the Galaxy Store (not from Google Play!). Launch the app, select Send data → Wireless transfer and wait for code generation.
- 📱 On Xiaomi: Go to Settings → The phone. → Data portability (MI Select Get with Android and enter the code from Samsung.
- ⚡ Important: Both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (or create a direct access point%.
What's transferable:
| Type of data | Smart Switch → MI Mover | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annexes (APK) | ✅ Yes. | No cache data. Some Samsung system applications won't be installed. |
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | Transferred in full, including groups and notes. |
| Photo/video | ✅ Yes. | Max. file size is 2 GB. HEIF format is converted to JPEG. |
| Communications (SMS/MMS) | ✅ Yes. | No attachments (photos/videos in messages are transferred separately). |
| Calls (magazine) | ✅ Yes. | No record of the conversations (if any). |
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi is standing MIUI 14+, Before the penos, turn off the optimization function MIUI In Settings → Special opportunities → Optimizing the system. MI Mover may interrupt the process by 80-90%.
2. Move through Google Account (for apps and settings)
If you only need apps (without media files), syncing through Google is the fastest way.It works on all Android 8.0+ devices and requires no additional programs.
Step-by-step:
- On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Archiving and Recovery → Data Archiving. Enable backup for apps, contacts and settings.
- On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore from Google Backup. If the phone is already configured, reset it to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Reset) and repeat the step.
- Log in to the same Google Account as you did on Samsung. Select the latest backup.
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 Application data (such as saving in games or WhatsApp settings) is not transferred).
- 🚫 Some apps (such as Samsung Health or Bixby) won’t recover, but they’re tied to the Samsung ecosystem.
- ⏳ Recovery time depends on internet speed (with a slow connection it can take up to 2 hours).
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Before resetting Xiaomi, write down the phone's IMEI (type *#06#) to help restore network access if mobile internet is lost after the transfer.
3. Manual copying via OTG cable or PC
If wireless methods don’t work (for example, because of incompatibility of Android versions), you can manually transfer data through a cable. APK-file.
You'll need:
- 🔌 Cable OTG (If you are copying directly between phones, or USB-cable + PC.
- 📂 File Manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or Standard) MI File Manager).
- 📱 Developer Mode on Xiaomi (to see hidden folders).
Instructions:
- On Samsung, copy the files you want to use to the Internal Storage → Download folder (or to a memory card).
- Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via OTG-adapter or to the PC via USB. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
- On Xiaomi, go to the file manager and copy the data to the appropriate folders: 📷 Photo/video → DCIM/Camera 🎵 Music. → Music 📄 Documents → Documents 📦 APK-file → Download (then manually install it)
⚠️ Note: Do not copy files from the folder Android/data — This is the data of applications that will not work on Xiaomi due to different encryption keys. To transfer game saves, use Google Play Games or Helium.
Backup contacts in VCF| Copy photos to the cloud (in case of loss)| Check free space on Xiaomi (need +20% of the data volume)| Disable battery optimization for file manager-->
4. Transfer through third-party applications (SHAREit, Send Anywhere)
If the official methods didn't work, you can use third-party utilities, which transmit data over Wi-Fi Direct, which is faster than over the cloud, but less reliable.
The best applications for transfer:
| Annex | Speed. | Limitations | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send Anywhere | Up to 10MB/s | Limit 10 GB per transmission | Google Play |
| SHAREit | Up to 20MB/s | Advertising, possible errors with large files | Google Play |
| Xender | Up to 15MB/s | Registration required for files >5 GB | Google Play |
How to transfer data to Send Anywhere:
- Install the app on both phones.
- On Samsung, select files/applications and click Send. 6-digit code is generated.
- On Xiaomi, enter this code in the Get field.
- Wait until the transfer is complete (don’t leave the application!).
What if the transmission is 99% down?
5. Transfer of application data (saves, settings, games)
The usual methods are only tolerated APK-So, for example, in games, you lose progress, and WhatsApp, you lose chat history.
Methods of transferring data applications:
- 🎮 Games: Use Google Play Games (for cloud-savings-enabled games) or Helium (for manual backup).
- 💬 Messengers: In WhatsApp, back up to Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Telegram just log in to the account - the history is synchronized automatically.
- 📊 System settings: Swift Backup (requires root rights) saves application data and Android settings.
Example of transferring game saves through Helium:
- Install Helium on both phones and connect them to your PC.
- On Samsung, backup the game via Helium (you need to enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings).
- Transfer the backup file to Xiaomi and restore it via Helium.
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-They block the transfer of data to another device, and then you have to reconfigure it.
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To migrate your application data, always check if it supports cloud sync (e.g., through Google or your own account) and save time and ensures it’s up and running.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even when you follow instructions, users have problems. TOP-5 mistakes and their solutions:
- Miscompatible Devices Error in MI Mover Reason: Different versions of MIUI or Android. Solution: Update Xiaomi to the latest version of MIUI via Settings → About Phone → System Update.
- Applications are not installed on Xiaomi: APK-Files are designed for Samsung (architecture) ARM64 vs ARMv8). Solution: Download apps again from Google Play.
- Photos and videos are not displayed in the gallery Reason: Files are copied to the wrong folder Solution: Move them to DCIM/Camera and restart the phone.
- Closed folders on Xiaomi (private data) Reason: MIUI blocks access to system folders. Solution: Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.
- Contact loss after transfer Reason: Contacts are not synced with Google Account Solution: Export contacts to.vcf file on Samsung and import to Xiaomi.
If neither method worked, try resetting Xiaomi to factory settings and repeat the port, sometimes conflicting with residual data from previous attempts.