How to Move Apps from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just a brand change, but also a migration of all digital life: instant messengers, social networks, games and work tools. Many users face the challenge: how to migrate applications quickly, without losing data and settings? Unlike the intra-ecosystem transition (e.g., with the Galaxy). S22 Galaxy S23), where Samsung Smart Switch works, when changing the platform to MIUI requires a different approach.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for porting applications, from official tools (Mi Mover, Google Backup) to manual methods for power users. APK-Files, cache and settings, and what you have to reconfigure.We will pay special attention to the compatibility of Android versions: why Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 (Android 13) some applications with Galaxy S10 (Android 12 may not work properly.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge for both smartphones (minimum 50%) – the process can take up to 30 minutes.
• 📶 stable Wi-Fi connection (for cloud-based methods) or USB-cable (for wire transfer).
• 📱 Free space on Xiaomi – applications + Their data can take up to 2-3 times more space than the.apk files themselves.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for data migration, including apps, contacts and multimedia. The tool supports porting from Samsung, but there are nuances: it does not copy the same data. APK-files, just a list of installed apps (you'll have to download them from Google Play again), but they're saved:

• 📱 Contacts, SMS call-book.
• 📷 Photo and video (optional).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi settings and accounts.
• 🎮 Data from certain games (if synced with Google Play Games).

How to use:

1. Download Mi Mover on both phones: Samsung: Google Play. Xiaomi: preinstalled in Settings → The phone. → Data import.

Xiaomi

I'm the sender. → Samsung

Samsung

Mi Mover

Xiaomi

Annexes

Disable battery optimization for Mi Mover on both phones|

Make sure that Xiaomi has enough space (minimum 10GB free)|

Connecting both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (5GHz) is preferable)|

Close all background applications (especially antiviruses)

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Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not tolerated. APK-Files – only installation links from Google Play.
• ❌ Some Samsung system applications (such as Samsung Health) won’t work on the system. MIUI.
• ❌ Application data (e.g., saved in games) is only transferred if it is synced to the cloud.

💡

If Mi Mover doesn’t see Samsung, try turning on the developer mode (Settings) → The phone. → Build number - tap 7 times) and activate Debugging by USB.

Samsung’s Smart Switch: Can You Use it for Xiaomi?

Samsung Smart Switch is designed to transfer data between Samsung devices, but some users are trying to adapt it for Xiaomi.Spoiler: it's partially possible but with reservations.The tool allows you to export data in the.sbk (encrypted backup) format, which you can try to unpack on Xiaomi.

How to do this:

1. On Samsung, create a backup using Smart Switch (Settings) → Cloud and accounts → Smart Switch → Backup).
2. Copy backup.sbk file on PC (it is located in Internal Storage) → SmartSwitchBackup).
3. Use third-party tools like Smart Switch Backup Extractor (Windows) to extract data.
4. Move the extracts. APK-files on Xiaomi and install manually.

Conclusion: Smart Switch for transfer to Xiaomi is not the most reliable option, it should be used only if you are critical contacts or contacts. SMS, You can re-install the applications, and for everything else, you'd better choose different methods.

Manual transfer (copying files)|

Official tools (Mi Mover, Smart Switch)|

Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) |

I can't stand it, I'm setting it up again.

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3. Cloud Transfer via Google or Mi Cloud

If you don't have to move it yourself. APK-files, and just save application data (for example, progress in games or settings messengers), cloud services are the best option. Google and Mi Cloud synchronize different types of data, so they should be used together.

What Google is syncing:

• 📱 List of installed applications (will be asked to install them on the new device).
• 🔑 Autocomplete Passwords and Data (via Google Smart Lock).
• 🎮 Game saving (if the developer supports Google Play Games).
• 📅 Calendar, contacts, Gmail.

How to set up:

1. On Samsung go to Settings → Google → Backup and enable Download to Google Drive.
2. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore from backup and log in to the same Google account.
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to several hours).

What syncs Mi Cloud:

• 📱 System settings (MIUI).
• 📷 Photo and video (if included in settings).
• 📝 Notes and notebooks (if you used standard Xiaomi apps).
• 🔑 Data from some applications (e.g. Mi Fit or Mi Browser).

⚠️ Note: If you have used Samsung Notes (Samsung Notes, Samsung Internet) on Samsung, their data will not be transferred to the Mi Cloud).

The advantages of the cloud method:

• ✅ No need to connect phones to each other.
• ✅ Data is available on any device with the same account.
• ✅ Automatic update of backup copies.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not all applications support cloud synchronization.
• ❌ A stable internet connection is required.
• ❌ Free storage (15 GB in Google Drive).

4. Manual application portability: for power users

If you need to migrate not only applications but also their data (for example, saving games without cloud sync or configuring rare programs), the manual method is the only option. ADB, It gives you complete control of the process.

Step 1: Exports APK application data

On Samsung:

1. Install App Backup & Restore (such as MyBackup Pro).
2. Select backup apps and create an archive (.apk format) + data).
3. Copy the archive on PC or directly to Xiaomi (via the link) OTG-cable).

Step 2: Move to Xiaomi

On Xiaomi:

1. Install MyBackup Pro or Titanium Backup (requires root).
2. Restore the data from the archive. If the application requests root, use Magisk to obtain the rights.
3. For applications with OBB-Files (games) copy the folder Android/obb manually.

Alternative without root: use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge. teams for backup and recovery:

adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all


adb restore backup.ab

⚠️ Note: When manually transferring application data (e.g, /data/data/com.example.app) There may be conflicts with MIUI. Some Xiaomi system apps block changing their folders.Before perenosom, back up NANDroid via TWRP.

5. Transfer through third-party services (Send Anywhere, Shareit)

If the official methods don't work, and manual porting is too complicated, you can use universal file transfer services, which don't store application data, but allow you to quickly copy. APK-file.

Popular services:

• 📲 Send Anywhere – Wi-Fi Direct transmission without speed limit.
• 📲 SHAREit – Supports packet shipping APK.
• 📲 Xender is a simple interface, but can display ads.
• 📲 LocalSend – open source, no advertising (recommended for sensitive data).

Instructions for Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On Samsung, select Send → Files. → Appendices and mark the required APK.
3. Create a 6-digit code or QR.
4. On Xiaomi, enter the code in the Get field.
5. After the transfer, install APK manually (allow installation from unknown sources in Settings) → Annexes → Special rights).

Pros of the method:

• ✅ Speed (transmission takes a few minutes).
• ✅ No Brand Link (works between any Android devices).
• ✅ Only the necessary applications can be selectively transferred.

Cons:

• ❌ No application data (cache, settings).
• ❌ Some of them APK They may not be able to be installed due to incompatibility.

6. data transfer of specific applications (messengers, games, banks)

Some applications require a separate approach due to the nature of data storage, and consider the most popular categories:

📱 Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber):

• WhatsApp: Use the built-in backup in Google Drive (Settings) → chat → Backup! On Xiaomi, restore on first launch.
• Telegram: data is stored in the cloud, just log in to a new device.
• Viber: backup in Settings → Account. → Backup (save in Google Drive).

🎮 Games:

• Games with Google Play Games support: sync is automatic.
• Games without cloud (such as Minecraft): copy the folder games/com.mojang from /sdcard/Android/obb.
• Emulators (PPSSPP, Dolphin: Export saves through the emulator menu.

🏦 Banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, VTB):

• We recommend you remove the app on your old phone, then install it again on Xiaomi and log in.

📷 Social media (Instagram, VK, TikTok):

• Data (photos, videos, drafts) are not transferred – they are stored on the servers of the platforms.
• For VK You can export chats through Settings → Exports of history.
• Instagram doesn’t provide backup tools – use third-party services like InstaSave.

💡

For mission-critical applications (banks, instant messengers), always use official backup methods. APK This may result in the account being blocked due to suspected unauthorized access.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and let's look at common mistakes and their solutions.

❌ Error: “Annex not installed"

• Reason: Incompatibility of Android versions or processor architecture.
• Solution: Check the supported version of Android on Google Play. If the app is old, try to find its counterpart or a newer version APK APKPure.

❌ Mistake: “Not enough space"

• Reason: APK + The data takes up more space than the data itself. APK.
• Solution: Free up space on Xiaomi (delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card). → Warehouse → Cleanup.

❌ Error: “Application data has not recovered"

• Reason: There are no root rights or conflict versions of the application.
• Solution: Try: Install the same version of the app as you did on Samsung. Use Titanium Backup from root. Clear the app cache before recovery (Settings) → Annexes → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

❌ Mistake: Mi Mover doesn't see Samsung"

• Reason: Network settings conflict or firewall blockage.
• Solution: Turn it off VPN and firewall on both phones, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably 5 GHz.

⚠️ Note: If you migrate data from Samsung to Xiaomi with different versions of Android (for example, from Android 11 to Android 13), some system applications (Samsung Knox, Bixby) will not work on the Android system. MIUI. They can be removed after transfer to make room.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions