Changing your smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when you move from one Android ecosystem to another, for example, from MIUI to One UI. Users are often afraid of losing important data, settings and the familiar interface, but modern technology allows you to make this transition as painless as possible. The main task when changing your device is not just copying contacts, but fully porting applications with all their data, cache and authorizations.
The process of migrating from Xiaomi to Samsung has its nuances, as the shells of smartphones use different system libraries and redundancy methods. You will have to choose the most suitable method: use the official utility from Samsung, third-party applications or manual configuration through the cloud services. Each of these methods has its advantages, which we will discuss in detail in this guide so that you can start using the new device without delay.
It's important to understand that standard Google Play methods don't always keep the state of the game or progress in applications that don't support cloud saving, which is why getting the right preparation before you start the process is critical. We'll take everything from initial setup to fine-tuning the system so that your new device works as efficiently as the previous one.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the direct transfer, make sure both smartphones are ready to go. Charge both devices, Xiaomi and Samsung, to at least 80%, as the process of transferring a large amount of data can be energy-intensive. Also make sure that both gadgets are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and the screens are unlocked for detection.
On Xiaomi’s device, it’s recommended to remove unused debris and cache to speed up the copying process. Go to Settings → Memory and clear temporary files. On the Samsung side, make sure there’s enough free space to host all apps from the old phone.
☑️ Preparation for transfer
Special attention should be paid to accounts.Make sure you remember passwords from your Google account and Samsung account.Loging into the same Google account on both devices is a must to sync contacts, calendar and list of installed apps from the Play Store.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the preparation process by removing system applications on Xiaomi. MIUI can disrupt data transmission scripts and lead to synchronization errors.
Using Samsung Smart Switch to migrate
The most effective and official way to transfer data is the Smart Switch app, which is designed specifically for Samsung devices and supports Android smartphones from other manufacturers, including Xiaomi. To get started, install the Smart Switch app on both devices, unless it is pre-installed on the new Samsung.
Run the app on both smartphones. On the new Samsung, select "Get Data" and then "Android." On the old Xiaomi, launch the app and click "Send Data." The system will prompt you to scan. QR-code USB-C The cable connection is preferred because it provides a higher speed and stability of transmission.
Once connected, you will be prompted to select data types to port. Smart Switch allows you to select specific applications, contacts, messages, call logs and multimedia. It is worth noting that some MIUI system applications cannot be migrated to One UI due to incompatibility, so the utility will automatically skip them.
Why are some apps not portable?
During transmission, Samsung may request permission to install applications from unknown sources, a standard Android security procedure that allows Smart Switch to install. APK-- files transferred from another device. - Permit permission so that the process does not stop.
| Type of data | Transmission method via Smart Switch | Preservation of condition |
|---|---|---|
| Annexes (APK) | Direct file transfer | Yes (if supported) |
| Contacts and SMS | Synchronization of the database | Complete. |
| Photos and videos | Copying files | Complete (metadata is retained) |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Configuration Transfer | Complete. |
Alternative method: Mi Mover and its features
The second popular tool is the native Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on Xiaomi smartphones. Although it is tailored to the MIUI ecosystem, it can be used to create backups that you can then try to restore. However, when switching to Samsung, this method works only in limited ways, since One UI can not natively read MIUI backups.
You can use Mi Mover to quickly transfer media and documents to your PC or to the cloud if the Smart Switch doesn't work for some reason. Run an app on Xiaomi, select "I'm the sender," and follow the instructions. But for direct application installation on Samsung, this method is less effective than specialized cross-platform solutions.
If you do decide to use MIUI backup capabilities, remember that you can't restore the full system image to a different brand of device. MIUI backups contain system settings specific to Xiaomi shell only, which can cause conflicts on Samsung. So you'd better rely on universal data formats.
To transfer application installation files, you can use the APK export function to Mi Mover or file manager and then transfer them to Samsung. However, this will require manual installation of each application and logging in again, which greatly increases the time for setting up a new device.
Manual transfer via Google Account
The most reliable, though not the fastest, way is to use sync via Google Play. When you first turn on Samsung or after resetting the settings, the system will prompt you to restore data from a Google backup. If you previously enabled sync on Xiaomi, the list of your apps will automatically download.
Go to Settings → Google → Backup on your old phone and make sure the switch is activated. It stores installed lists, Wi-Fi passwords and some application settings. On the new Samsung, when you log in to the same Google Play account, it will offer to install all previously used apps.
- 📲 Open Google Play on Samsung and go to profile.
- 📲 Select "Applications and Device Management" → "Management".
- 📲 Filter applications by status "Not installed on this device".
- 📲 Mark the desired programs and press the installation button.
This method ensures that you get the latest compatible versions of apps from the store optimized for One UI. However, progress in games and data within apps will only be saved if the apps themselves support cloud sync (for example, through Google Play Games or a developer’s own account).
⚠️ Note: When manually restored via Google Play, banking apps and some instant messengers (such as WhatsApp) will require a separate backup procedure within the app itself to save your correspondence history.
Nuances of WhatsApp and messengers transfer
WhatsApp portage deserves special attention, as this app stores your correspondence history locally or in the cloud, but the paths to backups on Xiaomi and Samsung are different. On Xiaomi, backups are often created in Google Drive, which is a universal method. Make sure that the old phone in the WhatsApp settings (Chats → Backup Chats) is a Google account and the latest sync is performed.
When you first run WhatsApp on Samsung, the app will find a backup in Google Drive and prompt you to restore it. This is the cleanest way to work without losing data. If you used local backups on Xiaomi, they may be in a folder that won't automatically be moved unless you choose to transfer all the files.
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To move WhatsApp without loss, use the “Chat Transfer” function inside the WhatsApp app itself during Samsung’s initial setup phase if the system offers to do so via the app. QR-code.
Importantly, when switching between different Android brands, it is sometimes necessary to use a cable during the initial WhatsApp setup to transfer the local history if the cloud copy has not been updated.
Solving Application Compatibility Issues
After the port, you may find that some apps are not working properly or look distorted, due to different pixel density and screen resolution of Xiaomi and Samsung, as well as differences in Android versions, in which cases it is recommended to remove the problematic app and install it again from the Galaxy Store or Google Play.
Some features that depend on Xiaomi’s hardware (such as IR port management or specific MIUI gestures) won’t work on Samsung.You’ll have to reconfigure similar features in One UI, such as Bixby Routines (an automation analytic in MIUI) or gesture management.
- 🛠 Check for updates for all ported applications.
- 🛠 Clear the cache of problematic applications through Settings → Annexes.
- 🛠 Set up the permissions again, as they may have reset during the transfer.
Also worth checking is the notifications. One UI has a more aggressive power saving system that can kill background processes of ported applications. Go to the battery settings and add important messengers to the exception list to ensure that messages arrive on time.
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After transferring the data, be sure to restart the new Samsung smartphone, which will allow the system to index files, complete the installation of background services and correctly display the widgets of the ported applications.