Changing a smartphone is always stressful, associated with the risk of losing important information. When you switch from Samsung to a device Xiaomi Redmi Note, a natural question arises about the safety of your contacts, photos, correspondence and settings. Fortunately, modern Android operating systems offer powerful tools that make the process as simple and secure as possible, even for inexperienced users.
You don't need to be a techie to successfully migrate. The entire process takes from 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the amount of information stored. The main thing is to properly prepare both devices and choose the optimal transfer method, which we will consider in detail below.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60-70%. The process of actively copying data consumes a significant amount of energy, and suddenly turning off one of the devices can interrupt file transfers. Also check that Bluetooth and GPS are enabled on both devices, as some methods use these modules to detect devices.
There are several proven transfer methods: using the built-in application MI Mover from Xiaomi, Google cloud services or specialized software Smart Switch from Samsung. Each method has its advantages, but for the Samsung-Xiaomi connection, using the native Xiaomi tool is considered the most effective and fastest. It allows you to transfer not only multimedia, but also the folder structure, and even the location of icons on the desktop.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting the migration, it is strongly recommended to update the operating system on both devices to the latest available version. This ensures compatibility of transfer protocols and eliminates errors associated with outdated security patches.
Preparing devices for data migration
The initial stage is critical to the success of the entire operation. First of all, clear the cache on the old Samsungto speed up reading files. To do this, go to Settings → Storage → Clear. Make sure that the new Xiaomi Redmi Note has enough free space. If you are moving from 128 GB to 64 GB, you will have to be selective about transferring heavy video files.
The second step is to check your Google account. Make sure you have contacts and calendar syncing enabled on your old phone. This will create a backup copy in the cloud, which will automatically be pulled up to the new device when you log in. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and check the synchronization status.
- 📱 Charge both smartphones to above 60% to avoid disconnection.
- 📶 Connect both devices to the same network Wi-Fi to speed up the process.
- 🔒 Unlock the screens of both phones and allow access to files.
- 📂 Free up space on your new Xiaomi by deleting unnecessary pre-installed applications.
Don't forget to also check the Android version. Although MI Mover is compatible with most versions, work within one major version (for example, Android 12 to Android 13) is more stable. If your Samsung has a very old version of Android (below 6.0), you may have problems reading some system settings files.
Using the MI Mover application for fast transfer
The most effective way is to use the native application MI Mover, which is pre-installed on all smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi. If your new device doesn't have it (which is rare), download the APK file from the official website or through the GetApps store. On your old Samsung, you will have to download the application from the Google Play Store.
Run the application on both devices. On Xiaomi, select the role "I'm a recipient", and on Samsung - "I'm a sender". The system will ask for permission to access contacts, SMS, gallery and other data - agree with all requests, otherwise the transfer will be incomplete. After this, a QR code will appear on the Xiaomi screen.
Scan the QR code with a Samsung camera. The devices will create a direct Wi-Fi access point between themselves. The transfer speed in this mode can reach 20-30 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth. Select the types of data to copy: images, videos, music, documents, applications and their data. Click "Submit" and wait for completion.
☑️ MI Mover preparation checklist
⚠️ Attention: During operation MI Mover phone screens may go dark, but the process should not be interrupted. Do not minimize the application or go to other menus, as this may break the connection.
Alternative methods: Google Account and Smart Switch
If for some reason the direct connection does not work, you can use Google cloud services. This method is ideal for contacts, notes, and calendar. On Samsung, make sure that all the necessary items are checked in your Google account settings. On the new Xiaomi, simply log in to the same account during the initial setup.
For photos and videos, Google Photosis best suited. Enable Backup and Sync on your old device. After all the photos are uploaded to the cloud, they will automatically appear in the gallery of the new phone. This takes time and requires a stable Internet, but the data will not go anywhere.
| Method | Speed | What it carries | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI Mover | High | All (including settings) | Low |
| Google Account | Medium | Contacts, Calendar, Applications | Low |
| Google Photos | Depends on the network | Photo and Video | Low |
| Smart Switch (PC) | High | Full copy systems | Average |
There is also a method via a computer using a app Smart Switch from Samsung. You make a full backup of Samsung on PC and then try to restore it on Xiaomi. However, this method is often problematic due to differences in the One UI and MIUI shells, so it is recommended only for experienced users as a backup option.
Transfer of instant messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber
Messengers require special attention, since they store correspondence in their databases. For Telegram and Viber everything is simple: install the application on a new phone, enter the number, and the correspondence history will be updated automatically (in Telegram) or restored from a cloud backup (in Viber).
C WhatsApp the situation is more complicated when changing platforms, but there should be no problems when switching from Android to Android. The most reliable way is local backup. On your old Samsung, go to Whatsapp Settings → Chats → Chat Backup and click "Backup". The file will be saved in Google Drive.
What to do if WhatsApp does not see the backup?
If, when installing WhatsApp on a new phone, it does not offer to restore the copy, make sure that you are using the same phone number and the same Google account. Also make sure the Google Play Services app is installed on your phone and is up to date. Sometimes reinstalling WhatsApp after checking the presence of the file in the Google Drive folder helps.
After installing WhatsApp on Xiaomi Redmi Note, during the initial setup, the application itself will detect a backup copy on Google Drive and offer to restore the message history. Make sure that you are using the same phone number, otherwise recovery will not be possible.
For WhatsApp, you can make a local copy without the Internet. Find the WhatsApp/Databases folder in the file manager, copy the msgstore.db.crypt14 file to your computer or immediately transfer it to a new phone, placing it in a similar folder before installing the application.
Solving problems and errors when copying
Often users are faced with the fact that the process freezes 99% or some applications do not open on the new one device. This is normal for banking applications and some secure apps due to differences in security certificates. They will have to be set up again manually.
If the transmission is interrupted, do not panic. Most applications, including MI Mover, know how to resume the process. Simply start the transfer again, selecting only those categories of data that were not copied. Avoid re-transferring existing files to avoid creating duplicates.
- 🔄 Authorization error: Log out of your Mi account on both devices and log in again.
- 📉 Low speed: Make sure that there are no strong sources of Wi-Fi interference nearby (microwaves, neighbors' routers).
- 🚫 Shortage places: Check if some files are hidden in the Trash folder on Samsung, they are also taking up space.
It is important to understand that some Samsung system settings (for example, specific One UI gestures or widgets) cannot be transferred to MIUI due to fundamental differences in the skin code. You will have to customize the interface of the new phone for yourself again.
⚠️ Attention: The MIUI and One UI interfaces are constantly updated. The location of menu items or names of functions may differ from those described in the instructions. Always check the current interface of your device.
Setting up a new Xiaomi Redmi Note after transfer
After successful data transfer, the new phone may work slowly in the first hours. The system MIUI indexes files and optimizes applications in the background. Let the phone sit on charge with the screen on for about 30-60 minutes to complete background processes.
Check application permissions. When transferring from another Android shell, access rights to the microphone, camera and geolocation are often reset. Go through the list of installed apps and make sure that navigators have access to GPS, and instant messengers have access to the microphone.
In the first hours after the transfer, the battery may discharge faster than usual - this is the process of optimizing the system. Don’t panic, in a day the operating mode will stabilize.
Don’t forget to delete the application MI Mover or Smart Switch from your old phone if you plan to sell or give it away. Clear your old device of personal data by performing a full factory reset (Settings → General settings → Reset).
Why do some applications not open on the new Xiaomi?
This is due to the Google Play Protect security mechanism and differences in application signatures. When you transfer APK files from another device, the system may consider them suspicious. Solution: delete the broken application and download it again from the official Google Play store or GetApps.
Can I transfer passwords from Wi-Fi networks?
Yes, if both phones run Android 10 and higher, Wi-Fi passwords can be transferred automatically through your Google account. If this does not happen, you will have to enter the password again the first time you connect to the network on a new device.
What to do if SMS messages are missing?
When transferred via MI Mover, SMS should be saved. If they are not there, check the Messages application - perhaps another messenger (for example, from Google) has opened by default. Go to settings and change the default SMS application to the system one.
Do you need to format the memory card before transferring?
No, you do not need to format the memory card if the file system is compatible (usually exFAT or FAT32). Just transfer the microSD card from Samsung to Xiaomi. However, if the card was used as internal storage on Samsung, the new phone may not be able to read the data without formatting, resulting in data loss.