How to transfer applications from the old Xiaomi smartphone to the new: all ways 2026

Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting event, but the process of porting apps often turns into a headache. Many users lose saved data, settings or even purchases in apps, trying to simply copy the app. APK-There are at least 5 effective ways to migrate applications without loss, from embedded tools. MIUI off-site.

In this article, we’ll explore the unique portability nuances of Xiaomi devices that don’t work on other brands: the backup features of Mi Account, the limitations of using Google Drive for Chinese firmware, and why some apps refuse to recover even after a successful port. You’ll learn how to save not only the programs themselves, but their data — from game progress to the history of chats in instant messengers.

1. Preparing the old Xiaomi smartphone for the transfer

Before you start a transfer, you need to properly prepare the old device, which is often missed, but it determines how well the data migration will go.

Start by clearing the cache in the applications you plan to port, which will reduce the amount of data you transmit and reduce the risk of errors. → Annexes → App management, select the app you want and click Clear cache, especially for messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and social networks, where the cache can take up several gigabytes.

• 🔋 Charge both phones to at least 50% – transfer can take up to 2 hours with a large amount of data
• 📶 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably 5 GHz for speed)
• 🔑 Make sure that the Settings option is enabled on the old phone → Additionally. → Developer → Debugging by USB (If you plan to use the cable)
• 📱 Check the version. MIUI On both devices, a difference of more than 2 major versions can cause compatibility issues.

Pay special attention to applications with two-factor authentication (banks, wallets), disable the link to the old device in advance or save backup codes. Some services (for example, Sberbank Online) can block access if a new device is detected.

2.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi that allows you to transfer not only applications, but also system settings, contacts, messages and even wallpaper. MIUI 9 and newer, including the latest Redmi models and POCO.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. On the new smartphone, select Data Transfer during the first setup (if the phone is already configured, find Mi Mover in Settings). → The phone. → Data portability)
2. On your old phone, open Settings. → The phone. → Transfer data and select I am the sender
3. Scan the new phone scanner QR-code that will appear on the old device
4. Select data to transfer (required to mark Applications and Application Data)
5. Confirm the transfer on both devices and wait until the process is complete.

Mi Mover does not tolerate some system applications (Mi Home, Mi Fit) and games with cheating protection (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, and they will require separate authorization.

Make sure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled

Close all background applications on both devices

Connect both phones to charging

Check that the new phone has enough free space (at least 20% more than the data on the old one)

Shut down. VPN Proxy servers (they can block the connection)-->

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has Chinese firmware (without Google services) and the new one has global firmware, Mi Mover may not port apps from Google Play.

3. Transfer through Google Account (for global firmware)

If your Xiaomi has global firmware with Google services installed, the easiest way to transfer is through a Google account, which is suitable for most apps downloaded from the Play Market.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, open Settings. → Google → Backup and enable backup in Google Drive
2. Make sure that all the necessary programs are marked in the Application Data section.
3. On the new phone, when you first set up, log in to the same Google account and select Restore from backup.
4. Select the last backup and wait for the recovery to complete.

The main advantage of this method is that applications are automatically updated to the latest versions after recovery, but there are also significant limitations:

• 🚫 Not tolerated. APK-Application files installed outside the Play Market (e.g. from APKMirror)
• 🔒 Some applications (banking, instant messengers) require re-authorization
• 📱 This method may not work on Xiaomi’s Chinese firmware due to lack of Google services.

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If some apps don’t show up after recovery, check the “My Apps and Games” section of the Play Market. Sometimes they don’t install automatically, but they remain on the list of previously installed apps.

4. Manual transfer via computer (for advanced users)

For those who prefer complete control of the process, manual computer transfer is a good option, allowing selective copying of applications and their data, but requiring more time and technical skills.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original from Xiaomi)
• 📁 Programme ADB (Android Debug Bridge for working with application data

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times on the version, then return to the optional version. → For developers)
2. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your debugging permission.
3. Open the command line and type in: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab This command will create a complete backup of all applications and their data to the backup.ab file.
4. Copy the received file to a new phone
5. On the new phone, perform recovery: adb restore backup.ab

This method allows you to migrate all the data of applications, including saving games and settings of programs.

• 🛡️ Does not work with applications that use data encryption (many banking applications)
• 🔄 Requires the same Android version on both devices (or similar versions)
• ⚙️ Some Xiaomi system applications may not recover

⚠️ Note: Backup.ab file is not encrypted by default.If it contains sensitive data (passwords, tokens), store it in a secure location or delete it after recovery.

5. Transfer of specific applications: instant messengers, games, banking services

Some categories of applications require a special approach when migrating, and let's look at some of the most problematic cases.

Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber):

• 💬 WhatsApp: Use built-in backup in Google Drive (settings) → chat → On your new phone, install WhatsApp and restore it from the same Google account.
• 📱 Telegram: all data is stored in the cloud, just log in to the same account. To transfer local files, copy the Telegram folder from internal memory
• 🔒 Viber and Signal: Require manually exporting chat history through app settings

Games with cloud-based saves:

• 🎮 Most modern games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) are tied to a Google Play Games account, Facebook or your own gaming account.
• 🖥️ For games without cloud storage (Minecraft, some offline games) copy the folder Android/obb and Android/data game-name

Banking applications and wallets:

• 💳 Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, VTB: require full re-registration on the new device.
• 💰 Google Pay and Samsung Pay: Re-attach cards via app settings
• 🔐 Cryptocurrency Wallets (Trust Wallet, MetaMask): Restore access via seed phrase or private keys

Transfer problems and their solutions

Even with all the steps done correctly, users often face problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

If you use Chinese firmware on a new phone, you may have a problem installing Google apps.

1. Install Google Installer from Xiaomi’s official app store
2. Start the installer and wait for Google services to be installed
3. Restart your phone and log in to your Google account.
4. Install the missing apps through the Play Market

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If the phone is slower after the transfer, check the animation settings in developer mode. Sometimes the transfer saves the old settings optimized for a less powerful device.

Alternative methods: third-party programs

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party programs, which offer more features, but require caution.

Pop-up recommendations:

• 🛠️ Titanium Backup (requires root rights) is the most powerful full-backup solution, but difficult to set up
• 🔄 Clone App – allows you to duplicate applications with data (useful for instant messengers)
• 📱 Send Anywhere is a simple way to transfer APK-file-to-device
• 🖥️ MobileTrans is a paid solution with a simple interface for transferring data between different brands

When using third-party programs, consider:

• 🔒 Many programs require root rights, which deprives of guarantees.
• 📡 Some solutions transfer data through their servers, which may not be secure.
• 💰 Paid programs often have restrictions on free versions.

For Xiaomi, the use of Send Anywhere is especially important, since this program works well with firmware. MIUI It doesn't require root rights:

1. Install Send Anywhere on both phones
2. On your old phone, select files. APK (are /data/app, but only available from root, or use the "Send Apps" function"
3. Generate the key or scan it. QR-code
4. On the new phone enter the key and confirm the reception
5. Identify the received APK-Files (Permission to install from unknown sources may be required)

8.Optimize the new phone after the transfer

After successful transfer of applications, you need to optimize the work of the new smartphone, which will help to avoid brakes and extend battery life.

Follow the following steps:

• 🧹 Clear the cache of all ported applications through Settings → Annexes → Application management
• 🔋 Calibrate the battery: completely discharge and charge the phone 2-3 once
• 📵 Check the permissions of applications in Settings → Confidentiality → Permits and disable unnecessary
• 🔄 Update all apps via Play Market or App Gallery (for Chinese firmware)
• 🛡️ Set up auto-clean memory in Settings → Battery and productivity → Cleanup

Pay special attention to the background activity of applications. On new Xiaomi smartphones, aggressive battery optimization is enabled by default, which can interfere with the operation of some programs.

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management
2. Select Apps and find programs that should run in the background
3. Set a regime for them without restrictions

For games, it is recommended to include the performance mode:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities → Game mode
2. Add games to the list and include the Performance option
3. Activate Notification Block and Auto Brightness Disable for a Better Gaming Experience

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If some applications start to consume more battery after the transfer, check their sync settings. Often, the old background settings are transferred with the application and are not optimized for the new device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving apps to Xiaomi