How to Move Apps from Xiaomi to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Buying a new smartphone always brings mixed feelings: the joy of acquiring and the slight panic of having to transfer accumulated data. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a better position, because the company has provided powerful built-in tools for migration. The transition from one Mi or Redmi device to another goes as smoothly as possible, if you know the correct algorithm of actions.

Unlike cross-platform porting, where passwords, alarm settings and desktop layouts are often lost, the Xiaomi-to-Xiaomi bundle allows you to clone the phone almost one-to-one. You can save not only the files themselves, but also the location of the icons, which saves hours of time to get used to the new interface.

In this article, we will look at all available methods, from the proprietary Mi Mover utility to cloud services and manual installation, and pay special attention to the nuances of porting banking applications and authorization data, which often cause difficulties for users.

Using the Mi Mover app: a regular tool

The most reliable and quick way to migrate apps and data is to use the built-in Mi Mover utility, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s smartphones and optimized to work within the same ecosystem. The application creates a local Wi-Fi point through which files are transferred without mobile traffic, which ensures high speed.

To get started, you need to run the utility on both devices. On the old smartphone, select the role of Sender, and on the new one, Receiver. QR-You can sync your code or manually connect to the network, and you can choose what you want to move: contacts, messages, gallery, music or installed data. APK-file.

It’s important to understand that porting applications through Mi Mover works differently for system and third-party programs. System applications are ported along with their data, and for third-party applications, often only the installation file is copied. This means that after installing on a new device, you may need to re-enter logins and passwords.

• 📲 The app creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices without consuming Internet traffic.
• 🔄 Supports transfer not only applications, but also system settings, including wallpaper and alarm clocks.
• ⚡ The transmission speed can reach 30-40 MB/s, which is much faster than Bluetooth.

⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, phone screens can burn and devices can heat up, a normal reaction when you are actively transmitting large amounts of data, but it is recommended to keep your gadgets on hand.

The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of internal memory. You should not interrupt the connection, as this can damage the archives with the data. If the transfer is interrupted, it is better to start the process again, after clearing the temporary files.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Account

Cloud technology doesn't depend on the physical presence of an old phone at hand. If you've been using Mi Cloud services, most of the settings and applications are already stored on the company's servers. When you log in to your account on a new device, the system will offer to restore a backup.

To activate this feature on your old device, go to the settings and select Mi Account. Make sure the Mi Cloud Sync switch is activated. Here you can customize in detail what data will be sent to the cloud: contacts, notes, voice recorder, and a list of installed applications.

In parallel, the Google ecosystem works. In the Settings → Google → Backup section, data on purchased applications, Wi-Fi passwords and settings of some programs is stored. When you first set up a new Xiaomi, you just enter the same Google account, and the Play Market store will automatically start downloading the previously installed software.

The main advantage of the cloud method is the ability to recover data even if an old phone is broken or lost, but there is a disadvantage: free space in the cloud is often not enough for a full backup, and downloading a large number of applications over the Internet can take a long time.

Manual transfer of APK files and installation from unknown sources

Sometimes automatic methods fail, or you have to move a specific application that is not in the official store. APK-This method requires a lot of preparation: you need to download the installers on your old phone or find them online.

To extract APK from an already installed application, you can use file managers, for example, built-in Explorer from Xiaomi or third-party solutions like MT Manager. Find the desired application in the list of installed ones, select the option “Copy” or “Send”, and the file will be stored in memory.

After transferring the file to a new smartphone (via Bluetooth, Telegram or USB-cable, installation must be allowed. MIUI HyperOS is very secure when trying to run. APK system will issue a warning.

Settings → Privacy Protection → Special Rights → Installation of Unknown Applications

In this menu, you need to find the application through which you will run the installer (for example, Explorer or Telegram), and allow it to install.

💡

Use the File Transfer feature in Bluetooth settings to quickly send APKs. This is faster than searching for a file in folders manually, and doesn’t require a connection to a single Wi-Fi network.

Remember, manual installation doesn't carry data inside the application (save games, chats) and you'll get a clean program that you'll have to reconfigure. It's acceptable for utilities, but it's not easy for games to progress.

Data portability of banking applications and security

Financial applications are worth special attention: banks rarely allow full data transfer through cloud backups for security reasons, and when migrating to the new Xiaomi, you will almost certainly have to go through the procedure of re-authorization.

Some banks link the device to an account. Signing in from a new phone may require a confirmation via SMS, a call to a call center, or a computer login to the Internet bank. Make sure you have access to the SIM card the bank is registered to.

If your old phone has a biometric (fingerprint or Face ID) set up to log in to apps, the new device will have to reconfigure it. Android security system does not allow you to copy biometric keys between devices.

⚠️ Warning: Never install modified versions of banking apps (mods, patches) on a new phone in the hope that they will work.This can lead to account lock. APK from the bank's website or from Mi GetApps.

For maximum security, it is recommended that after transferring data and successfully logging in to the bank, perform the “Forget the device” procedure in the security settings of the banking application on the old phone, if you plan to sell or give it away.

Cache management and system cleaning after migration

Once all applications are moved, the new smartphone can run slower than usual, because the MIUI or HyperOS system takes time to index files and optimize the installed software for the new hardware.

In the first hours of use, the background process of optimizing applications is active.** Don't be afraid if the phone warms up or discharges quickly on the first day.

It's also worth checking access rights. When you migrate, some applications may have lost permission to use the microphone, geolocation or contacts, go through the list of important programs and make sure they have access to the necessary functions.

If you notice that an application is not working correctly or crashing, try clearing its cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find the problem program and select Clean → Clear Cache. Don’t confuse it with Clear All Data, as this will remove your authorization.

Solving Common Problems in Transfer

Despite the fact that things are fine, users often encounter bugs, and one of the most common is the "Data Recovery Error," which can occur if the Android version or shell on the old and new phones is too different, for example, when you switch from MIUI 12 to HyperOS, the structure of some files may have changed.

Another problem is that some apps are missing after the port, and that's for programs that have been removed from Google Play or that aren't certified for your region, so Mi Mover might skip them when you copy them as standard.

If the process is stalling in the Preparation phase, try restarting both smartphones and repeating the procedure by selecting a smaller amount of data for the first attempt (contacts and settings only), and loading the apps separately.

💡

The most common cause of port errors is an unstable Wi-Fi connection or power saving mode on one of the smartphones.

In rare cases, resetting network settings on both devices before migrating helps, which will clear stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth settings, but can eliminate driver conflict that interferes with data transfer.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions