How to transfer apps from your old phone to Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Introduction: Why Standard Data Transfers Often Fail

The transition to a new smartphone Xiaomi Redmi is always a joyful event, but the process of transferring applications can turn into a headache. Even the official tool Mi Mover from Xiaomi does not always correctly copy all programs, especially if they are installed from third-party sources or are linked to an account. What if the old phone is not Xiaomi, but, for example, Samsung or iPhone? or if the new Redmi is fresh HyperOS, and the old one is outdated MIUI 12?

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to port applications – from standard tools to advanced methods for power users. You will learn how to save not only the programs themselves, but also their data (for example, progress in games or settings messengers), and also avoid the typical errors that cause applications to “fly” after moving. We will pay special attention to the nuances for the Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and flagship Redmi K60/K70 models, where the process may differ due to hardware limitations.

We warn you right away: transferring applications via backup to Google Account does not guarantee the safety of third-party APK data (for example, modified versions or programs from unknown sources).If it is critical for you to save a particular application, read the section on manual transfer of.apk and obb files.

Method 1: Mi Mover is the official tool from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a data migration application built into MIUI and HyperOS that works on a point-to-point (direct exchange between devices) principle, and it supports porting not only applications, but also contacts, messages, photos and even some system settings.

• 📱 Works only between Xiaomi devices (or POCO/Redmi). If your old phone is a different brand, this method won't work.
• 🔄 Requires the same or compatible version of MIUI/HyperOS. For example, transferring from MIUI 14 to HyperOS 1.0 is possible, but with MIUI 11 errors may occur.
• 🚫 Does not transfer data from certain system applications (e.g. miui.home) and applications with DRM- protection (Netflix, banking programs).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
2. On the new Redmi, when you first turn on, select Data Portability. If your phone is already configured, open Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover.
3. On your old phone, run Mi Mover (download from Google Play if it isn’t) and select the “Sender” role.
4. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone or connect via device search.
5. Select categories for transfer (required to mark “Applications”) and confirm the beginning of the process.

Battery charge >50% on both devices |Same Wi-Fi |Switched off VPN|Free >10 GB on the new phone |Updated Mi Mover and MIUI-->

The transfer speed depends on the volume of data and the model of the phone. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with HyperOS, the process takes ~ 20 minutes for 50 applications, and on the Redmi 9A with MIUI 12 it can take an hour. If the transfer is frozen during the Preparation stage, try restarting both phones and repeating the procedure.

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If Mi Mover doesn’t see the old device, check if the firewall or antivirus (like Avast) is blocking the connection over the LAN. On Redmi with HyperOS, you may also need to allow access to the location for Mi Mover in the application settings.

Method 2: Backup your Google Account

This method is universal and works even if your old phone is not Xiaomi, but it has serious limitations.

• ✅ Only apps from Google Play (non-system and non-third-party APK) are portable.
• ❌ Application data (e.g., saved in games or chats in Telegram) is not stored unless the developer has provided a cloud backup.
• ⚠️ New Redmis with HyperOS may require additional sync settings in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → System → Backup (on Android 10+) or Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Enable Backup in Google Drive and wait until it’s finished (can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours).
3. On the new Redmi, when you set up, log in to the same Google Account and select “Recover Data”.
4. After recovery, go to Google Play → Library → Installed and click “Update All”.

If the apps don’t recover automatically, check:

• 🔍 Is there enough space on the new phone (minimum free ~1.5 × backup volume required)?
• 🔄 Is sync enabled in Settings → Accounts → Google → Application Synced?
• 📵 Does the new Redmi use Charging Optimization, which can block background processes?

Mi Mover|Google Account|Manual file transfer |Third-party programs (e.g. ShareIt) |Never transferred-->

Method 3: Manual transfer of APK and OBB- files

If you need to migrate specific applications (such as modified versions or programs from unknown sources) and their data (such as game cache), this method is the most reliable. It requires a little technical skill, but guarantees the safety of all files.

What you need:

• 📁 A file manager with access to root folders (e.g., Mi File Manager, Solid Explorer, or FX File Explorer).
• 🔌 Cable OTG or adapter for connecting a flash drive/external drive (if carried through a physical medium).
• 💾 ~2-3 GB of free space on an intermediate medium (flash drive, cloud, PC).

Step-by-step:

1. Find APK- Files: Open the file manager and go to /data/app/ (root rights required) or /sdcard/Android/data/ (for some applications). Copy folders with the names of the desired applications (for example, com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).
2. Copy OBB- files (for games): Go to /sdcard/Android/obb/ and copy folders with game data (for example, com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftA9HM for Asphalt 9).
3. Move files to the new Redmi: Connect a flash drive or send files through the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud). On the new phone, place the APK in /sdcard/Download/ and OBB in /sdcard/Android/obb/.
4. Install and restore: Install APK through the file manager (allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access). For games: Once installed, restart the phone - OBB- files will be downloaded automatically.

⚠️ Warning: Some applications (e.g., banking or DRM) may not work after manual installation APK, and you will have to download them again from the official store.

Method 4: Use of third-party software (ShareIt, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If you don't have an OTG cable or don't want to mess around with manual file copying, you can use third-party wireless transfer apps.

• 📲 ShareIt (fast but requires a lot of permissions)
• ⚡ Xender (supports data application portability).
• 🌐 Send Anywhere (works through a browser, without installation on a PC).
• 🔗 LocalSend (open source, no ads).

The general algorithm (on the example of Xender):

1. Install Xender on both phones from Google Play or APKMirror.
2. On your old phone, select “Send” → “Apps” and select the programs you want.
3. On the new Redmi, select Get and connect to the old phone’s hotspot.
4. Confirm the transmission and wait for completion (speed ~10-15 MB / s).
5. After transfer, install APK- files manually (as in the 3 Method).

⚠️ Attention: ShareIt-type applications often collect user data. If you care about privacy, use LocalSend (it doesn't require access to contacts or location). Also note that some antiviruses (like Kaspersky) can block the transmission of APK- files over the local network.

Comparison of transfer programs:

Method 5: Transfer over PCs (ADBs and backup programs)

This is the most advanced method that's suitable for power users, and it allows you to create a full copy of all the applications along with their data and restore it to the new Redmi, and you'll need a computer with ADB and Fastboot installed.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB: Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack it to C:\adb. On your phone, turn on USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press).

Create a backup.

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab

On the phone will appear a request for confirmation – enter the password (if required) and wait for completion.

Redmi

adb restore C:\backup.ab

The new phone also needs to confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Warning: This method may not work on newer versions of MIUI/HyperOS due to the limitations of Android 12+. If the adb backup command returns the error "adb: unable to open sync connection," try the alternative:

• Use Titanium Backup (requires root).
• Swift Backup (works on some firmware without root).

If you are not ready to deal with ADB, you can use programs with a graphical interface:

• 🖥️ Moborobo (a simple but outdated interface)
• 🔧 Dr.Fone is Phone Transfer (paid but supports portability between iOS and Android).
• 📂 Syncios Mobile Manager (free, saves application data)

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The ADB- backup is the only way to transfer all application data (including settings and cache) without root. However, it may not work stable on HyperOS and MIUI 14+ due to Xiaomi’s security policy.

Problem Solving: What to Do If Applications Are Not Moved

Even if you follow the instructions, you can make mistakes. Here are the typical problems and solutions.

If the application is unstable after transfer:

1. Check the permissions: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [name] → Permits.
2. Clear the cache: Settings → Apps → [name] → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. Reinstall the app via Google Play (even if it’s already installed).

For Redmi models with HyperOS (such as Redmi K70 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), additional customization may be required:

Settings → Applications → Special Access → Access to all applications files

Include this option for file managers and transfer programs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving apps to Xiaomi Redmi