How to migrate apps to Xiaomi smartphones: the full guide 2026

Transferring apps to Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or changing platforms. Unlike backup contacts or photos, apps require a special approach: you need to not only save yourself. APK-Files, but also account data, game progress, notification settings, and errors can lead to the loss of important information, from chat history in instant messengers to saves in banking applications.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods of transfer, including official tools. MIUI, Cloud services and manual methods for power users, and we will focus on the nuances of why some applications (such as WhatsApp or Google Authenticator) are not portable by standard means, and how to circumvent these restrictions. You will also learn what data cannot be recovered after transferring to a device with a different processor architecture (ARM vs x86), And how to avoid it.

Official transfer through MIUI: Mi Mover and Mi Cloud

The most reliable way for Xiaomi owners to use the built-in ecosystem tools. Mi Mover (available on devices with a mobile device) MIUI 9+) Allows you to transfer applications, contacts, SMS And even some settings for the system without root rights. MIUI (at least one of them).

How it works:

• 📱 Install Mi Mover on both smartphones via Google Play or App Store (for iPhone).
• 🔗 Connect devices to a single Wi-Fi network or use a direct Wi-Fi Direct connection (set up automatically).
• 📤 On the old phone, select the role of "Sender", on the new one - "Receiver".
• ✅ Confirm the data transfer and wait for completion (time depends on the volume).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not all apps are supported (e.g. Google Pay or Netflix require re-authorization).
• ❌ Some games (such as Genshin Impact) are not portable, but you will need to link to your miHoYo account.
• ❌ On the iPhone, only contacts, photos and notes are transferred (apps are not available).

Mi Cloud is an alternative to backup, and it stores a list of installed applications, but not their data, to restore the applications to the new device:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Select "Apps" and start the backup.
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and restore the data.

💡

If apps don’t appear on the menu after transferring through Mi Mover, check the folder. Download/MiMover — sometimes APK-files are downloaded there, but are not automatically installed.

2.Moving from Android to Android: Google Account and ADB

If you are switching from another Android device (not Xiaomi), use a Google Account.This method stores the list of installed apps and some of their data (for example, progress in Google Play Games).

What's transferable:

• ✅ List of apps (installed automatically from Google Play).
• ✅ Settings for some system applications (such as Gmail or Chrome).
• ✅ Game data tied to Google Play Games.

What's NOT tolerable:

• ❌ Local application data (such as Spotify cache or Telegram downloads).
• ❌ Third-party launcher settings (e.g. Nova Launcher).
• ❌ Data from applications that do not support cloud storage (e.g., some banking applications).

For full transfer (including data from the annexes) ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This method is suitable for power users and requires unlocking Debugging by USB:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f /sdcard/backup.ab


adb restore /sdcard/backup.ab

Attention! ⚠️ Not all apps support backup through ADB. For example, WhatsApp only stores chat history, not media files. MIUI 12+ You may need to disable signature verification MIUI, Otherwise, the recovery will end in error.

Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 times press)

Install ADB drivers on PC

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trusted device

Download platform-tools from the Android Developers website

Create a backup copy on a memory card-->

3.Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi: Limitations and Workarounds

Moving from iOS to Android is always associated with data loss. Xiaomi offers the tool “Switch to Android” MIUI" (available in the App Store, but it only carries:

• 📞 Contacts
• 📷 Photographs and videos
• 📝 Notes (only from the standard Notes app)
• 🎵 Music (without music) DRM-defense)

You can't move the apps, you have to install them manually, but there are ways to save the data.

Attention! ⚠️ When transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi, you can not use a standard backup iTunes/iCloud It's going to cause data loss because of format incompatibility:

1. Sync your contacts with your Google Account on your iPhone.
2. Move photos through Google Photos or Mi Mover.
3. Install apps manually from Google Play and log in to them.

Manual transfer: APK-file

If you need to migrate specific apps (such as rare or deleted from Google Play), you can do it manually.

1. Extract APK-file from an old device (for example, through a APK Extractor).
2. Copy application data from the folder /data/data/[package_name] (root).
3. Install APK to a new device and restore data.

Instructions for applications without root:

1. Download. APK Extractor from Google Play.
2. Select the right application and export it. APK download.
3. Transfer the file to the new Xiaomi (for example, via Mi Drop or cable) USB-OTG).
4. Install. APK, Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Annexes → Special access rights.

To transfer application data (e.g. game saves) without root:

• 🎮 Use cloud-based saves (for example, in Helium or Swift Backup).
• 🔄 Link the app to your account (like Facebook for games or Google Drive for documents).
• 📁 Copy files from the folder /Android/obb/ (major-game PUBG Mobile).

Attention! ⚠️ Installation APK It can be dangerous from unknown sources. Check the hash of the file before installing it (for example, through the MD5 Checker) and compare it to the original value on the developer's website. MIUI 13+ malware checks are enabled, but it does not guarantee 100% security.

💡

Manual transfer APK It is suitable only for applications that do not require license verification through Google Play. DRM (For example, Asphalt 9 may not start without authorization.

5.Transfer through third-party programs: Titanium Backup and alternatives

For full control of perenosom data, use specialized programs. Titanium Backup (requires root) allows you to save:

• 📦 The applications themselves (APK + data).
• 🔧 System application settings.
• 📱 User Application Data (including cache).

How to use Titanium Backup:

1. Install the application and provide root access.
2. Select "Reserve/Restore"
3. Mark the desired applications and click "Save".
4. Transfer the backup to a new device (for example, via Mi Cloud or the other device). USB).
5. Restore data on the new Xiaomi.

Alternatives without root:

• 🔄 Swift Backup – works on devices with unlocked bootloader (does not require full root).
• ☁️ Helium – creates backups via PC (supports some data without root).
• 📱 App Cloner – duplicates apps with settings (useful for testing).

Restrictions of third-party programs:

• ❌ Nana MIUI Backup features may be blocked due to Xiaomi's security policy.
• ❌ Some apps (like Google Authenticator) block backups.
• ❌ Recovery on a device with another version of Android can cause crashes.

💡

If after recovering through Titanium Backup, the app crashes, try clearing its cache in Settings. → Annexes → Application management. Sometimes reinstallation helps. APK super-recovery.

6. Lossless Application Data Transfer: Cloud Services and Synchronization

Many applications support cloud sync, which makes it easier to migrate, and this is how it works for popular services:

For games and applications without cloud sync:

• 🎮 Use Google Play Games to Save Progress.
• 🔗 Link the game to your social media account (Facebook, VK).
• 📁 Copy the folder. /Android/obb/[package_name] (for games with large data files).

Attention! ⚠️ Some applications (e.g. banking) prohibit data backup through third-party tools, in which case the only way to transfer is to reauthorize and manually configure. Before perenosom, check the application policy in Google Play (section "Privacy").

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When you migrate apps to Xiaomi, users face typical problems, and here's how to solve them:

1. Annexes shall not be installed after transfer

• 🔹 Check if installation is allowed from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access rights → Installation of unknown applications).
• 🔹 Make sure that APK-The file is not damaged (try downloading it).
• 🔹 Nana MIUI 12+ You may need to disable signature verification in Settings → For developers → Disable signature verification MIUI.

2. Application data has not recovered

• 🔹 Make sure the version of the app on the new device is the same or newer.
• 🔹 For games, check if your account is linked to Google Play Games or Facebook.
• 🔹 If you have used Titanium Backup, try to recover data separately from the dataset. APK.

3.Apps fly out after transfer

• 🔹 Clear the app's cache in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔹 Reinstall the application on top of the existing one (without deleting data).
• 🔹 Check compatibility with the Android version on your new device.

4. System applications are not portable

• 🔹 System applications MIUI (For example, Theme or Security cannot be moved – they are set automatically when you first set up.
• 🔹 To transfer system application settings, use Mi Cloud.

5. Error "Application is not compatible with the device"

• 🔹 Check the processor architecture: if the old device was on the x86 (rarely, and new on ARM, Some applications may not work.
• 🔹 Install the Russified version MIUI (e.g. xiaomi.eu), if the problem is regional restrictions.

💡

If notifications in applications disappear after the transfer, check the battery settings in Settings → Annexes → Battery management. MIUI Default limits background activity of new applications.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions