How to Transfer Apps from One Xiaomi to Another: A Complete 2026 Guide

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to saving familiar applications, their data and settings. Even if both devices are powered by MIUI, the migration process can raise questions about what programs support migration, how to avoid data loss and why some applications refuse to recover correctly. In this article, we will examine all the current methods of transfer — from built-in tools Xiaomi to universal solutions from Google, and also reveal nuances that are not written in the official instructions.

It’s important to understand that the portability method depends not only on the phone models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 vs Xiaomi 13T), but also on the version of MIUI, the presence of root rights, as well as the type of applications (system, user, save games).We tested each method on devices 2022-2026 and identified their pros and cons – from speed to compatibility with popular messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary tool for data migration, which is installed by default on all smartphones with a mobile phone. MIUI 9 and later, it allows you to migrate not only applications, but also contacts, messages, photos and even some of the system settings. It only works between Xiaomi devices (does not support other brands) and requires physical phone connection via cable. USB-C → USB-C adapter.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone, open the Mi Mover app (you can find it in the Tools folder or search it for it).
• 🔌 Connect both devices with a cable. On the screen of the old smartphone, select "I am the sender"; on the new one, "I am the recipient.
• 🔍 Scan on your new phone. QR-code that will appear on the old device.
• ✅ Select data to transfer (check the Applications) and click Transfer.

It can take 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data. Importantly, Mi Mover does not carry data from some applications (for example, passwords from Google Smart Lock or Xiaomi Home settings) if they are protected by encryption.

Battery charge for both phones > 50%

Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

The new phone has enough free memory

The cable supports data transfer (not all charging cables are suitable)

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2. backup through MIUI Backup

If Mi Mover doesn’t work for some reason (e.g., because of different versions of MIUI), the alternative is a built-in Backup feature that creates an archive of applications and data that can then be restored to the new device, the main advantage of this method is the ability to selectively restore (e.g., only applications without photos).

Instructions for creating a backup copy:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Create Backup and select Applications (you can also add System Settings and Application Data).
3. Wait until the process is complete. The copy file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.
4. Transfer this file to your new phone (via Google Drive, Mi Cloud, or cable).
5. On the new device, repeat the Settings → Backup path and select Restore.

Note: MIUI Backup does not store data for some applications (e.g. Viber or banking programs) if they use their own cloud storage, and it can take up to an hour to recover if the archive weighs several gigabytes. Critical detail: if a newer version of MIUI is installed on a newer phone than the old one, application recovery can result in an error.

3. Transfer through a Google account (universal method)

If you use a Google account on both phones, some apps can be synced automatically, which is suitable for transferring programs from Google Play, but does not guarantee the safety of their data (for example, progress in games or chats in instant messengers), but it works even between devices of different brands.

How to transfer applications through Google:

• 🔄 On your old phone, make sure sync is enabled: Settings → Google accounts → Account Sync (enable Applications and Application Data).
• 📲 On your new phone, when you first turn on, select Copy Data from your old device and log in to the same Google account.

Cons: Not all apps support cloud sync (e.g. SberBank Online or Tinkoff require re-authorization) and Google does not save widget settings or cache data, so you will have to reconfigure them once you install the apps.

Mi Mover (Xiaomi)

MIUI Backup

Google account

Manual transfer via APK

Another option

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Manual transfer APK-Files (for experienced users)

If you only need to migrate the applications themselves (without their data), you can extract the data. APK-This method is useful for programs that are not on Google Play (for example, regionally blocked or modified versions). APK Unknown sources may be unsafe.

Step-by-step:

1. On an older phone, install a file manager with APK extraction (such as APK Extractor or Solid Explorer).
2. From the manager menu, select the apps you want to migrate and export them to the folder (e.g, Download/APK_Backup).
3. Move the APK folder to your new phone (via Bluetooth, cloud, or cable).
4. On the new device in Settings → Applications → Special Access Rights allow installation from unknown sources.
5. Install. APK-Files through any file manager.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK Third-party sources may disrupt Google Play Protect and result in account locking, and don’t portable banking or two-factor authentication apps, which may require re-activation.

This method is not suitable for transferring data from applications (such as game saves or chat history), and this will require additional tools like Titanium Backup (requires root rights) or Swift Backup.

5. Transfer of application data through cloud services

Many popular apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, VK) have built-in backup to the cloud, which allows you to transfer not only the application itself, but also its data (messages, media files, settings).

• ☁️ On your old phone, open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup and create a copy in Google Drive.
• 📱 On your new phone, install WhatsApp from Google Play and log in to the same account.
• 🔄 When a request appears, click Restore to download chat history.

Similar features are available in Telegram (export chats to JSON), VK (synchronization through account), Spotify (transfer playlists through account), but some applications (such as SberBank or Public Services) do not support cloud backup for security reasons.

6. Transfer using ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a debugging tool that allows you to copy applications and their data directly, which requires command line skills and is suitable for users who are not afraid to “dig” in the system.

Instructions:

1. On both phones, turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone) and activate Debugging over USB.
2. Connect your old phone to your PC, open the terminal, and command to create an application list: adb shell pm list packages -f > apps.txt
3. Copy application data (e.g. for WhatsApp): adb pull /data/data/com.whatsapp
4. Connect the new phone and transfer the data back to: adb push com.whatsapp /data/data/

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not copy system applications (com.android.*) - this will cause conflicts. MIUI access /data/data/ It can be blocked without root rights.

This method is suitable for transferring applications with their data, but it takes time and care. If you are not confident in your abilities, you should use the simpler methods described above.

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ADB is a powerful tool, but it's risky. Use it only if other methods have failed, and you understand the consequences of your actions.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when using official Xiaomi tools, users are faced with common mistakes, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🚫 Mi Mover doesn’t see new phone: Check that both devices have Developer Mode and Debugging enabled USB. Also try using the original Xiaomi cable – some cheap cables don’t support data transfer.
• ⚠️ Apps don't recover from backup: Make sure there's enough memory space on the new phone.If the error repeats, try creating a new copy by eliminating system apps.
• 🔄 Application data is not transferred: Some programs (for example, Google Authenticator or Google Authenticator) 1Password) They block backups for security reasons, and in this case, use the built-in export/import functions.
• 📱 New phone freezes during recovery: If the process lasts more than an hour, restart both devices and try again. If the error repeats, try transferring data in parts (first applications, then media files).

If neither method worked, check to see if the antivirus port is blocking (e.g. Avast or Kaspersky) and make sure both phones have the latest version of MIUI installed – sometimes bugs are fixed in updates.

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Before transferring data, make a factory reset on the new phone (if it has already been used), which will help avoid conflicts with previously installed applications.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions