How to Transfer Apps from Phone to Xiaomi Phone without Losing Data

Buying a new smartphone is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious migration of data. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices can breathe a sigh of peace, as the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers powerful built-in tools to automate this process.

Current methods of cloning data go far beyond simply copying contacts. APK-In this article, we will look at all the current ways to transition to the new Xiaomi, from using Google cloud services to local transfer via Wi-Fi Direct, which often turns out to be the fastest and most reliable option.

Using the built-in Mi Mover app for full migration

The most efficient and native way to transfer is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover utility (or “Mi Mover”), which is designed specifically to work in conjunction with the old and new device, creating a direct connection that does not depend on the speed of your home Internet.

The process starts with installing or running an app on both devices, and on the new smartphone you choose the role of Receiver, and on the old one, you choose the role of Sender. QR-When you start syncing code or manually connecting to the Wi-Fi network created by the receiving device, the key advantage is that you can choose specific categories: you can only migrate applications without heavy media, or vice versa.

Importantly, Mi Mover can even carry icons on the desktop, re-creating the familiar environment on a new device. However, if you move from an iOS device, the functionality will be limited to contacts, photos and videos due to the closed Apple OS.

Note that some system applications may not be portable for security reasons, and in such cases, the system will suggest reinstalling them from the GetApps store or Google Play, which is a normal practice to ensure that the new device will be installed with current, unmodified versions of the software.

⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, the device screens may go out, but the process itself cannot be interrupted.Make sure both smartphones are in line of sight of each other for a stable signal.

Sync through Google Account and Cloud Services

A classic method that works seamlessly when you first set up any Android smartphone, when you sign in to your Google account on the new Xiaomi, the system will automatically prompt you to restore data from the latest backup, a method that is ideal for those who do not want to mess with cables or install additional applications.

The cloud stores contacts, calendar events, notes, and most importantly, a list of installed apps. Google Play will remember which programs were on the old phone and start loading them in the background. However, this method has a significant disadvantage: it rarely saves progress in games and logins in applications unless developers used cloud saves.

For privacy-driven users, it's important to know what data is being sent to the cloud. You can manage that through the account settings menu. Local instant messenger databases are often not synchronized through Google's standard backup, requiring manual backups inside the app itself.

• 📱 Contacts and calendars are restored instantly and without errors.
• 📸 Photos can be synced through Google Photos, freeing up space on the device.
• 🔒 Chrome passwords and saved access keys will be automatically pulled.
• ⚙️ Wi-Fi settings and some system preferences can also be saved.

Transferring data from Android to Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

If you switch from another Android smartphone, the process will be smoothest. MIUI At the first turn on, they will offer to connect the old phone through a cable. USB-C to USB-C It's the fastest way to get a working device out of the box».

With wired connections, data transfer speeds are limited only by the port capabilities of your devices; a direct connection allows you to transfer gigabytes of data in minutes, which is critical when transferring heavy games and video archives; the system itself recognizes the type of old phone (Samsung, Huawei, Honor) and adjusts the transfer protocol.

When you copy a new phone, you can see progress bars with a juicy ending time. Don't be afraid if the time changes dramatically, depending on the number of small files that take longer to process than a single large file.

Features of migration from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi

The transition from the Apple ecosystem to Android is always fraught with difficulties due to differences in the architecture of the operating system. the Mi Mover app has an iOS version available in the App Store, which allows you to throw the bulk of media and contacts.

Unfortunately, it is technically impossible to transfer the apps themselves (.ipa files) to Xiaomi. You will have to re-download analogues from Google Play. Social networks, banks and instant messengers will work, but the history of correspondence on WhatsApp or Viber must be transferred separately, using the built-in backup functions in the applications themselves.

Photos and videos will go smoothly, but it’s worth checking the metadata (date and location) as format conversions sometimes reset them. For iCloud users, the best solution is to install the iCloud app on a PC, upload the photos and then upload them to a Google Photo account or a new phone.

⚠️ Note: iMessage and FaceTime messages cannot be ported to Android.Be sure to untie your phone number from iMessage before you abandon your iPhone to avoid problems getting SMS on your new device.

Keeping progress in games and messenger data

The most painful topic for many users is loss of progress in games. Most modern projects use a link to Google Play Games accounts, Facebook or their own developer ID. Before transferring, make sure that the old phone is synced in the game settings.

With messengers, the situation is more complicated. Telegram stores all the history in the cloud, so just type in a phone number. WhatsApp requires you to back up Google Drive on an old device and restore it when you first run it on a new one. Local WhatsApp backups when you transfer them via Mi Mover may not work properly due to differences in file paths.

• 🎮 Games: Check the Google Play Games login before uninstalling the app.
• 💬 WhatsApp: Backup Google Drive just before moving.
• 📸 Instagram/Viber: Requires re-authorization via SMS.
• 🏦 Banks: Apps will require re-binding the device, which is a security measure.

💡

For WhatsApp on Android, there is a “Chat Transfer” function inside the app itself (Settings) → chat → Chat transfers that work through QR-code and is often more reliable than general copying methods.

Solution: What to do if data is not transferred

Sometimes the process can go wrong: the application freezes, files are corrupted or some data just disappears, first of all, you need to check the space on the new device, and memory shortage is the most common reason for interrupting migration in the final stage.

If Mi Mover gives a connection error, try to turn off mobile internet on both devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. Also helps to reboot both smartphones and try again. In rare cases, antivirus software on an old phone can block file transfer.

For critical data that cannot be transferred automatically, it is recommended to use a manual method through a computer: connect the phone as a drive and copy the DCIM, Download and Documents folders manually. This will take longer, but ensures that files are safe.

💡

If the automatic application portability fails, don’t panic. APK-files can be replaced with fresh versions from the store, and most importantly – your photos and contacts are usually kept in priority order.