How to transfer apps from one Xiaomi phone to another: a complete guide

Introduction: Why and when to transfer applications

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment. Even if you bought a flagship model like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 13, the process of migrating data can seem difficult. Especially the issue of porting apps is acute: not all users want to spend time re-installing each of them through Google Play or Mi App Store, setting up accounts and restoring progress in games.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current ways to transfer apps between Xiaomi phones – from official tools like Mi Mover to manual methods using the use of mobile phones. APK-You'll learn what's right for your model, how to avoid data loss, what to do if standard tools don't work, and why migrating over Mi Account can block some applications, and how to get around it.

1.Official method: Mi Mover - fast and lossless

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for migrating data between the brand’s devices, built into MIUI firmware (since version 8) and supports porting not only apps, but also contacts, messages, photos, and even some system settings, with the main advantage of keeping games progressing (as long as they support cloud-based storage via Mi Account).

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone: go to Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Data Transfer (Mi Mover).
• 🆕 On a new phone: when you first turn on, select “Import from another device” or find Mi Mover in the settings.
• 🔗 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (or use an access point) and follow the instructions on the screen.
• ✅ Select data to transfer, including the "Applications" item, and confirm the start of the process.

Important: Mi Mover only portable apps that are installed from official sources (Google Play or Mi App Store). APK-files from third-party sources, they will not be copied, and some system applications (such as Mi Fit or Mi Home) may require re-authorization.

Charging both phones > 50%|Turn it off. VPN both-device|Make sure that the new phone has enough memory.|Check the stability of the Wi-Fi connection-->

2. backup and recovery through Mi Account

If Mi Mover is not available for some reason (for example, on an old phone there is custom firmware), you can use cloud backup via Mi Account. This method works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 10 and newer, but has a limitation: the amount of free cloud storage is only 5 GB.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Device Backup → select “Apps” and click “Create Backup”.
2. On a new phone: log in to the same Mi Account, go to Mi Cloud → Restore from backup and select the desired copy.

⚠️ Attention: This method does not tolerate itself APK-Application files, only their data (settings, cache, saves) will have to be installed manually from the store, and some applications (for example, banking) may block access after recovery from backup for security reasons.

3. Transfer through APK-Files: A manual method for experienced users

If you need to migrate applications that aren’t on Google Play (such as modified APKs or regionally blocked programs), you can manually extract them using a file manager, which requires root rights or the use of specialized utilities like APK Extractor.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the APK Extractor app on your old phone (available on Google Play).
2. Run it and select the apps you want to migrate. Click "Extract" APK" — files will be saved to the folder APK_Extractor memory.
3. Copy the APK folder to your new phone (via Mi Share, USB cable, or cloud).
4. On the new phone, allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Install Unknown Apps) and install the APK manually.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK Before transferring, check files for viruses using Dr.Web or Kaspersky Mobile. Some applications (such as Netflix or Google Pay) may not work on uncertified devices.

Mi Mover| Backup via Mi Account| Manual Portability APK| Cloud Services (Google Drive, Yandex Disk)| Another way-->

4.Using a Google Account to Sync Applications

If you prefer the Google ecosystem, you can use the built-in sync through your Google Account. APK-files, but automatically installs all apps that were associated with your account on your old phone.

How it works:

• 🔄 On an old phone: make sure that application sync is enabled (Settings) → Accounts and synchronization → Google → Synchronization of applications).
• 📥 On New Phone: When you first start, log in to the same Google Account and confirm the recovery of applications.
• ⏳ Wait until the system automatically installs all apps from your Google Play library.

Cons of this method:

• ❌ Application data is not transferred (for example, saving in games or settings of messengers).
• ❌ Apps that are not installed from Google Play will not be restored.
• ❌ Some apps (such as Mi Fit or Mi Home) may require re-authorization.

💡

If some apps are not installed after you have restored your Google Account, check your account region, and some apps (such as Mi Pay) are only available in certain countries.

5. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party utilities

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party solutions.

You need root rights to use Titanium Backup or similar utilities, and if you don't, you'd better use SHAREit or cloud services to transfer them. APK-file.

💡

Side utility like SHAREit or Xender is convenient for fast file transfer, but does not guarantee that the transferred applications will work correctly. Always check the integrity of the APK after transfer.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when using official tools, users face difficulties.

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn't find the old device.

• 🔌 Check that both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (do not use mobile internet).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices and try again.
• 📡 If Wi-Fi is unstable, try creating an access point on your old phone and connecting a new one to it.

Problem 2: Applications are not restored from Mi Cloud backup.

• 🔍 Make sure that the new phone has enough memory.
• 🔄 Check if sync for Mi Cloud is enabled in your account settings.
• 📥 Try to restore the copy again or select a different backup date.

Problem 3: Ported APKs are not installed on the new phone.

• 🛡️ Check if installation is allowed from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special rights).
• 🔍 Make sure that APK-The file is not damaged (try restarting it).
• 📱 Check the app’s compatibility with the new version of Android on your phone.

⚠️ Note: If applications start to work unstable after transfer (for example, they fly out or do not save data), try clearing their cache (Settings) → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Memory. → If this does not help, remove and install the application again from the official store.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions