How to transfer Xiaomi apps to another phone: the full guide

Changing Xiaomi’s smartphone to a newer model is always a joyous event, but one that can be overshadowed by the need to tweak the system tediously. Owners of the MIUI ecosystem or the new HyperOS often face the question of how to quickly and without loss migrate all installed programs, their data and logins to a new device. Fortunately, the company’s engineers have developed several effective tools that allow you to clone the software environment in minutes.

The migration process can be very different depending on which method you choose: embedded application, cloud services or manual copying. It is important to understand that some banking applications and messengers with enhanced security may require re-authorization or even a complete reinstallation for security reasons. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the transfer so that you can choose the best scenario for your situation.

Before you start taking action, you need to prepare both devices, make sure that the old and new phone are charged at least 50-60% of the battery, as the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy intensive, and check the availability of free space on the target device, which should exceed the amount of data occupied on the old smartphone.

Use of the Mi Mover tool

The most reliable and quickest way to transfer data is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover application, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to transfer more than just yourself. APK-App files, but also their cache, settings and authorization data. To get started, open the Tools folder on both devices and launch the Mi Mover app».

Select the Recipient on the new phone and Sender on the old one. QR-code or connect via Wi-Fi device search. Once you connect, you'll see a list of data categories that are available for transfer. You can only select the Applications section or tick the specific programs you need.

⚠️ Note: When migrating through Mi Mover, some high-security applications (banks, Google Pay, corporate customers) may not migrate login data.

Transfer speeds depend on the number of files and the quality of the wireless connection. During the process, do not switch to other tasks and keep the device screens on. If the connection is interrupted, the application will prompt you to continue transferring from the stoppage, which is a significant advantage when working with large amounts of data.

Once the copy is completed, the new device will begin the application installation process, automatically determine the processor architecture and Android version, adapting the files as needed, and in rare cases, manual installation confirmation for each application may be required through the system security dialogue.

Transfer via Google and Play Market account

An alternative, classic synchronization method involves using Google’s cloud profile, ideal if you’re switching from a different manufacturer’s device to Xiaomi or if your old phone is already unavailable, and when you first activate a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will prompt you to restore data from a Google Drive backup.

As you set up, log in to the same Google account you used on your previous device. From the restore menu, select the last available backup. The system will automatically start downloading a list of apps you installed earlier. You can choose to install selectively or start restoring all programs at once.

• 📲 Open Play Market on a new device.
• 👤 Click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
• 💾 Select the item "Manage applications and devices».
• 🔄 Go to the Control tab and filter by Not installed on this device».

The main advantage of this method is that it automatically downloads current versions of programs directly from the store. You do not need to worry about version compatibility, since Google Play will choose the best option for your Redmi or Poco model. However, data inside the applications (save games, correspondence) will only recover if they are synchronized with the cloud of the application itself.

It’s worth noting that recovery through Google can take considerable time, especially if you have a lot of heavy games installed. It’s recommended to connect to a stable Wi-Fi network to avoid wasting mobile traffic. In the background, downloads can slow down the interface, so it’s better to wait until the process is over.

Manual transfer APK-file-setting

For advanced users who need to migrate modified versions of applications or programs removed from official stores, the manual installation method is suitable. APK-This method requires pre-preparation of files on the old device using file managers or specialized utilities for retrieval. APK.

Copyed files can be transferred via Bluetooth, Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share), or simply transferred to a computer and then to a new phone. After transferring the file to a new device, when you try to run the installer, the MIUI system can request permission to install from unknown sources.

Settings → Security and Security → Privacy → Special Access Rights → Installation of Unknown Applications

In the list that opens, find the app you’ll run the installer through (like Explorer or Google Files) and activate the switch. This is a standard Android security measure to prevent malware from being installed accidentally.

When manually installed, it is important to monitor Android versions. The app built for Android 10 may not work properly or even install on Android 14 without further manipulation. Always check compatibility before copying files.

Migration of data messengers and social networks

Messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber deserve special attention. Simply transferring an application file is often not enough, since the history of correspondence is stored locally or in specific cloud storages. For Telegram, it is enough to simply log into an account by phone number, since the entire history is stored on servers.

WhatsApp is more complicated. Before transferring to your old phone, you need to back up your chats to Google Drive or iCloud. In WhatsApp settings, go to Chats → Backup Chats and click Create. On the new device, when you first start, the app will prompt you to restore a history from a found copy.

Some users prefer to use the Chat Transfer feature inside WhatsApp itself, which creates a new feature. QR-This method works faster and doesn't require intermediate download to the cloud, but both phones need to be nearby and have an active Internet connection.

⚠️ Warning: Two-factor authentication can block the sign-in on a new device if you don't remember PIN-code or do not have access to SIM-Make sure the phone number is active.

For social networks like Instagram or VK, data porting is usually not required, because it's cloud services. You just download the app and log in. The only problem is two-factor authorization if you don't have access to backup code or a second device.

Working with system applications and access rights

After transferring applications to the new Xiaomi phone, you need to reconfigure access rights. The default MIUI security system limits the ability of freshly installed programs. You will need to manually allow access to the camera, microphone, geolocation and files for each ported application.

Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, select the desired program and go to the section “Application permissions”. Pay special attention to navigators (GPS access) and messengers (access to contacts and microphone). Without these permissions, programs will work incorrectly or give errors.

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Use the Auto Start function in the battery settings so that important applications (messengers, alarm clocks) are not unloaded from memory by the power saving system.

It's also worth checking the notification settings. Sometimes after the transfer, notifications from apps come but don't appear on the lock screen or make a sound. This is solved in the Notifications menu inside the application card. Set the notification priority to High for important services.

Xiaomi system apps like Themes, Music or Video may require you to re-sign in to Mi Account to recover your purchased content or subscriptions. Make sure you remember the password from your Mi Account, as it can take time to restore access to it.

Cleaning and optimization after transfer

The final step in the migration is to clean up the new device from debris that may have migrated from the old phone. Even with the Mi Mover, the new device may still have temporary files, remote program cache or duplicate contacts.

Use the built-in Security → Cleanup app, which will scan the system for residual files and suggest that you delete them, and it is also recommended to go to the storage settings and check the Downloads folder, which often gets a lot of excess garbage from browsers and instant messengers.

• 🗑️ Remove duplicate photos and screenshots.
• 📉 Clear the cache of heavy applications (YouTube, browsers).
• 📂 Check your Bluetooth folder for old accepted files.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply all changes.

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A full reboot after data transfer is mandatory – it allows the system to correctly index files and complete background installation processes.

If you notice that the battery of a new phone is discharged faster than usual in the first days after transfer, do not be afraid. the system performs background optimization and indexing of files. Usually after 2-3 days of active use, energy consumption returns to normal. If the problem persists, check the battery consumption statistics in the settings.