How to transfer programs from one Xiaomi phone to another: all the ways of 2026

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but porting apps often becomes a headache, with some programs losing data, others not being installed at all, and others requiring re-authorization, a particularly acute problem for users who have been customizing their work environment for years, from messaging apps with a history of correspondence to game accounts with progress.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer programs between Xiaomi devices, including official tools (Mi Account, Mi Mover) and alternative methods (ADB, manual APK installation), we will analyze the nuances of each option, compare them in speed and reliability, and also warn against typical errors that cause users to lose data.

Important: The methods are suitable for all modern models, from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but there are differences in working with devices on MIUI 14/15 and older versions of firmware. If your new phone is not activated, start with sync through Mi Account, this will save hours of manual setup.

Spoiler: The fastest way is the Mi Mover, but it only works when you turn on your new phone for the first time. ADB backup APK-file.

Method 1: Sync with Mi Account (for Xiaomi applications)

The official method from Xiaomi, which works for branded services: Theme, Notes, Calendar, Browser and some third-party applications (if they support Mi Cloud), the main plus is that the data is synchronized automatically when you first log in to an account on a new device.

How it works:

1. On your old phone: Open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that sync is enabled for the right applications (sliders must be active).
3. On a new phone: When you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” and log in to the same Mi Account.

⚠️ Limitations of method:

• 🚫 It only works for applications integrated with Mi Cloud (most third-party programs are not supported).
• 📥 Cloud storage is limited – only 5GB is available for free.
• ⏳ Synchronization can take several hours if there is a lot of data.

If you need to migrate all applications, including games and instant messengers, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Mi Mover is the official tool for full transfer

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for migrating data between devices, and it copies not only apps, but also their settings, cache, and system data (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, audio settings) and only works when you first turn on a new phone — if the device is already configured, you’ll have to reset it to factory settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the new Xiaomi phone and select Data Portability at the setup stage.
2. On your old phone, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it’s not on the system).
3. Run the app on both devices and scan QR-screencode.
4. Select data for transfer (applications, contacts, SMS, multimedia) and confirm the transfer.

⚠️ Critical nuances:

⚠️ Note: If you interrupt the transfer during the copying phase of the application, some programs may not install correctly (for example, WhatsApp will lose its correspondence history). DRM (For example, banking apps or Netflix).

Turn off VPN on both phones

Battery Charge > 50% on both devices

Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network

Free up ≥2GB of memory on your new phone

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The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data:

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Mi Mover is the only way to transfer all system settings (sound profiles, gestures, display parameters) without manual input.

Method 3: Backup through Google (for third-party applications)

If you use a Google Account, some of the data can be transferred through Google Drive and Google Play, a method that is suitable for applications that support cloud sync (e.g. Gmail, Chrome, Google Photos), but does not guarantee the transfer of all programs.

What exactly is being transferred:

• 📱 List of installed applications (but not their data!).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi settings and passwords (if synchronization is enabled).
• 📅 Contacts, calendar, notes (from Google Keep).
• 🎮 Progress in games (if the game supports Google Play Games).

How to set up:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Google → Backup → Enable “Backup in Google Drive”.
2. On a new phone: When setting up, select “Copy Data” and log in to the same Google account.
3. Wait until the recovery is completed (it may take up to a day).

⚠️ What's not tolerable:

• 📂 Data from most third-party applications (such as Telegram history or saves in the PUBG Mobile).
• 🔒 Security settings (fingerprints, pattern lock).
• 📁 Files in the application package (cache, uploaded media).

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Before transferring, check if your app supports cloud sync. For example, WhatsApp reserves chats in Google Drive, but only if you manually backed up in the messenger settings.

Method 4: Manual transfer APK-Files (for experienced users)

If the official methods don’t work, you can manually copy the application.apk files and install them on a new phone, which takes longer but gives you complete control over the process, suitable for porting rare applications or modified versions (for example, Xiaomi.EU firmware).

Instructions:

1. On an old phone, install a file manager with access to system folders (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to /data/app/ (root permissions required!) or use the APK Extractor app to extract APK.
3. Copy.apk files to a memory card or cloud.
4. On the new phone, allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Apps).
5. Install. APK-manually.

⚠️ Warnings:

⚠️ Attention: Transfer APK-file /data/app/ without root rights, you'll get the "Application not installed" error. APK Extractor or App Backup & Restore from Google Play – They Remove APK needlessly root.

Pros and cons of the method:

Method 5: Complete ADB backup (for technical users)

The most powerful, but also the most difficult method is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). It allows you to back up all the applications with their data and restore it to a new phone. USB-debugging.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on PC (you can download from the official Android website).
2. On your phone, turn on Settings → About Phone → Build Number (click 7 times to unlock Developer Mode).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and include USB-debugging.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab adb restore backup.ab

⚠️ Important observations:

• 🔐 Some applications (banking, with, with, banking, with, DRM) not reserved through ADB.
• 📦 A backup can weigh tens of gigabytes – make sure there’s enough space on your PC.
• 🔄 When you restore on a new phone, some apps may not start due to differences in the Android version.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your goals and technical skills, and below is a comparison table with the pros and cons of each option:

For most users, the best option is a combination of Mi Mover (for system data) + Google Backup (for third-party applications).If you want to migrate a rare application that is not supported by official methods, use manual porting of APK or ADB.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)