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

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but the process of migrating applications can turn into a real headache if you do not know the nuances. Many users face the problem of data loss, broken backups or slow synchronization through the cloud. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to migrate applications between Xiaomi devices, including official tools and alternative methods that work even on older models.

It is important to understand that you just copy. APK-We tested each method on devices from Redmi Note 10 Pro to Xiaomi 14 Ultra to ensure that the instructions are working. If you want to save time and avoid typical mistakes, read on – there are no general tips, only specific steps with explanations.

1.Official method: Mi Mover - fast, but with limitations

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for transferring data between the brand’s devices, built into MIUI’s firmware, allowing you to transfer not only apps, but also contacts, messages, photos, but it has critical limitations that the manufacturer does not mention.

First, Mi Mover does not port data from some system applications (e.g. Mi Fit or Mi Home) if they are tied to a Xiaomi account. Second, on new devices (starting with MIUI 14), the feature can block third-party APKs from being ported due to security policies.

• ✅ Supports Wi-Fi Direct transfer (without internet)
• ✅ Keeps the history of messages and calls
• ⚠️ Does not work with rooted devices
• ❌ Can skip games with large cache (eg Genshin Impact)

To take advantage of the Mi Mover:

1. On both smartphones, open Settings → About the phone → Mi Mover.
2. Select a role: on the old phone - "Sender", on the new - "Receiver".
3. Scan it. QR-screen code from the new device old.
4. Select data for transfer (required to mark "Applications").
5. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Note: If the new device is installed MIUI Global, and old — MIUI China, the application port can end in an error due to differences in firmware.

2. Google Account Transfer: Reliable, but not for all apps

Syncing through Google Account is a universal method that works on all Android devices, including Xiaomi, the main advantage is the automatic recovery of most applications from Google Play after the first sign-in.

• 📱 Only applications installed through the Play Market are restored (APK From third-party sources, ignored).
• 🔄 Application data is only restored if the developer supports Android Backup Service.
• ⏳ It can take a few hours (depending on the speed of the internet).

How to set up a transfer via Google:

1. On your old phone, check that backup is enabled: Settings → Google → Backup.
2. On the new device, when you first turn on, select “Copy Data” and log in to the same Google account.
3. Confirm the recovery from the backup.
4. Wait for the download to be completed (progress is displayed in the Play Market).

Importantly, some applications (e.g., banking or instant messengers) require re-authorization even after recovery.

• APK-Manually installed files (e.g. from APKMirror);
• Game data, if it is not synced to the cloud (Helium or Titanium Backup will help here).
• Settings of Xiaomi system applications (themes, sounds, gestures).

💡

Before transferring, check which apps support backup to Google. To do this, open Settings → Apps → Select App → Memory → Backup.

3. Manual APK+ data transfer: for advanced users

If you want to migrate all applications, including those that don't sync through the cloud, you'll have to use the manual method, which takes longer, but guarantees 100% control over the process.

• 📁 File Manager with access to root folders (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer);
• 🔌 USB-cable OTG-file transfer adapter;
• 🛠️ Data backup app (Swift Backup or Titanium Backup for rooted devices).

Step-by-step:

1. Create an APK backup: Install APK Extractor from Play Market. Open the app and select Share for each APK you want to transfer. Save files to a folder on your memory card or internal memory.

Export application data

adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared -all

This command is executed via ADB (by connecting the phone to a PC), and it will create a backup.ab file with all the applications.

Move the files.

Install APK.

Settings → Security

Recover the data.

adb restore backup.ab

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ The adb backup command may not work due to manufacturer restrictions. In this case, use Swift Backup (requires unlocking the bootloader).

Install APK Extractor | Download ADB drivers on PC | Enable USB debugging in Settings → For developers | Backup contacts separately | Check free space on a new device-->

4.Transfer through third-party programs: a review of the best tools

If the standard methods do not fit, you can use specialized programs, we tested 7 popular utilities and selected the 3 most reliable for Xiaomi:

Clone Phone (from Wondershare) is the easiest option for beginners. the program works over Wi-Fi or cable and supports transfer even to devices with different versions of MIUI. However, it does not store data of some games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire).

MobileTrans is more flexible, but requires a PC connection.

• 📱 Established APK (including);
• 📁 Application data (except secure ones like WhatsApp);
• 🔑 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

For use:

1. Install MobileTrans on your computer.
2. Connect both phones via USB (turn on debugging).
3. Select the "Phone to Phone Transfer" mode.
4. Mark "Applications" and start the process.

5.Mobile games and applications with large cache

Games like Call of Duty Mobile or Honor of Kings take several gigabytes and are often not portable by standard methods.

• 🎮 For cloud-saving games (such as Clash of Clans), log in to your Google Play Games or Supercell account is enough. ID.
• 📦 For offline games (such as Minecraft) copy the folder Android/obb and Android/data game-pack.
• 🔄 For Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, use the official port tool from miHoYo.

Instructions for manual transfer of game data:

1. On your old phone, find folders: /sdcard/Android/obb/[name packet] (e.g. com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact); /sdcard/Android/data/[name packet].

Copy them on a PC or external drive.

Play Market

Move the folders back to the same directories on the new phone.

Start the game – the data must be downloaded.

⚠️ Attention: Some games (for example, PUBG Mobile) encrypts data in a folder Android/data. In this case, manual transfer won’t work – use your Facebook or Twitter account to sync.

💡

For anti-cheat games (such as Free Fire or CODM), manual data transfer can result in a ban. Always use official synchronization methods.

6.Mobile Xiaomi system applications (themes, camera, music)

Xiaomi system applications (e.g. Mi Camera, Mi Music, Themes) are not portable via Mi Mover or Google Account.

• 📸 For Mi Camera: copy the folder DCIM/Camera and settings from /data/data/com.android.camera (root).
• 🎵 For Mi Music: Export playlists through Settings → Exports in file.m3u.
• 🎨 For Themes: Use your Xiaomi account to sync (but theme may not show up on the new firmware).

If you need to move system application settings without root rights, use ADB:

adb pull /data/data/com.miui.gallery/shared_prefs com.miui.gallery.xml


adb pull /data/data/com.android.camera/shared_prefs com.android.camera.xml

Then, place these files back on the new device:

adb push com.miui.gallery.xml /data/data/com.miui.gallery/shared_prefs


adb push com.android.camera.xml /data/data/com.android.camera/shared_prefs

Important: This method only works if the app versions on both devices are identical. For example, the Mi Camera settings with the Redmi Note 11 won't work for the Xiaomi 13 Pro due to different firmware versions.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

Tip for POCO/Foco owners: POCO subbrand devices may not recognize backups from regular Xiaomi due to different shells.

1. Install it on both devices. MIUI Global version (via Fastboot).
2. Use TWRP to create a full Nandroid backup.
3. Restore the backup on your new phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions