Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but porting apps can become a real headache if you do not know the proven ways. Many users face the problem of how to save all installed programs, their settings and data without losing functionality? In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for porting applications between Xiaomi devices, including official tools from the manufacturer and alternative solutions.
It is important to understand that you just copy. APK-Application files are not enough – you need to transfer their data (cache, settings, accounts), otherwise many programs will simply not work correctly. MIUI, And so, manual methods for power users, and we'll focus on the nuances of portability between different versions. MIUI and smartphone models.
1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi
Mi Mover is a Xiaomi-branded app specifically designed to migrate data between the brand’s devices, allowing users to migrate not only apps, but also contacts, messages, photos and even some system settings, with the main advantage of ease of use and minimal risk of data loss.
To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on both smartphones (available in the Play Market or via Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system)
- 🔗 Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on an old phone)
- 📲 On the new smartphone, select “I am a new user” and on the old one, “I am sending data"
- 🔍 Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone with an old device
- ✅ Select data categories for transfer (required to mark "Applications")
Install Mi Mover on both devices|Charge your phones at least to 50%|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network|Release. 2-3 GB of memory on a new phone|Shut down. VPN firewalls-->
The transfer process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the number of applications and network speed. Importantly, Mi Mover does not carry data from some system applications (for example, Mi Fit or Mi Home) – they will have to be configured separately.
⚠️ Note: If a newer version is installed on the new smartphone MIUI, In this case, some applications may not be portable due to version incompatibility.
2. backup through MIUI Backup
The built-in MIUI Backup feature allows you to create a full copy of your smartphone data, including the apps installed and their settings, which is especially useful if you want to transfer data not immediately, but after a while, or if you do not have a second device at hand.
Instructions for creating a backup copy:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup
- Click “Create a Backup” and select data categories (be sure to tick “Applications”)
- Specify the location of the storage (internal memory or SD-map)
- Wait until the process is completed (it can take 15-40 minutes)
To recover on the new device:
- Transfer the backup file (located in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder) to your new smartphone
- In the new phone settings, select "Restore from backup"
- Specify the path to the file and confirm the recovery
| Method | Speed. | Transferring application data | Requires root. | Works between different MIUIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes (partially) | No. | Yes (with limitations) |
| MIUI Backup | ⭐⭐⭐ | Yes (fully) | No. | Yes. |
| Google Account | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | No (list only) | No. | Yes. |
| Titanium Backup | ⭐⭐ | Yes (fully) | Yes. | Yes. |
Mi Mover|MIUI Backup|Google Account|Hand-mounted APK|Another way.-->
3. synchronization through Google account
If you use a Google account on your Xiaomi, you can use the built-in app sync feature. APK-files and application data, but saves a list of installed programs, which significantly speeds up the process of re-installation on a new device.
How it works:
- 📋 On your old smartphone, go to Settings → Google accounts → Synchronize your account and enable synchronization of "Applications"
- 🔄 On the new device, log in to the same Google account.
- 📱 In Play Market, go to the Library → Installed – here will be a list of all your apps
- 🔽 Click "Install All" or select the right programs to install
This method has several limitations: it does not save application settings and data (for example, game progress or bookmarks in the browser), but it is ideal for quickly restoring the list of applications without unnecessary manipulation. For full data transfer, we recommend combining this method with others, for example, with MIUI Backup.
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Before transferring, check which apps support cloud sync (e.g. Telegram, WhatsApp, Chrome) and their data can be restored separately through the account settings in each application.
4. Manual copying APK-Files (for experienced users)
If you need to migrate specific applications that are not supported by standard methods, you can use manual copying. APK-This is a little bit more effort, but it gives you complete control of the process.
Instructions:
- Install a file manager with access to system folders (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer)
- Go to /data/app/ (root or ADB permissions required)
- Find it. APK-Application files (usually formatted) base.apk)
- Copy them to an external drive or to the cloud
- Transfer files to a new smartphone and install manually
How to access /data/app without root
This method has several significant drawbacks: it does not carry application data, and some programs may not install due to dependency on system libraries, but it is indispensable for porting rare or modified applications that cannot be downloaded from the Play Market.
⚠️ Attention: Manual copying of system applications (/system/app/) This can cause a new smartphone to work in an unstable way. /data/app/.
5. Use of third-party applications (Titanium Backup, App Backup & Restore)
For users who are ready for more complex manipulations, there are specialized backup applications, the most popular ones are Titanium Backup (requires root) and App Backup & Restore (works without root).
Titanium Backup allows you to create a full copy of applications along with their data and settings.
- Install Titanium Backup on an Old Smartphone
- Provide root access (required!)
- Select backup apps and create a backup
- Transfer backup files to a new smartphone
- Install Titanium Backup on a new device and recover data
App Backup & Restore works easier and does not require root rights, but transfers only APK-file:
- 📱 Install the app on both smartphones
- 🔽 On an old phone, select apps and create a backup
- 📤 Send. APK-files on a new smartphone via Wi-Fi Direct or cloud
- 📥 On the new device, install applications from the backup
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The backup application side is most effective for transferring game saves and customizations of specialized programs, but require caution when working with system data.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even with proven application portability methods, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to solve them.
Problem 1: Applications have moved but don’t open or are constantly giving out errors.
- 🔄 Check the compatibility of versions MIUI old and new
- 📋 Update problematic apps through Play Market
- 🔧 Clear the app cache in settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management)
Problem 2: Some applications are not on the list for transfer.
- 🔍 Check if they are systemic (they cannot be transferred in standard ways)
- 📱 Try to transfer them manually through APK-file
- 🌐 Re-install them from the Play Market or official website
Problem 3: The transfer process is interrupted or suspended.
- 📶 Check the stability of the Wi-Fi connection
- 🔋 Make sure that both devices have enough charge (minimum 30%)
- 📱 Reboot both smartphones and try again.