How to transfer all applications from your phone to your Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but porting apps can become a real headache if you donโ€™t know the right methods. Many users lose data, settings or encounter errors when trying to migrate. This article will help avoid typical mistakes and choose the best way to transfer depending on your situation.

Todayโ€™s Xiaomi offers a few built-in tools for migration, but they donโ€™t always work perfectly. Weโ€™ll look at both the official solutions from the manufacturer and the universal methods that are suitable for all Android devices, and weโ€™ll focus on saving data inside apps, which is what causes problems for users most of the time.

1.Official method: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

The easiest way to migrate apps is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all new Xiaomi smartphones, which is optimized to work with the brand ecosystem and supports the transfer of not only apps, but also contacts, messages, photos.

To use the Mi Mover, both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. On the old device, you need to download the application from Google Play (if it is not the default), and on the new Xiaomi it will already be installed.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Supports portability between any Android device (not just Xiaomi)
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Stores application settings and account data
  • โš ๏ธ Does not work with some banking applications due to security restrictions
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Requires a stable Wi-Fi connection (do not use mobile Internet!)

Important: Mi Mover does not transfer data from applications that use their own authorization systems (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), which will require a separate backup procedure.

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Before you start the transfer, turn off battery optimization for the Mi Mover app on both devices, which will prevent the process from interrupting due to energy saving.

2. Transfer through Google Account

If you have an active Google Account synced with your old phone, you can restore most of the apps on the new Xiaomi automatically.This method works for all Android devices and requires no additional programs.

When you first turn on a new smartphone, the system will prompt you to log in to Google Account and restore data. Select the option โ€œRestore Appsโ€ โ€“ this will download all the programs that were installed on the previous device. However, note that the data inside the applications (for example, save games or settings messengers) is not always fully restored.

Type of dataTransferred via GoogleNeeds additional action
List of installed annexesโœ… Yes.โŒ No.
Contactsโœ… Yes.โŒ No.
SMS and call historyโŒ No.โœ… Yes (Separate backup required)
Photographs and videosโœ… Yes (via Google Photos)โŒ No.
Application settingsโŒ No.โœ… Yes (depending on the app)

For full portability, it is recommended to combine this method with others, for example, use Google Account for applications and Mi Mover for the rest of the data.

๐Ÿ“Š What data transfer method do you use more often?
Official Manufacturer Instruments
Google Account
Manual transfer via computer
Special programmes
I can't stand the data.

Manual transfer through APK-file

If you only need to migrate specific apps, not all data from your phone, you can use the.apk extraction method, which is suitable for applications that are not available on Google Play or have regional restrictions.

This will require:

  1. Install a file manager with APK retrieval function on an old phone (e.g. APK Extractor)
  2. Find the right apps in the list and save them APK-file
  3. Transfer files to the new Xiaomi via Bluetooth, cloud or cable
  4. Install APK on new device by allowing installation from unknown sources

โš ๏ธ Attention: Installation APK Before you use the penos, check the files with an antivirus and make sure they come from a reliable source. Some applications (such as banking) can block work on uncertified devices.

This method does not store application data, only the programs themselves, and additional backup or cloud-based application services will be required to transfer data.

Download APK Extractor to an old phone

Check for free space on both devices

Disable antivirus during file transfer

Allow installation from unknown sources on the new Xiaomi

Backup of important application data-->

4. Computer-assisted transfer

For those who prefer complete control of the process, computer-transfer is a good option, and this is especially true if you have slow Internet or large amounts of data. USB-cable.

The most popular programs for this task:

  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Xiaomi PC Suite โ€“ the official solution from the manufacturer
  • ๐Ÿ”„ MobileTrans โ€“ universal software for migration between devices
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Syncios โ€“ allows selective data transfer
  • ๐Ÿ”— Dr.Fone โ€“ supports transfer even to iOS on Android

The process usually involves:

  1. Connecting both phones to your computer
  2. Selection of data for transfer in the program interface
  3. Starting the migration process (can take up to an hour)
  4. Checking the integrity of data on a new device

โš ๏ธ Warning: When using third-party software, always download it from official sites. Fake versions of such utilities often contain malware that can compromise data on both devices.

The advantage of this method is that it can be selectively transferred and process controlled, but it requires more time and technical skills than wireless solutions.

What data cannot be transferred through a computer?
Some applications (especially banking and instant messengers) use device binding via the Google Services Framework or their own servers. Even with manual APK and data transfer, such applications may require re-authorization or refuse to work at all. These include: - Two-factor authentication applications (for example, some banks) - SIM-based messengers (for example, some corporate chats) - Anti-cheat games (can block an account if data transfer is detected) - Some government services (for example, government services, electronic signatures)

5. Data transfer within applications

Many popular apps have their own backup systems that allow data to be transferred regardless of the overall migration, which is especially important for instant messengers, games and work tools.

Hereโ€™s how it works for the most popular services:

  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ WhatsApp: Create a backup in Settings โ†’ chat โ†’ Backup. On your new phone, install WhatsApp and restore data when you first start up.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Telegram: All data is stored in the cloud. Just log in to your account on a new device
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Games: Use Google Play Games binding or your own save system (e.g., Genshin Impact has cross-platform saves)
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Google Authenticator: Transfer is only possible through backup (configure it in advance in the application settings)

Banking applications usually require re-authorization, as they are tied to a particular device through security certificates. Some banks (e.g. Sberbank or Tinkoff) allow data to be transferred through a network of banks. SMS-code.

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Always check for backup in the app settings BEFORE the port starts. Some services (like Viber) require manual backup creation, which you then need to manually download to the new device.

6.Moving to phones with different versions of Android

If you upgrade from an old Android (like version 8-9) to a new Xiaomi with Android 13/14, there may be compatibility issues.Some older apps may not work on newer versions of the OS, and data may not be properly restored.

Here's what to consider:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Apps compiled for Android 8 and below may not run on Android 12+ refreshed
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Some security settings (such as camera permissions) are reset when you transfer
  • ๐Ÿ“ File Storage Structure Changed in New Android โ€“ This Could Impact File Managers
  • ๐Ÿ”„ For mission-critical apps, check for updates in Google Play before the penos

If you encounter compatibility errors, try:

  1. Update problem applications to the latest versions
  2. Use Compatibility Mode (if available in Xiaomi settings)
  3. Contact the support of the application developer

For Xiaomi, MIUI 14/15 features โ€œMode for Older Appsโ€ that emulates earlier versions of Android, and can be activated in Settings โ†’ Special Features โ†’ Compatibility Mode.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even with proven methods, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Apps are not installed on the new phoneIncompatibility of Android versions or processor architectureCheck for updates or use APK for your architecture (arm64/x86)
Application data has not recoveredThere is no backup or reset settingsCheck if backup is enabled in Google settings
Mi Mover is 99% frozenAntivirus conflict or unstable connectionTurn off the antivirus and reconnect to Wi-Fi
Banking applications are not portableSecurity Restrictions (SafetyNet)Install the application again from an official source

If none of the methods worked, try a factory reset on the new Xiaomi and repeat the transfer procedure.

Can I transfer apps from iPhone to Xiaomi?
Yes, but with limitations. Xiaomi officially does not support direct porting from iOS, but you can: Use Move to iOS backwards (not all data will be transferred) Move contacts via iCloud Download apps again from Google Play For photos use Google Photos Most applications will have to install and configure again.
Why are some apps not portable through Mi Mover?
This is due to security policy: Banking applications block the transfer due to the risk of data leakage Some messengers (such as WhatsApp) require manual backup of DRM-protected applications (such as Netflix) may not be portable System applications of the old phone are incompatible with the new In such cases, use the official methods of backing up each application separately.
How to transfer saves in games?
For most modern games, cloud-based save is used: Games from Google Play Games sync automatically For Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, use the miHoYo account binding In Clash of Clans, link the game to a Google Account or Supercell ID For offline games, use manual copying of save files (usually in the /Android/data/ folder) If the game does not support cloud-based saves, try using Helium or Swift Backup to create a backup.
What to do if the application is removed after transfer?
This is a typical problem when migrating between different versions of Android. Try: Update the app to the latest version Clear the app cache in Settings โ†’ Apps Disable battery optimization for this app Install the app again from Google Play Check compatibility with your version of MIUI on Xiaomi forums If the problem persists, contact the app developer - an update may be needed to support new versions of Android.
Can I transfer applications without losing data?
Full lossless portability is only possible if: The application supports cloud synchronization You use Mi Mover between two Xiaomi devices You created a full backup through Titanium Backup (requires root) In most cases, some data (such as cache or temporary files) is lost. For critical data, always make separate backups.