How to transfer a game from iPhone to Android via SHAREit: a complete guide with nuances

Transferring mobile games between devices on different operating systems is not an easy task. If you are trying to send saves or an APK file of a game from iPhone to a smartphone Android via SHAREit, then you are faced with a number of technical limitations. Unlike transferring photos or videos, games have copy protection, different file formats and are often linked to accounts App Store or Google Play.

Many users mistakenly think that it is enough to simply send a game file like a regular document. In practice, this only works for offline games without DRM (for example, simple arcade games or puzzles). Most modern projects with multiplayer, purchases or cloud saves require additional manipulations. In this article, we will look at all the working methods - from basic transmission via SHAREit to workaround solutions for protected games.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 OS versions: iOS 15+ and Android 10+ (on older systems there may be problems with compatibility)
• 🔄 SHAREit update: use the latest version of the application (2026) from the official stores
• 📶 Wi-Fi network: both devices must be connected to the same network (or create a hotspot)
• 🔋 Battery charge: at least 30% on both gadgets (transferring large files drains the battery)

⚠️ Attention: Transferring paid games or modified APKs through SHAREit may violate the terms of use App Store/Google Play. The risks of account blocking lie with the user.

Why you can’t just send the game as a file

The main problem lies in the architecture of mobile operating systems. Games on iPhone are installed in the format .ipa, which incompatible with Android (where it is used .apk or .xapk). Even if you find a way to extract an IPA file from an iPhone, you won’t be able to install it on Android without conversion, which not all games support.

The second obstacle is anti-piracy protection. Popular games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Clash of Clans) use:

• 🔒 DRM (digital rights management)
• 🌐 Account linking (Google/Apple ID, Facebook, Game Center)
• 📡 Server validation (license check every time you start)

This means that even if you transfer the game files, it either will not install or will not start without the original buyer account. The exception is offline games without online components and license verification, but there are less than 10% of them on the market.

Preparing devices before transfer

To minimize the risk of failures, perform preliminary settings on both devices:

On iPhone (iOS):

• 📲 Open Settings → SHAREit and allow access to Local network
• 🔗 Enable AirDrop (although it is not needed for SHAREit, this will eliminate possible network protocol conflicts)
• 🔄 Reboot the device (this will reset the network connection cache)

On Android:

• 🛠️ Allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Security → Unknown sources (path may vary)
• 📂 Clear SHAREit cache: Settings → Applications → SHAREit → Memory → Clear cache
• 📶 Connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the iPhone (or activate a hotspot on Android and connect the iPhone to it)

Install SHAREit on both devices from official stores|

Update the application to the latest version|

Connect devices to the same Wi-Fi network|

Allow SHAREit access to the local network and storage|

Disable VPN and firewalls (if using)-->

If the game weighs more than 500 MB, we recommend using "Fast transfer" mode SHAREit. To do this:

1. Open SHAREit on Android
2. Tap on the avatar in the upper right corner
3. Select Settings → Transfer mode → Fast: On some models, SHAREit may conflict with proprietary file transfer utilities (for example,

⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi And Huawei SHAREit may conflict with proprietary file transfer utilities (for example, Mi Share). Before you begin, disable them in the settings.

Step-by-step guide: transferring a game via SHAREit

Let's look at the process using the example of transferring an offline game Monument Valley (without DRM). For games with protection, the steps will be different - we will talk about this in the next section.

Step 1. Find the game files on the iPhone

By default, games on iOS are stored in secure sandbox (sandbox). To extract them:

• 📁 Use a file manager with access to the root folder (for example, iExplorer or AnyTrans for Windows/macOS)
• 🔍 Go to /var/mobile/Containers/Bundle/Application/
• 🔎 Find the folder with the name of the game (usually a random set of characters)

Step 2. Prepare files for transfer

Copy the game folder to your computer, then archive it in .zip. SHAREit works better with archives than with hundreds of small files. If the game weighs less than 100 MB, it is not necessary to archive.

Step 3. Start transfer via SHAREit

1. Open SHAREit on iPhone and select Send
2. Tap Files and find your archive with the game
3. On Android in SHAREit select Get
4. Wait for the devices to find each other (can take up to 30 seconds)
5. Confirm the transfer on both screens

Step 4. Installation on Android

After transfer:

• 📂 Unzip the files (use RAR or ZArchiver)
• 📲 Find the file base.apk (or with a similar name)
• 🔘 Tap on it and confirm installation
• 🎮 If the game requires additional data (.obb files), copy them to /Android/obb/[game package name]

What do if the game is protected by DRM

For games with protection (90% of top projects), simple file transfer will not work. Here are alternative methods: Method 1. Transfer via cloud saving data-i="150">. In this case:

Method 1: Transfer via cloud storage

Many games (eg Clash Royale or Brawl Stars) synchronize progress with your account Google Play Games or Supercell ID. In this case:

1. Link the game on iPhone to your account (for example, via Settings → Link to Google Play)
2. Install the same game on Android from Google Play
3. Login to the same account - progress will be updated automatically

Method 2. Using emulators

For games that do not support cross-platform synchronization (for example, Among Us old versions), you can:

• 🖥️ Install an emulator iOS to PC (iPadian, Smartface)
• 🔄 Transfer saves from iPhone to emulator via iTunes
• 📱 Then from emulator to Android using BlueStacks or Genymotion

Method 3. Manually extracting saves

For games with local saves (for example, Minecraft):

1. On iPhone, find the save folder (usually /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/)
2. Copy files .dat or .sav on Android to /Android/data/[game package]/files/
3. Install the game on Android from Google Play (it will "pick up" the save)

Method	Suitable for	Difficulty	Risks
Direct transmission via SHAREit	Offline games without DRM	⭐	Low (may not start)
Cloud synchronization	Games with support for Google Play Games	⭐⭐	Average (linked to account)
Emulators	Games without cross-platform support	⭐⭐⭐⭐	High (complex setup)
Manual copying of saves	Games with local saves	⭐⭐⭐	Medium (you may lose progress)

Direct transfer via SHAREit|

Cloud synchronization|

Using emulators|

Manual copying of files|

I don’t know, I haven’t tried it yet-->

Common errors and their solutions

Error 1: “The file is not supported” when installing APK

Causes and solutions:

• 📌 Incompatible architecture: The game is assembled under arm64, and your Android runs on x86 (check in Settings → About phone → Processor model)
• 📌 Damaged APK: Transfer archived files or check checksum (MD5)
• 📌 Missing OBB files: For many games you need to download additional data (usually 1-2 GB)

Error 2: SHAREit does not see the device

Connection problems can be solved as follows:

• 🔄 Restart the router (if you are using Wi-Fi)
• 📡 Check that it is enabled on Android Wi-Fi Direct (Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct)
• 🛡️ Disable your antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky may block the transfer)

Error 3: The game is installed, but does not start

Probable reasons:

• 🔑 No license: For paid games you need a buyer account
• 📱 Incompatible Android version: Check the game requirements in Google Play
• 🔧 Missing rights: Give the game all permissions in Settings → Applications → [game name] → Permissions

Details about the "Application not installed" error

This error often occurs due to a conflict in APK digital signatures. If you modified the file (for example, removed the license check), Android may block the installation. Solution: Find the original APK with the correct signature or use Lucky Patcher (at your own risk).

Alternative methods of transferring games

If SHAREit does not cope with the task, try these methods:

1. Via computer (iTunes + ADB)

For advanced users:

1. Connect iPhone to PC and extract IPA file via iMazing or 3uTools
2. Convert IPA to APK using iPA to APK Converter (does not work for all games)
3. Install APK on Android via adb install [path to file]

2. Using Google Drive/iCloud

For small games (<500 MB):

• 📤 Download the game files to iCloud Drive from iPhone
• 📥 Download them to Android via browser (or app iCloud for Android)
• 📲 Install APK manually

3. Using specialized services

Services for transferring games between platforms:

• 🌐 Send Anywhere (supports files up to 10 GB)
• 🌐 Snapdrop (works through a browser, without installing applications)
• 🌐 LocalSend (open source, private transfer)

Comparison of methods by speed:

Method	Speed	Max. file size	PC required
SHAREit	10-50 MB/s	Unlimited	No
Google Drive	1-10 MB/s	15 GB (free)	No
ADB + computer	50-100 MB/s	Unlimited	Yes
LocalSend	5-30 MB/s	Unlimited	No

Security: risks and how to avoid them

Transferring games between platforms involves several risks that are important to know in advance:

1. Leakage of personal data

When using SHAREit or similar services:

• 🔍 The application requests access to contacts, photos and geolocation
• 📡 Data is transmitted over a local network, but can be intercepted on public Wi-Fi
• 🔐 Use VPN (for example, ProtonVPN) when transmitting in public places

2. Viruses in modified APK

If you download games not from Google Play:

• 🦠 Check the files through VirusTotal before installation
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes)
• 🚫 Avoid sites with "hacked" games - they often contain Trojans or miners

3. Blocking your account

Transfer of paid games can lead to:

• 🔒 Blocking Google Play or App Store account
• 💳 Charges for a “pirated” copy (if the game checks the license)
• 🎮 Loss of progress in online games (for account ban)

⚠️ Attention: Rules of use Google Play and App Store prohibit the transfer of paid applications between users. Even if you transfer the game to yourself on another device, technically this violates clause 3.3 App Store Terms of Use.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring games

Is it possible to transfer saves from Genshin Impact from iPhone to Android?

Yes, but only through official account linking. In Genshin Impact use:

1. On iPhone: Settings → Account → Link to email
2. On Android: log in to the same email when you first start

Direct file transfer will not work - the game is checking the server data.

Why does SHAREit transfer the game at a speed of 1 MB/s, although Wi-Fi is fast?

This is a typical problem when:

• Using public Wi-Fi (restrictions from the router)
• Active VPN on one of the devices
• Background downloading of updates on Android/iOS

Solution: switch to hotspot (hotspot) from your phone or disable all background processes.

Is it possible to transfer PUBG Mobile from iPhone to Android without loss progress?

Yes, through linking to Facebook or Twitter:

1. On iPhone: Settings → Link to Facebook
2. On Android: install the game from Google Play and log in through the same account

If the game was linked to Game Center, transfer is not possible - PUBG Mobile does not support cross-platform synchronization with Apple.

What should I do if after the transfer the game crashes on startup?

Check:

• Processor architecture: APK must be built under arm64 (most modern Android)
• Android version: The game may require Android 11+, and you have Android 9
• Access rights: Give the game permissions for storage, Internet and geolocation

If the problem persists, try find a modified version of APK specifically for your phone model (for example, on APKMirror).

Is it possible to transfer a game from an iPhone to Android via Bluetooth?

Technically yes, but it is extremely ineffective:

• 🐢 Transfer speed: ~0.5 MB/s (versus 10-50 MB/s for SHAREit)
• 📵 File size limit: usually up to 50 MB
• 🔌 High battery consumption

Bluetooth is only suitable for transferring small saves (for example, for Minecraft PE), but not for full APK files.