Transferring applications from an old Android device to a new smartphone Xiaomi is a task that every user faces when changing gadgets. Unlike iOS, where the synchronization process is standardized via iCloud, in the Android ecosystem (especially taking into account proprietary shells like MIUI) there are more data transfer options - but no less nuances. The main problem: Google Play does not provide a built-in tool for directly transferring APK files or application data between devices. And Xiaomi has its limitations, for example, blocking the installation of APKs from unknown sources by default.

In this guide we will look at all current methods of transferring applications to Xiaomi in 2026including official tools (Mi Mover, Mi Account), universal methods (Bluetooth, ShareIt-like services) and advanced techniques for experienced users (ADB, Titanium Backup). We will pay special attention to the nuances MIUI 15/16, where security and file handling settings have changed. If you need to transfer not only the applications themselves, but also their data (for example, game saves or messenger settings), separate sections will help you do this without loss.

1. Official method: Mi Mover from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi, designed to migrate data between devices to MIUI. It is pre-installed on all new brand smartphones (starting from Redmi Note 5) and supports transferring applications, contacts, photos and even some system settings. The main advantage is that it does not require root access and works without connecting to a PC.

How to use:

  • 📱 Install Mi Mover on both devices (if it is not on your old smartphone, download APK from APKCombo or APKMirror).
  • 🔄 On on the new one Xiaomi select “I receive data”, on the old one - “I send data.”
  • 📶 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network or use a hotspot.
  • 🔍 On the old device, check the boxes for the applications to transfer and click “Send.”
⚠️ Attention: Mi Mover does not transfer data from some applications (for example, WhatsApp or games with local saves). They will require additional steps - see the section on backup.

The transfer speed depends on the amount of data and the stability of the connection. On average, 10-15 applications (with a total weight of ~500 MB) are transferred. 5-10 minutes. If the process is interrupted, try:

  • 🔌 Connect devices via a USB cable with OTG support (an adapter for an old smartphone is required).
  • 📴 Disable VPN or proxy on both phones.
  • 🔄 Restart the router if you are using Wi-Fi.
📊 Which data transfer method do you use most often?
Mi Mover
Google Account
Third-party applications (ShareIt, etc.)
Manual transfer via PC
Other

2. Transfer via Google Account (only for applications from the Play Market)

If you need to transfer only a list of installed applications (without their data), the easiest way is synchronization via Google Account. This method works on all Android devices, including Xiaomi, but has limitations:

  • ✅ Only applications downloaded from Google Play (not APK).
  • ❌ Settings or application saves are not transferred.
  • ⏳ An Internet connection is required to download applications again.

Instructions:

  1. On your old smartphone, open Settings → Google → Google Account → Account synchronization and enable the option “Applications.”
  2. On the new one Xiaomi log in to the same Google account and wait until synchronization is complete.
  3. Open Google Play, go to Library → Installed and click “Install” for the desired applications.

To speed up the process, you can use the function Auto-update in the Play Market settings. However, please note that some applications (for example, banking) may require additional authorization on the new device.

💡

If synchronized applications are not displayed on the new Xiaomi, check whether the background mode for Google Play is disabled in the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Applications).

3. Transfer APK files via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If Mi Mover does not work or you need to transfer APK files (for example, applications downloaded not from the Play Market), you can use the built-in Android tools: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. This method is suitable for transferring 1-2 applications, but is inconvenient for mass transfer.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Install a file manager on your old smartphone (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) and find the folder with the APK. Usually this is: 
    /data/app/

    or for custom APKs:

    /sdcard/Download/
  2. Select the required files (have an extension .apk) and select “Send” → “Bluetooth”.
  3. On the new one Xiaomi enable Bluetooth in the notification panel and confirm receiving the files.
  4. After the transfer, open the file manager on Xiaomi, find the received APKs and install them, having previously allowed installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special rights → Installation of unknown sources applications).
⚠️ Attention: By default, installing APKs from third-party sources is blocked for security. If the “Install unknown applications” option is not in the settings, update the firmware or use MIUI 15/16 By default, APK installation from third-party sources is blocked for security. If the "Install unknown applications" option is missing from the settings, update your firmware or use Mi Unlock Tool (requires unlocking the bootloader).

An alternative to Bluetooth is Wi-Fi Direct (works faster, but less stable). To enable it:

  • 📶 On both devices, open Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
  • 🔗 Connect to the network created by one of the phones.
  • 📁 Use a file manager to transfer APK over a local network.

All the necessary APK files were found on the old phone

Installation is allowed on the new Xiaomi from unknown sources

Both devices are connected to the same network (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi)

At least 2 GB of memory is free on the new smartphone -->

4. Using third-party applications (ShareIt, Xender, Send Anywhere)

Services like ShareIt, Xender or Send Anywhere allow you to transfer applications between Android devices without using cables or cloud storage. They create a local network between phones and transfer data directly. The speed is higher than Bluetooth, and the interface is simpler than Mi Mover.

Comparison of popular services:

Application Speed File limit Support APK Advertising
ShareIt Up to 20 MB/s Unlimited Yes Yes
Xender Up to 10 MB/s 4 GB Yes Yes
Send Anywhere Up to 50 MB/s 10 GB Yes (only Pro) No
LocalSend Up to 15 MB/s Unlimited Yes No

Recommendations for use:

  • 🚀 For maximum speed, use Send Anywhere (the free version allows you to transfer up to 10 GB at a time).
  • 🔒 If you transfer APK with personal data (for example, modified versions of applications), choose a service without cloud intermediate storage (for example, LocalSend).
  • 📱 On Xiaomi s MIUI 16 you may need to allow autorun for the selected application (Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun).
How to bypass the restriction on transferring large files to ShareIt?

In the ShareIt settings on your old phone, select “Transfer mode” → “No restrictions”. If the option is missing, split the APK into parts using an archiver (for example, ZArchiver) and transfer them separately.

5. Transferring while preserving application data (Titanium Backup, Swift Backup)

If you need to transfer not only the applications themselves, but also them data (for example, saves in games, messenger settings or application databases), you will need backup tools with root access. On Xiaomi this is complicated by the fact that unlocking the bootloader resets all data. However, there are workarounds.

The best applications for backup:

  • 🛠️ Titanium Backup is a classic tool, but requires root. Supports backup of data, system settings and even SMS.
  • 🔄 Swift Backup - a modern alternative with support for backup without root (only for user applications).
  • 📦 OAndBackupX - open software for backup, works on most firmware.

Instructions for Swift Backup (without root):

  1. Install Swift Backup on your old smartphone and provide all requested permissions.
  2. Select applications for backup and click “Create a backup copy”. The files will be saved in the folder /sdcard/SwiftBackup.
  3. Move the backup folder to a new one Xiaomi (for example, via an OTG cable or the cloud).
  4. Install Swift Backup on a new device, import the backup and restore the data.
⚠️ Attention: On MIUI some system applications (for example, com.miui.securitycenter) may block data recovery. If the process ends with an error, try temporarily disabling Mi Security in the settings.

For Titanium Backup (with root):

  • Create a backup on your old device by selecting the “Backup all user applications + data” option.
  • Move the folder /sdcard/TitaniumBackup to the new one Xiaomi.
  • Install Titanium Backup on the new phone, provide root access and restore data.
💡

Backup with root allows you to transfer 100% of application data, including system settings. However, on Xiaomi this requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets the device to factory settings.

6. Advanced method: transfer via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to restrictions MIUI or lack of root), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a debugging tool that allows you to copy APK and application data directly through the command line. This method requires PC skills, but guarantees the transfer of even those applications that are blocked in other ways.

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ A computer with installed ADB Tools.
  • 📱 Two smartphones with USB debugging enabled (Settings → About phone → Build number — tap 7 times to unlock developer mode, then enable USB debugging in Settings → Advanced → For developers).
  • 🔌 USB cables for connecting both devices.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Connect your old smartphone to the PC and run the command to get a list of packages: 
    adb shell pm list packages -f

    Copy the paths to the desired APKs (for example, /data/app/com.example.app-1/base.apk).

  2. Copy the APK to your PC: 
    adb pull /data/app/com.example.app-1/base.apk
  3. Connect a new one Xiaomi and install the APK: 
    adb install base.apk
  4. To transfer application data, use: 
    adb backup -f backup.ab com.example.app

    adb restore backup.ab

Method limitations:

  • ❌ Not all applications support adb backup (for example, WhatsApp blocks data backup via ADB).
  • ⚠️ On MIUI you may need to disable Mi Security (Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Security).
  • 🔧 System applications require root access.

7. Transfer via cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)

If you have a slow Internet connection or are unable to connect devices directly, you can use cloud storage. This method is suitable for transferring APKs and data backups, but requires sufficient space in the cloud and time to upload/download.

Options:

  • ☁️ Google Drive — 15 GB free, integration with Android. Suitable for APKs and backups Swift Backup.
  • 📁 Mi Cloud - branded cloud from Xiaomi (5 GB free). Optimized for MIUI, but may not support large files.
  • 🗄️ Mega or pCloud —up to 20 GB free, high download speed.

Instructions for Google Drive:

  1. On an old smartphone, download the APK or backup to Google Drive through the file manager.
  2. On the new one Xiaomi download the files and install/restore the data.
⚠️ Attention: When uploading an APK to the cloud, some services (for example, Mi Cloud) may block files as “potentially dangerous”. In this case, rename the extension from .apk to .zip before downloading.

Common problems and their solutions

When transferring applications to Xiaomi users often encounter common errors. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: APKs are not installed on the new Xiaomi (“Installation is blocked”)

  • 🔓 Allow installation from unknown sources for the browser or file manager you are using (Settings → Applications → Special rights → Install unknown applications).
  • 🔄 Reboot the device and try again.
  • 📋 Check the integrity of the APK (for example, via APK Analyzer).

Problem 2: Mi Mover does not see the old device.

  • 📶 Make sure both phones are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (not mobile data).
  • 🔄 Disable VPN or proxy on both devices.
  • 📱 Update Mi Mover to the latest version on both smartphones.

Problem 3: After transferring, applications crash or do not launch.

  • 🗑️ Clear the application cache (Settings → Applications → Manage applications → [Application name] → Clear cache).
  • 🔄 Reinstall the application from Google Play (if it is there).
  • 📱 Check compatibility with the Android version on the new one Xiaomi.

Problem 4: Application data (for example, game saves) is not transferred.

  • 🎮 Use built-in game synchronization tools (for example, linking to a Google Play Games or Facebook account).
  • 📦 Create a backup via Swift Backup or Titanium Backup.
  • ☁️ Check whether the application supports cloud synchronization (for example, WhatsApp via Google Drive).
Is it possible to transfer applications from iPhone to Xiaomi?

No, direct transfer of APK from iOS to Android is not possible, since these systems have different application formats. However, you can:

  • Synchronize the data of some applications via the cloud (for example, WhatsApp, Google Photos).
  • Find Android analogs of iOS applications on Google Play.
  • Use services like Move to iOS (but it only works in the opposite direction - from Android to iPhone).
Why are some applications not updated after transferring to Xiaomi?

This is due to the fact that:

  • The APK has been modified (for example, a hacked version of the game).
  • The application is installed from an unknown source, and Google Play blocks its update.
  • Background activity for Google Play is disabled ( MIUI background activity disabled for Google Play (Settings → Battery → Battery mode → Applications).

Solution: remove the application and install it again from Google Play.

How to transfer applications from Huawei to Xiaomi?

The process is similar to transferring from any Android device. Features:

  • On Huawei you may need to disable App Twin (application cloning) if it interferes. backup.
  • Use Huawei Backup to create an archive, then extract the APK from the backup using Huawei Backup Extractor (requires a PC).
  • To transfer via Mi Mover make sure that on Huawei data transfer over the local network is allowed.
Is it possible to transfer applications without data loss if there is no root on Xiaomi?

Yes, but with limitations:

  • Suitable for most applications Swift Backup (without root).
  • Some applications (for example, instant messengers) support their own synchronization via the cloud.
  • Games with cloud saves (Google Play Games) will transfer progress automatically.

If the application does not support backup without root, the only way is to use its built-in export/import tools (for example, exporting a database to CSV).

What to do if, after transferring to Xiaomi, notifications in applications are missing?

This is a typical problem MIUI, where notifications for new applications are disabled by default. The fix is this:

  1. Open Settings → Notifications → Manage notifications.
  2. Find the desired application and turn on the “Show notifications” switch.
  3. In the “Notification categories” section, activate all important types (for example, “Messages” for instant messengers).
  4. Check whether the application has been added to Blacklist (Settings → Applications → Manage applications → [Application] → Notifications).