How to transfer games from Android to Android while saving achievements

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, which is often overshadowed by the thought of losing accumulated progress in your favorite applications. Imagine the situation: you bought a new flagship, turned it on, but discovered that all the levels, earned coins and unlocked characters remained on the old device. Fortunately, the ecosystem Android offers many tools for data migration, but the process of transferring game saves has its own subtleties that not all users are aware of.

Many rely solely on automatic synchronization through Google Play Games, but this method does not work with all projects, especially when it comes to old titles or games from third-party stores. In this article we will analyze in detail the various transfer methods: from standard cloud functions to advanced methods using ADB and root access. You will learn to save your digital footprint without losing a single percent of your progress.

Using the Google Play Games cloud service

The most common and easiest way to save progress is to use the built-in service from Google. Most developers integrate Google Play Games to your projects, which allows you to automatically upload achievements and saves to the cloud if you have an Internet connection. For a successful migration, you need to make sure that you are logged into the correct Google account on your old device, and that the synchronization function is activated in the game settings.

The activation process usually occurs automatically upon first launch, but it is worth checking the status manually. Go to the game settings, find the “Accounts” or “Saves” section and make sure that the Google logo is checked. After this, data about your progress, including level, currency and inventory, will be encrypted and sent to the corporation's servers.

⚠️ Attention: Some games use their own account system (for example, Supercell ID or Facebook Login) instead of Google Play. In such cases, cloud saving via Google may not work, and you will need to link to a third-party service.

On a new smartphone, the algorithm of actions is mirrored: install the game, launch it and log in to the same Google account. The system will automatically detect the presence of a cloud save and offer to download it, replacing the local data. This is the most secure method that does not require intervention in the file system.

Local backup via Google One and Android settings

In more modern versions of the operating system, starting from Android 9 and above, the backup mechanism has become more flexible. The service Google One and system settings allow you to create complete copies of application data, including game saves, even if the developer has not implemented cloud synchronization. This method works in the background and is often a lifesaver for offline projects.

To activate this feature, you need to go to your device's settings menu. The path may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer's shell, but the general logic remains the same. You need to find the partition responsible for data recovery and make sure that the switch is activated.

Here's how to find the necessary settings:

• 📱 Open Settings on your smartphone.
• ☁️ Go to the section Google or System.
• 💾 Select the item Backup.
• ✅ Make sure that the function Data copy is enabled.

Once enabled, the system will create a snapshot of the data that will be linked to your account. When setting up a new phone for the first time or after a factory reset, the system will offer to restore data from the latest backup. It is important to understand that this method does not always guarantee 100% transfer of the cache of heavy games, but text saves and level progress are usually transferred correctly.

Synchronization through third-party accounts

Many modern mobile games, especially those that require a constant online connection, use their own authorization servers. In such cases, progress is stored not on the device or in Google Play, but on the developer’s servers. To transfer the game to a new phone, simply log in to the application using the same credentials as before.

The most popular linking methods include logging in through social networks or specialized IDs. For example, games from Supercell (Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars) use Supercell ID, in projects Riot Games a Riot account, and in many shooters and RPGs, authorization via Facebook or Twitter is popular. Before changing devices, it is critical to ensure that your gaming profile is securely linked to one of these services.

The transfer process is as follows:

1. On your old phone, go to the game settings and find the "Link account" or "Link Device" button.
2. Choose a convenient method (Facebook, Email, VK, etc.) and complete authorization.
3. Install the game on your new smartphone and run it.
4. On on the start screen or in the settings, select “Restore progress” and log in through the same service.

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the game starts as new, ignoring the binding. In this case, you may need to manually enter the recovery code, which is generated in the settings on the old device. This code is usually valid for a limited time, so use it right away.

What to do if your old phone is already sold or broken?

If the phone is unavailable, but you remember the login and password for a linked account (for example, Facebook), simply log in to it on the new device. If there was no binding and local data is lost, it will be officially impossible to restore progress; you will have to start over or contact game support, providing screenshots of purchase receipts or account ID.

Manually copying game files and saves

For advanced users who prefer full control over data or do not have access to cloud services, there is a method for manually copying files. Games on Android store their data in internal memory directories. Knowing these paths, you can copy the files to your computer or directly to a new phone, saving all progress.

The main folders that are of interest are located at /Android/data/ i /Android/obb/. The first stores save files, settings and cache, and the second stores additional game resources such as textures and music. To access these packages on modern versions of Android (11 and higher), you may need special file managers or a connection via ADB, since the standard explorer limits access.

Procedure for manual transfer:

• 📂 Install a file manager with access to system folders (for example, Total Commander or FX File Explorer).
• 📁 Find the folder with the name of the game package (for example, com.example.game) in the directories data i obb.
• 📤 Copy these folders to external storage or to your computer.
• 📥 On the new phone, install the game, run it once to create a folder structure, close and paste the copied files, replacing the existing ones.

⚠️ Attention: On Android 11, 12, 13 and later, access to the folder /Android/data/ is limited. Copying files may require the use of a PC and MTP protocol or special permissions via ADB.

This method is especially effective for offline games that do not require a constant connection to the server. However, you should be careful: if the game versions on the old and new devices are different, the save files may become incompatible, which will lead to launch errors.

Using specialized applications for migration

Manufacturers smartphones understand the importance of quickly switching to a new device, so they create their own utilities for transferring data. Applications such as Samsung Smart Switch, Xiaomi Mi Mover, Huawei Phone Clone or OnePlus Switchare capable of transferring not only contacts and photos, but also installed applications along with their data.

These tools work on the principle of creating a tunnel between two devices (via Wi-Fi Direct or cable) and copy almost the entire contents of the internal memory. Unlike standard Google backup, they can often transfer even data that is not usually synchronized, including game caches and local saves.

Comparison of popular migration tools:

App	Compatibility	Data transfer games	Operation speed
Samsung Smart Switch	Android / iOS	High (for Samsung)	Very high
Xiaomi Mi Mover	Android / iOS	Average	High
Google (Settings)	Android	Basic (depends on the game)	Medium
Send Anywhere	All platforms	APK only (no data)	High

When using proprietary utilities, it is important that the appropriate versions of applications are installed on both devices. Often the application is already pre-installed on a new phone, but on the old one you need to download it from the store. The process is usually fully automated: you scan the QR code and select what exactly you want to transfer.

Advanced transfer with root access and Titanium Backup

For users with superuser rights (Root), opens up opportunities for complete cloning of the system state. Tools like Titanium Backup or Swift Backup allow you to create complete images of applications along with data that can be deployed on any other device with a similar processor architecture.

This method is the most reliable, since it copies absolutely everything: from game progress to temporary files and specific settings. However, it requires having root access on both devices (or at least on the original one to create a backup) and installing identical versions of the operating system to avoid conflicts.

The process looks like this:

1. Obtain root access on the devices (this may void the warranty).
2. Install Titanium Backup on your old phone.
3. Make a backup copy of the desired game by selecting the "Application + Data" option.
4. Transfer the backup file (usually located in /data/data/com.titaniumbackup/backup) to the new phone.
5. Restore the application on a new device using the same app.

⚠️ Attention: Obtaining root access and unlocking the Bootloader may lead to denial of warranty service for the device. In addition, many online games block launching on rooted devices for security reasons.

The use of this method is justified only in complex cases when other methods do not work, or when transferring a huge amount of data at once. For the average user who wants to transfer a couple of games, this method can be redundant and risky.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I transfer saves if I change the platform from Android to iOS?

In most cases, direct transfer of saves between Android and iOS is not possible due to differences in file application store systems and policies. However, some cross-platform games (for example, Minecraft, Genshin Impact, Clash of Clans) allow you to transfer progress by creating an internal account or linking to social networks. Check cross-progression support in the settings of a particular game.

What should you do if, after transferring, the game requires you to download resources again?

This is normal behavior for many modern graphics-intensive games. Even if you have transferred files obb, the game can check the integrity of the files and download updated versions of the resources. Make sure you are using a stable Wi-Fi connection for this process to go quickly.

Will items purchased in-game be lost after reinstalling?

No, purchases made with real money are tied to your Google Play account or developer account. After logging into your account on a new device, all purchases should be automatically restored. If this does not happen, find the "Restore Purchases" button in the game store.

Do I need to delete the game from my old phone before transferring?

No, you do not need to delete the game from your old device if you use cloud synchronization or manually copying files. Moreover, by leaving the game on your old phone, you can make sure that everything works correctly on the new device before erasing data from the old one.