How to transfer apps from one smartphone to another Android

Buying a new smartphone is always a joyful event, which is often overshadowed by the prospect of a long and tedious setup of the device. The most painful moment for most users is not the physical unboxing of the gadget, but the process of data migration. The issue is especially acute when it is necessary transfer apps together with all the settings, game saves and correspondence history. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem has made huge leaps in convenience in recent years, offering several reliable ways to solve this problem.

Previously, owners had to manually download each application from the store, remember passwords, and reconfigure widgets. Today the process is significantly automated, but requires an understanding of the nuances of cloud services and local copying. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods: from built-in Google functions to specialized software from manufacturers like Samsung or Xiaomi. You will learn how to make the transition as seamless as possible and not lose a single byte of important information.

Preparing devices for data synchronization

Before you begin active migration steps, you need to make sure that both devices are ready for use. It is critical that the current version of the operating system is installed on the old smartphone, and that the initial launch is performed on the new device. If the new phone has already been set up and you are signed in, some transfer methods may require a factory reset.

Also make sure that both gadgets have sufficient battery power, preferably at least 50-60%. The process of transferring large amounts of data, especially if you are using a wireless connection, can be energy-consuming. Suddenly turning off one of the devices in the middle of the process can lead to damaged files or incomplete installation of applications.

⚠️ Attention: Before starting any manipulations, be sure to create a complete backup of the data on the old device. Even the most reliable methods can fail due to software errors or an unstable connection.

Check the free space on your new smartphone. The amount of available memory must exceed the total weight of all apps and data that you plan to move. If there is not enough space, the system may automatically skip the installation of some heavy applications or games.

Using the built-in Google tool when setting up for the first time

The easiest and recommended method for most users is to use the standard Android setup wizard. This method is activated automatically the first time you turn on your new smartphone. The system will offer to copy applications and data from another device using either a cable or a Wi-Fi connection.

To start the process, connect both phones to each other. In modern versions of Android, you can use a USB-C to USB-C cable, or an adapter if the connectors are different. After a physical connection or selecting a wireless method, a list of data to be transferred will appear on the screen of the new device. You will be able to select specific applicationscall history, messages and system settings.

The process occurs through a secure data transfer protocol. All applications that were installed from Google Play Store on the old device will be automatically downloaded and installed on the new one in the background. It is important to note that the app files themselves are downloaded from the Internet and not copied via cable, which saves time, but requires a stable network connection.

After completing the basic setup, you may need to log into some applications manually, especially if they are related to banking services or require two-factor authentication. This is a security measure that cannot be bypassed by automatic means.

Branded utilities of smartphone manufacturers

Large vendors such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and others develop their own migration tools that often work faster and deeper than standard Android tools. These utilities are capable of transferring not only application shortcuts, but also specific interface settings, alarm clocks, and even the arrangement of icons on the desktop.

For example, Samsung owners use the application Samsung Smart Switch. It allows you to transfer data not only from other Android smartphones, but also from iPhone. The utility creates a local copy of the data and transfers it to a new device via Wi-Fi Direct or cable. It works similarly Mi Mover for Xiaomi phones and Clone Phone for OPPO and Realme.

The main advantage of such solutions is the ability to transfer data without necessarily resetting the new phone to factory settings. You can install a branded application on both devices, launch it and start transferring at any time, even a week after purchasing a new gadget.

⚠️ Attention: Branded utilities often cannot transfer data between different ecosystems (for example, launcher settings from Xiaomi to Samsung). In such cases, only contacts, photos and the APK files of the applications themselves are transferred.

Below is a table of popular utilities for different brands that will help you choose the right tool:

Smartphone brand	Name utilities	iOS support	Connection method
Samsung	Smart Switch	Yes	Cable / Wi-Fi
Xiaomi / Redmi	Mi Mover	No	Wi-Fi Direct
Huawei / Honor	Phone Clone	Yes	Wi-Fi Direct
OPPO / Realme	Clone Phone	Yes	Wi-Fi / QR code

Manual backup via Google Account

If automatic methods for some reason did not work or you want to control the process in detail, you can use manual synchronization via Google Account. This method ensures that all your contacts, calendars and list of installed applications will be saved in the cloud.

To do this, on your old device, go to menu Settings → Google → Backup. Make sure the Google One Backup switch is turned on. Click the "Start Copying" or "Create a Copy" button. The system will save a list of applications, device settings and data of some supported apps.

After creating a copy on the new phone, sign in to the same Google account. During setup or in the data recovery section, the system will offer to restore applications from the last saved copy. Please note that this method only restores shortcuts and links to apps in the store. The app files themselves will be downloaded again.

What to do if a backup copy is not created?

If the backup button is inactive, check the availability of free space in your Google One storage. The free plan provides 15 GB, which is divided between Mail, Drive and Photos. Perhaps the space has run out and you need to free it up or buy more.

It is important to understand that data inside applications (for example, progress in games or correspondence in instant messengers) is saved in this way only if the application developer has implemented support for Google Drive cloud backup. Otherwise, additional copying of data within the application itself will be required.

Transferring instant messengers and banking applications

Messengers and financial applications deserve special attention, as they store confidential information and often have additional levels of protection. Simply transferring the application shortcut is not enough here - you need to save the history of correspondence and access to accounts.

For WhatsApp you need to create a backup copy of the chats in advance in the settings of the application itself, choosing to save to Google Drive. When you install WhatsApp on a new device, the system will automatically detect this copy and offer to restore your message history. Without this step, all correspondence will be lost, even if the application itself is installed.

Banking applications (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff and others) for security purposes do not save session data and logins in general backups. You will have to re-enter your phone number, receive an SMS code and come up with a PIN code to log in. This is a standard security practice that cannot be circumvented.

⚠️ Attention: Never try to transfer folders with banking application data manually through a file manager. This may lead to blocking access to the account due to suspicious activity or violation of the integrity of encryption files.

For Telegram the situation is simpler: the correspondence history is stored in the cloud of the service itself. Simply enter your phone number on your new device, and all chats (except secret ones) will be loaded automatically. Secret chats are tied to a specific device and cannot be transferred.

Alternative methods and third-party software

In cases where standard tools cannot cope, you can use third-party solutions. One such method is to use a computer as an intermediary. You can connect your old phone to your PC, copy the installation files (APK) and data folders, and then transfer them to the new smartphone.

However, this method requires root access to completely copy the application data, including its internal database. Without superuser rights, you can only copy the app installation file, but not its settings or saves. This makes the method difficult for the average user.

There are also specialized apps for PCs, such as MobileTrans or Dr.Fone. They offer a convenient interface for transferring data between phones of different platforms. Such utilities are often paid, but can be useful in difficult situations, for example, when moving from iOS to Android or when transferring data from a broken screen.

adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -shared -all

For advanced users who have ADB debugging tools installed on their computer, it is possible to create a full backup via the command line. The command above creates an archive of all applications and general data. However, restoring from such an archive on a new device also requires the use of ADB and may be unstable on new versions of Android.

Is it possible to transfer applications without the Internet?

Yes, using tools like APK Extractor on your old phone, you can save application installation files to a memory card or transfer them via Bluetooth. But without the Internet, you will not be able to update them to the latest versions and log into your accounts.

Possible problems and their solutions

During the migration process, users often encounter a number of typical problems. The most common one is the "Insufficient space" error or the process getting stuck at a certain percentage. This is usually due to the fact that a lot of system software is already pre-installed on the new device, which takes up a significant part of the memory.

Another common problem is the incompatibility of Android versions. If you are upgrading from a very old version of the system (for example, Android 8) to the newest one (Android 14), some old applications may simply not install because the developers have stopped supporting them. In this case, you will have to look for alternative apps.

• 📱 Check the Android version: Make sure that new applications support the system version of your new smartphone.
• 🔋 Do not interrupt the process: Even if the phone seems to be frozen, wait at least 10-15 minutes before rebooting.
• 📶 Stable Wi-Fi: To download heavy games and apps, use a reliable 5 GHz network to avoid connection dropouts.

If a particular application does not transfer or does not run on a new device, try deleting it and installing it again manually from the Google Play Store. This often solves problems with version conflicts or damaged cache files.

What to do if contacts are missing after the transfer?

Most likely, the contacts were saved not in the Google account, but in the phone memory or on the SIM card. Check your contacts display settings in the Contacts app and make sure you're set to sync with your Google account. If the contacts were on SIM, import them through the SIM card settings menu.

Is it possible to transfer paid applications without paying again?

Yes, all applications purchased on Google Play are linked to your account. If you restore from a backup or manually install from the same account, they will become available for free. The license remains forever.

Will passwords from Wi-Fi networks be transferred?

On devices with Android 10 and higher, when using a full Google backup or proprietary utilities (for example, Smart Switch), passwords from Wi-Fi networks are usually transferred automatically. You will not have to enter them again.

How long does data transfer take?

The time depends on the amount of data and connection speed. If using a cable, the process may take from 10 to 40 minutes. Over Wi-Fi, transferring large volumes (more than 50 GB) can last several hours.

Do you need to delete data from your old phone after transferring?

This is recommended only after you make sure that everything works correctly on the new device, all applications run, and the data is accessible. Before selling or disposing of your old phone, be sure to perform a full data reset (Factory Reset).