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How to Transfer Apps from Android to Android? Finding Answers!

Axel Nash
Axel Nash Originally published Jun 24, 25, updated Oct 27, 25

Moving everything from your old phone after buying a new one can feel confusing. One of the biggest concerns is how to move your apps. People often worry about losing their favorite apps and saved data. This happens because the two phones may not connect, or they may have different settings based on their models or brands.

Consequently, when users transfer apps from Android to Android, they might re-download them again or provide special permission to complete the migration smoothly. However, the good news is that there are easy ways to move your apps’ entire data. Thus, read this guide and access clear ways to transfer apps with the same operating system.

transfer apps android to android guide
In this article
    1. Method 1. During the Android Setup
    2. Method 2. Send Apps via Smart Switch
    3. Method 3. Share Apps Using a Dedicated Transfer App
    4. Method 4. Move the APKs With WhatsApp

Part 1. Why Transfer Apps from Android to Android?

Before we understand how to share apps from Android to Android, let's learn why there is a need to move these in the first place:

reasons transfer apps android to android
  • Save Time: It takes hours to manually search, download, and set up each app on a new device. Therefore, moving applications guarantee your phone is ready to use without the repetitive setup process.
  • Keep Essential Data: Some apps store preferences, login information, or user progress locally rather than in the cloud. When you transfer them, it helps you retain this customization and avoid starting from scratch.
  • Preserve Old Apps: Not all applications remain available on the Play Store indefinitely, and there is a chance that some of them might have been removed. If you have been using a discontinued app, transferring it might be the only way to keep it on your new device.
  • Avoid Disruption: Related to productivity, communication programs are often integrated into your daily routine. Moving them over seamlessly prevents disruption in your workflow or personal organization.

Part 2. How to Share Apps from Android to Android: All Working Methods

Now that you know the reason behind this process, it's time to learn how to transfer app data from Android to Android with the top methods:

Method 1. During the Android Setup

When you set up your new phone, you can transfer apps in 3 easy ways, which are given below with their detailed stepwise guide:

Way 1. Transfer Apps via USB Cable During Android Setup

When learning how to transfer all apps from Android to Android, know that you can do it using a cable. After connecting your old and new Android phones using a cable, the system automatically offers a fast and secure way to share apps. The following steps guarantee stability, avoid connection drops, and speed up the process, which is perfect for those who want everything moved in one go:

Step 1. Initialize the Android setup across the new device and press the "Next" button on the "Copy apps & data" screen of your new phone. Connect both phones via USB and click the "Next" button once again to continue.

connect both devices hit next

Step 2. On your old Android, accept the permission to transfer data by choosing the "Copy" button in the bottom-right corner.

old android device hit copy data

Step 3. Afterward, your new Android phone will analyze all the information and ask you what you want to transfer. There, check the "Apps" box and click the "Copy" button again to complete the shifting process under the "Choose what to copy" screen.

pick apps option hit copy

Way 2. Share Apps Wirelessly

When you don't have a cable nearby and still want to transfer your apps, Android makes it easy to do it wirelessly during setup. This method is very similar to the previous one, but users must select the "No Cable" option during the process. By doing the following steps, learn how to transfer apps from Android to Android, which is ideal when both devices are on the same network:

Step 1. Press the "Next" button after you connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi, and when you get the "Devices Cable" screen, choose the "No Cable?" option.

pick no cable option transfer apps

Step 2. A pop-up menu will appear where you choose the "Copy without cable" option. On your old Android, search for "Set Up My Device" on Google, and follow the same process as followed in the above procedure.

copy without cable google transfer data

Way 3. Move Data With Google Drive Backup

Have you already backed up your old phone, but it's not available right now? Restoring apps through Google Drive is the simplest method out of all discussed above. You just have to sign in to your Google account during setup, and your app settings, even in-app data, will automatically sync to your new Android. Follow the given guidelines and understand how to share apps from Android to Android without any cable:

Step 1. When you set up your Android, pick the "Next" option on the "Copy apps & data" screen, and when you get the "Use your old device" screen, click the "Can't use old device?" option. Log in to your existing Google Account by adding the details in the provided spaces and pressing the "Next" button.

copy apps and data enter email

Step 2. Following up, choose the latest backup and enter the password of your previous Android. As you progress further, check the "Apps" box in the "Choose what to restore" screen, and as you tap "Restore," the process will initialize.

device check box apps data restore

Method 2. Send Apps via Smart Switch

Transferring apps between Android devices is significantly simpler when moving data from Samsung due to the integrated Smart Switch function. It enables both wired and wireless connections, letting you transfer apps and settings smoothly without losing current content on a new device. You can how to transfer all apps from Android to Android using the Smart Switch app by following these steps:

Step 1. Once you download the Smart Switch on your old Samsung, connect both devices to the same cable. Choose the "Send from this phone" option from the sender device and select the "Cable" connection option.

download smart switch pick cable option

Step 2. On the new device, choose the "Receive on This Phone" option and connect both of your Android phones to scan the data.

receive data on new android device

Step 3. Afterwards, choose the "Custom" option under the "Select Data to Transfer" screen and press the "Next" button. Now, pick the data you want to move and check the corresponding boxes before you hit the "Transfer" button.

choose custom option hit transfer

Method 3. Share Apps Using a Dedicated Transfer App

One of the most reliable solutions for learning how to transfer apps from Android to Android is to use a data-sharing tool like MobileTrans. It allows you to share up to 18 kinds of data, which includes call logs, contact backlist, or even bookmarks. Not only that, but you can also move applications or other data between iOS to Android or vice versa.

You can transfer data after setup to the existing phone, and the tool will still move it without wiping the existing one. Similarly, it allows you to shift types of data from your computer to any type of mobile phone with a few clicks.

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Transfer apps and more data, including files, photos, videos, messages, contacts, etc.
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No data loss. No data leaks.
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Transfer between different brands or within different operating systems (iPhone to Android and vice versa).
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Support exporting apps to APK or IPA files on computer.
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After going through its features, it is time to find out how to transfer apps to a new Android Phone with the simple steps given below:

Step 1. Install MobileTrans on your PC > Open “App to App” transfer > Connect both phones.

mobiletrans app transfer

Step 2. Pick the “Flip” icon to determine the devices. Select the apps and click the “Start” button to start the process.

choose data and establish connection

Step 3. During the app transfer, a pop-up will appear asking for permission to install. Tap "Install" to continue. Once the process is completed, remove both Android phones.

complete app transfer
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Transfer phone data and apps

Method 4. Move the APKs With WhatsApp

For a more manual but flexible option, you can send APK files through WhatsApp to transfer apps between Android devices. This method helps share specific apps, especially if they are not available on the Play Store, and it doesn't require any additional transfer tools. If you want to understand how to transfer app data from Android to Android, follow the detailed stepwise guide:

Step 1. To manually transfer the app, long-press on it and choose the "Share" option from the pop-up. Next, press the "WhatsApp" option from the "Share" slide-up menu and proceed.

choose app pick whatsapp to share

Step 2. From WhatsApp, choose the contact active on the other Android and tap the "Send" button. You'll have to press the "Send" button once again to share the application through WhatsApp successfully as an APK.

select contact share app whatsapp

Conclusion

In conclusion, switching to new phones always comes with concerns like losing valuable data and applications. Therefore, this guide has introduced you to the top methods for transferring all apps from Android to Android. While all the methods are dependable, they require a significant amount of time and effort. This is why employing a transfer tool such as MobileTrans is the top choice since it provides an easy solution.

FAQ

  • Q: Can I transfer paid apps to my new Android phone?

    A: Yes, paid apps linked to your Google account can be moved to any new Android phone without the need to purchase them. Just sign in with the same Google account on your new device, or you can simply download the apps from the Play Store.

  • Q: Do both phones need to be the same brand for the app transfer to work?

    A: No, when learning how to share an app from Android to Android, know that both phones do not need to be from the same brand. Transfer tools like MobileTrans let you move apps between different Android devices and even iOS devices.

  • Q: Will app updates still work after transferring?

    A: Yes, once the apps are transferred to your device, they will continue to receive updates through the Google Store as usual. Just make sure you are connected to the internet and logged into your Google account.

  • Q: What should I do if some apps don't transfer?

    A: Check if the app was selected during the transfer process or if it's available on the Play Store first. If not, you can install the app manually and restore its data through the app's own backup settings.

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