Why The Lucky Stiff

One man's journey to be more just a lucky stiff

how to transfer apps from Android to Android

How to Transfer Apps from Android to Android the Easy Way

Last updated on

Got a new phone and looking for a way of how to transfer apps from Android to Android right away? Here’s how you can transfer apps easily across devices the official and the unofficial way through file transfer apps.

Mobile phones may have existed since the 90s, but it wasn’t until the age of “smartphones” in the late 2000s that changed the game. Google took an up and coming mobile software platform under its wing, and transformed it into a platform that runs on billions of devices today. Android OS has been pivotal in creating a strong network of communication between people across the world. As other means of communication such as social media, instant messaging, and video calling have been developed, apps have become a central resource that is redefining the way we use our mobile devices.

Whether you consider it a good aspect or an example of how technology has enslaved us, either way, we’re highly dependent on the mobile apps we have on our devices. Occasionally when you’ve either decided to switch to a new device or need to use another phone on a temporary basis, you might need to learn how to transfer apps from Android to Android. While there are plenty of apps out there that help you transfer files, media content, and even contacts from one Android device to another, there aren’t too many that can help you move an entire app.

How to Transfer Apps from Android to Android

If you are among those who have been looking for a solution to make app transferring easier, here’s a complete guide on how you can move apps from one device to another effortlessly using the official Google approved method, or through the means of a third-party app.

Method 1: Transfer Apps using Google Account

Since apps and the data included in them is an integral part of the Android user experience, Google pays close attention to it. This is why with the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google included the ability to backup apps and the related data to the Google Drive. To make sure that your apps get synced when you sign it to the Google account on the second Android, here’s what you need to do:

  1. From the home screen of your Android device, head over to the Settings
  2. Scroll all the way down in the Settings screen to find the Backup & Reset (The option may be under Sync or the System tab on different phone models)
  3. Under the Backup menu, ensure that the toggle switch next to Back up to Google Drive is enabled in the first place.
  4. If you have multiple Google accounts connected with the device, select the one that you want to set up on the second Android device.
  5. Now scroll down to see the App Data tab and tap on it to sync the data.

Now that you have the app data synced with the Google account, you can choose to use the same account to get all of your synced apps and the included data over to the new device. However, make sure that you are connected to the internet when syncing the App Data option so that everything gets synced.

Method 2: Transfer Apps using the SHAREit App

While Google offers you a great way to move all of your apps to a new Android device, this method of how to move apps from Android to Android does not work for single apps. You either end up moving all of your apps and data to the new device, or none of it at all. For those times when you want to move just a selective number of apps from one Android phone or tablet to another, the SHAREit app is a great way to do so.

  1. Download and install the SHAREit app on both the Android devices amongst which you wish to transfer apps (Download Link).
  2. On the first Android device from which you wish to move the apps, open SHAREit and select the Send
  3. On the second device to which you wish to receive the apps, open SHAREit and select the Receive
  4. On the first Android device, you will be able to see the icons of all the apps that are installed on the system, so start selecting the ones you wish to transfer.
  5. Once you have select the apps you want to transfer, press the Send
  6. The SHAREit app will begin to look for the second Android device which is ready to receive the app data.
  7. Once the device pops up in the radar, tap on it to begin the transfer of apps in the form of APK files.
  8. You can then tap on the individual APK files to install the app on your second Android device.

Apart from being useful in transferring selective apps, SHAREit may be the only option to download apps on certain devices. For instance, Android devices that do not come packed with the Google Play Store app like Amazon Fire Tablet, are restricted to only a handful of apps. This is where the SHAREit app can help you install any app on the device seamlessly and within minutes.

Bonus: Use Samsung Smart Switch (for Galaxy Devices)

Since a massive chunk of the Android mobile market is dominated by the South-Korean tech giant, it makes complete sense that Samsung would develop its own software that can help you on how to transfer apps from Android to Android easily. The Samsung Smart Switch service allows you to move not just your apps, but contacts, messages, settings, home screen layout, and even media content in one go.

  1. Make sure that the Samsung Smart Switch is installed on the old Android and the new Galaxy device (Download Link).
  2. Open the Samsung Smart Switch app on your old Android device and tap on the Send data
  3. You now need to connect the old Android device to the new Galaxy device. You can choose to connect via a Cable, or go for the Wireless connection option.
  4. Once you have connected the old device to the new one, you will be prompted on the new device to accept the connection, so press the Yes
  5. Now you will be able to choose the content that you wish to move between the two devices.
  6. Select the Apps button to move the installed apps from your old Android device to the new Galaxy device and press the Send
  7. On the new Galaxy device, press the Receive button to begin the transfer process.
  8. Once the process has been completed, press the Done button and head back to the home screen to see all of the apps from our old phone installed on the new one.

Final Words

The Google Play Store has changed to face of the modern mobile phone by bringing more functionality to smart devices than ever thought possible before. However, for users in restrictive regions such as China or with those whose devices don’t support the Google Play Store framework, manually installing APK files is the only way out. Additionally, understanding how to transfer apps from Android to Android can be a lifesaver under certain circumstances, especially when you have tons of them installed.

We hope that this guide will help you easily move apps and installed data from one Android to another seamlessly. If you do have any queries regarding the process, or want to mention a way to transfer apps across devices that is better than ours, all you need to do is reach out to us in the comments section, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.