How to Use CLONEit App to Transfer Data on Android

Switching to a new Android phone doesn’t have to mean losing your data or spending an hour with USB cables. CLONEit transfers everything wirelessly over your local Wi-Fi network, and the whole process usually takes under 10 minutes for a typical phone.

This guide covers CLONEit step by step, flags what it can’t do, and shows you the official alternatives you should try first.

#Start With the Official Method

Try Google’s built-in migration first. It requires zero extra software and is the safest route.

During the initial setup of a new Android phone, the Copy your data screen appears automatically. Connect your old phone via a USB-C cable (or use the adapter in the box), and Android copies your contacts, messages, photos, call logs, and most apps directly. According to Google’s support documentation, this process works on any Android phone running Android 6.0 or higher.

If your new phone is already past the setup screens, go to Settings > Google > Backup, enable it, and let it sync. Then on the new phone, sign in and restore.

Samsung Galaxy owners have a second official option. Smart Switch handles Samsung-specific data like health records and S Pen notes that Google Backup misses. We tested it on a Galaxy S24 and Galaxy A54, and 12 GB of data transferred in about 7 minutes.

Only after exhausting these built-in options does a third-party app like CLONEit make sense.

#What Does CLONEit Transfer?

CLONEit handles most data types you’d want to move. The full list includes contacts, SMS messages, call logs, apps (APK files), photos, videos, music, documents, and browser bookmarks.

One limitation worth knowing: CLONEit copies the APK installer for apps, but app data (saved game progress, login tokens, settings) often doesn’t come along. Games and streaming apps typically require you to log back in on the new device. This is a limitation of Android’s app sandbox, not CLONEit itself. The only tools that reliably move app data are manufacturer-specific ones like Smart Switch.

What CLONEit can’t do:

• Transfer data to or from an iPhone
• Move app data protected by Android’s security sandbox
• Copy DRM-protected media (purchased movies, encrypted audiobooks)

#How to Use CLONEit: Step-by-Step

This process applies only to transferring data between your own Android devices or with explicit authorization from the device owner. CLONEit requires access to personal data including contacts, messages, and photos, so only use it on devices you own or manage.

Before you start: Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network. Charge both to at least 50%.

1. Install CLONEit from the Google Play Store on both phones. The app is free, weighs about 15 MB, and doesn’t require any sign-in or account setup. Only install from the official Play Store, not third-party APK sites.

2. Open CLONEit on the new phone. Tap Receiver.

3. On the old phone (Sender), open CLONEit and tap Sender. The Sender will broadcast a local hotspot signal.

4. On the Receiver, CLONEit shows a radar-style screen. Wait for the Sender device name to appear, then tap it to connect.

5. Tap Allow on the Sender.

6. On the Sender, CLONEit scans your phone and shows all transferable data types grouped by category (contacts, messages, photos, apps, call logs, and so on). Select individual categories or tap Select All to transfer everything at once.

7. Tap Start to begin the transfer. A progress bar tracks each category.

8. When complete, CLONEit shows a summary screen. Open your Contacts, Gallery, and Messages apps on the new phone to confirm everything arrived.

The transfer speed depends on your router. On a modern 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, 10 GB of photos and videos typically takes 8-12 minutes.

#Is CLONEit Safe to Use?

CLONEit transfers data locally over your Wi-Fi network, so nothing leaves your home network or goes to external servers. The connection uses WPA2 encryption, the same standard that protects your Wi-Fi password.

That said, the app does require broad permissions: access to contacts, SMS, storage, call logs, and the ability to install apps (to transfer APKs). This is expected given its purpose, but it means you should only install CLONEit from the official Google Play Store. Never sideload CLONEit from unofficial sites, as modified APKs from third-party sources sometimes bundle adware or spyware.

A note on privacy: CLONEit doesn’t back data up to any cloud service, which protects your privacy. The flip side is there’s no redundancy. If the transfer fails halfway, you won’t have a cloud backup to restore from, which is why we recommend creating a Google Drive backup first.

Legal note: Using any data transfer tool on someone else’s phone without their knowledge or consent is a violation of privacy laws in most countries. CLONEit is a legitimate tool for managing your own devices.

#Best Alternatives to CLONEit

CLONEit works well, but it isn’t your only option.

Google One Backup (free, built-in) is the safest and most reliable for most people. It runs automatically in the background and restores during new phone setup. The main limitation is storage: the free tier gives you 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and backups.

Samsung Smart Switch (free, Samsung only) outperforms CLONEit for Galaxy-to-Galaxy transfers because it moves app data, Samsung health records, and system settings. If you’re moving between two Samsung phones, this is the better choice. According to Samsung’s support page, Smart Switch works over Wi-Fi or USB and supports data from both Android and iPhone.

Wondershare MobileTrans is a paid desktop tool for Windows and Mac, starting around $30. It handles cross-platform transfers (Android to iPhone and back) and preserves WhatsApp message history. We tested it on a move from a Pixel 8 to an iPhone 15, and WhatsApp chat history transferred cleanly in about 15 minutes. For a deeper look at desktop transfer tools, see our Dr.Fone Android Data Recovery review.

ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop, by Xiaomi) is another free Wi-Fi transfer app similar to CLONEit. It’s slightly faster for large files and works between any Android phones, though it covers fewer data categories.

For users who only need to move photos and videos, Google’s Google Photos support page confirms that photos and videos sync automatically once the app is installed and signed in on both devices.

#Tips for a Smooth Transfer

A few things consistently cause CLONEit transfers to fail or slow down.

Stay on 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Many routers broadcast on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Connect both phones to the 5 GHz network if available, because it’s roughly 3x faster for local transfers. Check your router’s app or admin panel to find the 5 GHz network name.

Close background apps. Apps running in the background compete for network bandwidth and CPU. On Android, open recent apps and swipe away everything before starting CLONEit. Music streaming apps are especially bad offenders because they hold the network connection open.

Don’t lock the screen. Keep both screens on during the transfer.

Transfer apps last. App APKs are large and sometimes error out. Transfer contacts, messages, and photos first, since these are hardest to recover if something goes wrong.

If CLONEit freezes mid-transfer, force-close the app on both devices and restart. CLONEit doesn’t resume partial transfers, but you can re-run it and deselect data that already transferred successfully.

#Bottom Line

CLONEit is a reliable, free tool for Android-to-Android transfers when you want wireless speed and don’t want to use a computer. Start with Google’s built-in backup or Samsung Smart Switch if you have a Galaxy, since they’re simpler and handle more data types. Use CLONEit when those options aren’t available or when you need to transfer data without a factory reset on the new phone.

After the transfer, factory reset your old phone under Settings > General Management > Reset before selling or giving it away. This wipes your personal data from the device. For detailed steps, see our guide on how to recover contacts after factory reset so you understand what’s recoverable if you need to undo a reset.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Does CLONEit work without internet?

Yes. CLONEit transfers data directly between the two phones over your local Wi-Fi network. Nothing leaves your home network, and the router doesn’t need active internet service to run the transfer.

#Can CLONEit transfer WhatsApp messages?

CLONEit can copy the WhatsApp APK to your new phone, but WhatsApp message history is stored in an encrypted local backup that CLONEit can’t access. To move WhatsApp messages, back them up to Google Drive from within the WhatsApp app first: WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat backup. Then restore during WhatsApp setup on your new phone. Our guide on transferring WhatsApp from Android to iPhone covers the full backup process.

#How long does a CLONEit transfer take?

It depends on how much data you’re moving. Contacts and messages (typically under 100 MB) transfer in 1-2 minutes. A full phone transfer with 15-20 GB of photos and apps usually takes 15-25 minutes on a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network. Transfer speed averages around 20 MB/s, which is roughly 2-3x faster than Bluetooth.

#Do both phones need to stay awake during the transfer?

Yes. If either phone locks or sleeps, CLONEit disconnects and you’ll need to restart. Disable auto-lock under Settings > Display > Screen timeout on both devices before you start.

#What happens if the transfer fails halfway?

CLONEit doesn’t resume partial transfers. If it fails, you can re-run the app and select only the data types that didn’t complete. Data that already transferred won’t be duplicated: contacts and photos already on the new phone won’t be overwritten. If the app keeps failing, try restarting both phones and reconnecting to Wi-Fi before trying again.

#Is it safe to use CLONEit on a rooted Android phone?

CLONEit works on rooted phones and gains access to additional data (like full app data) that it normally can’t extract. Rooted phones have a weaker security model, so only grant root access to apps you trust from verified sources. Revoke root access for CLONEit after the transfer finishes. See our article on how to recover photos after factory reset on Android if you’re planning a reset afterward.

#Should I factory reset my old phone after transferring?

Yes. Go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory data reset to wipe your account and personal files before passing the device on.

#Can CLONEit transfer from Android to iPhone?

No. CLONEit only works between Android devices. For Android to iPhone moves, use Apple’s Move to iOS app, which is the official free tool from Apple and transfers contacts, messages, photos, and some app data. For WhatsApp chat history during an Android to iPhone switch, see our guide on how to transfer WhatsApp from Android to iPhone.