Replacing a smartphone with a different brand often raises fears of losing important information, especially when transitioning between ecosystems of Chinese manufacturers. Honor owners who are used to the shell of EMUI or Magic UI, may face a misunderstanding of the interface MIUI or HyperOS on the new Redmi.
There are several proven ways to move data quickly and without loss: you can use embedded system utilities, cloud services or third-party applications to transfer files, and the choice of the specific method depends on the amount of information, Internet connection speed and operating system version on both devices.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions for different scenarios, paying special attention to the transfer of contacts, media and passwords from Wi-Fi networks. Proper preparation of gadgets before the procedure will ensure the stability of the connection and the safety of your personal archives.
Preparing devices for information migration
Before starting the active transfer, you need to conduct a number of preparatory activities that are often ignored by users, which leads to errors in the process. First of all, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60% of the battery, as the active operation of the communication modules and the processor significantly consumes energy.
Check for free space on your Xiaomi Redmi target device. The amount of free memory should exceed the size of the data you plan to copy from the old Honor. It is also recommended to update the system software on both devices to the latest available version to eliminate software conflicts with handshake protocols.
Be sure to back up important data to your old phone, if possible, at least selectively, and this will create an additional recovery point in case of an unexpected failure while transferring data packets via Wi-Fi Direct or cable.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or switch to other applications during the migration.This can damage the contact database files or call logs.
Make sure that both devices have wireless modules on. Most transmission methods require active Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to work. Turn off power saving mode, as it may limit background activity of transmitting utilities.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
The most effective and official way to migrate is to use a specialized tool Mi Mover, which is designed by Xiaomi specifically for such cases and allows you to transfer not only media files, but also system settings, desktop layout and passwords.
The process starts with installing the app on both devices, and on the new Redmi, it is often preinstalled in the Tools folder, and on Honor, it must be downloaded from Google Play or the manufacturer's official website, and once the app is launched, you must select the role of each device in the process.
- 📱 On your Honor smartphone, select the option “I’m a sender).
- 📲 On the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone, activate the “I’m a recipient” mode).
- 🔗 Wait for the show. QR-The code on the screen of the new device and scan it with the camera of the old phone.
- 📂 Select data categories to copy: contacts, messages, images, videos, applications and system settings.
Once categories are selected, the transfer process will begin. The speed depends on the amount of data and the quality of the radio modules, but usually ranges from 10 to 40 MB/s. The advantage of the method is that it creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices without consuming mobile operator traffic.
⚠️ Note: When transferring applications, they will be copied, but logging into banking applications and instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) will require re-authorization for security purposes.
If you have a connection error in the process, try resetting the network settings on both devices or rebooting them. Sometimes antivirus software on Honor can block incoming connections, so it is worth temporarily disabling protection during transmission.
Synchronization through Google Account and Cloud Services
An alternative and often more reliable way is to use Google’s cloud infrastructure, ideal for those who want to keep data continuity without having to connect their phones directly, with the main benefit of having contacts, calendars and notes synced automatically when logged in.
On Honor, open your settings and go to Users and Accounts (or Accounts). Make sure your Google account is added and activated. Inside your account settings, click on Sync and make sure the ticks are in front of Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Documents.
To transfer photos and videos, Google Photos is the best option. Install the app on Honor, log in to your account and enable Autoupload and Sync. Wait until all media files are uploaded to the cloud.
On the new Xiaomi Redmi, just log in to the same Google account when you first set up the system. The system will automatically prompt you to restore data from the cloud, photos will appear in the gallery after syncing, and contacts will appear in the phone book.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Manual transfer of multimedia and documents
Sometimes automatic systems fail or the user wants to transfer only specific heavy files, such as videos to the computer. 4K In this case, the most effective method of manual transmission over a Wi-Fi network or USB-cable.
You can use FTP-enabled file managers or the built-in Wi-Fi Sharing feature to transmit over the network. Xiaomi's standard Explorer has a Remote Management tool. When you run it, you get an FTP address that you need to type into the address bar of the conductor on your computer or other phone.
If you prefer a wired connection, you’ll need an OTG adapter. Connect the flash drive to Honor, copy the desired folders (usually DCIM, Pictures, Download, Documents), then plug the flash drive into Redmi and move the files to internal memory.
| Method of transmission | Speed. | Difficulty | It's best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Low. | Complete cloning of the system |
| Google Account | Depends on the network. | Very low. | Contacts and calendars |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | Medium | Several documents |
| USB OTG/PC | Maximum | Medium | Videos and large archives |
When manually copying, it's important to keep the folder structure in mind, especially if you want photos to be properly sorted by date in the new phone's gallery.The DCIM/Camera folder is the standard storage for snapshots.
☑️ Checklist before transfer
Solving problems in data transfer
Despite the fact that things are fine, users can run into difficulties, and a common problem is that the connection breaks in the middle of the process, which often happens if one of the devices is in Smart Network mode, which switches Wi-Fi to mobile Internet at a weak router signal.
Another common situation is the absence of some apps after the port, which is because some Honor programs (especially system or service-based Huawei) may not be compatible with MIUI, which means they will have to be removed and found on Google Play.
If not carried forward SMS-In other words, try using third-party tools such as SMS Backup and Restore. They're creating. XML-Archive file that is easy to deploy on a new device, restoring the entire history of correspondence.
⚠️ Note: Data from messenger apps (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram) are not always automatically transferred. Be sure to back up chats inside the app itself before changing your phone.
For WhatsApp on Honor, go to Settings → Chats → Backup and click Save. On Redmi, when you first start, the app will find a backup in Google Drive and prompt you to restore the history.
Set up the new Xiaomi Redmi after the migration
After a successful data transfer, it is important to properly configure your new smartphone for a comfortable experience. The MIUI or HyperOS shell has its own features that distinguish it from the previous system.
Xiaomi’s system is known for aggressive energy saving, so it’s worth setting a battery strategy for messengers and email clients “No Limits” to ensure notifications arrive on time.
It's also worth setting up the theme if the standard one doesn't fit. Themes Themes allows you to completely change the visual style of the system, icons and fonts, making the transition less noticeable to the eye.
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Tip: After transferring the data, go to the security settings and start memory optimization, which will help the system index new files and speed up the device.
Make sure to check the biometrics, and fingerprints and facial data will need to be re-registered, as this data is stored in a secure security module (TEE) and cannot be copied to another device.
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The most reliable way is to combine Mi Mover for apps and photos with Google Account for contacts, which provides dual data insurance.