Changing your smartphone is always a mild stress, especially when it comes to losing important data, especially when it comes to a phone book. Xiaomi ecosystem owners who decide to switch to Honor devices often face the question of how to move the numbers accumulated over the years as quickly and without errors as possible. Fortunately, modern Android operating systems offer a lot of built-in tools and third-party solutions that make this process transparent and safe even for inexperienced users.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods of data migration, from classic synchronization through a Google account to the use of specialized utilities from manufacturers. You will learn about the nuances of file formats, the peculiarities of cloud storage and how to solve the typical problems that arise when duplication of records. A competent approach to the procedure will allow you to start working with a new device immediately without being distracted by manual reconnection.
Before you start taking action, make sure that both the old Xiaomi and the new Honor have sufficient battery power, preferably at least 50-60%. Also check the stability of the Internet connection if you plan to use cloud services, as transferring large amounts of data can take time.
Syncing through Google account: a universal method
The most reliable and standard way to transfer data for any pair of Android smartphones is using Google cloud storage. This method does not require installing additional software and works steadily even when you change carrier or Wi-Fi network in the process. The bottom line is that your phone book is downloaded to Google servers from a Xiaomi device, and then automatically uploaded to Honor after logging into the same account.
To get started, you need to open the settings on your old phone and find the account section. In MIUI or HyperOS, the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. You need to make sure that the contacts are synchronized, because sometimes only mail and calendar are activated by default.
- 📱 Open Settings on your Xiaomi and go to Accounts and Sync.
- 🔄 Select your primary Google account (Gmail address) and make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is active.
- ☁️ Click on the “Sync” or “Sync Now” button to force the exchange of data with the server.
- ✅ Wait for the successful completion of the process and check for numbers at contacts.google.com.
⚠️ Note: If the contacts on the old phone are stored only in the device memory or on the phone SIM-Before syncing, make sure to copy them to your phone's internal memory or directly to your Google account through the contact management menu.
Once you successfully upload your data to Google, the procedure on the side of the new Honor smartphone becomes rudimentary. When you first turn on or through your system settings, you will need to add the same Google account. MagicOS automatically detects that you have a backup of your contacts and prompts you to restore them, a process that can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the number of records and Internet speed.
Using the Mi Mover application for direct transmission
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which was originally designed to move between devices of their brand, but also works successfully for data transfer to other Android smartphones, including Honor.
To take advantage of this, you'll need to install the Mi Mover app on both devices, and on the new Honor, you can find it in the AppGallery official app store or download it. APK-file from a verified source. Once installed, run the program on both smartphones and follow the instructions on the screen to pair.
The important step is to choose the right role of the device in the transfer process. On the old Xiaomi, you choose the Sender mode, and on the new Honor, the Receiver. The application scans the available data and offers you to choose the types of files to transfer. In addition to contacts, Mi Mover often manages to transfer the history of calls, messages and even some system settings, which greatly accelerates the development of the new gage.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
One of the common problems with this method is to break the connection if one of the devices goes into power saving mode. Flight mode on both phones before transfer will help avoid switching to the mobile network, which can interrupt the process. Also make sure that both screens are on fire permission to connect, as Android security systems can block the transfer of files without explicit user confirmation.
Export and import via VCF file
The.vcf (vCard) backup is the gold standard for compatibility, a format that has been supported by all phones, email clients and operating systems for more than two decades, and if cloud services are not available or you prefer to store data locally, creating a single file with all contacts is the ideal solution.
The process of creating such a file on Xiaomi takes literally a few seconds. You need to open the standard Contacts app, go to the settings (usually three dots or a gear in the corner), and select Import / Export Contacts. Next, you select the option “Export to device memory” or “Export to storage”.
After saving a file that is usually called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf, You can send it to your new Honor phone via Bluetooth, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email, or simply by flipping a file through the phone. USB-cable to your computer and then to a new smartphone.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .vcf (vCard) | Universal Standard, supported by all OS |
| Coding | UTF-8 | Guarantees the correct selection of Cyrillic alphabet and special symbols |
| File size | Depends on the number of contacts. | For 1000 contacts, the weight usually does not exceed 1-2 MB. |
| Storage area | Internal Memory / Memory Card | Easy to find in the Download folder or root directory |
On the Honor side, the import procedure is also done through the contact app. When you find a file you have transferred in the file manager or download folder, just click on it. The system automatically recognizes the format and suggests adding the entries you have found to the phone book. You can choose where to save the numbers: in memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-Map or Google account for further sync.
What to do if the names of contacts are displayed by “krakozyabr”?
Transfer of contacts through SIM-map
Although this method is considered obsolete due to the limitations on the number of characters in the name and number, it remains the only working option if both smartphones have technical malfunctions or software problems. SIM-The card acts as a physical carrier, which eliminates problems with compatibility of Android versions or account conflicts.
The main drawback of the method is the limitation on the length of the contact name (usually up to the end of the contact period). 10-15 And there's no way to save additional data, like email, address, photo or multiple numbers for a single subscriber, and all the extra numbers will be cut off and the long names will be truncated. SIM-The card is suitable only for the basic telephone book.
Insert the transfer to implement SIM-Map in Xiaomi, open contacts and select copy from device to SIM. After completion, which can take time with a large number of subscribers, move the card to Honor and perform the reverse procedure - copying with the card. SIM Remember to return contacts to the cloud or phone memory for security.
⚠️ Note: When copying the SIM-Long-name contacts can be cropped and special characters removed. Always check the result on a new device and manually edit the records if necessary.
Third-party applications and cloud services
If the built-in tools for some reason do not work or cause errors, specialized applications from the Google Play store come to the rescue. Programs like Copy My Data, Send Anywhere or SHAREit allow you to transfer contacts, photos and videos between any devices running Android, iOS or even Windows.
The principle of operation of such applications is often based on generation. QR-You install an app on both phones, scan the code with the new Honor camera, and the devices connect, and that's convenient because the interface of these programs is usually as simple as possible and doesn't require a deep knowledge of technical settings.
Another option is to use vendor cloud services. If you had a Mi Cloud account on Xiaomi, you can log into i.mi.com from your computer, upload contacts in vCard format, and then upload them to Honor Cloud or Google Contacts. This creates an additional layer of data backup.
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Use the Google Contacts app on both phones before you start porting, which automatically finds and combines duplicates, clearing your phone book of debris before migrating to a new device.
Solving and eliminating duplicates
Once the transfer process is complete, users often face the problem of duplicate records, which occurs when contacts are stored simultaneously in both the phone’s memory and Google account, or when data that has already been partially synchronized is imported, and fortunately, modern contact management systems have built-in cleaning tools.
Google’s Contacts app, which is the default on Honor, has a “Configure and Fix” feature that allows you to find and combine repeating posts in a single click. On Honor devices with MagicOS shell, a similar feature can be found in the contact management menu called “Combine Repetitive Contacts”.
- 🔍 Open the Contacts app on the new Honor smartphone.
- ⚙️ Go to the settings or menu (three bars/dots) and select Contact Management».
- 🧹 Find the item “Combine duplicates” or “Clear repetitives».
- ✅ Confirm the action, and the system will automatically merge the same records, saving all the information from both cards.
If you notice that some numbers or photos are missing, check which account or storage is showing contacts in their current form. Often, the phone only shows the local ledger and the imported data is in the cloud. In the contact display settings, select All Contacts or the specific account where the upload was made.
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The best strategy is a combination of methods: first sync through Google for the bulk of the data, then manually validate and load-load numbers through the VCF file.