Changing your smartphone is always stressful, because you're afraid of losing important photos, contacts, or game progress. Migration is especially important for users who move from Honor to Xiaomi devices, because ecosystems have their own characteristics. The process of transferring information has become much easier thanks to built-in tools, but requires attention to detail to avoid losing files.
In this article, we will discuss the most effective ways to migrate using both regular Android tools and specialized utilities from manufacturers. The key is to properly prepare both devices before starting the procedure, you will learn how to avoid common errors and keep the folder structure and system settings as close as possible to the original ones.
Whether you have the old Honor 9 or the newest Xiaomi 14, the algorithm will be similar. Modern versions of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system have powerful import tools. Let's take a closer look at each step so that the transition is painless.
Preparing devices before migration
Before you start the immediate copying process, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, this will take no more than 10-15 minutes, but save you from possible failures in the middle of the procedure, first of all, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60-70%.
It is also critical to check for free space on your Xiaomi device, which should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer from Honor, and if there is not enough space, it is better to delete unnecessary files immediately or transfer them to your computer.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to interrupt data transfer or switch between applications during migration, this can cause database files to be damaged and contacts or messages to work incorrectly.
Be sure to connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network. Mobile data is not recommended due to possible connection instability and traffic consumption. 5GHz Wi-Fi transmission speeds will be significantly higher than the standard 2.4GHz band.
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Use a 5GHz Wi-Fi network to speed up the process. If the router is far away, put both phones next to it or use an access point created by Xiaomi itself.
Using the Mi Mover application for portability
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi owners is to use the Mi Mover app.It is pre-installed on most of the brand's devices, but if it's not, it can be easily downloaded from GetApps or Google Play. On the Honor device, the app will also need to be installed.
Run the app on both smartphones. On the new Xiaomi, select I'm a recipient, and on the old Honor, I'm a sender. QR-code or connect through device search.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Once you connect the devices, you'll see a list of data categories that you can transfer, where you can select contacts, messages, call history, and multimedia files, and Mi Mover's algorithm is optimized to quickly transfer large amounts of information without compressing quality.
The interface is intuitive, but it's worth taking care when choosing folders. Some Honor system folders may not be supported by the new shell, but personal photos and videos will be copied correctly. The process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data.
Transfer via Google Account and Cloud Services
An alternative and often more reliable method is sync via Google Cloud, ideal for those who want to keep contacts, calendars and notes intact. On Honor, go to account settings and make sure sync is enabled.
You need to activate sync for the following items: Contacts, Calendar, Documents and application data. After that, go to Google Photos and make sure that all your pictures are uploaded to the cloud. This will take time if you have a lot of media files.
On the new Xiaomi, just log in to the same Google account when you first set up or in the settings menu.The system will automatically prompt you to restore data from the backup. It's a standard Android mechanism that works stably on any device.
| Type of data | Google's method | Mi Mover Method | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Automatically. | Complete transfer | Instantly. |
| Photo/Video | Through Google Photos | Direct transmission | Depends on the Internet. |
| Annexes | Only a list. | APK + Data Data | Medium |
| Communications | Not always. | Complete transfer | Quickly. |
Features of transferring applications and GMS to Honor
The app portability situation requires special attention, especially if your Honor is a new Google-free service-free (GMS) model released after sanctions, in which case a standard Google Play port might not work for some system applications.
If you have apps installed on your old phone via AppGallery or Petrol Search, you will have to install them again on Xiaomi via GetApps or other apps. APK-However, data inside games and programs is often stored if you log in through social networks or developer accounts.
⚠️ Note: Banking applications and government services (Public Services) need to be reconfigured on a new device.Cache transfers can cause security errors that require re-identification.
For users of older Honor models with Google services installed, there should be no problems. When using Mi Mover, select the option to port applications. APK-files and, in some cases, application data.
What to do if the applications do not open?
It is important to remember two-factor authentication, and make sure you have access to a phone number or backup codes to log in to important services. SIM-The card may temporarily not work on the new device during the setup.
Hand-over of multimedia and files
Sometimes automatic systems fail or they're too slow, and in those cases, the old-fashioned manual method is the most reliable. You can connect both phones to your computer through a computer. USB-cable and copy files as from ordinary flash drives.
Create a Backup Honor folder on your computer and copy the contents of the DCIM, Pictures, Download and Documents folders there. Then connect Xiaomi and transfer the data to the appropriate directories, which guarantees the integrity of the files.
Another option is to use Wi-Fi file sharing devices such as Send Anywhere or the built-in Wi-Fi Send feature in MIUI Explorer, which is convenient for transferring individual heavy files, such as 4K video, that are long to load through the cloud.
Be sure to check the Bluetooth and WhatsApp (or Telegram) folder.Messenger apps often store media files in separate directories that don't always fall into the general sample when automatically transferred.
Set up a new smartphone and complete
After the data transfer is successful, you need to make the final setup, check the display of contacts: sometimes they can be duplicated or displayed without names if the synchronization went wrong, in which case, go to the contact settings and select "Combine duplicates".
Take time to set up biometric protection. Honor fingerprints and facial data are not transferred to Xiaomi for security reasons. You will have to register them again in the Settings → Passwords and Security menu.
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After the migration, make sure to make a full backup already on the new Xiaomi via Mi Cloud or Google One to lock in a new recovery point.
Check NFC and contactless payment. Cards added to Google Pay (or its equivalents) may require re-verification via SMS from the bank.
During the first days of use, keep a close eye on battery consumption. Android and HyperOS should index files and optimize application performance. In 2-3 days, autonomy will return to normal.