Changing mobile devices is always accompanied by a mild stress associated with the risk of losing important information. Especially relevant is the issue of data migration when moving between ecosystems, for example, from Honor to Xiaomi, where interfaces and system utilities may differ. Fortunately, modern Android operating systems provide powerful tools to automate this process, making it accessible even to inexperienced users.
The process of cloning information takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the volume of your storage. A key factor in success is a stable connection between devices and sufficient battery power on both devices. In this article, we will examine all available methods, from proprietary utilities to cloud services.
Before you start taking action, you need to do basic training, which is often ignored by beginners.Be sure to update the Mi Mover and Phone Clone apps to the latest versions to avoid compatibility errors. Ignoring this step can lead to a process hanging in the middle, which will require a repetition of the entire procedure.
Preparing devices for data migration
The first step to successfully migrating is to properly configure both smartphones. On the Honor device, you should clear the cache and delete temporary files to speed up the copying process. On the new Xiaomi, it is important to check the availability of free space, which should exceed the amount of data occupied on the old gadget.
Both phones must be connected to power sources or have a charge of at least 60-70%. Interrupting the process due to battery discharge can lead to file damage or system malfunction. VPN-services and third-party antiviruses that can block local connection.
- 🔋 Charge both devices to at least 70% or connect to charging.
- 📶 Turn off mobile internet, leaving only Wi-Fi modules active.
- 🧹 Free up space on Xiaomi by removing unnecessary pre-installed apps.
- 🔐 Unlock the screens of both smartphones and allow all access requests.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the sync process, even if the phone seems to be getting stuck. Forced reboot at this point can lead to the loss of some contacts or messages.
Make sure that geolocation is enabled on both devices, as some versions of Android require it to be activated to detect devices on the local network, a standard security procedure that should not be ignored.
☑️ Preparation for transfer
Use of the Mi Mover app
The most effective and native way of transfer is using the proprietary utility Mi Mover, developed specifically for the ecosystem MIUI and HyperOS. This application is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones, and for Honor it can be downloaded for free from Google Play or the official website.
The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi, you select the role of "I'm a recipient," after which the smartphone creates a Wi-Fi hotspot. Honor needs to select "I'm sender" and scan. QR-The connection is automatically installed without the use of mobile operator traffic.
Once connected, the system will suggest selecting data categories to copy. You can customize what to migrate in detail, for example by eliminating large video files if you don't need them right now. The application interface is intuitive, and the data transfer speed over local Wi-Fi Direct is much faster than over Bluetooth.
- 📲 Download Mi Mover on Honor from Play Market or Mi App Store.
- 🔗 Connect your phones through scanning QR-annex.
- 📂 Select file types: contacts, gallery, applications, settings.
- 🚀 Start the process and wait until it is completed without switching screens.
⚠️ Note: Apps that are not compatible with the new phone’s processor or Android version may not install automatically.
Importantly, Wi-Fi passwords and some system settings can also be ported, saving you time on initial setup, but banking applications and some messengers will require separate authorization for security purposes.
What if Mi Mover can’t see the phone?
Transfer through Google Account
An alternative and highly reliable method is synchronization via Google’s cloud service, ideal for keeping contacts, calendar, notes and browser history, and since both brands run on Android, integration with the search giant’s services is slick and requires no additional software installation.
On Honor, you need to go to your Google account settings and make sure that all the necessary items are ticked for sync. After that, the data is uploaded to the cloud. When you first turn on Xiaomi or in the account settings menu, just type the same username and password, and the phone automatically pulls up all the information.
This method is especially useful for those who are used to storing contacts in Google, and not in the memory of the phone or on the Internet. SIM-In the event of loss or breakdown of the device, the data recovery will take only a few minutes after entering the account.
Comparison of transfer methods
The best way to do this depends on your priorities: speed, data volume, or specific file types. Local methods like Mi Mover are better at transferring heavy files without limits, and cloud methods are better at backing up and moving them incrementally.
Below is a table that helps you determine the method depending on your situation and type of data.
| Method | Speed. | Data types | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Everything (photos, apps, settings) | No (locally) |
| Google Sync | Medium | Contacts, calendar, mail. | Yeah (Wi-Fi) |
| Bluetooth | Low. | Just contacts, files. | No. |
| PC (Copying) | Tall. | Media files, documents | No. |
For most users, the combination of Mi Mover for multimedia and apps, together with Google Sync for contacts, will be the ideal solution.It provides full coverage of all needs and creates dual data insurance.
Manual copying through a computer
If automatic methods don’t work for some reason, there’s always a time-tested way to use a PC. By connecting Honor to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP), you can manually copy the DCIM, Pictures, Download, and Music folders to your hard drive.
These same folders are then transferred to the corresponding directories on Xiaomi, which requires more time and manual intervention, but gives you complete control over the file structure, so you can sort photos right away and remove unnecessary debris before downloading to a new device.
Use this method if the data volume exceeds 100 GB and you are afraid of the instability of the wireless connection.
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When manually copying, create separate folders for different years or events so that the new phone in the gallery has order immediately after transfer.
Transfer of messages and call history
SMS messages and call logs are the most difficult data to carry without specialized software. Android standard tools often ignore these categories with simple synchronization, and Mi Mover or third-party applications like SMS Backup & Restore come to the rescue again.
Annex SMS Backup & Restore Creates a New Business XML-A backup file that can be transferred via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct and then restored to Xiaomi, which guarantees the preservation of the entire correspondence history, which can be critical for confirming codes or preserving important agreements.
WhatsApp and Telegram have built-in mechanisms. WhatsApp needs to back up Google Drive on an old phone and then restore it when you install the app on a new one. Telegram stores the entire story on the server, so just log in.
⚠️ Attention: WhatsApp history is linked to phone number and Google account. Make sure the number matches and access to Google account is active.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will passwords from Wi-Fi and apps be portable?
What if the process is 99% frozen?
Should Xiaomi be reset to factory settings before the transfer?
Can I interrupt the transfer and continue later?
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Use Mi Mover for the main dataset and Google Contact Account – this is the most reliable link to switch from Honor to Xiaomi.