Changing a mobile device is always stressful, with the risk of losing important information, whether it’s contacts, photos or correspondence in messengers. Users switching from the Xiaomi ecosystem to Honor smartphones often face issues of tool compatibility and profile migration. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform this procedure as quickly and painlessly as possible, preserving the structure of folders and application settings.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available synchronization methods, from built-in cloud services to direct wireless connection between devices, you will learn how to properly prepare both gadgets for file transfer, what nuances exist when working with Android shells MIUI and MagicOS, and how to avoid common errors that lead to data loss.
Whether you’re changing your budget model to a flagship or simply switching to a different brand, the basic principles remain similar but have their own technical features. It’s important to understand that a full clone of the system won’t work because of differences in the code, but user data will be saved completely. Below are proven methods that guarantee a successful result.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start any tools port, you need to carry out a series of preparatory actions that will ensure the stability of the connection. Both smartphones should be charged at least 60-70%, as the process of active data transfer over Wi-Fi Direct significantly consumes battery power.
Make sure that both devices are enabled wireless modules. Most proprietary utilities require activated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, even if the transmission is direct, without using a home router. Xiaomi phone should check for system updates, as older versions of MIUI may contain bugs that prevent correct backup.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or block smartphone screens during migration. Screen saver or power saving mode can break the Wi-Fi Direct connection, which will damage the archive.
Pay special attention to accounts. If you use Mi Cloud, make sure that the sync of contacts and notes is successful. Honor users are critical to have a Google account, as Google Play services are not built into the brand’s new default models and require separate authorization to restore applications.
Using the Phone Clone app to port
The most universal and often recommended way to migrate is to use the Phone Clone app (or its Clone Phone counterpart depending on the Honor model), an official solution that works perfectly in conjunction with Android devices from different manufacturers. On the new Honor phone, you need to install the application from the pre-installed store or download the current one. APK-file, if it is not available.
On an older Xiaomi device, you also need to install the corresponding application. After running the program on both gadgets, you need to select the role of each device: on Honor, select “This is a new phone”, and on Xiaomi, choose “This is an old phone”. The system will automatically create a Wi-Fi hotspot, which you need to connect to the second device through a scanned QR-code.
Once the connection is established, the interface will suggest selecting data types to copy. The application's algorithm allows you to flexibly configure the list:
- 📱 Contacts and call history – transferred in full, maintaining the structure.
- 📸 Gallery and video – copy original files in high resolution.
- 📅 Calendar and notes – important scheduler data is saved.
- 📲 Applications – The programs themselves are installed, but their internal data may not be transferred due to Android security limitations.
The speed of transmission depends on the amount of information and the quality of the antenna modules. On average, it takes about 15-20 minutes to transfer 50 GB of data, and it is important not to switch to other tasks on the phone during this process, so as not to reduce the priority of the data flow.
☑️ Checking before launching the Phone Clone
Alternative method: Xiaomi Mi Mover
Xiaomi smartphone owners can use the native Mi Mover tool, which is built into the MIUI system. Although it is sharpened for transferring data to other Xiaomi devices, the export feature allows you to create a read-compatible backup on other Android smartphones, albeit with some restrictions.
When selecting Send to Xiaomi and Get to Honor (if it has a similar client or via a web interface), the system will offer you to select categories, the main advantage of the method is deep integration with the system: it can transfer alarm settings, the location of icons on the desktop and some system preferences that are not available to third-party clones.
However, there are drawbacks: the Mi Mover backup format may not be fully compatible with Honor's MagicOS shell, and as a result some of the data may not be determined by the receiving system, so it's better to consider this method as an additional one, especially if you want to migrate specific settings to the MIUI shell itself.
Why can't Mi Mover see Honor?
Synchronization through Google Account
The most reliable and technically clean way to do this is through Google Cloud Sync, which ensures that your contacts, email, calendar, and even passwords from your Chrome browser are available immediately after you enter your username and password on your new Honor device. To activate, go to Settings → Accounts. → Google on both devices.
On Xiaomi, you need to make sure that the sync switches are active. It is especially important to check the Photos and Videos section of the Google Photos app, since this is where media content is most often downloaded. On the new phone, when you first set up, the system will offer to restore data from the last cloud copy created on the old device.
The advantage of the method is regardless of the brand. It doesn't matter whether you have Xiaomi or Honor, the Google ecosystem works the same everywhere. However, there is a caveat: free space of 15 GB may not be enough for a full backup of photos and videos in original quality, in which case you will either have to buy additional space or choose a compressed quality "Saving space".
⚠️ Note: When you recover from the Google cloud, apps will be downloaded from the Play Market. Make sure you have a stable internet connection, preferably Wi-Fi, so as not to exhaust your mobile traffic limit.
Transfer of multimedia and documents via PC
If wireless methods seem too slow or unstable to you, the classic way through the computer remains the "gold standard" of reliability. By connecting Xiaomi to a PC in file transfer mode (MTP), you get access to the entire file system. Copy the DCIM, Pictures, Download and Documents folders to the computer's hard drive.
Then connect Honor and copy the data to the appropriate directories, which is particularly good for transferring heavy 4K video files, document archives and music, and allows you to visually monitor the process and interrupt it if necessary without losing already copied files.
For more advanced users, there is an option to use the ADB command line, but for most cases, a standard conductor is enough. The main thing is to properly extract the devices after copying is completed so as not to damage the file system.
Table of comparison of transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the best way, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons depending on your specific situation and the amount of data.
| Method | Speed. | What's transferable | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Clone | Tall. | Contacts, photos, applications, settings | Low. |
| Google Account | Medium (depending on the Internet) | Contacts, calendar, passwords, photo | Low. |
| Through PC (USB) | Very high. | Any files, media, documents | Medium |
| Mi Mover | Tall. | MIUI settings, contacts, media | Medium |
💡
If you port WhatsApp, use the built-in backup feature inside the messenger itself before changing your phone.Restoring chats through Android system backups often doesn't work properly when changing your brand.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the data from the old Xiaomi be deleted after the transfer?
Can I transfer my phone and SMS history?
What if the process is 99% frozen?
Will logins and passwords from applications be transferred?
Do you need internet to run a Phone Clone?
💡
The fastest and most complete result is a combination of methods: first, Phone Clone for apps and settings, then manually check the gallery and contacts.