Changing your smartphone is always stressful, with the fear of losing important photos, contacts and correspondence. Especially relevant is the issue of data migration when you move between ecosystems, for example, when you change Honor to a new Xiaomi. Fortunately, the Android operating system offers versatile tools to make this process as smooth and automated as possible.
Using a Google account is the most reliable and proven way to transfer basic information. Unlike proprietary utilities, Google’s cloud services work consistently on any device, regardless of the hardware manufacturer. Below we will discuss in detail each stage of preparation and the transfer process itself, so you can start using the new gadget immediately after you turn on.
It's worth noting that the current versions of EMUI (on Honor) and HyperOS or MIUI (on Xiaomi) have their own synchronization features, but the foundation on which your data is stored remains the same across the platform, and the proper preparation of an old device is the key to the success of the entire operation.
Preparing Honor for Data Synchronization
The first step is to carefully check the settings on your current Honor smartphone, and make sure that the device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, as the transfer of large amounts of data over the mobile Internet can be slow or lead to unexpected traffic costs. Go to the settings and find the section responsible for accounts.
You then need to activate full sync. Often users forget to turn on some items, which means that not all contacts or calendar events are on the new device. Follow the Settings path → Users and accounts → Google and make sure that all switches are active.
- 📱 Make sure that the synchronization of “Contacts” and “Calendar” is enabled».
- 📷 Check the backup status in Google Photos».
- 🔒 Make sure that two-factor authentication is enabled for account security.
⚠️ Note: If your Honor has many apps that are not part of the standard set of Google, their lists and data may not be saved. For such programs, it is better to make a separate backup inside the application itself, if this is provided by the developer.
It's also important to check which email is the primary one. On Android, it's the account that was added first or marked as the primary one for synchronization, and that's where all the data will be uploaded, which your new Xiaomi will then pull up.
☑️ Honor's readiness to carry
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Backup of Multimedia and Applications
Contacts and calendars are negligible, but the bulk of data is made up of photos, videos and files. The standard Android backup mechanism through Google Drive has limits, so it’s better to use specialized services for multimedia. Google Photos will automatically upload your images to the cloud in high (compressed) or original quality, depending on your storage settings.
To move the list of installed applications and their data, Google Backup is used, which stores the list of applications, Wi-Fi passwords, device settings, and even some data inside the applications, and on Honor, this process can be initiated manually to ensure that the copy is up to date.
Go to Settings → System → Backup. Here you will see the “Start Copy” or “Create a Copy” button. The system will prompt you to select a Google account and network to transfer. Once you complete the process, you will see the date of the last copy you created.
What to do if there is no space in Google Drive?
Don't just rely on the cloud if you have critical documents. Files in the Download or Documents folder often don't sync automatically unless they have a separate folder set up in the Google Drive app or another cloud storage. Check these directories manually.
Set up a new smartphone Xiaomi
When the old Honor is ready, you can start setting up the new Xiaomi. When you first turn on, the device will prompt you to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi. This is a must, because without the Internet, you can not log in to Google. Follow the instructions on the screen before you sign in.
In the “Copy Apps and Data” phase, Android will offer several options: Select the option “Google Backup” or “Restore from the Cloud” and you will be prompted to enter a login and password from the same Google account that was used on Honor. For security reasons, the system can request a sign-in confirmation via a notification on the old device or code from SMS.
- 🔑 Enter the correct password from your Google account.
- 📡 Use the same Wi-Fi network as your old device for speed.
- ⏳ Wait for the end of the data check in the cloud.
Once you have successfully logged in, Xiaomi will show you a list of available backups. Choose the latest one created on Honor. The system will suggest you choose what you want to restore: apps, contacts, SMS, device settings. It is recommended to leave all items on for maximum comfort.
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If you’re using two-factor authentication, make sure that the old phone is on hand for sign-in confirmation, otherwise the process may take a while.
Recovery and synchronization process
Once you select a copy, the download process will begin.It can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet. Xiaomi smartphone will automatically download and install apps from the Google Play Store that were on Honor.
In the background, you'll be pulling up contacts, calendar records, and notes, and you can watch the progress at the top of the screen or in notifications, and you'll want to keep your phone off the grid, so you don't interrupt the flow of data, so you don't put too much strain on the processor.
| Type of data | Transmission method | Time to load | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Google Contacts | Instantly. | Internet |
| Annexes | Google Play | Depends on size. | Wi-Fi Recommended |
| Photo/Video | Google Photo | Long-term | Stable Wi-Fi |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Google Synchronization | Instantly. | Android 10+ |
It's important to understand that some high-security banking applications and programs may not carry your logins and passwords inside, but for security reasons, you'll have to log in again using SMS codes or tokens.
Working with WhatsApp and messengers
Messengers deserve special attention, as they store the correspondence history separately from the Android system backup. For WhatsApp, the process of transferring through a Google account is regular and the easiest. On the old Honor, open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click “Backup”.
Make sure the copy is uploaded to Google Drive. Then on the new Xiaomi, install WhatsApp, type the same phone number. The app will find the backup in the cloud and prompt you to restore your message history. This method works seamlessly when you switch between any Android devices.
⚠️ Note: When you move through your Google account, you may not have some privacy settings or fixed chats, and make sure that the phone number that WhatsApp is registering with on the new device matches the number that created the copy.
For Telegram and V, the situation is simpler: Telegram stores all history in the cloud, so just enter your phone number and confirmation code. All chats and media files will be downloaded automatically. Viber also uses Google Drive for a backup that is activated when you first install it on a new device.
Completion of migration and data verification
Once the main download process is complete, you need to do an audit, check the phone book: are all numbers in place, are the names and photos of subscribers correctly displayed, sometimes it takes a few minutes for all the thumbnails of contacts to download from the cloud.
Then check the gallery. If you've used Google Photos sync, all images will be available in the Photos app. If you expected them to appear in the Xiaomi system gallery automatically from local memory, it won't happen -- they're stored in the cloud. To view them in the gallery, you'll need to download them or configure folder sync.
- ✅ Check for all important apps on the desktop.
- ✅ Open the calendar and make sure there are events.
- ✅ Go to several key applications to check authorization.
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Full indexing of all files and completing background synchronization on the new Xiaomi can take up to 24 hours of active use of the device.
It's also worth going to the Google account settings on the new device and making sure the sync is working correctly. If you notice errors, try deleting the account and adding it again, but it's usually not necessary. Android is smart enough to handle minor crashes on its own.