How to fully clone a Huawei smartphone on Xiaomi: all ways to transfer data

Shifting data from Huawei’s smartphone to Xiaomi is a challenge millions of users face when changing their brand. Despite both companies using Android, their shells are the same (EMUI and MIUI) So different that standard Google tools often don't work properly, and in this article, we'll look at all the current cloning methods, from official utilities to manual methods for power users.

The main problem in the transition from Huawei to Xiaomi is the closed ecosystem of Huawei. 2019 Google lost access to Google services, so standard tools like Google Backup may not work on new models (e.g. Huawei). P60 Pro or Mate 50). At the same time, Xiaomi is actively integrated with Google, which creates a technical gap. 2020-2026 Years and only working solutions were selected.

It is important to understand that “cloning” involves not only transferring contacts and photos, but also copying:

• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, screen brightness)
• 🔑 Accounts (including Huawei) ID Mi Account)
• 🎮 Application data (save in games, chats in messengers)
• 📂 Hidden files (e.g. encryption keys for banking applications)

If you need to transfer only basic data (contacts, photos, videos), it will be enough and 10 It takes a full cloning, with all settings and applications saved. 1-2 We'll start with the simplest way to do this.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary utility from Xiaomi designed to transfer data from other Android devices. It supports most Huawei models, but there are important limitations. First, the utility only works when you turn on a Xiaomi smartphone (after a reset), and second, it does not tolerate some system settings and application data that require root access.

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

1. Enable the new Xiaomi and go to the “Data Transfer” stage in the setup wizard.
2. Select the Android option (not iPhone!).
3. On the old Huawei, download the Mi Mover app from Google Play (if available) or from the official Xiaomi website.
4. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network or use a direct cable connection OTG (recommended).
5. On Huawei, select data to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, music and apps (if available).

⚠️ Note: If you have a Huawei model without Google services (e.g., the Mate 40 Pro or later), the Mi Mover app may not install.

Charging the battery of both phones > 50%|Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.|Power saving mode is disabled on Huawei|Xiaomi has a developer mode enabled (if required) OTG)-->

The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data:

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If Mi Mover “hangs” during the connection stage, try to disable the firewall on Huawei in the Security settings. → firewall

2.Alternative method: Huawei's Phone Clone

The Phone Clone is a Huawei-branded solution that is originally designed to migrate data to the brand’s devices, but it works perfectly the other way around, from Huawei to Xiaomi, and the main advantage of this method is that it supports models without Google services (for example, Huawei). P50 or X3).

Instructions for use:

• 📲 Install Phone Clone on both devices: For Huawei: App preinstalled (look in Tools folder) APK from Huawei AppGallery or from APKMirror.
• 🔗 On Huawei, select “This is an old phone” on Xiaomi, “This is a new phone".
• 📶 Connect devices through QR-code (wi-fi) or cable OTG.
• 📋 Select data to transfer. Phone Clone supports: Contacts and call log Messages (SMS and MMS) Photo, video, audio Applications (only) APK-files, no data) Notes and calendar

⚠️ Note: When porting apps, Phone Clone only copies APK-files, but does not store data inside them (for example, progress in games or chats in Telegram), to fully port applications with data will require root access or additional tools like Titanium Backup.

Huawei Phone Clone|Mi Mover by Xiaomi|Google Account|Manual transfer via PC|None of the above.-->

Phone Clone does not carry Huawei data ID (For example, purchases in AppGallery or cloud backups.To save them, before switching to Xiaomi, export data manually through Settings. → Huawei ID → Cloud. → Backup.

3. Manual transfer via Google Account (for Huawei models with a GMS)

If your Huawei supports Google services (models to the 2019 year or some version P30/Mate 20), The most reliable way is to back up Google Drive, which is a way to ensure that you can transfer it:

• 📇 Contacts (synchronization with Google Contacts)
• 📅 Calendar (Google Calendar)
• 📎 Notes (Google Keep)
• 📱 Some system settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper)
• 🎮 Application data (if the developer supports Google Backup)

Step-by-step:

1. On Huawei go to Settings → System system → Backup.
2. Enable Backup in Google Drive and select an account.
3. Click Create a backup now and wait until it is completed.
4. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore from backup and log in to the same Google account.
5. Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS and MMS (use SMS Backup & Restore).
• ❌ Not all apps support backup via Google (for example, Viber or WhatsApp require a separate backup).
• ❌ Google Drive’s Free Storage is limited to 15GB.

4. PC Transfer: Full Data Control

If you need to migrate all the data without exception, including system files and application settings, the most reliable way is to manually copy it through your computer, which takes longer, but gives you 100% control over the process.

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cables. USB (preferably original)
• 📁 Enough free space on the disk (minimum) 2x volume)
• 🛠️ Programme programmes: ADB (system-file), 7-Zip (archival)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Huawei to PC in file transfer mode (MTP). Copy all folders from internal memory: DCIM (Photos and videos) Downloads (downloads) Pictures, Music, Movies Android/data (Application data if there is no root) WhatsApp, Telegram (if you use it)
2. Export contacts to the file VCF: Open the Contacts app on Huawei. Click on ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Export to the storage. Copy the resulting contact.vcf file on the PC.

Save the SMS.

SMS Backup & Restore

Transfer data to Xiaomi

• Connect Xiaomi to your PC and copy all the saved files.
• Import contacts through the Contacts app → Imports.
• Restore. SMS through SMS Backup & Restore.

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Manual transfer over PC is the only way to save data from applications that do not support cloud backup (such as banking applications or enterprise messengers).

To transfer system settings (for example, Wi-Fi hotspots or Bluetooth settings) will be required ADB (Android Debug Bridge is an advanced method that is only suitable for power users. If you need to migrate this data, follow the instructions below:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab


adb restore C:\backup.ab

⚠️ Note: Adb backup may not work on new versions EMUI (Starting with 12.0, due to Huawei restrictions, in which case use alternative tools like Swift Backup (requires root).

5. Transfer applications with data (root required)

If you want to migrate not only the apps themselves, but also their data (for example, save in games, settings in messengers or cache cards in navigators), you will need root access on both devices, which is suitable for power users and includes the use of tools like Titanium Backup or Swift Backup.

What can be transferred from root:

• 🎮 Game savers (e.g. Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings)
• 💬 Chat logs of messengers (Telegram, Viber, Signal)
• 📊 Application settings (for example, filters in Snapseed or bookmarks in the browser)
• 🔐 Licenses of paid applications (if they are linked to the device)

Instructions for Titanium Backup:

1. Install Titanium Backup on both devices (root required).
2. On Huawei, launch the app and select Backup/Restore.
3. Press Package Action → Backup of all user applications + data.
4. Copy the folder. /sdcard/TitaniumBackup PC-only.
5. Move the folder to Xiaomi and recover data through Package Action → Recovery of all applications with data.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-They can block the work on the new device even after the data is transferred, in which case you have to reinstall it manually and configure it again.

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If you don’t have root, but you need to migrate the data of a particular application, check if it supports export/import. For example, in Telegram you can manually export chats through Settings. → Additionally. → Chat data export

6. Transfer of specific data (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, passwords)

Some data is not carried by standard methods, but it can be saved manually, and here's how to do it for the most important settings:

Wi-Fi networks:

• On Huawei go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
• Click on the saved network and select Share (required) PIN-code).
• Take a picture. QR-code or copy the password.
• On Xiaomi, open Settings → Wi-Fi → Add a network and enter data.

Passwords from apps and websites:

• If you used Huawei Password Manager, export passwords: Open Settings → Security → Password Manager. Select Password Export and save the file to your PC. Import it to Google Password Manager or Bitwarden on Xiaomi.

Settings of Bluetooth devices:

• Unfortunately, it is impossible to transfer paired devices directly.
• Write down device names (such as Mi Band 6 or AirPods) and repeat the pairing procedure on Xiaomi.

Health data (Huawei Health) → Mi Fitness):

• Export data from Huawei Health: Open the app → Profile → Data export. Select the format (usually) ZIP or CSV).
• Import to Mi Fitness (if the format is supported) or use intermediary services like Google Fit.

7 Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Data Is Not Portable

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, try the intermediate device:

• Transfer data from Huawei to an old Android smartphone (such as Samsung or Pixel).
• Then, from an intermediate device, transfer the data to Xiaomi via Mi Mover or Google Backup.

8.After the transfer: Optimizing Xiaomi for your needs

After the successful data transfer, we recommend following several steps for Xiaomi to work optimally:

Performance setting:

• 🔋 Turn off battery optimization for important applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management. Select an application (e.g. Telegram) → Battery limitations → No restrictions.
• 🚀 Enable Performance Mode: Settings → Special facilities → Performance mode.

Personalization MIUI:

• 🎨 Set a topic similar to EMUI: Open Topics → Find Huawei-style themes (e.g., “Dark”) EMUI" or Huawei Style").
• 🔊 Set up sound circuits: Download Huawei ringtones (such as “Huawei Ring” or “Mate Series”) and install them through Settings → Sound.

Safety:

• 🔒 Set up Mi Account and enable Find Device: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Find Device. Enable remote lock and location.
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (such as Bitdefender or Kaspersky) MIUI It is less protected from malware than EMUI.

If you are used to Huawei’s hand gestures, you can also customize them to Xiaomi:

• Go to Settings → Display → Full-screen display.
• Select Gesture buttons and configure swipes by analogy with EMUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer from Huawei to Xiaomi