How to Transfer Data from Honor to Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why data transfer between Android devices of different brands requires a special approach

The transition from Honor to Xiaomi Redmi is not just a smartphone change, but a migration between two ecosystems with unique branded services. Unlike the transfer between devices of the same brand (for example, from Redmi Note 12 to Redmi Note 13), there are nuances: different cloud services (Huawei Mobile Cloud vs Mi Cloud), differences in the structure of backups and even firmware level restrictions. For example, Xiaomi by default blocks the installation of APK from unknown sources, which can complicate the portability of some applications.

Another trap is Android. Honor smartphones often run on Magic UI (EMUI fork) and Redmi on MIUI. Different shells handle backups differently: what is saved through HiSuite (Huawei/Honor proprietary software) is not always correctly restored on Xiaomi via Mi Mover. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer data with these features, including bypassing typical errors like “insufficient space” or “incompatible file format”.

Before you start, answer the key question: what data do you need to transfer?

Method 1: Official Mi Mover app – fast but with limitations

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary data migration tool preinstalled on all Redmi devices, and it supports porting from most Android devices, including Honor, but there’s a critical limitation: it only works when you first turn on a new smartphone. If you’ve already set up Redmi, you’ll have to reset it to factory settings or use alternative methods.

How to transfer data via Mi Mover:

• 📱 Turn on the new Xiaomi Redmi and reach the Data Transfer screen (will appear automatically when you first set up).
• 🔗 On old Honor, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it’s not in your area, use it). APK from the official Xiaomi website).
• 📶 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network. Choose Sender on Honor, Receiver on Redmi).
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-code from Redmi to Honor and select data to transfer. Warning: applications will be transferred without their data (for example, saving in games will have to be restored separately).

The transfer speed depends on the amount of data: 10 GB of photos and videos will be transmitted in ~15-20 minutes over Wi-Fi 5. If the process is suspended during the "Data Preparation" stage, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge for both devices (should be) >50%).
• 📶 Wi-Fi stability (switch to 5GHz if the router supports).
• 📂 Free space on Redmi (must be at least 20% more data transfer volume).

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If Mi Mover doesn’t see the Honor device, try connecting them via an access point: on Redmi, turn on the mobile hotspot, and connect Honor to this network.

Method 2: Backup through Google Account – Universal, but not for everything

Syncing through Google Account is the most reliable method for transferring contacts, calendars, Google Keep notes and some of the app settings, but it has critical drawbacks:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS/MMS (They need a separate backup through Google Drive or third-party apps).
• ❌ Photos and videos are synced only in reduced quality (unless you pay for Google One).
• ❌ Applications are restored without data (for example, progress in games or settings messengers).

Step-by-step:

1. On Honor, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the right categories (contacts, calendar, etc.).
2. Go to Settings → System → Backup and start creating a backup on Google Drive.
3. On Xiaomi Redmi, when you first turn on, select “Restore from backup” and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Choose the latest backup and wait for the recovery to be completed.

If you have already set up Redmi, you can restore the backup through Settings → Accounts → Google → Restore data. However, the apps will have to be manually installed from Google Play.

Method 3: Direct Transfer over OTG Cable for Large Data

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos/video or weak Wi-Fi, cable transfer is the fastest solution.

• 🔌 OTG-adapter (or cable) USB-C to USB-C, If both smartphones have the same connector).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., Mi File Manager on Redmi or Files by Google on Honor).

Instructions:

1. Connect Honor to Redmi via OTG-The Redmi will be notified "USB-Device connected" - select "File Transfer).
2. Open the file manager on Redmi and go to the section USB-The storage device (this is the memory of your Honor).
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, downloads, etc.) to internal memory or SD-map.

The transmission speed of USB 3.0 cable reaches 400-500 MB / s (versus ~50 MB / s over Wi-Fi).

• ⚠️ Contact and SMS This cannot be done, but must be exported separately (see Method 4).
• ⚠️ Some system folders (for example, Android/data) Can be hidden without root rights.

1. Check the compatibility of connectors (USB-C/Micro-USB)

2. Free up space on Redmi (at least +20% of the data volume)

3. disable battery optimization for file manager

4. Use the original cable (cheap may not support data transfer)

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Method 4: Transfer of contacts and SMS via export/import

Contacts and SMS are the most capricious data migrations between brands, and they can't just be copied as files, but they need to be exported to universal formats.

For contacts:

1. On Honor, open the Contacts app → Settings → Import/Export → Export to file.
2. Select the.vcf (vCard) format and save the file to a memory card or internal memory.
3. Transfer the file to Redmi (via cable, cloud, or messenger) and import it through Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Import from the file.

For SMS:

Android doesn’t have a built-in SMS export tool, so you’ll need a third-party app like SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app on Honor and create a backup.
2. Save the backup file (usually with the.xml extension) to the cloud or memory card.
3. Move the file to Redmi, install the same application, and restore the SMS (Restore).

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Contact files (.vcf) and SMS (.xml) take up little space, but they are easy to lose, and we recommend you to duplicate them in Google Drive or send them to your own mail.

Method 5: Transferring applications and their data is difficult but possible

Porting installed applications and their data (such as saves in games or chats in instant messengers) is the most difficult task. Xiaomi and Honor use different backup mechanisms, so there is no universal solution.

For transfer APK-file-in-file:

1. On Honor, install APK Extractor (from Google Play) and export the APK of the desired applications.
2. Move the APK to Redmi and install them by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Install Unknown Applications).

To transfer application data (e.g., progress in games):

• 🎮 Use built-in sync through Google Play Games (for supported games).
• 🔧 For other applications, try Helium (requires a PC and a PC). ADB).
• ⚠️ Attention: Transferring data to banking applications or instant messengers may disrupt their operation.

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If the game does not support cloud saves, try to manually copy the folder with data from the cloud. /Android/obb/[The title of the game is on Honor and paste it in the same place on Redmi. ~60% game.

Solving Typical Problems in Data Transfer

Even if you follow the instructions, you can make mistakes.

⚠️ Note: If there is a “Not enough space” error when transferring through Mi Mover, although there are free gigabytes on Redmi, the problem may be in the section /data. Xiaomi is backing up some of the memory for the system, and the actual space available is less than stated. Solution: transfer some of the data (like a photo) manually through the cable, and the rest through the Mi Mover.

Problem: After the transfer, the contacts are duplicated.

Decision:

1. Open Contacts on Redmi.
2. Go to Settings → Combine contacts and select “Combine all duplicates”.
3. If duplicates are left, export contacts to.vcf, delete all contacts, and import the file again.

The Mi Mover is 99% frozen.

Decision:

• Check if the antivirus or battery optimizer is blocking the transmission (turn them off on both devices).
• Restart the process by first switching to another Wi-Fi network (e.g., from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz).
• If it doesn’t help, transfer the data in parts: first contacts and SMS, then photos, then applications.

⚠️ Note: If you transfer data from Honor to Xiaomi Redmi with different SIM-map, SMS And the call may not be restored, and that's because of the data being linked to the Android phone number. SIM at Redmi during the transfer.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions