Transferring data from Honor to Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro: 5 proven ways

Why porting data from Honor to Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro requires a special approach

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to switching between devices from different manufacturers. Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro and Honor phones run on Android, but have fundamental differences in firmware: EMUI (Honor) and MIUI (Xiaomi), which means that standard data porting tools may work incorrectly or miss important information.

The main problem is that MIUI does not always correctly recognize backups created in EMUI. For example, Huawei’s Phone Clone app (which is used in Honor) may not convey the call history or configuration of some system applications. In this article, we will discuss the unique nuances of data transfer between these two brands, including bypassing manufacturer restrictions and saving as much information as possible.

It’s also important to consider hardware: the Poco X3 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor, while many Honor models run on HiSilicon Kirin chips. This may affect the compatibility of some files (e.g., processor-optimized caches of applications), but don’t worry, we’ve prepared solutions for all key scenarios.

Method 1: Use the official Xiaomi Mi Mover app

The most reliable method for most users is a proprietary solution from Xiaomi. Mi Mover app is pre-installed on the Poco X3 Pro and supports data transfer from devices to Android 5.0 and later, including Honor smartphones.

  1. Preparation: Make sure both phones are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and the battery must be at least 50% charged.
  2. Launch: On the Poco X3 Pro, open Mi Mover (you can find it in the Tools folder or search it). On Honor, download it from Google Play.
  3. Connection: Select the role on both devices: Poco X3 Pro for "New Phone," Honor for "Old Phone." Scan it. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi camera Honor.
  4. Data selection: Check the categories for transfer (contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps) and note that applications will be ported without data, only APK-file.
  5. Process: Wait until it is completed (it can take 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data).

⚠️ Note: If you have a firmware installed on Honor EMUI 11+, You may need to temporarily disable Data Protection in your security settings, otherwise Mi Mover will not be able to access some system files.

The same Wi-Fi network on both devices|Power saving mode is off.|There is plenty of space available on Poco. X3 Pro (at least 20% more data transfer volume)|Google Contact Synchronization Disabled (to avoid duplicates)-->

Method 2: Manually transfer via Google Account (for contacts, calendar, and notes)

If you only need to migrate contacts, calendars and notes, the most versatile way is to sync through Google Account, which works regardless of the phone model and Android version.

Instructions for Honor:

  1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
  2. Select your account and enable sync for Contacts, Calendar and Google Keep (if you use notes).
  3. Click on "Sync Now" and wait until it's finished.

Instructions for Poco X3 Pro:

  1. When you first turn on your phone, log in to the same Google Account.
  2. If your phone is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and enable the necessary options.
  3. Wait 5-10 minutes – the data will be downloaded automatically.

⚠️ Note: If the Honor contacts are stored only on SIM-Import them to the phone first: Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-Maps. Otherwise, they won't sync with Google.

💡

Before syncing, check if contacts are duplicated in Google Contacts. Go to contacts.google.com from your computer and delete the duplicate entries.

Method 3: Transfer photos and videos over cloud services

Multimedia files are usually the largest amount of data, and it's best to use cloud services to transfer them, to avoid losing quality or damaging files. Let's consider three options:

  • 📁 Google Photos: Install the app on Honor, turn on autoload (Settings) → Backup and synchronization. Post-transfer SIM-POCO X3 Log in to the same account – photos will be automatically uploaded.
  • ☁️ Mi Cloud: Upload Honor files to your computer, then through the web version of Mi Cloud upload them to the Xiaomi cloud. X3 Pro, they'll be in the gallery.
  • 💾 Local Storage: Connect Honor to PC via USB (in the "File Transfer" mode, copy folders DCIM Pictures and Pictures on your computer, then transfer them to Poco X3 Pro.

If you choose Google Photos, consider that free storage is limited to 15 GB per account. For the Poco X3 Pro with its 128/256 GB of storage, this can be critical. The alternative is to temporarily subscribe to a paid subscription or use photo compression (there is a “High Quality” option in the Google Photos settings, which does not count into the limit).

ServiceMax. Free seat.Loading speedQuality preservation
Google Photo15GBTall.Yes (with the "Original" option)
Mi Cloud5GBMediumYes.
Yandex Disc.10GBLow.Yes.
Local Transfer (USB)Not limited.MaximumYes.

Google Photo|Mi Cloud|Yandex Disc.|iCloud|Other|Not using.-->

Method 4: Transfer messages and call history using third-party apps

System data like SMS/MMS and call logs don't always move correctly through standard tools, and you'll need specialized tools to save them, and we tested three reliable solutions:

  • 📱 SMS Backup & Restore: Creates a backup of.xml messages on Honor, which can then be restored to Poco X3 Pro. Supports also MMS call-book.
  • 🔄 Super Backup & Restore: Not only does it save SMS, It's also apps, contacts, calendars, even Wi-Fi settings.
  • 📧 Droid Transfer: Works through USB-PC connection, transfers messages, photos, music and calendar, requires desktop client installation.

The following is a step-by-step guide for SMS Backup & Restore:

  1. Install the app on Honor from Google Play.
  2. Run it and click "Create backup".
  3. Select Messages and Call Log, then specify the location of the save (for example, Internal Memory or Google Drive).
  4. Transfer the backup file (usually in the SMSBackupRestore folder) to Poco X3 Pro.
  5. Install the same app on Xiaomi, select Restore and specify the path to the file.

⚠️ Note: When recovering messages on Poco X3 Pro application may request permission to send SMS (It's necessary to restore MMS). Permit, but after the process is complete, disable this permission in the application settings.

What to do if the messages are not restored?
If SMS does not appear in the standard Messages app on Poco X3 Pro after recovery, try this: 1. Install Messages by Google from Play Market – it works better with imported data. 2. Check if MIUI Optimizer blocks access to the SMS database. To do this, go to Settings → Special Options → Show System Settings → MIUI Optimizer and disable it (reboot will be required). 3. If messages are duplicated, clear the Mess cache in your phone settings.

Method 5: Transfer applications and their data (without root rights)

Move it yourself. APK-Application files can be accessed via Mi Mover or Google Play, but their data (save games, settings, cache) requires a separate approach.

Instructions:

  1. Install Helium on both phones from Google Play.
  2. On Honor, connect to your PC via USB and launch the desktop version of Helium (you can download it on the official website).
  3. Select backup apps (such as WhatsApp, Viber, games) and create a backup.
  4. Transfer the backup file to Poco X3 Pro (via cloud or USB).
  5. On Xiaomi, recover data via Helium by pre-installing the same apps from Google Play.

Limitations of the method:

  • ❌ Not all applications support backup (for example, some banking applications block this feature).
  • ❌ Data system applications (for example, Phone or Messages) will not be transferred.
  • ❌ On some firmware EMUI 12+ Helium may not see some apps due to Huawei restrictions.

💡

To migrate these games (such as saves to Genshin Impact or PUBG), it is better to use the built-in cloud-based storage features of these applications, which are more reliable than third-party backup tools.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

  • 🔌 Phones do not connect via Mi Mover: Make sure that Honor has Power Saving Mode disabled and Developer Mode enabled (7 times tap the build number in the settings.
  • 📱 Apps not restored: On Poco X3 Pro can be enabled with the "Installation Prohibit from Unknown Sources" feature. APK In Settings → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications.
  • 🔒 Wi-Fi Passwords Cannot Be Portable: They cannot be exported by standard means. Use the WiFi Password Viewer app (requires root) or simply connect Poco X3 Pro for each network manually.
  • 📸 Photos in the gallery are not displayed: After transferring through USB Check if the files are hidden. MIUI open the gallery → Albums. → Settings → Show hidden files.

If after transferring the Poco X3 Pro started to brake, perform optimization:

  1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory and click “Clear”.
  2. Turn off auto-run of unnecessary applications in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Auto-run.
  3. Perform a reboot of the phone.
Can I transfer data from Honor to Poco X3 Pro via Bluetooth?
Technically, but it’s extremely inconvenient. Bluetooth is only suitable for transferring individual files (like multiple photos), but not for full data transfer; the transfer speed is too low (about 1-2 MB/s), and many types of data (messages, application settings) are not supported at all.
Why did some contacts disappear after the Poco X3 Pro transfer?
This is a problem when you duplicate contacts between your Google Account and SIM-Solution: Export all Honor contacts to.vcf (Contacts) → Settings → Import this file to Poco X3 Pro (Contacts) → Settings → Imports: Remove duplicates through Google Contacts (web version) or Simpler Merge app.
How to transfer data from Honor Health to Mi Fitness?
Unfortunately, there is no direct way because of the closed ecosystems. Alternatives: Export data from Honor Health to Google Fit (if supported), then connect Mi Fitness to Google Fit. Use third-party services like Strava or Apple Health (if you have an iPhone) as a stash. Take screenshots of the statistics and save them to Google Keep or Mi Cloud. Complete transfer of training history is impossible — you have to start from scratch in Mi Fitness.
Do I need to reset the Poco X3 Pro to factory settings before the data perenosom?
No, it's not necessary, it's not even recommended. Factory resets should only be done if: You're transferring data from a phone that's been infected with viruses. There's already important data on the Poco X3 Pro that you want to delete before the perenosom. You've encountered critical errors after partially migrating the data. Otherwise, just migrate on top of the existing system. MIUI optimizes the new data itself.
Can I transfer data from Honor to Poco X3 Pro via a computer (without clouds)?
Yes, this is one of the most reliable ways. You'll need to: Connect Honor to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the desired folders (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) to your computer. Connect Poco X3 Pro and transfer files to the appropriate folders. Use programs like Droid Transfer or Moborobo to transfer contacts and messages.