How to transfer data from Xiaomi to Honor 9C: all ways in 2026

The transition from Xiaomi to Honor 9C is not just a smartphone change, but a complete migration of digital life: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Many users are afraid of losing important data or spending hours manually transferring files. In fact, the process can be simplified to 10-15 minutes if you know proven methods and avoid typical errors.

In this article, we will explore 5 ways to transfer data, from standard Huawei tools (owner of the Honor brand) to universal cloud services, focusing on the nuances of compatibility between MIUI and Magic UI, and how to transfer data if the new Honor 9C is not already activated. All instructions are relevant for 2026 and tested on the latest firmware versions.

Whether you change the Redmi Note 12 to the Honor 9C or the POCO X5 to this model, the algorithm will be the same, and the key is to prepare both devices correctly and choose the method that fits your data volume and Internet speed.

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before you start migrating, you need to follow 4 critical steps on both smartphones, and skipping either of them can lead to data loss or disruptions in the transfer process.

On Xiaomi:

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – at a low charge level, the system can interrupt the data transfer.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use the cloud) Mobile internet is not recommended due to traffic restrictions.
• 🗃️ Free up space in internal memory if the amount of data being transferred exceeds 5 GB. Delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.
• 🔒 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, pattern lock) at the time of transfer – this will speed up access to files.

On Honor 9C:

• 📱 If the phone is new, do not activate it through the Initial Setup Wizard – wait until the data transfer is completed.
• 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → System system → Software update. This will eliminate compatibility errors.
• 📁 Make sure there is enough space on the device for the data to be received (minimum) +10% of the volume of transferred files).

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on Xiaomi (Settings) → Security → Encryption, some transfer techniques may not work, in which case use a cloud backup or a computer as an intermediary.

2.Method 1: Using the Huawei Phone Clone app

The Phone Clone is Huawei’s official solution for data migration between devices of different brands, which supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, apps and even notes without loss of quality, the main advantage is that you do not need the Internet or a computer: data is transmitted directly over Wi-Fi.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Phone Clone on both devices: 📱 For Xiaomi: Link to AppGallery or via Google Play. 📱 For Honor. 9C: App preinstalled (find it through the menu search).

Honor 9C

It's a new phone.

Android

Xiaomi

It's an old phone.

Honor

System settings

30GB

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Stores folder structure and photo metadata (date of shooting, geotags).
• ✅ Transferring the history of calls and SMS/MMS (attachment).
• ✅ It works even if it works with Honor. 9C unreactivated.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi is installed MIUI 14+, Before transferring, disable Battery Optimization for Phone Clone in the application settings.

Download the app on both phones|Disable screen lock|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Charge both devices to 50%+|Free up a seat on Honor 9C-->

3. Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for contacts, calendar, mail)

If you only need to migrate contacts, calendar events, notes and email, syncing through Google Account is the fastest and most reliable way. It requires no additional apps and works on any Android device.

How to do this:

1. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Google Accounts → Sync and turn on all the switches.
2. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (check in Settings → About Phone → Account Status).
3. On Honor 9C, when you first turn on, select Restore from a backup and log in to the same Google Account.
4. Select the latest backup (the creation date should coincide with the sync time on Xiaomi).

What is carried over Google:

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, call-book.
• ❌ Application settings (e.g., game progress) are not saved.

💡

If contacts are not synced, check if they are duplicated in Xiaomi accounts and if they are not synced. SIM-Remove duplicates through the Google Contacts app before transferring.

Method 3: Transfer files via computer (for large volumes)

If you have more than 50GB of data, or want to transfer all files without exception (including hidden folders), the best option is to use your computer as an intermediary, a method that is suitable for transferring music, documents, archives, and application backups.

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable (original cable is recommended).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) onto your computer.
4. Disable Xiaomi, connect Honor 9C and transfer files back.

The nuances of the method:

• 🔌 Use it. USB 3.0 (blue connector) to speed up transmission (up to 5 GB/min vs 1 GB/min y) USB 2.0).
• 📂 To transfer applications, use programs like APK Extractor (extraction) APK) + SAI (Honor-set).
• 🔒 If files are not copied, check the permissions for folders (on the MIUI Some system folders are hidden).

⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the entire Android folder, as this can lead to conflicts in these applications.

5. Method 4: Cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Huawei Cloud)

Cloud storage is convenient for data transfer if you have a slow USB-If you want to back up your phone before you migrate, consider three options: Google Drive, Mi Cloud (from Xiaomi) and Huawei Cloud (for Honor).

Option 1: Google Drive

• 📁 Download data from Xiaomi via Settings → System system → Backup → Google Drive.
• 🔄 On Honor. 9C Restore data when you first turn on or through Settings → Accounts. → Google → Restore.
• ⚠️ Only 15GB is available for free – a paid subscription will be required for more.

Option 2: Mi Cloud (Xiaomi only)

• 🌥️ Create a backup on Xiaomi in Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 📥 On Honor. 9C Download files via the browser at i.mi.com (authentication required).
• ❌ No applications and system settings are portable.

Option 3: Huawei Cloud (optimized for Honor)

• ☁️ Install Huawei Mobile Cloud on Xiaomi from Google Play.
• 🔄 Upload data to the cloud, then restore it to Honor. 9C through settings → Accounts. → Huawei ID.
• ✅ Supports transfer SMS, call-book.

💡

For maximum speed, use Huawei Cloud – it’s optimized for Honor devices and offers faster download speeds compared to Google Drive.

Method 5: Transfer through OTG-memory-card

If you don’t have a computer or a stable internet connection, you can use it. OTG-This method is suitable for transferring photos, videos, music and documents, but is not suitable for applications and system data.

Instructions for the memory card:

1. Insert a memory card in Xiaomi and copy the necessary files to it (for example, a DCIM folder with a photo).
2. Remove the card and paste it into the Honor 9C.
3. Use a file manager (such as Google Files) to transfer data to internal memory.

Instructions for OTG-cable:

1. Connect the flash drive to Xiaomi via OTG-Adapter and copy files to it.
2. Unplug the flash drive and connect to the Honor 9C.
3. Transfer the data to internal memory or memory card.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It does not require the internet or computer.
• ✅ Maintains original file quality (no compression like in the cloud).
• ✅ Suitable for transferring large files (e.g. video to the 4K).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Contacts are not tolerated, SMS and application settings.
• ❌ Additional equipment is required (OTG-memory-card).

💡

If the Honor 9C doesn’t see the memory card, reboot the phone or format the card in exFAT format (supports >4GB files).

7. Checking data after transfer and correcting errors

Once the transfer is complete, you need to check the integrity of the data and correct any possible errors.

Checklist for verification:

• 📞 Contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place (check groups and profile photos).
• 📷 Photo/Video: View the latest files in the gallery, make sure dates and geotags are saved.
• 💬 Messages: Open up SMS-App and check the history of correspondence (especially with attachments).
• 🎮 Apps: Make sure you have all the programs installed (if you have been transferred via Phone Clone or Mobile Phone Clone) APK).

Typical problems and their solutions:

⚠️ Note: If you have moved to Honor 9C Duplicate contacts, use the Google Contacts app → Contact management → Combine and fix. Don't delete duplicates manually - this can erase associated data (e.g., call history).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer