How to transfer files from Honor to Xiaomi: a complete guide with proven ways

Moving from Honor to Xiaomi is not just about changing your brand, but also migrating all your data: photos, contacts, messages and apps. Many users have trouble migrating files between devices from different manufacturers, especially when it comes to large amounts of data or specific formats. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer data, their pros and cons, and give recommendations on choosing the best method depending on your situation.

The portability between Honor (formerly a sub-brand of Huawei) and Xiaomi is different in the operating systems: the former often run on Magic UI (Android fork), and the latter run on MIUI. This can affect the compatibility of some synchronization services. For example, Xiaomi’s standard Phone Clone app doesn’t always work correctly with Honor devices due to manufacturer restrictions. But don’t worry — we have prepared alternative solutions, including workarounds for such cases.

Before you start porting, make sure that both devices are at least 50% charged and Xiaomi has enough free space. If you are transferring data through a cable, use the original cord from Xiaomi - cheap analogues may not provide stable connection. Also check that the Honor has a developer mode (if you need debugging over USB) and unlocks the installation of applications from unknown sources.

1. Transfer via OTG cable or adapter: the fastest way

Using a USB-C to USB-C cable (or OTG adapter) is one of the most reliable methods, because it does not depend on Internet speed and does not require intermediate servers. However, there is a caveat: Xiaomi and Honor may not recognize each other as external drives due to the features of the firmware, the solution is to use special applications to transfer data over the cable.

The most versatile option is Send Anywhere (available on Google Play and AppGallery), which creates a temporary local network between devices via cable, which speeds up 2–3 times compared to Wi-Fi. Speeds can reach 10–15 MB/s (depending on version). USB-Here's how it works:

• 📱 Install Send Anywhere on both devices.
• 🔌 Connect your smartphones with a cable (on Honor you may need to select the mode "File Transfer" in the notification curtain).
• 📤 On Honor, click "Send" → select files → "Cable".
• 📥 On Xiaomi, click "Get it" → scan QR-Honor-screen code.

If Send Anywhere isn’t suitable, the alternative is Xender or the built-in Mi Mover app (available on Xiaomi in Settings → About Phone → Mi Mover).The latter option is optimized for migrating from Huawei/Honor devices, but may not support new models due to Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) restrictions.

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If the cable doesn't recognize, try reconnecting it in the reverse order, first to Xiaomi, then to Honor. USB-device.

2. Data transfer via cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Huawei Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient because it doesn’t require physical devices to connect, but it has limitations. For example, Huawei Cloud (which is often pre-installed on Honor) doesn’t sync with Mi Cloud, so you’ll have to download it to Xiaomi first and then download it manually. Google Drive is a more versatile option, but it’s only for files, not apps or system settings.

The following steps are provided for Google Drive:

1. On Honor, open Google Drive → click "+" → "Download".
2. Select files (photos, videos, documents) and wait for the download to be completed.
3. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account → open Drive → download files.

To move contacts and calendars, you need to sync your Google account on both devices, but keep in mind that:

• 🚫 Google Drive is not going to work. SMS, call log or application settings.
• 📉 Free storage is limited to 15 GB (may not be enough for a large number of high-resolution photos).
• ⏳ Download/download large files (>1GB can take hours with slow internet.

If you’ve used Huawei Cloud on Honor, export your data manually from there: go to Settings → Huawei ID → Cloud → Backup and save the archive to your device, and then transfer it to Xiaomi in another way (e.g. via cable).

3. Wireless transmission over Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth

Wireless transmission methods are suitable for small amounts of data (up to 1-2 GB), because the speed is limited. Wi-Fi Direct is faster (5-8 MB / s) than Bluetooth (1-2 MB / s), but both options require a stable connection.

For Wi-Fi Direct transmission:

1. On Honor, open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On Xiaomi, follow the same path and connect to the Honor device.
3. Use any file application (e.g. Files by Google) to send data.

For Bluetooth:

• 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair them.
• 📎 On Honor, select files → "Share" → "Bluetooth".
• ✅ Confirm acceptance on Xiaomi.

Note: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note series) can automatically compress photos when transmitted over Bluetooth, which degrades their quality. To avoid this, use an archiver (such as the ZArchiver) to pack files into.zip before sending them.

4. Computer Transfer: Reliable but Longer

Using a PC or laptop as an intermediate is one of the most reliable ways, especially if you have a lot of data or want to back up before you transfer it. USB-cable (preferably original) and access to a Windows, macOS or Linux computer.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect Honor to your PC and select File Transfer (or MTP) mode.
2. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads, etc.) to your computer’s hard drive.
3. Disable Honor, connect Xiaomi and transfer files back.

For the transfer of contacts and SMS, you can use specialized programs:

If you use macOS, you may need to install Android File Transfer (the official software from Google) to access Honor files. MIUI 12+ Sometimes you need to turn on "Debugging" USB" In the developer settings, even for normal file transfers.

Install drivers for Honor (if Windows does not recognize the device)

Check the free disk space (data with Honor can take up tens of gigabytes)

Disable the antivirus while copying (it can block access to system folders)

- Use it. USB-3.0 ports (blue connectors) to speed up transmission

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5. Applications and their data portability: what you need to know

Move it yourself. APK-You can use Honor files on Xiaomi, but this does not guarantee their performance. Many programs are tied to Google Play or Huawei AppGallery services, and their data (such as saving in games or settings) is stored in the cloud or system folders that are not available for manual copying.

What can be done:

• 📲 For apps from Google Play: sync your data through your Google account. For example, on WhatsApp, back up your Settings. → chat → Backup.
• 🎮 For games: use social media accounts (Facebook, VK) or specialized services (e.g. Google Play Games for saving).
• 🔧 For system applications (e.g. Health or Wallet): export data manually if the feature is supported.

If you want to move APK-manually:

1. On Honor, install APK Extractor (available in AppGallery).
2. Export the APK of the desired applications to the folder on the device.
3. Move files to Xiaomi and install them by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Install Unknown Applications).

Important: apps that rely on HMS Core (e.g. Huawei Mobile Services) won’t work on Xiaomi because it uses Google Mobile Services (GMS), such as Huawei Health, Petal Maps or AppGallery.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often face problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔌 "The device is not recognized when connected by USB": Try another cable or port. Honor may need to select File Transfer mode in the notification curtain. If it doesn't work, turn on Debugging on. USB developer-setting.
• 🌐 "Wi-Fi Direct permanently breaks connection: Turn off power saving mode on both devices and make sure they are no more than 5 meters apart.
• ☁️ "Google Drive doesn’t upload big files: Break up your archive into 2GB pieces or use alternative clouds (Yandex Drive or Mega).
• 📱 "Apps on Xiaomi fly out after the transfer: This may be due to incompatibility of Android versions or lack of necessary services (GMS/HMS). Reinstall problematic apps from the official store.

Another common problem is loss of image quality when you transmit it, which happens if you:

• Bluetooth is used (it automatically compresses images).
• The option “Optimize media files” is enabled in cloud services (for example, in Google Photos).
• Files are transferred through instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), which compress media.

To avoid loss of quality, transfer the original files from the DCIM/Camera folder directly through the cable or archive them to.zip before transfer.

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If you are migrating data from Honor to Xiaomi through the cloud, always check the integrity of your files after you download it, for example, open a few photos or videos to make sure they are not corrupted.

7. Alternative methods: NFC and SD-map

If your devices have an NFC module, you can use it to transfer small files (up to 10 MB), such as contacts or links.

1. Enable NFC on both smartphones (Settings → Connections → NFC).
2. On Honor, open the file and select "Share via NFC".
3. Hold the devices with the back covers to each other (the NFC antenna is usually located at the top).

It can be used to transfer large amounts of data SD-card (if both devices support it):

• 📁 Copy files from Honor to a memory card.
• 🔄 Remove the card and paste it into Xiaomi (or use a card reader).
• 📂 Transfer data to internal memory.

Note that modern flagships Xiaomi (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60) often do not have a slot for SD-cards, so this method is only suitable for older models or devices with a hybrid slot (SD + second-second SIM).

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If you use SD-Format it in exFAT format before transferring it, avoiding the file size limit (>4 GB, which is available in FAT32.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions