Transferring data from Xiaomi to Huawei: 5 proven ways to avoid errors

Changing a smartphone from Xiaomi to Huawei is not just a hardware upgrade, but also a migration of all digital life: photos, correspondence, passwords and apps, and many users are struggling to move data between the ecosystems of the two Chinese giants. In contrast to the transition within the same brand (for example, with Redmi on the POCO), There is no universal tool like Mi Mover or Huawei Backup that would automatically solve all the problems.

The main difficulty lies in different synchronization protocols: Xiaomi actively uses Google services and its own Mi Cloud, while Huawei is betting on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) This means that direct data transmission through standard means is often faulty or not available at all, but there are at least 5 working methods that guarantee lossless transfer – from classic cable connections to workarounds through third-party services.

In this article, we will discuss each method in detail, taking into account the nuances of specific models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro). → Huawei P60 Pro or Redmi Note 12 → Huawei nova 11, and also warn against common errors that can lead to loss of contacts or damage to media files.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start migrating, make sure both devices are ready for the procedure, and neglecting this stage is the main cause of failures when data is not fully or error-free.

On Xiaomi, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system. It's important because the old versions are MIUI (below 14) may not support modern transmission protocols.
• ☁️ Check the free space in Mi Cloud (if you plan to use the cloud). Free rate is limited to 5 GB - if you exceed the limit, files are not synced.
• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 50%. Transferring data over cable or Wi-Fi Direct consumes a lot of power.
• 🔒 Turn off the screen lock (PIN, Some methods (e.g. Huawei Phone Clone) require unlocked screen.

On Huawei:

• 📲 Install the Huawei Phone Clone app from AppGallery (if it's not by default).This is the official migration tool.
• 🗃️ Release at least 10-15 GB of memory – temporary files can take up a lot of space when transferred.
• 🌐 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you use cloud methods) Mobile Internet is not suitable due to traffic restrictions.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi has enabled data protection MIUI (In Settings → Privacy, disable it. It blocks access to system files, which prevents full portability.

2. Method 1: Transfer via cable (Huawei Phone Clone)

The most reliable and fastest method is to use the Huawei Phone Clone app with a cable connection.

• 📞 Contacts (including groups and labels)
• 📷 Photos and videos (folder structure is maintained)
• 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS, But not messenger correspondence)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 📱 Wi-Fi settings, alarm clocks, notes

Step-by-step:

1. Download Huawei Phone Clone to Xiaomi from Google Play (or via Google Play) APK, If the application is not available in your area).
2. Connect both phones to charging – the process can take up to 30 minutes.
3. Run the app on both devices. On Huawei, select This is a new phone; on Xiaomi, This is an old phone.
4. Select the type of connection — Cable. Connect the phones through OTG-Adapter (if Huawei does not have a connector) USB-C → USB-C).
5. On Xiaomi, allow access to files and confirm the data transfer.
6. Select categories for transfer (we recommend leaving all ticks, except for the Application - it is better to install them separately).
7. Wait until it's done. Don't interrupt the process even if the screen goes out.

Shut down. VPN both phones

Check the integrity of the cable (damaged wires cause errors)

Close all background applications

Select high-speed transmission mode (if available)-->

Critical feature: When transferring over Phone Clone, data from some Chinese applications (such as WeChat or Mobile Phone Clone) is not transmitted. QQ), They'll need separate synchronization through developer accounts.

Method 2: Wireless transfer over Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't. OTG-cable or you prefer wireless methods, Huawei Phone Clone supports data transmission over Wi-Fi Direct. ~10 MB/s), but does not require additional accessories.

How it works:

1. Activate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones.
2. Start Phone Clone and select Wireless Transfer.
3. Huawei will appear on the QR-Scan it with a Xiaomi camera.
4. Confirm the connection on both devices.
5. Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No need for cables.
• ✅ Suitable for phones with damaged ports.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Slower cable connection in 3-5 once.
• ❌ Possible communication interruptions with a weak Wi-Fi signal.
• ❌ Not all Xiaomi models support Wi-Fi Direct (problems can occur on older devices like Redmi). 4X).

⚠️ Warning: If you have a failed connection error during wireless transfer, restart both phones and try again. Often, the problem is solved by changing the role of devices: designate Huawei as the “old phone” and Xiaomi as the new one.

Method 3: Transfer over cloud services (Google Drive, Huawei Cloud)

Cloud storage is a universal way that works even when phones are physically far apart, but it has limitations.

• 📌 Google Drive is suitable for contacts, calendars and media files, but does not port applications and settings.
• 📌 Huawei Cloud is only effective if you already have a Huawei account. ID and enough space (free - 5 GB).

Instructions for Google Drive:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Google accounts → Synchronize and enable backup for the right categories.
2. Go to Google Drive. → Backup copies and create a new copy.
3. On Huawei, log in to the same Google account and restore data from the backup to Settings → System system → Backup.

Instructions for Huawei Cloud:

1. On Xiaomi, install the Huawei Mobile Cloud app from Google Play.
2. Sign in through Huawei ID (Create it if you don’t have an account).
3. Select the data to download (contacts, photos, videos) and wait for completion.
4. On Huawei, log into the Huawei Cloud and recover your files.

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If you are transferring photos through Google Photos, turn on the option Original quality in the backup settings. In High Quality mode, images are compressed and their resolution is limited to 16 MP.

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for large amounts of data)

If the amount of data exceeds 20-30 GB (for example, you have thousands of photos in your home) RAW video 4K), The best way to do this is to use the computer as an intermediary. 100% Control over files and eliminates losses due to communication failures.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original).
• 📁 Folder on hard disk with at least 50 GB of free space.

Step-by-step algorithm:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP). If the phone is not detected, install Mi drivers PC Suite.
2. Copy all the necessary files from Xiaomi to your computer: 📂 DCIM — photo. 📂 Downloads - downloads. 📂 MIUI → Backup – backup copies of Xiaomi. 📂 Android → Data – data of some applications (root rights required).

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Huawei

Huawei

Google Contacts

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Huawei

6. Method 5: Transfer applications and their data

The hardest part of migrating is migrating installed applications and their data (e.g., game progress, messaging settings), and the standard methods don't work here, so you'll have to use a combination of tools.

What can be transferred:

• 📱 List of apps – via Huawei Phone Clone APK-files, no data).
• 🗃️ Application data – via Titanium Backup (requires root) or through the cloud services of the apps themselves.
• 🔄 App settings – only if they sync to your account (e.g. WhatsApp via Google Drive).

Instructions for porting applications:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Annexes → Manage applications and export the list to the file.
2. Copy this file to Huawei and import it through Huawei AppMarket (if supported).
3. To transfer data to specific applications: 💬 WhatsApp/Telegram: Use built-in backup to the cloud. 🎮 Games: Link to the developer account (see spoiler above). 📊 1Password/Keepass: Export the database and import it on a new phone.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. banking or with) DRM-protection) may block work on Huawei due to the lack of Google services.

7.Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

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

Important nuance: If some features (such as Google Pay or YouTube Premium) are missing after the Huawei port, this is due to the lack of Google services on new models (starting with the Huawei Mate 30 (GMS) via LZPlay utility (requires unlocking the bootloader).

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Before transferring, be sure to check the compatibility of key apps with Huawei. like Netflix and Disney+ It may not work on devices without Widevine certification. L1 (A list of supported models is available on the Huawei website).

8.What to do after the transfer: setting up Huawei

Data portability is only half the battle, and for Huawei to work as comfortably as Xiaomi, it will require additional customization:

Mandatory steps:

• 🔒 Set up face unlock/print in Settings → Biometrics and password.
• 🌐 Activate Private. DNS (e.g. 1.1.1.1) to protect traffic.
• 📵 Turn on Do Not Disturb on Schedule if you used this feature on Xiaomi.
• 🔋 Optimize the battery: disable background activity of unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery. → Launching applications.

Recommended annexes for replacement:

• 📷 Google Camera → Huawei Camera (or GCam with Huawei support).
• 🎵 Mi Music → Huawei Music or Poweramp.
• 📁 Mi File Manager → Files by Huawei or Solid Explorer.

If you’ve used Xiaomi’s proprietary features (like Double Apps or Read Mode), look for analogs in Settings. → System system → For example, Huawei has App Twin and Vision Protection.

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To bring back the familiar interface, install the Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher from AppGallery, which supports widgets and customization, both on the Internet and on the Internet. MIUI.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions