How to transfer all data from Honor to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Contents

• Why Data Transfers Between Honor and Xiaomi Need a Special Approach
• Method 1: Sync through a Google account (most universal)
• Method 2: Mi Mover app – official solution from Xiaomi
• Method 3: Direct OTG Cable Transfer (without Internet)
• Method 4: Cloud Services (Huawei Cloud → Google Drive → Xiaomi)
• Method 5: Manually transfer important data (for advanced users)
• Typical Problems and How to Solve Them
• FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Moving from Honor to Xiaomi isn’t just a brand change, it’s a transition between two different ecosystems. If you’re used to Huawei/Honor’s EMUI, MIUI on Xiaomi will seem both familiar and unfamiliar. The main headache of this migration is the transfer of data between devices with different synchronization protocols and manufacturers’ restrictions. For example, Honor defaults to Huawei Mobile Services instead of Google Mobile Services, which creates additional complexity.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 working ways to migrate data, from the simplest (via Google) to the most advanced (manual export/import) method, each tested on pairs of Honor 90/Xiamo 13 and Honor Magic 5/Redmi Note 12 devices in 2026. Importantly, some methods may not work on older models (released before 2020) due to changes in Huawei’s policy to restrict Google services.

Method 1: Sync through a Google account (most universal)

This is a basic method that works on 90% of Android devices, including Honor (if Google Mobile Services is installed on it) and all Xiaomi, with the advantage of minimal action: most of the data is synchronized automatically when a new phone is first turned on.

What exactly is carried through Google:

• 📇 Contacts (from the "Google Contacts" app")
• 📅 Calendar (events from Google Calendar)
• 📧 Letters and settings Gmail
• 📁 Photos and videos (if backup is enabled in Google Photos)
• 🎵 Appendices (list of established but not the APK-file)
• 🔑 Passwords (from Google Password Manager)

How to do this:

1. On Honor, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for all the data you need.
2. In Google Photos, check that backup is enabled (Settings → Backup and Sync).
3. When you first turn on Xiaomi, select the “Recover Data” option and log in to the same Google account.
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours depending on the amount of data).

💡

If your Honor does not have Google services (post-2019 models for some regions), use Cloud Services Method 4 or OTG Cable Method 3.

⚠️ Note: New Honor models (such as the Honor Magic 6) may be disabled from Google Play Services due to Huawei restrictions. APK-Huawei AppGallery file, find Google Installer and install Google services manually.

Method 2: Mi Mover app – official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary tool for transferring data from other Android devices, and it works on a point-to-point basis over Wi-Fi Direct, without having to connect to the Internet, and the main advantage is that even SMS and call logs that are not synchronized through Google are carried over.

What Mi Mover is carrying:

Step-by-step:

Install Mi Mover on Honor (download from APKCombo)|Open Mi Mover on both phones and select "I'm the sender" on Honor and "I'm the recipient" on Xiaomi|Connect to one Wi-Fi network (or use the hotspot on Xiaomi)|Select data to transfer and confirm the start of the process |Do not interrupt the connection until completion (may take 30-60 minutes)

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The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data. For example, 30 GB of photos and videos are transmitted for about 1.5-2 hours with a stable Wi-Fi connection. If the process is interrupted, it can be resumed, but some data (for example, SMS) can be duplicated.

⚠️ Note: Some Honor models (e.g. Honor 30 Pro)+) Mi Mover may not see the device due to blocking background processes in the device EMUI. Before starting the transfer, turn off battery optimization for Mi Mover in the Honor settings: Settings → Annexes → Mi Mover → Battery → No restrictions.

Method 3: Direct OTG Cable Transfer (without Internet)

If you don’t have Wi-Fi access or want to transfer data as quickly as possible, use an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter), which is suitable for transferring large amounts of files (photos, videos, music) without compression and loss of quality.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C to USB-C (or OTG-adapter + common USB-cable)
• 📱 File Manager on both phones (e.g. Mi File Manager on Xiaomi and Files by Google on Honor)
• ⚡ Charge at least 50% on both devices (transfer drains the battery)

Instructions:

1. Connect Honor to Xiaomi via cable. Xiaomi will receive a notification "USB-Connection – Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. On Honor, unlock the screen and confirm trust in the connected device (if you receive a request).
3. Open the file manager on Xiaomi and go to the section USB-Device (there will be displayed memory Honor).
4. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, downloads, etc.) to internal memory or SD-Xiaomi.

Cable transmission speeds are 5-10 times faster than Wi-Fi, for example, 50 GB of data will be carried in 20-30 minutes (versus 2-3 hours over the air).

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, call log, application settings.
• ❌ Applications cannot be moved (only) APK-manually).
• ❌ Some Honor models require unlocking Developer Options to access files.

Method 4: Cloud Services (Huawei Cloud → Google Drive → Xiaomi)

If your Honor doesn’t have Google services, but you do have access to Huawei Cloud, you can use the cloud as a middle ground, a method that is suitable for transferring contacts, photos and notes, but not SMS or apps.

Algorithm of action:

1. On Honor, open Settings → Huawei ID → Cloud and enable backup for the data you need (contacts, gallery, notes).
2. Wait until the download is complete (you can see the progress in the Huawei Cloud app).
3. On your computer or other device, log into the web version of Huawei Cloud and download the data archive.
4. Upload your downloaded files to Google Drive or another cloud service available on Xiaomi.
5. On Xiaomi, download data from the cloud and import it to the relevant applications (e.g. contacts via Contacts → Import/Export).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works without Google’s Honor services.
• ✅ Data is stored in the cloud and does not take up space on the phone.
• ✅ Only the necessary files can be selectively transferred.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Prolonged process (loading) + downloading).
• ❌ Huawei Cloud Free Rate Limited to 5 GB.
• ❌ SMS and call logs are not carried.

💡

If you have a lot of data (over 10 GB), use a combination of methods: cloud for contacts / photos + OTG cable for large files (video, music).

Method 5: Manually transfer important data (for advanced users)

If you need to migrate specific data (e.g., game saves, application settings, XML SMS databases), you'll have to use manual methods, which take longer, but give you complete control over the process.

What can be transferred manually:

• 🎮 Save games (through backup in the application itself or copying the folder) /Android/obb/).
• 📄 SMS format XML (using applications like SMS Backup & Restore).
• 🔧 Application settings (e.g. export/import of Nova Launcher settings).
• 📊 Fitness tracker data (exporting history from Huawei Health to Google Fit).

Example: SMS transfer via SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app on Honor from AppGallery or APKMirror.
2. Run backup: Settings → Backup → Local backup.
3. Copy the backup file (usually in the SMSBackupRestore folder) to Xiaomi via cable or cloud.
4. Install the same app on Xiaomi and restore the SMS from the file.

To transfer saves to games (such as Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings):

• Find the folder with the game data in /Android/obb/ or /Android/data/.
• Copy it on Xiaomi in the same directory.
• If the game requires an account link (e.g. miHoYo), log in after transferring files.

⚠️ Note: Manual transfer of data from system folders (e.g, /data/data/) It requires root rights on both devices, and without them, you can't copy some files because of Android restrictions. 14) Unlocking the bootloader to get root can lead to loss of warranty.

Typical Problems and How to Solve Them

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have difficulties, and here are the most common ways to eliminate them:

If none of these methods worked, try a combination approach:

1. Move your contacts and calendar through Google.
2. Use the OTG cable for photos and videos.
3. Transfer SMS via SMS Backup & Restore.
4. Install apps manually from Google Play on Xiaomi.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions