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

The transition from Xiaomi to Honor is not just a brand change, but also a migration of all digital life: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Many users fear this process, thinking it will take hours or lead to data loss. In fact, data transfer between Android devices is now 80 percent automated, and the remaining 20 percent require only attention to detail.

In this article, we will examine all the current ways of migration – from official tools to the most important ones. Huawei/Honor And you can get to universal solutions that work even on older models:

• 📱 Contacts and call logs (including linked accounts)
• 📷 Photos, videos and documents (without loss of quality)
• 💬 Communications (SMS/MMS chatrooms)
• 🎮 Apps and game saves (subject to Google restrictions)
• ⚙️ System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)

We will pay special attention to the pitfalls during the transition from MIUI MagicOS – for example, why some apps may not automatically recover and how to get around the restrictions on transferring data over a Google account on Honor devices without Google services (GMS).

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on Xiaomi before the migration

The first step is not to choose how to transfer, but to prepare the original device, and neglecting this step can lead to data loss or disruption in the process.

• 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 50%. Transferring data over cable or Wi-Fi Direct consumes a lot of power. If the battery runs out in the process, it can interrupt the transmission and damage the files.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network. Even if you plan to use a cable, some steps (such as logging in to cloud services) require the Internet.
• 🗑️ Clear out unnecessary data. Delete duplicate photos, app cache and old files. This will speed up the transfer and save space on the new device.
• 🔐 Remove the screen lock (if installed).Some portability methods require an unlocked device at both stages.

It is important to check the version MIUI It's on your Xiaomi. MIUI 12 and later, the built-in Mi Mover tool is available, which makes migration easier. To find out the version, go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi has enabled data encryption (optional in Settings) → Additionally. → Encryption and accounts, some portability techniques may not work, in which case use cloud services or manual file copying.

We also recommend backing up all your data to an external drive or PC. This is crash insurance. USB, Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP) and copy the folders:

• DCIM — photo
• Downloads - downloads
• Pictures, Music, Documents – Media Files
• Android/data — Application data (if necessary)

2. Method 1: Transfer via Honor's official Phone Clone app

Phone Clone is a branded tool from Huawei/Honor, Optimized for migrating from Android devices, including Xiaomi, its main advantage is the support for the transfer of almost all types of data, including:

• Contacts and call log
• Communications (SMS/MMS)
• Photos, video and audio files
• Annexes (APK-files and their data
• Wi-Fi settings and wallpaper

Phone Clone works without cloud intermediaries – data is transmitted directly between devices over Wi-Fi or cable – and this is important for users who want to avoid uploading data to third-party services.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Phone Clone on both devices: On Honor: the app is preinstalled (find it in the Tools folder). On Xiaomi: download from AppGallery or Google Play.

Launch the app on both smartphones

• On Xiaomi: This is an old device.
• On Honor: This is a new device.
• Scanner. QR-The code: Honor will appear on the QR-Scan it with Xiaomi's camera to make the devices connect.
• Select data to transfer. We recommend that you leave all check boxes, except the Application, if you have little space on Honor.
• Start the transmission. It'll take 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data. Don't interrupt the connection!

⚠️ Note: If Honor has firmware without Google services (GMS), Some apps (such as YouTube or Gmail) may be ported in error, and you will have to install them manually through AppGallery.

After the transfer is completed, check the integrity of the data:

• Open the gallery and make sure all photos are in place.
• Start Contacts and sync them with your Huawei account ID.
• Check the work of messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram).

Photo and video at the Gallery|Contacts in the address book|Communications in SMS-annex|Performance of messengers|Wi-Fi connection-->

Method 2: Transfer over Mi Mover (for devices with a MIUI 12+)

Mi Mover is a built-in tool in Xiaomi that is originally designed to migrate to new devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco. However, it can also transfer data to smartphones of other brands, including Honor, if they support the Android Beam protocol or Wi-Fi Direct.

Advantages of Mi Mover:

• 🔄 Fast transfer (up to 20 MB/s over Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📂 Support for most data types, except for some system settings.
• 🔒 Without cloud intermediaries, data is not uploaded to servers.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset → Mi Mover.
2. Choose the I giver (if you transfer data from this device).
3. On Honor, install Mi Mover from Google Play or APK-File (can be downloaded from APKCombo).
4. Run Mi Mover on Honor and select I'm the host.
5. Connect devices to one Wi-Fi network or use Wi-Fi Direct (on Xiaomi, click Connect to your device and select Honor from the list).
6. Select the data to transfer and confirm the beginning of the transfer.

Limitations of Mi Mover:

• It does not tolerate settings of some applications (for example, WhatsApp or Viber).
• There may be problems with Chinese firmware Honor (for example, on models for the domestic market).
• It does not support transferring game saves (this requires separate tools, such as Helium).

💡

If Mi Mover doesn’t see the Honor device, try turning on the developer mode and activating the Wi-Fi debugging option in Settings. → System system → Developer parameters.

4. Method 3: Transfer through a Google account (for devices with a Google account) GMS)

If your Honor supports Google services (global models such as Honor 90 or Honor) Magic5), The easiest way to transfer is to sync through a Google account, which is suitable for basic data, but has limitations.

What is automatically transferred:

• 📇 Contacts (if linked to a Google account).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.
• 📎 Notes (from Google Keep).
• 📷 Photos and videos (if you have autoloaded in Google Photos).
• 🎮 Some app settings (such as Chrome or Gmail).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for all the categories you need (contacts, calendar, drive, etc.).
3. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Management → Sync).
4. On Honor, when you first turn on, select Recover Data and log in to the same Google account.
5. Follow the instructions of the setup wizard by selecting recovery from the backup.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS/MMS — They need a separate backup (for example, through a SMS Backup & Restore).
• ❌ Apps are not restored – only their data (if the app supports backup in Google Drive).
• ❌ Photos in original quality take place in Google Photos (free only compressed copies).

⚠️ Note: If you have a firmware installed on Honor without GMS (For example, on Chinese models, this is not going to work. Instead of using a Google account, use Huawei. ID Huawei Cloud.

5. Method 4: Manual transfer via computer (for full control)

If you prefer maximum control over the process or have large amounts of data (e.g. 100)+ GB photos and videos, manual transfer over PCs is the most reliable option, and it works even on devices with damaged screens or without Internet.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows, macOS or Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (It is desirable to be original for both devices).
• 📁 File Manager (e.g., Total Commander or Standard Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the required folders to the computer: DCIM — Photos and videos Download - Pictures downloads - images from Music apps - Documents audio files - documents Android/data — Application data (optional)
3. Turn off Xiaomi and connect Honor. Also select mode. MTP.
4. Move the files to the appropriate folders on Honor (the folder structure is similar).

Advantages of the manual method:

• ✅ There are no limits on volume (except free space on PCs).
• ✅ You can transfer files selectively (for example, only photos from the last year).
• ✅ It works on any device, even with a damaged screen.

⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/data Some apps may not recognize transferred data due to changes in storage path, such as WhatsApp requiring the WhatsApp folder to lie at the root of internal memory, rather than in the back of the back of the back. /Android/data/....

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Manual transfer over a PC is the only way to guarantee that all data is saved without loss, but requires more time and attention to detail (e.g., proper file placement).

Method 5: Transfer through third-party services (SHAREit, Send Anywhere, CLONEit)

If standard tools don’t work (for example, because of firmware incompatibility), third-party data applications can be used, often offering additional features such as file compression or LAN transmission without internet.

Popular applications:

How to transfer data to Send Anywhere:

1. Install Send Anywhere on both devices from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. On Xiaomi, select Send and tag files/folders to transfer.
3. Click Send and select the transfer method: By key or by QR-code.
4. On Honor, select Receive and enter the key or scan. QR.
5. Wait until the transfer is complete (progress is displayed on both devices).

Warnings:

• 🚫 Avoid applications with suspicious permissions (e.g. access to the app). SMS or call for no reason).
• 🚫 Do not use public Wi-Fi networks to transfer sensitive data (it is better to create an access point on one of the devices).

7. Transfer of specific data: messengers, games, passwords

Some types of data need special attention because they're not carried in standard ways, and we'll go through some of the most common cases.

1. WhatsApp chat portability:

• Create a backup chat on Xiaomi: WhatsApp Settings → chat → Backup.
• Copy the WhatsApp folder (located at the root of internal memory) to Honor.
• Install WhatsApp on Honor, log in to the same account and restore chats from your local backup.

2. Transfer of game saves:

• For games that support cloud-based saves (e.g., Google Play Games or Facebook), simply sign in to the same Honor account.
• For local saves, use Helium (requires root rights) or manually copy files from the site. /Android/data/[play-off].

Password and bookmark transfer:

• If you use Google Chrome, sync your data through your Google account.
• For other browsers (such as Mi Browser), export bookmarks to the.html file and import them to Honor.
• Passwords from Mi Account or Google Smart Lock are automatically transferred when you log in to your account.

4. Transfer of smart home settings:

• Xiaomi Mi Home devices can be reconfigured to Honor via the Mi Home app (available in AppGallery).
• For devices Honor/Huawei (For example, smart watches or lamps, use Huawei Smart Life.

💡

If you use Google Authenticator for two-factor authentication, transfer it to a new phone before you turn off the old one. QR-Honor.

8.What to do after the transfer: verification and optimization

Data portability is only half the battle, and once you migrate, you need to check the integrity of the data and optimize the new device.

Steps to verify:

• 🔍 Contacts: Open the Contacts app and make sure all numbers are in place. sync them with Huawei if necessary ID or Google account.
• 📸 Photo and video: Check that all files are opened (sometimes corrupted during transfer).
• 💬 Messages: Make sure that SMS And the messenger chats are restored. If not, use the backups.
• 🎵 Music and documents: Make sure that the files are not lost on quality (e.g. music in format) FLAC).

Optimize Honor after the transfer:

• 🧹 Clear the cache: Go to Settings → Memory. → Cleaning and removing unnecessary files.
• 🔄 Update: Check for updates in Settings → Updating the system.
• 🔒 Set up security: Enable fingerprint or face unlock in Settings → Biometrics and password.
• 📶 Reconfigure networks: Connect to home Wi-Fi and set up mobile internet (if you use eSIM, move your carrier profile).

If after transfer the device began to brake or quickly discharge, perform the following actions:

⚠️ Note: If you have transferred data from Xiaomi to Honor with Chinese firmware (no) GMS), Some apps (such as Google Maps or Netflix) may not work, in which case install them through AppGallery or third-party sources (such as APKMirror).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer from Xiaomi to Honor