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

Moving from Honor to Xiaomi is not just about changing your brand, it's also about migrating all the important data from contacts and photos to your message history and app settings. Many users fear this process as complex or risky, but in fact, modern tools make data migration as easy as possible, and the key is to choose the right method depending on the amount of information and device models.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer data from Honor to Xiaomi, including official utilities from manufacturers, cloud services and manual methods. For example, how to avoid loss of quality photos or why some applications may not migrate. MIUI Help speed up the process.

If you are upgrading from Honor to Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, Poco X6 or Xiaomi 14, this guide will work for all Android 10 and newer models, and if you have any questions about a particular model, check compatibility in the table below or ask them in the comments.

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

Before you start migrating, you need to follow several mandatory steps on both smartphones, which will help to avoid errors such as interrupted transfer or loss of files.

On Honor:

• 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50% – the process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data.
• 📶 Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you use the cloud method). Mobile Internet is not recommended due to traffic restrictions.
• 🔓 Unlock Settings → Security → Lock the screen and disable the Smart Lock if it is active.
• 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files (such as app cache) through Settings → Memory. → Cleaning to speed up transmission.

On Xiaomi:

• 📱 If the phone is new, complete the initial setup before you sign in, or some methods (such as Mi Mover) may not work.
• 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Update the system, which will fix any compatibility bugs.
• 📁 Free up enough memory space – data with Honor will take up additional space during transmission.

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on Honor (Settings) → Security → Encryption, some transfer methods (e.g. via cable) OTG) In this case, use a cloud backup.

Also check what data you need to migrate, for example, messages from Viber or WhatsApp require a separate backup within the apps themselves, and Wi-Fi settings can be exported through Settings → Network and Internet → Data transfer on some Honor models.

2. Method 1: Mi Mover – official solution from Xiaomi

Mi Mover is an integrated application on all Xiaomi smartphones, designed to quickly transfer data from other devices to Android or iOS.It supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, videos, music and even some applications (if they are compatible).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On Xiaomi, open the Mi Mover app (you can find it in the menu or through search).
2. Select the option I get data → Android.
3. On Honor, download Mi Mover from Google Play (if it is not in your region, use the APK from the official Xiaomi website).
4. Launch the app on Honor and select I send data → Android.
5. Scan it. QR-code from the Xiaomi screen or connect via the Wi-Fi hotspot created by Xiaomi.
6. Select the data types to transfer and wait for the process to be completed.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 No cable required – transmission is via Wi-Fi.
• 🔹 Stores folder structure and file metadata (for example, photo creation dates).
• 🔹 Supports transfer SMS Call logs (rare for third-party utilities).

Limitations:

• ❌ Not all applications are portable (e.g., banking or c) DRM-protection).
• ❌ Some Honor models (such as the Honor Magic 4) may need to disable battery optimization for the Mi Mover.

Install Mi Mover on Honor|Charge both phones >50%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Shut down. VPN both-device|Select “I get data” on Xiaomi-->

⚠️ Note: If the process is stuck in the Preparation phase, restart both applications and reconnect. If the error is repeated, try clearing the Mi Mover cache in the application settings.

Method 2: Transfer through a Google account (for contacts, photos and apps)

If you use Google services, most of the data is already synced to the cloud automatically, a method that is suitable for porting:

• 📇 Contacts (via Google Contacts).
• 📷 Photos and videos (via Google Photos).
• 📱 Applications and their data (via Google Play Games or Google Drive).
• 📅 Calendars and Notes (via Google Calendar and Google Keep).

Step-by-step:

1. On Honor, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that sync is enabled for the right categories (contacts, calendar, Chrome, etc.).
2. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Google Drive or Google Photos that the files have been downloaded).
3. On Xiaomi, sign in to the same Google account when you first enable or through Settings → Accounts → Add an account.
4. Turn on sync and wait for the data to load, and the contacts will appear in the phone book automatically, and the photos will appear in the gallery.

Nuances:

• 🔸 Google Photos compresses images when downloading free (quality "High"). To transfer photos in the original resolution, use the original quality (requires a paid tariff or free space in Google Drive).
• 🔸 Some app data (e.g., saved in games) is only synced if the developer supports Google Play Games.

Important: If you used a Huawei ID account on Honor instead of Google, first export your contacts to the VCF file via Contacts → Settings → Import/Export, and then import it to Xiaomi.

💡

Before transferring, check how much space your data takes up in Google Drive. To do this, open Google Drive → "Storage." If there is not enough space, clear the cart or buy an additional volume.

Method 3: Transfer over OTG cable (for large data volumes)

If you have tens of gigabytes of photos, videos or music, the most reliable way to do this is to transmit directly over the cable.

• 🔌 Cable OTG (USB-C → USB-C or USB-C → Micro-USB depending on your phone’s connectors).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g., built-in in the MIUI Solid Explorer from Google Play).

Instructions:

1. Connect Honor to Xiaomi via an OTG cable. On the Honor screen, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. On Xiaomi, open the file manager and go to the section USB-storage device (or Honor).
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photo, download, etc.) to internal memory or SD-Xiaomi.
4. To transfer contacts, export them to Honor to a.vcf file, then copy it to Xiaomi and import through Contacts → Settings → Import.

Pros of the method:

• 🔹 Maximum transmission speed (up to 40 MB/s per USB 3.0).
• 🔹 There are no data limits (unlike cloud services).
• 🔹 The original quality of the files is maintained.

Cons:

• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, call logs and application settings.
• ❌ Manual copying of each type of data is required.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi doesn’t see Honor as a drive when connecting, check: Cable OTG Supports data transfer (some cheap cables only work for charging), and Honor has developer mode and debugging on. USB (Settings → The phone. → Build number - tap 7 times, then in Settings → System system → For developers, turn on debugging by USB).

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (for backup)

If you prefer full control of the process, use a PC or laptop as an intermediary, a method that is suitable for creating a full backup before resetting Honor or if other methods have failed.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Two. USB-cable (or one with a splitter).
• 📁 Backup program (optional): Huawei HiSuite (for Honor) and Xiaomi PC Suite (for Xiaomi).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Honor to your computer and copy all important files (photos, videos, documents) to a separate folder on your PC.
2. Use Huawei HiSuite to transfer contacts and SMS: Install the program from the official website. Connect Honor and create a backup through Backup → Backup data. Save the backup file (extension.hbk) on your PC.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi

Mi Mover

.vcf

Google Contacts

Advantages:

• 🔹 Complete control over data – only the right files can be selectively copied.
• 🔹 The ability to create an archive backup on a hard disk.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ It takes more time and additional equipment (PC).
• ❌ Huawei HiSuite does not support the recovery of backup on devices of other brands.

6.Method 5: Third-Party Applications (SHAREit, Xender, Send Anywhere)

If standard methods don't work, you can use popular file transfer utilities. P2P-Connections (do not require internet) and support cross-platform transmission.

Top.-3 portability:

• 📲 SHAREit – high-speed transmission (up to 20 MB / s), supports photos, videos, music and applications (APK).
• 📲 Xender – simple interface, there is a function of group transfer (useful for transferring data to several devices).
• 📲 Send Anywhere – allows you to send files through a six-digit code without connecting to a single network.

How to transfer data via SHAREit:

1. Install Sharet on both phones from Google Play.
2. On Honor, select Send, on Xiaomi, Receive.
3. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create a hotspot on one of the phones.
4. Select files on Honor and click Send. On Xiaomi, confirm acceptance.

⚠️ Note: Apps like SHAREit often request access to contacts, location, and storage. Check Google Play permissions and user reviews before installing.

The advantages of third-party applications:

• 🔹 They work without the Internet (using a local network).
• 🔹 Supports the transfer of large files (for example, video to the 4K).
• 🔹 Often have a built-in media player for previewing.

Cons:

• ❌ May contain advertisements or offers to install additional applications.
• ❌ Not tolerated. SMS, call logs and system settings.

7.Transfer specific data types: instructions for SMS, WhatsApp, games

Some data needs to be personalized, like messages from messengers or saved in games that are not standardized, and we'll figure out how to do that.

1. Transfer of SMS and call logs:

• 📱 Use the app. SMS Backup & Restore: Install it on Honor from Google Play. Build backup: Settings → Backup → Local backup. Transfer the backup file (.xml) to Xiaomi (for example, via cable) OTG). Install the same app on Xiaomi and restore it SMS file-based.

2. WhatsApp chat portability:

• 💬 WhatsApp reserves chats on Google Drive, but only if a Google account was linked to Honor.If not: On Honor, open WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Create a local backup (file) msgstore.db.crypt14 file /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases). Copy WhatsApp folder on Xiaomi (via cable) OTG Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, log in to the same account and wait for the offer to restore chats.

3. Transfer of saves in games:

• 🎮 Most modern games sync progress through: Google Play Games (for Android games), Facebook or a developer account (for example, Supercell). ID Before switching to Xiaomi: Launch the game on Honor and link progress to your account. Install the same game on Xiaomi, log in and download saves. 💡To transfer data from applications (e.g., banking or fitness trackers), check if the application supports data export/import. If not, take screenshots of important information or save data manually. 8. Frequent errors and solutions Even when following instructions, problems can arise. Here are the most common ways to solve them: 1. Mi Mover can't see the device: 🔹 Check that both phones are off. VPN and Wi-Fi on. 🔹 Restart the application and repeat the scan. QR-code. 🔹 If you use Honor on the EMUI 12+, Turn on the developer mode and allow debugging by USB. 2. The photos were moved but lost quality: 🔹 If you used Google Photos, check the download settings: Settings → Quality of loading → Choose the original quality. 🔹 When transferring via cable OTG Make sure you copy the original files, not thumbnails (folder) DCIM/Camera, not DCIM/.thumbnails). 3. Applications are not installed after transfer: 🔹 APK-Files copied from Honor may not be compatible with MIUI. Install them through Google Play. 🔹 If the app requires Google services (e.g. Huawei Mobile Services), find an alternative in the Play Market. 4. There is not enough space for Xiaomi: 🔹 Move the files to SD-card (if supported). 🔹 Delete unnecessary data through Settings → Memory. → Cleanup. 🔹 Use Google Drive (Yandex Disk) to store rarely used files. 5: 🔹 Check if your Google account contacts are synced: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts. 🔹 Import contacts from the.vcf file manually through Contacts → Settings → Imports. 📊 What problems did you encounter when transferring data?Mi Mover does not see the device Photos lost quality Applications not moved Not enough space on Xiaomi FAQ: Can you transfer data from Honor to Xiaomi without the Internet: 🔌 Cable OTG — file-transfer. 📲 Third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender) – work through a local Wi-Fi Direct network. 💻 Computer as an intermediary for copying data. The Internet is only for methods related to Google account or Mi Mover (if you use a cloud backup). Why Mi Mover didn't move some apps? Mi Mover can't move: 🔒 Apps linked to Huawei AppGallery (e.g. Huawei Health). 🏦 Banking applications (due to security restrictions). 🎮 Games with DRM-Solution: Install these apps manually through Google Play and log in to your accounts. How to transfer passwords from your browser from Honor to Xiaomi? If you used Google Chrome: On Honor, check that sync is enabled: open Chrome → ⋮ → Settings → Sync. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and enable sync in Chrome. If you used Huawei's browser: Export passwords to file CSV via browser settings → Passwords. → Export.Import them to Chrome on Xiaomi via Settings → Passwords. → Imports. Can I transfer Wi-Fi settings from Honor to Xiaomi? Yes, there are two ways: QR-Code: On Honor