How to Safely Copy Data from Huawei Phone to Xiaomi Redmi: All Ways

Moving from Huawei to Xiaomi Redmi is not just about changing the brand, but also the need to transfer all the important data: contacts, photos, messages and applications. Many users face difficulties when trying to sync devices from different manufacturers, especially when it comes to models with proprietary firmware like EMUI (Huawei) and MIUI (Xiaomi). In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of transferring data, from standard tools to little-known life hacks that will save you time.

The main problem with copying between Huawei and Redmi is the lack of a one-stop solution. For example, Xiaomi’s Phone Clone app doesn’t always work correctly with Huawei devices due to EMUI limitations, and standard Bluetooth or NFC is only suitable for small files. We tested each method on real devices (including the Huawei P40 Pro and Redmi Note 12 Pro+) and identified those that are guaranteed to work in 2026.

It is important to note that some of the ways require preparation: for example, transferring data through a Google Account is not possible unless Huawei has synced in advance, so if you haven't reset your old phone, check your backup settings first. And if the device is already zeroed, don't despair: we'll tell you how to recover at least some of the information.

Preparation for the transfer: what to do before copying

Before you start the transfer, make sure that both devices are ready for the procedure, which will save you from errors like “insufficient memory” or “incompatible file formats”.

On Huawei, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 50%. Data transfer can take up to an hour, and discharging during the process will result in file loss.
• 📁 Free space – Redmi should have at least 20% more space than the amount of data being copied (for example, 32 GB of photos and videos require 40 GB of free space).
• 🔒 Unlock Screen – Turn off PIN, pattern lock or Fingerprint for the time of transfer so as not to interrupt the process.
• 🌐 Wi-Fi network – if you use wireless methods, connect both phones to the same 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz networks can cause crashes).

On Xiaomi Redmi, do:

• 📱 Reset to factory settings (optional) – if the phone is new, it is better to transfer data to a “clean” system without unnecessary applications.
• 🔄 Update MIUI — check firmware relevance in Settings → About Phone → System Update. Older versions may not support modern transmission protocols.
• 📂 Memory card formatting – If you plan to use a MicroSD as an intermediate storage, format it in FAT32 or exFAT.

⚠️ Warning: If Huawei has enabled Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) instead of Google Mobile Services (GMS), standard sync through Google Account will not work.

2. Method 1: Transfer through the proprietary application Xiaomi Phone Clone

The Phone Clone is Xiaomi’s official solution for migrating data from other devices, which supports transferring contacts, messages, photos, videos, music and even some apps (such as WhatsApp or Viber), but Huawei may be nuanced by the EMUI features.

Instructions:

1. Download Phone Clone to both phones: 📱 On Redmi: App preinstalled (see Tools folder). 📱 On Huawei: download from AppGallery or via APK- file from Xiaomi's official website.

Redmi

"This is a new phone."

"It's an old phone."

Huawei

Redmi

"Annexes"

Wait until the process is complete. Time depends on the amount of data (for example, 10 GB photos are copied ~20-30 minutes).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Wireless transfer without cables.
• ✅ Folder structure and photo metadata (shoot date, geotagged) are saved.
• ✅ Even older Huawei models (starting with EMUI 5.0) are supported.

⚠️ Warning: If the Phone Clone is stuck in the Preparation phase, try turning off Safe Mode on Huawei or restarting both phones. Also check if the Firewall or VPN is blocking the transmission.

Turn off battery saving

Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network

Close background applications (especially messengers)

Check the free space on Redmi (minimum +20% of the data volume)

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3 Method 2: Copying through a OTG cable (fastest method)

Using a USB OTG cable (or Type-C → Type-C adapter) is the most reliable and fastest way to transfer large amounts of data, suitable for photos, videos, music and documents, but not for applications or system settings.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C → USB-C (or USB-A → USB-C s OTG-adapter).
• 📱 Huawei with unlocked screen.
• 📱 Redmi with File Transfer Mode enabled (setting appears when you connect the cable).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Huawei to Redmi cable. On the Huawei screen, select File Transfer (or MTP) mode.
2. On Redmi, open Explorer (or any file application, such as Total Commander).
3. The list of devices will appear folder "HUAWEI" - open it and go to Internal Storage (internal memory) or SD Card (memory card).
4. Copy the files you want (such as the DCIM folder with photos or Downloads with documents) into Redmi memory.
5. To speed up the process, use “cut” instead of “copy” if data on Huawei is no longer needed.

The cable speed is 40-60 MB/s (depending on the USB version), for comparison, the same amount of data will be copied 3-5 times longer over Wi-Fi.

💡

If the cable doesn't recognize, try another USB port or restart both phones, and check if the Type-C connector is contaminated, often due to dust or oxidation of the contacts.

4. Method 3: Transfer over cloud storage (Google Drive, Huawei Cloud, Mi Cloud)

Cloud services are convenient if you have a slow cable or don’t have physical access to both phones at the same time, but there are limitations to this method: for example, Huawei Cloud does not sync with Mi Cloud, and Google Drive may not work on new Huawei models without GMS.

Comparison of cloud services for transfer:

Recommended algorithm:

1. On Huawei, upload data to Yandex Drive or Dropbox (if Google Drive is not available).
2. Download the same apps on Redmi and log in under the same account.
3. Download files to your new phone. Use.vcf export and Google Contacts import for contacts.

⚠️ Warning: If Huawei has two-factor authentication enabled for the cloud, make sure you have backup codes. When changing your phone, some services (such as Huawei Cloud) may block access if you don't verify your identity through SMS to your old number.

5 Method 4: Transfer of contacts and messages via SIM- card or VCF- file

If you only need to transfer contacts and SMS, you don't have to copy the entire phone.

For contacts:

1. On Huawei, open the Contacts app.
2. Go to Settings → Import / Export → Export to the device.
3. Select the.vcf format and save the file to your phone's Memory.
4. Transfer the file to Redmi in any convenient way (cable, Bluetooth, email).
5. On Redmi, import contacts via Contacts → Settings → Import.

For SMS:

• 📌 Use the SMS Backup & Restore app (available in AppGallery for Huawei and Google Play for Redmi).
• 📌 On Huawei, back up and save it to the cloud or memory card.
• 📌 On Redmi, restore SMS from the backup file.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Call history is not transferred.
• ❌ The.vcf file may not have photos of contacts.
• ❌ Messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) are not exported.

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Exporting contacts in.vcf format is the only one-stop method that works on all versions of EMUI and MIUI, including the oldest models.

Method 5: Transfer applications and their data (including WhatsApp)

Porting installed applications is the most difficult task, as APK- files do not contain user data (for example, WhatsApp correspondence or game progress), which will help the combination of backup and manual installation.

For the portability of applications:

1. On Huawei, use App Backup & Restore (from AppGallery) to create.apk files.
2. Move.apk to Redmi and install manually (allowing installation from unknown sources to Settings → Security).

For the transfer of application data:

• 🔄 WhatsApp: On Huawei, back up to Settings → Chat → Backup (save to Google Drive or locally). On Redmi, install WhatsApp, log in and restore data from the backup.
• 🎮 Games: Use your Google Play Games or Facebook account to sync progress. If the game doesn't support the cloud, try copying the /Android/obb/ folder.

⚠️ Warning: Some applications (e.g., banking or DRM- security) may block the new device even after porting, and then have to reinstall them through official stores (Google Play or AppGallery).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and we've collected some of the most common errors and ways to solve them.

If none of these methods worked, try alternative solutions:

• 🖥️ Computer Transfer (connect both phones to your PC and copy files manually).
• 🔧 Usage of ADB (for power users): adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/ C:\Huawei_Backup\
• 📦 Service centers (if data is critical and other methods have not worked)

FAQ: Answers to popular questions