How to copy data from Huawei phone to Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The transition from Huawei to Xiaomi is not only about changing the brand, but also the need to transfer all the important data: contacts, photos, messages and even app settings. Many users face the problem: how to do it quickly, without loss and without using a computer? In this article, we will examine all the current ways to copy data between the devices of the two Chinese giants, from official tools to alternative solutions.

It should be noted that direct transfer via cable (as between devices of the same brand) is not always possible here due to differences in firmware. EMUI and MIUI. But there are workarounds that work consistently even on new models from 2023 to 2026. P50 Pro → Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Huawei Mate 40 → Redmi Note 12 Pro+, to ensure that the instructions are up to date.

If you're afraid of losing data or you're not sure about your technical skills, start by backing up to the cloud -- it'll take longer, but it minimizes the risk. For those who want to do everything in 10 to 15 minutes, Mi Mover or cable is the best way to do it. OTG. If you have a computer at hand, you can use a program like Xiaomi. PC Suite or HiSuite for more flexible process control.

Preparation for data transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start copying, make sure both phones are ready for the procedure, which will save you from errors like interrupted transfer or loss of files.

On Huawei, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 50%. Data transfer can take up to 30 minutes, and discharging in the process will cause a failure.
• 📶 Free space – Xiaomi should be at least 10-15% more than the volume of data transferred (for example, for 64 GB of photos and videos you need 70-75 GB of free space).
• 🔒 Unlocking the screen - turn off PIN-a code, pattern lock or fingerprint at the time of transmission to avoid automatic locking.

Xiaomi is required to:

• 📲 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Update of the system: older versions may not have the necessary features.
• 🚫 Turn off battery optimization for Mi Mover and Google Drive (if you plan to use the cloud) and prevents you from suspending transmissions.
• 🔌 Use the original cable – cheap analogues may not provide a stable connection.

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on Huawei (you can check in Settings) → Security → Encryption, some transfer techniques may not work. In this case, use a cloud backup or a computer.

It’s also worth checking the compatibility of models.For example, Huawei with a Kirin processor (such as the Mate 50 Pro) may have restrictions when connecting to Xiaomi via a mobile phone. OTG. In such cases, it is better to download Mi Mover in advance on both devices from official stores (AppGallery and Google Play, respectively).

2. Method 1: Transfer via Mi Mover (official Xiaomi app)

Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi that allows data to be transferred between devices of different brands, including Huawei, the main advantage of the method is the preservation of folder structure and metadata of photos / videos, which is important for further file sorting.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi Mover on both phones: On Huawei: from AppGallery or via APK (If the app is not available in your area, on Xiaomi: pre-installed or available on Google Play.

• On Huawei, it says, “I’m a sender.”
• On Xiaomi, “I’m a receiver” is a “I’m a receiver.”
• Xiaomi will appear QR-Scan it with a Huawei camera.
• Select data types to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, videos, audio, or apps (not all applications are supported).
• Confirm transmission and wait until it's complete.

The speed of transmission depends on the amount of data and the stability of the Wi-Fi connection.

• 📸 5G photo — ~10-15 minutes.
• 📱 1,000 contacts + SMS — ~2-3 minutes.
• 🎵 1GB of music — ~5 minutes.

⚠️ Warning: If Mi Mover doesn’t see Huawei, check if it’s enabled developer mode and debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Assembly number (7 taps) → Developer settings → Debugging by USB).

Download Mi Mover on both phones|Charge devices to at least 50%|Connect to a single Wi-Fi network|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Check the free space on Xiaomi-->

Method 2: Use of cable OTG forward

If you don’t have stable Wi-Fi or prefer a wired connection, you can use a cable. OTG (adapter USB-C to USB-C). This method is suitable for transferring large amounts of data (e.g. video to video). 4K) regardless of the speed of the Internet.

What you need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Adapters, if the ports are different).
• 📱 File Manager on Huawei (e.g. Files by Google or standard Files).
• 🔐 Permission to access storage on both devices.

Instructions:

1. Connect Huawei to Xiaomi via cable OTG. On the Huawei screen, select File Transfer mode).
2. On Xiaomi, open a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and go to the section «USB-device».
3. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, downloads, etc.) for internal memory or SD-Xiaomi.
4. For contacts and SMS Use export to.vcf (contacts) and.xml files (SMS) Contact Huawei, then import them to Xiaomi.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ High speed – up to 40 MB / s (2-3 times faster than Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 Security – data is not transmitted via the Internet.
• 📁 Selective transfer – only the necessary files can be copied.

💡

If Xiaomi does not recognize Huawei through the OTG, Try to connect the cable in reverse order, first to Xiaomi, then to Huawei, and sometimes that solves the problem of defining the device.

4. Method 3: Cloud Transfer via Google Account or Huawei Cloud

If you don't have cable or you prefer wireless, you can use cloud services, which is universal, but requires stable Internet and free space in the cloud.

Option 1: Google Account (recommended)

1. On Huawei go to Settings → Accounts. → Google and enable synchronization for: 📇 Contacts 📅 calendar 📎 Notes (if you use Google Keep)

Google Photo

• Open the app. → tap on the avatar → Photo settings → Backup and synchronization.
• Select quality ("Original" or "High") and wait for the download to complete.
• On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and enable sync in Settings → Accounts → Google.

Option 2: Huawei Cloud (if Google services are not available)

• 📱 On Huawei go to Settings → Huawei ID → Cloud.
• 📤 Enable backup for the required data (contacts, photos, notes).
• 📥 On Xiaomi, download Huawei Mobile Cloud from Google Play and log in to your Huawei ID.
• 🔄 Select files to download to the device.

⚠️ Note: When using Huawei Cloud, please note that only 5GB of space is available for free. Large amounts of data will require a paid subscription or cloud cleanup after porting.

Comparison of cloud services:

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

If you need to migrate all the data without exception, or you work with large volumes (for example, game backups), the best option is to use a computer, which takes longer, but gives you maximum flexibility.

Required SO:

• 🖥️ HiSuite (for Huawei) – download from the official website.
• 🖥️ Xiaomi PC Suite (for Xiaomi) – available at pcsuite.mi.com.
• 🖥️ Alternative: Dr.Fone or MobileTrans (paid but cross-platform transfer support).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Huawei to your computer via USB and open HiSuite. back up all data (select Backup» → «Complete»).
2. Disable Huawei and connect Xiaomi. Open up Xiaomi PC Suite.
3. In the Backup section, select Restore and specify the path to the backup file with Huawei.
4. Select data for recovery (contacts, messages, multimedia) and confirm.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Full control – only the necessary data can be selectively restored.
• 🛡️ Security – Files are not transferred over the Internet.
• 📂 Structure preservation – folders and files remain in their original form.

Disadvantages:

• ⏳ Long process – backup and recovery can take 1-2 hours.
• 💻 Computer required - not suitable for transferring "in the field».

💡

Use your computer if you need to transfer application data (for example, save in games) or if the file size exceeds 50 GB.

Method 5: Alternative applications for portability

If standard methods don't work (for example, because of regional constraints or firmware incompatibility), you can use third-party applications, and we tested three of the most reliable options:

1. SHAREit (or Xender)

• 📲 Install the app on both phones from Google Play or APKMirror.
• 🔗 On Huawei, select “Send”, on Xiaomi – “Get».
• 📶 Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create a hotspot on Huawei.
• 📎 Select files and confirm the transfer.

2. Send Anywhere

• 🔑 Generate 6-digit code on Huawei and type it into Xiaomi.
• 📤 Send files without size restrictions (up to 10 GB per transfer).
• 🔒 Data is transmitted via an encrypted channel.

3. CLONEit

• 📱 Specializes in data transfer between Android devices.
• 🔄 Keeps in touch, SMS, Applications (including data), photos and videos.
• ⚠️ Requires root rights to port some applications.

Important: Avoid little-known data transfer applications – they may contain malicious code or collect personal information. Use only proven services that rank highly on Google Play.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

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

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn’t see Huawei device

• 🔌 Check the cable - try another one USB-C or OTG-adapter.
• 📶 Turn it off. VPN and firewall on both devices.
• 🔄 Reboot both phones and try again.
• 📱 Update the Mi Mover to the latest version.

Problem 2: Contacts are not copied through Google Account

• 📇 Make sure your contacts are saved in your Google account, not in your phone’s memory or SIM-map.
• 🔄 Manually export contacts to.vcf file on Huawei and import it to Xiaomi.

Problem 3: Photos moved without a date of creation

• 📅 Google Photos – it saves metadata.
• 📂 When transposed OTG Check that the files have not been processed by third-party apps (e.g. Huawei Gallery).

Issue 4: Applications are not portable

• 📱 Most apps can’t be moved along with data due to Android limitations.
• 🔄 Use backup inside apps (like WhatsApp or games).
• 📎 For APK-file copy the folder /data/app through ADB (Root rights are required).

⚠️ Note: If some files are missing after transfer to Xiaomi, check the folder MIUI/Backup/AllBackup — Sometimes the data is automatically restored.

8. FAQ: Answers to popular questions

HiSuite

Xiaomi

Xiaomi PC Suite

⚠️ Messages from Huawei Messages (the standard app) may not be ported correctly. Use third-party messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) if you need to save your history.