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

The transition from Huawei to Xiaomi is not just about brand change, but also about the migration of all personal data: photos, contacts, messages and even app settings. Many users are faced with the problem of how to transfer information quickly, without loss, and without using complex technical solutions? In this article, we will examine all the current ways of copying data between these two ecosystems, including official tools from manufacturers and universal methods.

The peculiarity of the transfer between Huawei and Xiaomi is that both brands use their own cloud services (Huawei Mobile Cloud and Mi Cloud), which are incompatible with each other.In addition, Huawei lost access to Google services after the 2019 sanctions, which makes it difficult to synchronize through Google Account on new models.

Before you start, make sure both devices are at least 50% charged - this will prevent crashes during transfer. Also check the free space on Xiaomi: if you carry tens of gigabytes of photos and videos, you may need to clean up memory or use an external drive.

1. Preparation of devices before data transfer

The first step is to prepare both smartphones for migration, which will help avoid errors and speed up the process. Start with a software update: outdated firmware versions may not support modern data protocols.

On Huawei, go to Settings → System and Updates → Software Update and install the latest available version. On Xiaomi, similar path: Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI. If there are no updates, move on to the next step.

Next, clear the cache on both devices. This is especially important if you plan to use a wired connection (via OTG- cable): clogged cache can slow file transfer. On Huawei, this is done in Settings → Memory → Cleanup, on Xiaomi, in Settings → Apps → Cleanup.

⚠️ Warning: If Huawei has App Protection enabled (in Settings → Security), turn it off temporarily. It can block file access when it is transferred through third-party programs.

• 🔄 Update the firmware on both devices to the latest version.
• 🧹 Clear the cache and unnecessary files to free up space.
• 🔌 Check cables: Use the original USB-C cable for stable connection.
• 📶 Disable VPN (if used) — it may interfere with cloud sync.

If you plan to port SMS and call log, make sure Huawei has backup of that data enabled. Go to Settings → System → Backup and Reset → Data Backup and activate the option.

2 Method 1: Transfer through cable (USB OTG)

The fastest and most reliable way is to connect phones directly via cable, using a USB-C OTG- adapter (or a cable with two USB-C connectors), and the advantage is that it is transmitted without data compression and without dependence on Internet speed.

Connect Huawei to Xiaomi with an adapter. Xiaomi will display a notification about the external drive connection. Open the explorer (like Mi File Manager) and select the Huawei data folder. Now you can manually copy the files you want:

• 📁 DCIM — Photos and videos.
• 📞 Contacts (if exported to VCF)
• 🎵 Music, Downloads — Media files and downloads.

For convenience, use Mass Transfer Mode (MTP). If Xiaomi does not recognize Huawei as a drive, check the USB settings on Huawei: in the notification curtain, select File Transfer instead of Charging.

⚠️ Warning: Some Huawei models (e.g., the Mate 40 Pro or P50 Pro) block access to system folders via MTP. In this case, copy the data to your computer and then to Xiaomi.

Connect OTG- adapter to Xiaomi

Select File Transfer Mode on Huawei

Open a Explorer on Xiaomi and find a folder Huawei

Copy the necessary files in memory Xiaomi

It is safe to disable devices after completion-->

If you need to migrate apps, this method won’t work — it only copies media files and documents. For apps, back up (more on this below) or install them again via Google Play (if it’s available on your Huawei model).

3. Method 2: Using the Huawei Phone Clone

Huawei Phone Clone is the official app from Huawei that allows you to clone data to a new device, including Xiaomi.

• 📞 Contacts and call logs.
• 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS).
• 📸 Photos and videos.
• 🎵 Music and documents.
• 📱 Some application settings.

Install the Huawei Phone Clone on both devices:

• On Huawei, it is pre-installed (see Settings → System → Phone Cloning).
• On Xiaomi, download from Google Play or APKMirror (if Play Market is not available).

Run the app on both phones. On Huawei, select This is an old phone; on Xiaomi, This is a new phone. Follow the instructions:

1. The QR- code scanner on Xiaomi counts the code from the Huawei screen.
2. Select data types to transfer (you can note everything).
3. Confirm the transmission.

The process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of data, and the main advantage of this method is to preserve the structure of folders and metadata (for example, the date of the photo creation).

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If a transfer is interrupted, check if the transfer is blocked by Huawei Mobile Services. Disable it for the time of transfer to Settings → Applications → Huawei Mobile Services → Stop.

4. Method 3: Cloud Services (Huawei Cloud → Mi Cloud)

If you don't have a OTG- cable or you prefer wireless portability, you can use cloud storage, but here's the caveat: Huawei Cloud and Mi Cloud don't sync with each other, and you'll have to use an intermediate cloud, like Google Drive, Yandex Disk or Dropbox.

Algorithm of action:

1. On Huawei, upload data to the cloud: 📁 For photo/video: Gallery → Allocate → Export → Google Drive. 📞 For contacts: Contacts → Settings → Export → VCF- File → Save to the Cloud.

Xiaomi

You can use Google Photos to automate:

• 📱 Install the app on Huawei and enable autoboot.
• 🔄 On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync.

Important: If your Huawei model does not have Google services (such as the Huawei P40 or later), use Huawei Cloud to create a backup, then download it to your computer and upload it to the Mi Cloud.

5. Method 4: Transfer over a computer (Windows/Mac)

If you have a PC or a laptop, this will be the most versatile method, suitable for transferring any data, including backups of applications (if they support export).

Connect Huawei to your computer via the USB- cable and select File Transfer Mode (MTP). Copy all the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) to your hard drive. Then connect Xiaomi and transfer the files back.

For contacts and SMS, use specialized programs:

• 🖥️ MyPhoneExplorer (Windows) – Copies SMS, contacts, call logs.
• 🍎 Android File Transfer (Mac) - to access files.
• 📊 Samsung Smart Switch (yes, it works with other brands too!) – for backup.

If you need to move your app settings (like WhatsApp or games), use their built-in backup features:

• 💬 WhatsApp: Settings → chat → Backup (saves history in Google Drive).
• 🎮 Games: Check whether the game supports a cross-platform account (e.g., via Facebook or Game Center).

⚠️ Warning: When connecting Huawei to a Mac, you may need to install a Huawei HiSuite driver. download it from Huawei's official website to avoid device recognition issues.

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

If you need to transfer files quickly without cables or clouds, use the P2P- peer-to-peer applications, which create a local network between devices and transmit data directly over Wi-Fi.

The most popular applications:

• 📲 SHAREit supports files of any type, up to 20 MB/s.
• ⚡ Xender is a simple interface, there are no restrictions on file size.
• 🌐 Send Anywhere – Allows you to send files through code or QR.

Instructions for Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On Huawei, select files and click Send.
3. A 6-digit code or QR is generated.
4. On Xiaomi, enter the code or scan the QR.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No dependence on the Internet (works through local Wi-Fi).
• ✅ High speed (faster than cloud)
• ✅ Supports large files (up to 50 GB per send).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Does not transfer system data (SMS, contacts in VCF format must be exported separately).
• ❌ Some Huawei models may block folder access (solved by disabling Application Protection).

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For maximum transmission speed, turn off the power saving mode on both phones and connect them to charge. This will prevent connection breakdown.

7. Transfer of specific data (WhatsApp, games, passwords)

Some types of data require a special approach, such as WhatsApp or game save history, which is not copied by standard methods.

For WhatsApp:

1. On Huawei, back up: Settings → Chat → Backup → Create a copy (save to Google Drive or locally).
2. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi and sign in to the same account.
3. When a request appears, restore the history from the backup.

For game saves:

• 🎮 If the game supports Google Play Games or Facebook, link your account and sync your data.
• 💾 For offline games, use Titanium Backup (requires root rights) or the built-in export feature (if any).

For passwords and notes:

• 🔐 If you have used Huawei Password Vault, export passwords to CSV and import to Mi Password Manager or Google Passwords.
• 📝 Notes from Huawei Notes can be exported to HTML and opened to Xiaomi via a browser.

8. Checking the integrity of data after transfer

After the transfer is complete, make sure that all files are copied correctly:

• 📂 Open the Gallery on Xiaomi and make sure all photos/video are in place.
• 📞 Check Contacts – if there are duplicates or missing numbers.
• 💬 Open Messages and make sure the history of SMS is saved.
• 🎵 Run music or video – files must be played without errors.

If something is missing:

• 🔍 Repeat the transfer for a particular data type.
• 🖥️ Check to see if the files are still in the cloud or on your computer.
• 📱 Make sure there is enough space on Xiaomi (sometimes files are not copied due to memory shortages).

For complete certainty, compare the number of files and their sizes on both devices. For example, if Huawei had 3,500 photos with a total weight of 12 GB, Xiaomi should have the same number.

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If you have moved data through the cloud, make sure that the files are not compressed (e.g. Google Photos defaults to compress images to 16 MP).

FAQ: Frequent questions about data transfer