How to copy all data from Honor to Xiaomi: the full guide 2026

Moving from Honor to Xiaomi is not just about changing your brand, it's also about migrating all your data, from contacts to photos of your last vacation, and many users fear this process, thinking they'll lose important information or spend hours manually copying it. In fact, transferring data between Android devices is now as automated as possible, and manufacturers offer a few handy tools to do so.

However, there are nuances: not all methods are equally effective for different types of files, and some methods may not work due to the features of the firmware EMUI (on Honor) and MIUI (on Xiaomi).In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods of transfer, their pros and cons, and give recommendations for choosing the best option depending on the volume of data and phone models.

Important: If you’re using Honor with HarmonyOS (rather than Android), some of the methods may not work, and we’ll be disclosing this separately in the relevant sections.

1.Official way: Mi Mover app from Xiaomi

The most reliable and recommended method by the manufacturer is the use of the Mi Mover proprietary tool, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones (in the Tools folder or through search through the system), and supports the transfer of almost all types of data, including:

• 📞 Contacts (including call history)
• 📷 Photos and videos (folder structure is maintained)
• 🎵 Music and audio files
• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.)
• 📱 Applications (with data storage for some programs)
• 🔧 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)

To begin the transfer, it is necessary:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (on Honor downloaded from Google Play or AppGallery).
2. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (or create an access point on Xiaomi).
3. On Xiaomi, choose Accept Data, on Honor, Send Data.
4. Scan. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi camera Honor.
5. Select data types to transfer and confirm the start of the process.

⚠️

Note: If you have HarmonyOS 3.0+ installed on Honor, Mi Mover may not recognize the device, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.

Transfer speeds depend on data volume and connection stability. On average, 10 GB of information is transmitted in 15-20 minutes. Once complete, check the integrity of the files - sometimes high-resolution photos may not be copied completely.

Charge both phones at least 50 times%|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network|Free up space on Xiaomi (at least 20% more data portable)|Shut down. VPN firewalls|Make sure that Honor has enough free RAM-->

2.Transfer via OTG cable: fast and without internet

If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or data is too large (like 4K video), the best option is to connect directly via an OTG cable, which works even on HarmonyOS devices and doesn’t require additional apps.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Cable OTG (Type-C → Type-C or Micro-USB → Type-C depending on the connectors)
• 📱 Xiaomi with support OTG (All models after 2018)
• 🔋 Charging one of the phones (the process can drain the battery)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Honor to Xiaomi via OTG-cable.
2. Xiaomi will have a notification USB-device connected – click on it.
3. Select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
4. Open Explorer on Xiaomi and go to the section USB-storage device (this is the memory of Honor).
5. Copy the right folders (DCIM for photos, downloads, etc.) to internal memory or SD-Xiaomi.

⚠️

Note: Some folders on Honor may be hidden (e.g.,.thumbnails with thumbnails). To see them, turn on the hidden files in the Explorer settings.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Maximum transfer speed (up to 480 Mbit / s at USB 3.0).
• 🔒 No risk of data loss due to connection breakdown.
• 🌐 It works without the internet.

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 Applications and their data (files only) are not portable).
• 🔌 Purchase required OTG-cable (if not included in the package).

💡

If it's cable OTG It doesn't recognize, try rebooting both phones or using a different cable. OTG-Adapters often do not support data transfer, only charging.

3. Cloud services: Google Drive, Huawei Cloud, Mi Cloud

If you don't want to mess with cables, cloud storage is a great alternative, and the main advantage is that you can move data in the background, without being tied to one place, but it has limitations on the amount of free space and download speed.

Comparison of popular services:

Recommended algorithm for transferring via Google Drive (universal version):

1. On Honor, open Google Drive and log in.
2. Click + → Download and select files to transfer.
3. Wait for the download to be completed (you can close the application – the process will continue in the background).
4. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and download files via Drive → Files → Downloads.

⚠️

Note: If you are migrating contacts and calendars, make sure that Honor has Google account sync enabled (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync).

Cloud services are not suitable for porting applications and their data – use Mi Mover or specialized utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root rights).

Google Drive|Yandex Disk|Huawei Cloud|Mi Cloud|Nothing else |Not used-->

4. Computer Transfer: Reliable and With Full Control

If you need to selectively copy data or back up before a penosom, the best way is to use a Windows/macOS PC. This method is suitable for transferring any files, including system settings (provided root access is available).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with USB-port
• 🔌 Two. USB-cable (from Honor and Xiaomi)
• 📁 Enough free space on the hard drive (30 percent more data is recommended)

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect Honor to your PC and select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy all the necessary folders (DCIM, Pictures, Downloads, etc.) to the hard drive.
3. Turn off Honor, connect Xiaomi, and also select MTP mode.
4. Transfer the copied files from your PC to Xiaomi.

To transfer contacts and SMS via PC:

• On Honor, export contacts to.vcf (Contacts → Settings → Export).
• Move the file to your PC, then import it to Xiaomi (Contacts → Settings → Import).
• For SMS, use applications like SMS Backup & Restore (saves messages in XML).

⚠️

Note: If you are using Xiaomi file system F2FS (You can find out through the settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI), Some files with Honor (where usually) ext4) You may not be copied. In this case, use the archiving in ZIP before the penosom.

Critical information: When connecting to macOS, you may need to install the Android File Transfer driver (official software from Google), otherwise the devices will not be recognized.

5. Specialized applications: Clone Phone, SHAREit, Xender

If standard methods don't work, third-party data transfer applications can be used, often offering additional features, such as cloning messages from instant messengers or porting game saves.

Top.-3 migration-applications:

Instructions for Clone Phone (the most functional option):

1. Install the app on both phones from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. On Honor, choose the Old Phone, on Xiaomi, the New Phone.
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen Xiaomi camera Honor.
4. Select data types to transfer (you can mark everything or select selectively).
5. Confirm the beginning of the process and wait for the completion.

⚠️

Note: Apps like SHAREit and Xender often show ads and request unnecessary permissions (such as geolocation access).

Advantages of specialized applications:

• 🎮 Transferring game saves (e.g. from Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).
• 💬 Cloning correspondence from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
• 📱 Support for older Honor models (even on Android 5-6).

💡

Clone Phone is the only app on the list that can transfer data from Huawei Health (steps, training) to Mi Fitness (assuming both accounts are linked to the same email).

6. Data portability from HarmonyOS: features and workarounds

If your Honor runs on HarmonyOS 2.0/3.0, standard methods like Mi Mover or Google sync may not work due to operating system limitations.

Ways for HarmonyOS:

• 🖥️ Transfer over PC (the most reliable option is to see section 4).
• ☁️ Huawei Cloud → download → load up.
• 📱 Huawei’s Phone Clone app (works with Xiaomi but requires installation) APK).

The following is a step-by-step instruction for Phone Clone:

1. Download Phone Clone on Honor (via AppGallery).
2. Install it on Xiaomi. APK-APKPure file (requires permission to install from unknown sources).
3. On Honor, select This is an old device, on Xiaomi, This is a new device.
4. Connect through QR-code or Wi-Fi Direct.
5. Select the data to transfer and wait for completion.

⚠️

Warning: HarmonyOS 3.0+ has disabled the ability to transfer some system files (e.g. /data/data/ with application settings). If you need to migrate game or instant messenger data, use their built-in backup features (e.g. WhatsApp → Settings → Chat → Backup).

If none of the methods worked, then manual transfer remains:

1. Install the same apps on Xiaomi and log in to them under the same account (most services sync data automatically).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users face problems.-5 errors and ways of correcting them:

If notifications from messengers do not work after transfer to Xiaomi:

• Check the permissions in Settings → Apps → Permissions → Autorun.
• Turn off battery optimization for messenger (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
• Update the app to the latest version.

If you have lost photos from the gallery, but they are in the DCIM folder:

1. Open the Gallery → Settings → Show hidden files.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. If it doesn’t work, use an alternative gallery (like Google Photos).

💡

If the battery goes down quickly after transferring to Xiaomi, reset the optimization settings: Settings → Battery → Reset adaptive battery. This will help the system recalibrate its power consumption.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions