Changing a smartphone always elicits mixed feelings: on the one hand, the novelty and more powerful hardware are pleasing, on the other hand, the prospect of a long and tedious setup is frightening. The transition from Honor to Xiaomi Redmi 9 is becoming an increasingly common scenario, especially given the changes in Huawei and Honor policies that have limited access to Google services on the new devices of the predecessor brand. Users are looking for stability and familiar functionality that the MIUI shell offers. The process of data migration, contrary to popular belief, does not require deep technical knowledge or a visit to the service center.
In most cases, the entire array of information — from the phone book to the history of correspondence in messengers — can be moved in 15-20 minutes. The key here is the right choice of software tool. Android built-in tools often work incorrectly when changing vendors, so owners of Redmi 9 should rely on specialized utilities developed by Xiaomi engineers. In this article, we will discuss all the steps in detail, eliminating common errors that can lead to the loss of files or duplication of contacts.
Before you start, make sure that both devices have a battery charge of at least 60%. Active data transfer, especially over Wi-Fi, is a significant energy consumption. If at a critical moment one of the phones goes into sleep or turns off, the procedure may interrupt, and you have to start again. Also check for free space on Redmi 9: the amount of internal memory of the new smartphone should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer from the old Honor.
Preparing Honor and Redmi 9 for synchronization
The first step will be basic training of both devices. On the new Xiaomi Redmi 9, you need to perform initial system configuration, select a language and connect to a Wi-Fi network. Without an active Internet connection, you will not be able to log in to your Mi and Google account, which is a prerequisite for most migration tools. On the old Honor, you should also check the system updates to eliminate software conflicts when transferring data packets.
Pay special attention to accounts. Make sure that the Honor device is logged in to the Google account you plan to use on the new phone. It is through the Google cloud that contacts and calendar are most often synchronized. If you have previously used Huawei services, it makes sense to export important notes or voice recordings in a universal format in advance, since native Xiaomi applications may not read the proprietary Honor formats.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting a transfer, it is strongly recommended to create a local backup of important data on a computer or external drive. Although the risk of loss of information is minimal, human factor or software failure has not been canceled.
To successfully migrate, both smartphones must be in close proximity to each other, the range of Wi-Fi Direct, which is used for file transfer, is limited to a few meters, and it is also recommended to turn off power saving mode on both devices, so that the system does not limit the background activity of necessary services during copying.
Using the Mi Mover app to migrate fully
The most efficient and reliable way to transfer data is the official Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to transfer contacts, messages, calls, system settings, as well as multimedia files and even some applications, the main advantage of the method is the ability to transfer data without using Internet traffic, since it creates a direct wireless connection between devices.
To get started, you need to install the Mi Mover app on both smartphones. On Redmi 9, it's often pre-installed in the Tools folder. On Honor, you need to download it from Google Play Market or Huawei AppGallery. When you start the app, select Receiver on your new phone and Sender on your old phone. QR-code or connect to a manually created Wi-Fi network.
The interface allows you to flexibly customize the selection of data. You can only mark certain categories, such as "Gallery" and "Contacts", ignoring system debris. The transfer speed depends on the amount of information and version of Wi-Fi modules, but on average, it is from 10 to 40 MB / s. In the process, it is not recommended to fold the application or block device screens, as this can break the connection.
What if the transmission is 99% down?
Sometimes the process can stop at the end of the copy, so don't rush to interrupt. 5-10 If progress is not moving, try restarting the app on both phones and select only the data category that hasn't been copied. Often the problem lies in one corrupted file that blocks the entire stream. Skipping the problem folder helps complete the migration. Sync through Google Account and cloud services An alternative, and for some users, a more preferred method, is the use of Google cloud services. This method is ideal for those who want to keep the structure of their data in the “pure” form of Android, without being tied to proprietary formats. MIUI. When the Redmi is first turned on 9 The system will prompt you to restore data from Google backup if you provide the same account as Honor. To implement this method on the old Honor, you need to make sure that sync is enabled. → Accounts. → Google and check if the check boxes are “Contacts”, “Calendar”, “Notes” (if you use Google Keep) and “Photos” (Google Photos). On the new Xiaomi, just enter the username and password, and the phone will automatically tighten all the stored data. However, this method has its limitations. Apps installed from third-party sources or not linked to Google Play may not be restored automatically. In addition, photos in full resolution take up space in the cloud, the limit of which is 15 GB. RAW-This method may be too long or too expensive depending on your internet speed. Data type Mi Mover Google Bluetooth Contacts and SMS Synchronization Yes (fully) Yes No Photos and Video Yes (original) Yes (compressed or limited) Yes (very slowly) Applications Yes (APK Files) Yes (store links) No System Settings Partially No No No Media and Documents Transfer manually Sometimes automatic systems fail or the user wants to transfer only specific folders, such as downloaded files from instant messengers or a music collection. In this case, the most effective will be the manual method of connecting through USB-cable or file manager over the network. Redmi 9 supports external drives connection via OTG, So if you're using a computer, connect Honor with a cable to your PC, select file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the folders. DCIM, Pictures, Download, Music and Documents on hard drive. Then plug in Redmi. 9 And you can transfer the data to the appropriate directories. 100% The preservation of metadata files (date of creation, geolocation), which is often lost when transmitted through messengers or some cloud services. FTP, standard-wire MIUI. On the new Xiaomi, open the Explorer app, select Remote Management and run the server. On Honor, enter the displayed address through any browser. This will allow you to quickly transfer heavy video files without installing additional software. ⚠️ Note: When manually copying system folders (e.g, Android/data) Cache transfer applications can cause them to work incorrectly on the new device due to differences in paths to files in the shell MIUI. Special attention deserves the files of messengers. WhatsApp and Telegram store media files in different directories. Android/media/com.whatsapp or WhatsApp/Media. When migrating to Xiaomi, it is important to keep the folder structure, otherwise the phone gallery will not see new images, although they can be displayed in the chat itself. 📊 What is the most convenient way to transfer data?Mi Mover (official application)Google Account (autosynchronization)Computer (manual copying)Third-party programs (ShareIt and analogues)Nuances of WhatsApp and messengers are critical applications, and loss of There's a regular backup mechanism for WhatsApp. On Honor, go to Settings. → chat → Backup the chats and create a copy on Google Drive. make sure you use the same Google account that will be active on Redmi. 9. When you install WhatsApp on a new phone, the system will find the backup and suggest you restore it. Telegram and V are easier: they store the entire history of the correspondence on their servers. You just install the application on Redmi 9, enter the phone number and get a confirmation code. All chats, channels and groups will be automatically downloaded, but media files (photos, videos, documents) that have not been cached or marked as "favorites" may not boot automatically and require manual uploading from the messenger cloud. 💡WhatsApp backup is tied strictly to your phone number and Google account, and changing your Google account will make it impossible to restore old correspondence without complex manipulation of database files. In some cases, especially when switching between different versions of Android, restoring WhatsApp may require manually transferring the WhatsApp folder through the file manager. Copy the entire folder from the old device to the internal memory of the new one to the root directory before installing the application. This ensures that the local database is found and used. Solving problems and compatibility errors Despite the debugging of processes, users may encounter difficulties. One of the frequent problems is the inability to establish a connection in Mi Mover. This is often solved by resetting the network settings on both devices or temporarily shutting down the mobile Internet so that the phone does not try to switch to the cellular network instead of the Wi-issue before transferring the two apps. Because Honor has previously used Google services and newer models may have difficulty with them, some apps may have been installed from AppGallery.On Xiaomi Redmi 9, all apps must download from Google Play or Mi GetApps. If the program is not installed automatically, find its analogue in the store. ⚠️ Note: If contacts are displayed twice after transfer (e.g., "Ivan" and "Ivan Google"), use the "Combine Duplicates" feature in the Contacts app. This is a standard situation when migrating from different ecosystems. The slow rate of transfer of large video files can be associated with overheating of the Wi-Fi module. Let the devices cool down if they get hot. Also make sure that there are no powerful sources of interference in the signal path, such as microwave ovens or working Bluetooth headsets. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Will passwords from Wi-Fi networks be saved after the transfer? Passwords from Wi-Fi networks are only saved if you use sync through Google Account and both devices have password saving enabled. When using Mi Mover, Wi-Fi system settings can also be transferred, but this depends on the Android version on the old Honor. Do I need to buy a new cable to connect Honor to Redmi 9? No, the cable is not needed for wireless transfer via Mi Mover. If you plan to use a wired method via PC, any serviceable USB cable that was included with your Honor will fit, since the connector standards (Micro-USB or Type-C) are not compatible with the Mover systems? Third-party applications may not be portable if they are installed in a hidden folder or have copy protection. In this case, they must be reinstalled from Google Play. Can I interrupt the transfer process and continue later? In Mi Mover, the pause and resume function is unstable. When the process is interrupted, it is recommended to start transferring the selected data category again to avoid broken files.