Transfer contacts with Xiaomi to Honor: Bluetooth and alternatives

Changing a smartphone always brings mixed feelings: the joy of a new device and the slight stress of having to move data. The phone book is usually a particular concern, because losing important numbers can be a serious problem. Users often look for a way to transfer contacts from android to android through bluetooth, especially when it comes to switching between popular brands such as Xiaomi and Honor.

The question of using Bluetooth for this task is most often raised because of the desire to do everything quickly, without connecting to a computer or the Internet. However, modern Android systems, including the MIUI shells (HyperOS) and Magic UI, offer many nuances that you need to consider. Direct transmission over Bluetooth is possible, but it has its limitations and features, which we will discuss in detail in this article.

In this guide, we will not only look at the classic blue tooth method, but also at more reliable ways to migrate data that will save you nerves and time. You will learn how to properly prepare files, what formats are supported and what to do if standard methods fail. Let's start with the simplest and most affordable way that does not require the installation of additional software.

Device preparation and basic principles of transmission

Before you start the active phase of the transfer, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to work. This applies not only to battery power, but also to the correct visibility settings. To successfully transfer via Bluetooth, both smartphones must be detectable for other devices. On Xiaomi, this usually turns on automatically when you open the transfer menu, and on Honor, you may need to manually activate in the notification curtain.

It's important to understand that Bluetooth is a pretty slow technology by modern standards, but for text data like contacts, it's more than enough speed. However, if you decide to transfer not individual numbers, but entire databases or files with photos, the process can take time. Make sure that the distance between devices is minimal, ideally no more than 1-2 meters, to avoid connection breaks.

⚠️ Note: When trying to send more 500 The connection can be broken by a timeout or lack of a memory buffer on the receiving device. Break up large phone books into pieces by 200-300 record.

It's also worth checking where your contacts are stored on the old device. SIM-To transfer over Bluetooth, we need to store the data in the device's memory or export it to a file. If the numbers are in the cloud, they must first be downloaded or exported to the format. VCF (vCard).

πŸ“Š Where you keep your main contacts?
In the memory of the phone
Nana SIM-map
In Google account
On the Mi Cloud account

Direct transmission via Bluetooth (VCF files)

The most direct answer to the question of how to transfer contacts from android to android via bluetooth xiaomi to holor is to create a contact file. This method is universal and works on any version of Android, regardless of the year of the model release. First you need to open the Contacts app on your Xiaomi.

In the control menu (usually three dots or button "More"), find "Import / Export contacts". Select "Export to device memory" or "Export to file.vcf". The system will suggest you to choose which contacts to save. Select all the necessary records and confirm the action. The file with the extension.vcf will be created in the root of internal memory or in the Contacts folder.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

  • πŸ“± Find the file you created through the file manager (usually called contacts.vcf or has a date name).
  • πŸ”΅ Click on the file and select "Share" or "Send", then in the list of wireless interfaces specify Bluetooth.
  • πŸ“² On Honor phone at this moment should be open window confirming the receipt of the file – click Accept".
  • πŸ’Ύ After the transfer is complete, the file must be opened on Honor, and the system will automatically prompt you to import the data into the phone book.

This is a great way to be autonomous, but it has one major drawback: it doesn't always handle duplicates correctly. If the new Honor has already had some numbers, they can be duplicated, so it's better to back up an existing base before importing it, or clean it if the phone is new.

β˜‘οΈ Checklist before transfer

Done: 0 / 4

Use of Google and Mi Cloud Services

While the request often sounds like a bluetoothing, ignoring cloud technology when switching between Android smartphones would be a mistake.This is the most reliable way to avoid data loss when a connection is cut. If you have a Google account, contacts sync automatically in the background, regardless of the phone brand.

On Xiaomi, make sure that your Google account settings are synced to your contacts. Go to Settings β†’ Accounts and Sync β†’ Google. If the tick is up, your numbers are already uploaded to Google servers. On the new Honor, just log into the same Google account when you first set up or in the settings menu, and all contacts will be automatically pulled up.

The alternative is to use Xiaomi’s own Mi Cloud. However, there is a caveat: on Honor phones (especially newer models without Google services or with pure Android), the Mi Cloud app may not work smoothly or require separate installation via APK.

What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
If you see an empty phone book after you log in, check where the numbers on the old phone were stored, and often they are stored in the local storage of Phone or Mi Account, not in Google, so you go to the contact settings on Xiaomi, select Copy Contacts, and move them from your device to your Google account.

The advantage of the cloud method is that it retains the structure of data, including photos of subscribers and additional fields (addresses, birthdays), which can sometimes be cropped or lost when transmitted via Bluetooth, and it solves the problem of duplicates, since Google cleverly combines the same records.

Applications for migration: Phone Clone and Mi Mover

Smartphone makers understand the importance of easy transition, so they create their own utilities. For the Xiaomi-Honor pair, both native and third-party solutions are great. Honor preinstalled the Phone Clone app (or "Cloning Phone"), which was originally created by Huawei and works perfectly with any Android device.

The process is as follows: on Honor, you run the Phone Clone and select "This is a new phone." On Xiaomi, you install the same app (via Google Play or scanning). QR-Then the devices connect over Wi-Fi Direct (which is faster and more stable than Bluetooth), and you choose Contacts to transmit.

On the other hand, Xiaomi has the Mi Mover app, which can also transfer data to other Android smartphones, but requires the host to install it on Honor. QR-But the Phone Clone often shows better compatibility when you switch to Honor.

MethodSpeed.We need the Internet.Risk of data loss
Bluetooth (VCF)Low.No.Middle (cliffs)
Google SynchronizationTall.Yeah (Wi-Fi)Minimum
Phone CloneVery high.No (locally)Minimum
SIM-mapLow.No.Tall (pruning)

πŸ’‘

The fastest and most reliable way to transfer a large amount of data is to use the Phone Clone app, as it creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, ignoring Bluetooth speed limits.

Solving problems in synchronization

Even if all instructions are followed, users may encounter technical difficulties. One of the common problems is coding. When exporting via Bluetooth in VCF format, β€œkrakozyakra” can appear in different language versions of Android instead of names, especially if special characters or emoji were used in the names of contacts, in which case it is recommended to switch the system language to English before exporting, perform a procedure, and then return Russian.

Another scenario: Honor doesn't see the file or refuses to open it. This may be due to access rights or system protection. Try sending the file not through the Share menu, but through the standard File Manager, finding the file manually. Also make sure that the receiving device in the Contacts app has the correct storage for import (phone memory, not SIM).

⚠️ Note: If after importing contacts are displayed as "No Name" or only numbers, check which group they are in. On Honor, sometimes new imported contacts fall into a hidden group or group "Others", which you need to activate in the settings of the display phone book.

There are times when the Bluetooth module on the old Xiaomi is unstable due to energy saving. MIUI is known for its aggressive control of background processes. Before transfer, go to the battery settings and turn off the energy savings for the file transfer process or just temporarily turn off the power saving mode.

πŸ’‘

If neither of these methods works, try the intermediate option: export your Xiaomi contacts to a VCF file, send the file to yourself on Telegram ("Favorites") or email, and then download and open to Honor.

Comparison of methods and final recommendations

So to sum up, you can say that the choice of method depends on the number of contacts and the availability of the Internet. 10-20 Bluetooth is great, but if you change your phone completely, you have it in your book. 1000+ It is better not to take risks and use Wi-Fi methods or cloud.

Remember, after a successful transfer to Honor, you should do the final check: go through the list, check for photos, correct spelling of names and the presence of all fields. Only once you make sure that the data is intact, you can format or sell the old Xiaomi.

Modern smartphones are becoming increasingly autonomous ecosystems, and the transition between them should be seamless.Using the right tools like Phone Clone or Google syncing makes this process virtually invisible to the user, unlike the good old days of infrared ports and slow Bluetooth.

Can I transfer contacts through SIM-map?
Yes, it is possible, but not recommended for modern smartphones. SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and often cuts long names, international numbers and deletes additional fields (email, addresses.
What if Bluetooth is not enabled on Xiaomi?
Try resetting your network settings (Settings β†’ Connection & Sharing β†’ Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Network, and Bluetooth). Also, the problem may be a crowded Bluetooth cache – clear it in the application section by finding the Bluetooth system process in the list of all applications.
Will photos of contacts be saved during the transfer?
Transmission through VCF-Photos are saved only if they are embedded in a contact (which is rare) or if the file supports advanced attributes. When synced through a Google Account or an application like Phone Clone, photos are saved 100% of the time.
Do I have to pay for the transfer of contacts?
No, all of the methods described (Bluetooth, Google, Phone Clone, Mi Mover) are completely free and built into the Android operating system.