The transition to a new smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to quickly customize it to your habits, saving all the important data and programs. Honor owners who decide to change the gadget to a model from Xiaomi, face the need to transfer not only contacts and photos, but also installed applications. The migration process can seem difficult due to the differences in the shells of Magic UI and MIUI (or HyperOS), but modern tools allow you to do this almost automatically.
The main difficulty is that direct synchronization of the installed APK-The process of file sharing between different ecosystems is not always smooth without the use of specialized software, and you will need to choose the most suitable method: Use Xiaomi’s built-in tool called Mi Mover, use Google’s services, or use manual installation through backup files. Each of these methods has its own nuances, which we will discuss in detail in this article.
It is important to understand that successful transfer depends not only on the chosen method, but also on the correct preparation of both devices.You need to ensure a stable connection, sufficient battery power and, in some cases, access rights to certain system functions. Below we will discuss all the stages of preparation and direct transfer so that you can start using the new Redmi or Poco without losing important data.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before the active transfer phase begins, a number of preparatory steps must be taken to minimize the risk of errors. First of all, make sure that both smartphones are Wi-Fi enabled, as data transmission over the mobile network can be unstable and consume traffic. It is also critical that the battery charge on both devices is at least 50-60%, or connect them to power sources for the duration of the procedure.
If your Honor logs in to an account you plan to use on Xiaomi, make sure that the contacts and calendar syncs are successful. To check, go to your phone settings and find the account section, which will be your insurance in case the automatic app port fails.
There is an important nuance about security and access rights: on newer versions of Android and MIUI shells, the system can block the installation of applications from unknown sources or restrict access to the file system of another device, so be prepared to provide the necessary permissions, which will request the programs for migration.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process, even if the smartphone screen is out or it seems that the process is frozen.Forced termination of work can lead to file damage and malfunction of the operation.
If the transmission has stopped, it is better to wait for the timeout and repeat the procedure again than to risk the integrity of the firmware.
Using the Mi Mover application for portability
The most effective and official way to migrate from Android to Android is the Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for Xiaomi users and allows you to transfer not only multimedia, but also lists of installed programs. On the new Xiaomi smartphone, this application is often already built into the system and is located in the Tools folder or available through settings.
If your Honor doesn’t have a Mi Mover preinstalled, you need to download it. You can find it on Google Play or download it. APK-After installation on both devices, run the program. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old Honor, Sender).
Then the devices have to find each other, and that's usually done through scans. QR-If you want to use the code or search for available devices on the Wi-Fi Direct network, then select the category "Apps" in the list of data transmitted. The system will analyze the installed programs and suggest you choose the ones you want to see on the new gadget.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
The copying process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data. It is important to keep the screens on and not switch to other tasks. Once completed, Xiaomi will have a report on how many applications have been successfully ported and how many require additional authorization.
Migration through Google Play account
An alternative and often more reliable method to migrate a list of apps rather than installing them is to use Google’s cloud profile, ideal if you want to install fresh versions of programs, avoiding potential conflicts between old cached data and the new operation.
On your Honor device, make sure that your Google Play settings enable automatic sync and backup of your application data. Go to Settings → Google → Backup and click “Start Copy.”
When you first turn on the new Xiaomi (or after resetting to factory settings), the system will prompt you to restore data from the backup. Select your Google account and specify the old Honor phone as the source. You will be presented with a list of all previously installed applications.
- 📱 You can choose to selectively install only the most necessary programs so as not to clutter the new phone.
- ☁️ All apps will be downloaded in their latest compatible versions from the Play Store.
- 🔐 Data inside apps will only be saved if the developer backs up Google Drive.
This method requires a stable and fast Internet connection, as each megabyte will be downloaded from the network, but it ensures that MIUI does not get system files from Magic UI, which could cause errors.
Transfer data messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers deserve special attention, as conventional portability methods often only store the application itself, but not the history of correspondence. WhatsApp has a regular backup mechanism that you need to activate on Honor before you switch. Go to chat settings and create a backup on Google Drive.
When installing WhatsApp on a new Xiaomi, use the same phone number and Google account. the app will automatically detect a backup in the cloud and prompt you to restore your message history.This process requires that the phone has the same SIM card number on which the copy was made.
What if WhatsApp doesn’t see a backup?
For Telegram, the situation is simpler: all the history of correspondence is stored on the messenger servers. You just install the application on Xiaomi and log into your account. All chats, channels and media files (which were not deleted from the cloud) will be downloaded automatically.
In the case of Viber, it is also recommended to create a local or cloud backup before resetting the old phone.When first running on a new device, Viber will ask if it needs to restore the history from the found backup file.
Comparison of transfer methods: table
To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have prepared a comparative table of basic migration methods, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons of each option depending on your specific situation and technical skills.
| Method | Speed of operation | Save application data | The Necessity of the Internet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Partial (depending on the software) | Not required (Wi-Fi Direct) |
| Google Account | Medium | High (for supported apps) | I'll be sure. |
| Hand-mounted | Low. | Absent (APK only) | Required for downloading |
| Third-party software | Medium | Depends on the program. | Partially. |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is a speed-driven one, because it uses a direct connection between devices. However, the Google Account method often proves to be more reliable in the long run, ensuring clean installation of programs.
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The optimal strategy is to combine methods: use Mi Mover for photos and contacts, and install applications through Google Play for maximum stability of the system.
Solving and Working with Incompatibility
During the transfer process, you may encounter a message that some apps are incompatible with the new device. This often happens with Honor system applications that simply can not run on Xiaomi processors or shell.
Another common problem is the lack of notifications from ported applications: In the shell of MIUI and HyperOS, an aggressive energy saving system can kill background processes. To fix this, go to the battery settings after transfer and set the No Limits mode for important messengers.
If the application crashes when it starts after transfer, try to clear its data. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the problem program and select Clear Data, which will reset it to a state immediately after installation, eliminating conflicting configuration files.
- 🛠 Check for updates for Google Play Services on your new phone.
- 🔒 Make sure that the antivirus does not block the work of transferred files.
- 📲 Banking applications may require re-binding the device.
It’s also worth remembering that some applications tied to Huawei services (HMS) may not work properly or at all on devices without Huawei services, and in such cases you will have to look for web versions of services or alternative programs.
Set up a new smartphone Xiaomi after the transfer
After a successful data migration, it is recommended to perform several actions to optimize the work of Xiaomi. First, check the system updates. Go to Settings → About the phone and click on the logo of the MIUI version. New patches often contain compatibility fixes.
Second, customize the theme and interface. Xiaomi’s shell offers huge customization capabilities that Magic UI didn’t have. You can change fonts, icons and animations to make the new phone feel truly yours.
Third, remove unnecessary pre-installed software if it is left behind or installed by mistake, which will free up space and improve performance, and also set up biometric protection and add fingerprints to quickly access the transferred applications.
The final step is to check all sensors, cameras and communication modules, and make sure that the applications that are ported have access to the necessary functions, such as microphone, geolocation and memory.