How to transfer apps from Honor to Xiaomi: Full Guide

Changing your smartphone, especially from one popular ecosystem to another, often raises questions and concerns about privacy. When it comes to how to migrate apps from Honor to Xiaomi, it’s important to understand that the migration process has become much easier thanks to the development of cloud technology and specialized software. Previously, users had to manually install each APK file or look for complex backup methods, which took hours of precious time.

Today’s mobile market offers several proven synchronization methods to avoid loss of information, with Google services, vendor cloud storage and quick migration tools being the main players. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each of the available methods, focusing on the nuances of working with Magic UI (EMUI) and MIUI (HyperOS).

Before you start taking action, both devices must be prepared, make sure that both smartphones have at least 50-60% battery charge, as the data transfer process can be energy-intensive, and Honor and Xiaomi must be connected to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud methods, or be able to create a direct access point.

Preparing Honor and Xiaomi for data migration

The first step in the porting process is to properly prepare the original device. Honor smartphones may not have a pre-built Google Play store, depending on the model and year of release, but Google services (GMS) are often built into the system or can be activated. It is critical that all the necessary programs are linked to your Google account to successfully port applications.

Go to your old phone’s settings and check the synced data list to make sure contacts, calendars and notes are already sent to the cloud. If you plan to migrate apps through third-party utilities, make sure that the screen doesn’t have aggressive energy-saving modes that can interrupt file transfers in the background.

⚠️ Attention: Before migrating, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup of important photos and documents to an external medium or computer. Although the risk of data loss is minimal, it is never superfluous to be safe when working with large amounts of information.

The new Xiaomi device also requires an initial setup. When you first turn on, the system will offer to connect to Wi-Fi and log into the Mi Account. Do not miss this stage, since having a Xiaomi account is necessary for the operation of branded transfer services. Also, make sure that the new smartphone has the latest available system update via the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick transfer

The most effective and native way to migrate data for Xiaomi users is the Mi Mover utility, an official application designed specifically for switching to smartphones of this brand from any other Android devices, including Honor, which allows you to transfer not only contacts and messages, but also the application files and multimedia.

To get started, you need to install Mi Mover on both smartphones. On Xiaomi, it's often pre-installed in the Tools folder, and on Honor, it can be downloaded from your browser or AppGallery. Once you run the app on both devices, follow the on-screen instructions to create a connection.

• 📲 On Xiaomi, select “I am the receiver” and on Honor, “I am the sender".
• 🔗 Scan it. QR-code displayed on the new device using an old smartphone.
• 📂 Select data categories for transmission by ticking "Applications", "Photos", "Contacts".
• 🚀 Press the "Send" button and wait for the process to be completed.

It is important to note that Mi Mover creates a local Wi-Fi network between devices, so the transfer speed will be high and will not depend on the quality of the Internet connection. However, some system applications or programs with special access rights may not migrate correctly and require manual reinstallation. APK-file.

Sync through Google Account and Play Store

The classic method that works seamlessly in most cases is to use the capabilities of the Android operating system. Since both Honor and Xiaomi are based on Android, your Google account is the universal key to your data. When you sign in on a new device, the Play Store automatically recognizes the list of previously installed applications and prompts you to download them.

This method is especially convenient because it restores not only the applications themselves, but also their placement on the desktop (in some launchers), and also saves passwords in Google Password Manager. To make sure that all data is saved, on the old Honor go to Settings → Accounts → Google and click Sync.

On the new Xiaomi, when you first set up, just type in the same Google login and password. The system will ask if you want to restore data from the backup. Choose the latest date and confirm the action. This process can take longer than Mi Mover, as each application will need to boot from the Internet again.

Manual transfer APK-Files and specifics of system applications

In situations where automated methods fail or you need to migrate a modified version of the application, manual installation may be required. APK-This is true for Honor users who have used alternative app stores or specific versions of software, MI File Manager or Google Files.

Copy installation files (.apk) from your old phone to your computer or directly to your new smartphone via a new phone. USB-If you try to install a file on Xiaomi, the security system can block the action. → Protection of confidentiality → Special permits → Install unknown applications and allow action for the file manager used.

⚠️ Attention: In manual transfer APK-Be careful with download sources. Install files only from proven resources or from an old device to avoid injecting malicious code on a new smartphone.

Transfer of messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber

Special attention should be paid to the transfer of data messengers, as they store correspondence and media files in a local database, which is not always synchronized through standard tools for migration of applications. WhatsApp is critical to back up on the old Honor via Google Drive. Go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats and click Backup.

When you first launch WhatsApp on Xiaomi, after you enter your phone number, the app will automatically find a copy in the cloud and prompt you to restore your message history. This process requires that the new device use the same Google account. For Telegram, the situation is simpler: all data is stored on the server, just enter the phone number and confirmation code.

Viber also uses local or cloud backup. Make sure that Honor is safe in Viber Backup (in call and message settings). When installed on Xiaomi, select recovery from copy. If you use two-factor authentication, remember in advance PIN-code, otherwise access to the account will be temporarily blocked.

Solving problems and errors during transfer

During the migration process, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. One of the common problems is the error "Not enough space" on the new device. Before starting the transfer, make sure that the free memory on Xiaomi exceeds the amount of data on Honor. If memory is not enough, try to migrate only the most important applications, and transfer photos and videos later.

Another common problem is that the process freezes at a certain percentage, which often happens when the connection is unstable or if one device goes into sleep mode, keep the screens of both smartphones on and do not switch to other applications during data transfer, and it is also recommended to turn off VPNs and antiviruses during migration.

Some apps, especially banking or enterprise apps, may require re-authorization or not be re-authorized for security reasons. That's normal behavior. In such cases, just download the app from the official store and log in to your account. Honor system applications like Health or specific themes won't work on Xiaomi, there are analogues for them in the GetApps store.