How to Transfer Data from Xiaomi to Huawei: A Complete Guide

Changing the Android smartphone ecosystem is a process that often elicits mixed feelings from users: on the one hand, the joy of a new Huawei device, on the other, the fear of losing important contacts or getting confused in settings. Modern manufacturers understand this problem, so they have developed powerful tools to automate the process. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices do not need to manually interrupt numbers or search for every file in memory.

The main difficulty of the transition to Huawei today is not so much the transfer of files, but the lack of Google services on board the new models of the Chinese brand. This requires a little more care when migrating apps and accounts than when changing phones within the same ecosystem, but with the right preparation, you can clone your old device for a long time. 20-30 minute.

In this article, we’ll look at the most effective migration methods, from using the official Phone Clone app to fine-tuning accounts, and learn how to keep folder structure, Wi-Fi passwords, and even the layout of icons on your desktop so that a new device feels like a native device.

Preparing devices before data migration

Before you start the copying process, you need to conduct a number of preparatory procedures that are often ignored, which leads to errors or system freeze.First of all, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 60-70%, as the intensive operation of Wi-Fi modules and data recording quickly consumes battery power.

On Xiaomi’s device, it’s recommended to delete temporary files and clear the gallery basket so as not to transfer digital debris to the new device.It’s also worth checking the amount of free memory on the target Huawei device: it should exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer, with a margin of 10-15%.

An important step is to update the system software on both gadgets to the latest available version. Older versions of the MIUI or HarmonyOS shells may contain bugs that prevent stable connection over the local network. Check the updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi has encryption enabled SD-If you have a card or a password on the memory card, the transfer process can be interrupted.

Using the Phone Clone app for full cloning

The most reliable and quick way to transfer data from Xiaomi to Huawei is to use the Phone Clone utility (on new models it may be called Device Clone), an official solution from Huawei that creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, bypassing the router and Internet channel, which ensures high speed transfer.

On the new Huawei smartphone, the app is already built into the system and is in the Tools folder or searchable. On the old Xiaomi, it must be downloaded from the Google Play store or AppGallery. Once launched, select the device role: "This is a new phone" on Huawei and "This is an old phone" on Xiaomi.

After the scan. QR-The code or manual connection of the device will form a secure communication channel. At this stage, the system will suggest selecting data categories for transfer.

Choose the following items for complex transfer:

• 📞 Contacts and Calls – Full Call History and Phone Book;
• 🖼️ Images and videos – all media files from the gallery;
• 💬 Communications — SMS and MMS correspondence;
• ⚙️ System settings – Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks, calendar;
• 📱 Applications themselves APK-Program files (data within applications may not be transferred).

Start the process by putting the phones next to you. Transfer speeds can range from 20 to 40 MB/s depending on the version of the Wi-Fi modules. Do not turn off the device screens or lock them during the process, as some versions of MIUI aggressively save battery and can break the connection.

Transferring contacts and calendars through Google Account

If you don’t want to use third-party apps or the cloning process went wrong, sync through Google’s cloud is the classic method, the most versatile way to ensure that your personal data is safe, regardless of your phone brand.

On Xiaomi, make sure that your contacts and calendar sync is enabled. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure the sliders opposite Contacts, Calendar and Notes are active. Press the sync button manually to be sure that the data is up to date in the cloud.

On the new Huawei, add the same Google account when you first turn on or in your settings. Since the new Huawei models do not have built-in Google Services (GMS), you may need to log in via a browser or use a Gspace/Gbox emulator if you plan to use apps tied to Google services. However, for basic contact synchronization, simply add an account in the Mail and Calendar section.

Once you add an account, the data will appear in the respective Contacts and Calendar apps within minutes, depending on the speed of the internet, a robust backup that will save the day if something happens to the phone in the future.

Migration Multimedia: Photos, Videos and Documents

Porting heavy content like high-resolution photos and videos requires a special approach. Phone Clone's built-in features are good, but if you have hundreds of gigabytes of media, the process can take hours, and in these cases, it's more efficient to use a computer or cloud storage.

Using a PC allows you to copy data in its original quality without compression. Connect Xiaomi to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP). Copy the DCIM folders (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from social networks) and Download to your hard drive.

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Use a USB 3.0 cable and a USB 3.0 port on your computer for maximum speed copying large amounts of data. The cable from the kit often supports only charging (USB 2.0), which will significantly slow down the process.

Then plug Huawei in and copy the data to similar directories, and the folder structure on HarmonyOS or EMUI is similar to Android, so the files will fall into place, and the gallery will automatically index them.

If you can't use a computer, consider Google Photos. Install the app on Xiaomi, turn on autoboot and wait until the process is over. On Huawei, just sign in to the same account and your entire library will be available in the cloud or downloaded as memory of your choice.

Transfer applications and work with Google services

This is the most delicate phase of the transition to Huawei. Direct porting of installed applications through Phone Clone is unstable: the program can copy the "shortcut", but when launched, the application will request an update or not launch due to differences in certificate signatures.

Reinstall the apps again. For most applications, AppGallery is enough. For apps that aren't there (YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, banks), use the built-in Petal Search. APK-files in trusted sources (such as APKPure) and installs them.

Banking applications and services that rely on Google Play Services require special attention. Some banks (Sber, Tinkoff, Alpha) have emulation versions of AppGallery; others require installation through Gbox or Gspace, which are virtual environments that run Google services.

• 🏦 Banks – look in AppGallery, if not – download APK from the official website of the bank;
• 📺 YouTube – install via Gbox or use alternative clients (NewPipe, YouTube ReVanced);
• 💳 NFC Payment – use Huawei Pay or your bank’s app to pay for your payment QR-code (SBP);
• 🚗 Taxis and maps - Yandex Go, Uber, 2GIS They work without Google services.

⚠️ Note: Apps ported directly from your old phone may not work properly with notifications or drain the battery.It is better to spend 10 minutes cleanly installing mission-critical programs from AppGallery.

Solving problems and errors in synchronization

When migrating, users often experience typical problems, and one of the most common is the interruption of the connection halfway through the process, which is usually associated with energy saving MIUI. On an old phone, in the battery settings, find the Phone Clone app and select No Limits mode.

Another problem is that some files are missing after transfer. Check if they're hidden. On Huawei, in the Files app, click three dots in the corner and select Show Hidden Files. It's also possible that the files were in a secure Mi Drop folder or similar storage, and you need to retrieve them before you migrate.

If apps don't open, try clearing their cache or reinstalling. On new Huawei devices with HarmonyOS, the security system can block the installation of applications from unknown sources. When you first install, you will be asked to allow the installation, agree with this for a specific installer (for example, a browser or AppGallery).

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The main reason for portability errors is aggressive power saving on Xiaomi. Always allow the Phone Clone to run in the background without restrictions.

In rare cases, a full Huawei reset may be required before the transfer begins if it has already been tweaked, and the clean system provides better compatibility when cloning data.

Completion of setup and optimization of the new smartphone

After a successful data transfer, take your time to delete information from your old phone. Use the new Huawei device for 2-3 days, checking all features, all photos and the correctness of the notifications.

Look out for new features in the EMUI or HarmonyOS shell. There are unique features like Smart Multiwindow, gesture control and improved notifications that are worth mastering for a comfortable life.

Set up backups on Huawei Cloud or continue to use Google Photos. Regular backups will save you the need to go through the transfer procedure again in the future.