Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not only because you get used to a new interface, but also because you lose important data. It's especially painful to part with the information you've accumulated in the Notes section, which often stores passwords, ideas, shopping lists, and working drafts. Users who move from the MIUI or HyperOS ecosystem to the HarmonyOS or EMUI shell are faced with file format incompatibility, as standard voice recorder and notebook applications from these manufacturers use different databases.
Fortunately, engineers have identified several ways to address this problem, from cloud synchronization to manual export. Data transfer can take anywhere from five minutes to half an hour, depending on the amount of information accumulated and the method chosen. In this article, we will discuss the most effective algorithms that ensure that your records are safe without distorting the formatting or losing attachments.
Before we take action, we need to make sure that both devices are at least 60-70% charged. Direct cable transfer of notes between Xiaomi and Huawei through the standard "Mi Mover" menu often does not work correctly for the "Notes" section, so we will use bypass but more reliable ways. Prepare a stable Wi-Fi connection, since cloud methods require data packets to be transmitted over the Internet.
Using the Mi Cloud cloud service for synchronization
The most elegant way to avoid installing third-party software on a new phone is to use Xiaomi’s native cloud. If your old device has been synced, all your records are already on the manufacturer’s servers.
To start, check the sync status at the source. Go to Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account and make sure that the slider opposite Notes is activated. If the sync has been turned off, turn it on and wait for the data update process to be completed. This is a critical step, since local copies without a cloud backup are more difficult to move.
⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authorization in your Mi Account, make sure you have access to your phone number or backup codes to log in from a new device or browser.
After checking on your old phone, pick up Huawei. Open any browser (like Chrome or the built-in Huawei Browser) and go to the official i.mi.com website. Sign in using your Mi Account. In the web version interface, select the Notes icon.
You'll see a full list of your records here. Unfortunately, there's no mass export in the format readable by Huawei Notes, so you'll have to do it manually or semi-automatically. You can open every note, copy the text, and send yourself to your messenger or email. For voice recordings and images inside notes, this is also a good way to save media files separately.
💡
To speed up the process on the Mi Cloud site, open notes in new browser tabs, copy text and paste into the clipboard, and then migrate sequentially to Huawei.
Exports via Google Keep and Google Documents
The universal bridge between any Android smartphone is Google services. If you haven’t used them before to store notes, it’s time to start, as this is the perfect intermediate stage of migration. Google Keep or Google Docs automatically syncs data with your account, making it available on any device.
Install the Keep Notes app from Google Play on your Xiaomi. In the app settings (Settings → Copy and Export), the import feature from system notes is often available, although it doesn't work on all versions of MIUI. If automatic import isn't available, use the Share feature in the standard Xiaomi note app, selecting Google Keep as your target app.
- 📝 Open a note on Xiaomi, click on “More” and select “Send as Text” or “Copy”, then paste in a new Google Keep note.
- 📸 For notes with images, it is better to use the “Share” function» → «Keep" to ensure that the media files are properly tweaked.
- 🔄 Make sure that the Keep app on Xiaomi has a sync icon in the top corner, confirming the data upload to the cloud.
Now, moving to Huawei, this device also requires you to install the Google Keep app (it is in AppGallery or via the app). GMS-If the phone is new and lacks Google services, but you'd better use a web version or a third-party client. Sign in to the same Google account. All your records will appear automatically on the list.
From Google Keep on Huawei, you can either leave notes there using the app as your primary, or export them to text files. For this purpose, the Keep web version has a Download Data feature (via Google Takeout), but it’s easier to copy text from Keep to the standard Notes app on Huawei, which ensures that your data is in the native format of the new system.
Use of Phone Clone for Migration
Huawei has developed its own Phone Clone app (in some regions, “Phone”), which is positioned as the main means to move from an old smartphone to a new one, and it is able to transfer contacts, messages, photos and, importantly for us, data from certain applications.
The process starts with installing the app on both phones. On Huawei, it's often built into the system or available in AppGallery. On Xiaomi, you need to download it from Google Play or through your browser. Run the app on both devices.
⚠️ Note: When using Phone Clone, make sure that the screens of both phones do not go out during transmission. Interrupting the connection during the copying phase of large amounts of data can damage the archive.
On the old phone (Xiaomi), select the status "This is an old phone" and on the new phone (Huawei) select "This is a new phone." Scan QR-The code that appeared on Huawei's screen, with Xiaomi's camera, will create a direct Wi-Fi point of access to each other.
In the data list for transfer, look for System Data or Other Data, and if it's active, just tick the box and click Start Migration. Phone Clone's algorithm tries to convert databases on the fly, but (success rate) for notes is about 70-80%, because SQLite database structures vary among manufacturers.
☑️ Checking before launching the Phone Clone
Comparison of transfer methods: performance table
So to give you the best strategy, let's compare the methods we've looked at on key parameters. It's important to understand that there's no perfect way to work 100% of the time for all firmware versions, and it depends on how many notes you have and how important it is to keep them in their original formatting.
| Method | Preserving formatting | Transfer of investments (photo/audio) | Speed of operation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud (Web) | Partial (text) | Requires manual downloading | Low (manually) | Medium |
| Google Keep | Full (inside Keep) | Automatically. | Tall. | Low. |
| Phone Clone | Depends on the OS version. | Partially. | Tall. | Low. |
| Exports to.txt | Only text | No. | Medium | Tall. |
As the table shows, Google Keep is the most reliable all-round solution, preserving structure and multimedia.The Phone Clone is good for the lazy but can crash.The Mi Cloud web interface is "heavy artillery" for cases where other methods don't work but it takes time.
If you choose to export to text files (through third-party converter apps on Xiaomi), you will get files with the.txt extension. They are easy to open on Huawei, but you will lose the ability to edit complex formatting. This is a good option for archiving old records that are only needed for reading.
Solving problems with coding and formatting
When hand-copying or using third-party converters, users often face the problem of “cracker” instead of Russian text, which means that the file encoding was chosen incorrectly when exporting (for example, UTF-8 instead of UTF-16 or Windows-1251). Modern Huawei smartphones work perfectly with UTF-8, so when exporting with Xiaomi, try to choose this standard.
Another common problem is the loss of images that were inserted into the body of the note. In Xiaomi, the notes are stored as a single object, but when exported to text format, the pictures are often uncoupled. In this case, it is recommended to separate the notes before transfer: leave the text in the note, and save the images to the gallery. The gallery is transferred to Huawei via Phone Clone or Google Photos without problems.
What if the notes are moved but the paragraphs are confused?
Also worth mentioning is the dictaphone record (.m4a or.aac) is usually supported by Huawei, but the voice recorder files themselves often lie in hidden system folders, where standard file managers without root permissions can not let. Use a file manager with access to system partitions or connect the phone to a PC to copy the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I transfer notes directly via Bluetooth?
Will the alarm clocks and reminders from the notes be preserved?
Is it safe to use third-party conversion apps?
What if Huawei doesn’t have Google services?
💡
The most reliable way to ensure data security is a combination of methods: use Phone Clone for quick migration, and duplicate critical entries via Google Keep or send yourself to Telegram/Email.
To conclude, the transition between Android ecosystems is easier, but still requires attention. Don't rely on one method. Back up important texts to your email or messenger before you start any manipulations. It will take a couple of minutes, but it will save your nerves in the event of a crash.
After a successful transfer, take your time to reset the old Xiaomi to factory settings. Go with the new Huawei for a couple of days, check if all records have opened correctly, if fonts are readable and if links work. Only after making sure the data is intact can you start cleaning the old device.