Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to switching to a new brand such as Honor. The most important step here is not unpacking the gadget, but the correct transfer of all the information accumulated over the years. Contacts, correspondence in instant messengers, photos and installed applications should be in the new place safe and sound. Fortunately, the ecosystem Android provides many tools that make this task trivial even for inexperienced users.
In this article we will examine in detail all available methods of data migration: from proprietary utility Phone Clone to Google cloud services. You will learn how to avoid common synchronization mistakes and what to do if standard methods do not work for some reason. Transferring data from Android to Android Honor is a procedure that will take you from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of information.
Modern smartphones are equipped with powerful processors and fast Wi-Fi modules, which allows you to transfer gigabytes of data in a matter of minutes. However, before starting the active phase of the transfer, it is necessary to carry out a small preparation of both devices. This will help avoid connection breaks and file loss at the most crucial moment.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before starting any copying process, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready for use. Charge both devices to at least 60-70%, as active wireless data transmission significantly drains battery power. It is also recommended to free up some space on the new one Honor, although the system itself usually warns about low memory.
Check for system updates on both phones. Go to Settings → System and updates → Software update and install the available patches. This is critically important, since older versions of the firmware may contain bugs that prevent the transmission protocols from working correctly. This is especially true for older Android models that you plan to use as a source of data.
⚠️ Attention! If custom firmware is installed on your old smartphone or received root access, standard transfer methods may not work correctly. In such cases, it is recommended to make a full backup to your computer before starting the experiment.
Make sure that the Wi-Fi module is turned on on both devices, even if you do not plan to connect to your home network. Many utilities create their own access point for direct file transfer. Disable power saving mode as it may limit the background activity of transferring apps.
☑️ Preparing for transfer
Using the proprietary Phone Clone application
The most effective and recommended way is to use the application Phone Clone. This utility is designed specifically for the Huawei and Honor ecosystem, but works great with other Android-based brands as well. It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, videos, music and even some system settings.
The process begins by installing the application on both smartphones. On a new one Honor it is often preinstalled in the "Tools" folder. If it is not there, download it from AppGallery or Google Play. On an older device, the app must also be downloaded from the store. After launch, select the device role: on the new phone, click “This is a new phone,” and on the old one, “This is an old phone.”
Next, the system will prompt you to select the type of the old device. Select Android. A QR code will appear on the screen of your new smartphone. Scan it with your old phone's camera to establish a secure connection. After pairing, you can select categories of data to transfer.
- 📱 Contacts and messages: transferred in full, including MMS attachments.
- 🖼️ Media files: photos and videos are saved in original quality without compression.
- ⚙️ System settings: including alarm and screen lock settings.
- 📶 Wi-Fi passwords: saved so you don't have to enter them again.
Transfer speed in Phone Clone can reach 40 MB/s, which is significantly faster than Bluetooth. The application works without using Internet traffic, creating a local network between devices. This makes the process safe and confidential.
When transferring large amounts of data (more than 50 GB), it is better to break the process into stages: first transfer contacts and messages, and then transfer media files separately. This will reduce the risk of connection failure.
Synchronization via Google Account
If you actively used Google services on your old device, a significant part of the data is already in the cloud. This method is ideal for transferring contacts, calendar, notes and browser history Chrome. When you first set up a new one Honor the system itself will prompt you to log in to your Google account.
Enter the settings of the old phone through the menu Settings → Accounts → Google. Make sure that the switches next to the desired items (Contacts, Calendar, Disk) are active and click "Synchronize". After that, on a new device, when you enter the same login and password, the data will be automatically pulled from the cloud.
To transfer photos, it is better to use the service Google Photos. Install the application on your old phone, enable backup and wait for all the pictures to download. On the new Honor, just open the application and log into your account - your entire photo feed will be available instantly.
| Data type | Synchronization method | Speed | Network dependence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Google Contacts | Instantly | Internet required |
| Photo/Video | Google Photos | Depends on speed | Wi-Fi required |
| Applications | Google Play Market | Average | Internet required |
| Files | Google Disk | Low/Medium | Internet required |
The main advantage of this method is the independence from the physical presence of the old phone after the setup is complete. However, Google's free storage capacity is limited to 15 GB, so for large photo archives you will have to buy more space or use selective downloading.
Migration of applications and their data
The most difficult part of migration is transferring installed applications and, more importantly, the data inside them. When using Phone Clone or the recovery function from Google, the application files themselves (.apk) will be downloaded and installed on the new Honor automatically.
However, data inside applications (game saves, correspondence, settings) is not always transferred. Messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram require a separate approach. For WhatsApp, you need to go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup on your old phone and create a copy in Google Drive.
When installing WhatsApp on a new device, during the initial setup, the application will detect the backup copy and offer to restore it. Without this step, you will end up with an empty contact list. For Telegram, you just need to log into your account using your phone number - the entire correspondence history is stored on the messenger servers.
⚠️ Attention! Banking applications and government services (Gosuslugi) do not transfer login data. You will have to re-authorize and possibly link the device again via SMS code or biometrics.
Some games use their own accounts (for example, VK Play, Supercell ID). Make sure you remember the logins and passwords for them, since game progress is often tied to these services, and not to Google Play Games.
What to do if the applications are not installed?
If after transfer some applications are displayed gray or do not launch, delete them manually and download the latest versions from the official AppGallery or Google Play store. Old versions may not be compatible with the new version of Android on Honor.
Alternative methods: Bluetooth and PC
If wireless methods are unavailable for some reason, you can use classic Bluetooth. This method is only suitable for transferring small files: contacts in .vcf format, several photos or documents. The transfer speed is extremely low, so transferring gigabytes of video this way is impractical.
To transfer via Bluetooth, turn on the visibility of both devices, pair and select files to send through the "Share" menu. On the new Honor, confirm receiving the files. This method is universal and works even between devices of different generations.
A more advanced option is to use a computer as an intermediary. Connect the old phone to the PC via a USB cable, copy the folders DCIM, Download and Documents to your hard drive. Then connect Honor and copy the data to the appropriate directories.
This method gives complete control over the file structure. You can immediately sort files, remove unnecessary items, and organize folders on your new device in the way that suits you. In addition, a cable connection guarantees stability and no interruptions.
Using a PC is the best way to transfer heavy video files and organize the file structure, although it requires a computer at hand.
Solving common problems
During the transfer process, users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. The most common problem is a disconnection in the middle of a process. This is usually due to one of the devices going to sleep or switching to the mobile network.
To avoid this, disable automatic screen lock on both smartphones during the transfer. Go to Settings → Display → Sleep mode and select "Never" or maximum time. Also make sure that the "Smart Network" mode is not enabled on your old phone, which may try to switch Wi-Fi to mobile data when the signal is weak.
Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions. If you are upgrading from a very old version (for example, Android 6) to the latest Android 13/14, some system settings may not be transferred. In this case, some of the data will have to be configured manually.
⚠️ Attention! The interfaces and names of menu items may differ slightly depending on the shell version MagicOS or EMUI. If you do not find the item you need, use the search in the settings.
If the application Phone Clone gives an error when scanning the QR code, try restarting both devices and disabling VPN or antiviruses that may block the local network connection. Also check if your old phone has airplane mode enabled with manual activation of Wi-Fi only.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will my passwords from Wi-Fi networks be transferred?
Yes, when using the application Phone Clone passwords from saved ones Wi-Fi networks are transferred along with system settings. When synchronizing via Google Account, this function is also available if you have enabled backup of your device settings.
What to do with WhatsApp data when transferring?
Be sure to back up your chats in WhatsApp settings on your old phone before transferring. When installing the application on your new Honor, select recovery from a Google Drive copy. Direct transfer of chats via Phone Clone is sometimes unstable for WhatsApp.
Is it possible to interrupt the transfer process and continue later?
In the application Phone Clone the pause and resume function depends on the application version. In most cases, if the connection is broken, the process must be started again. The system will try to skip already transferred files, but this will increase the overall operation time.
Will information be deleted from the old phone after the transfer?
No, the data transfer process is a copy, not a move. All information will remain unchanged on the old device. If you plan to sell or give away your old phone, you will have to perform a factory reset manually.
How to transfer data if the screen of your old phone is broken?
If the sensor does not work, but there is an image, connect a USB mouse via an OTG adapter for control. If the screen is black, but the phone is working, try connecting it to a PC and copying the data manually, or use voice control to activate backup to the cloud.