How to transfer data from a phone to a Huawei phone: all methods 2026

Transferring data between smartphones Huawei is a task that every user faces when purchasing a new device or needing to share files. Unlike iPhonewhere the process is standardized through AirDropecosystem Android offers dozens of options - from built-in functions to third-party applications. But how to choose the optimal method if both devices are from Huawei? After all, the brand is known for its limitations due to the lack of services Google on new models.

In this article we will analyze 7 proven methods data transfers - from the official tool Phone Clone to little-known features like Huawei Share or Nearby Share (if available on your model). We will pay special attention to the nuances: transfer speed, compatibility with different versions EMUI, and how to get around typical errors like “device not found”. And you will also find out why transfer via a USB-C - USB-C cable can be 10 times faster than Wi-Fi, but does not work on all models Huawei after 2021.

1. Official method: Huawei Phone Clone

Application Phone Clone is a “native” tool from Huawei, pre-installed on all brand devices. It is specially optimized for transferring data between phones, but it also works with other devices. The main advantage is saving the folder structure and metadata (for example, the date the photo was created). Huawei/Honor, but works with others too Android-devices. The main advantage is the preservation of the folder structure and metadata (for example, the date the photo was created).

How it works:

• 📱 Install Phone Clone on both phones (if it is not in the menu, download from AppGallery).
• 🔗 On the old phone, select "This is an old device", on the new one - "This is a new device".
• 📶 Connect to the same Wi-Fi network or create a hotspot on your old phone.
• 📁 Select the types of data to transfer: contacts, messages, photos, applications (APK files) or notes.

The transfer speed depends on the amount of data and the phone model. For example, Huawei P60 Pro transfers 10 GB of photos in ~15 minutes, and Huawei Y7a - almost an hour: applications are transferred without data (for example, you will have to save in games. restore separately).

Synchronize contacts with Huawei Cloud (in case of failure)|Charge both phones at least 50%|Disable VPN and firewalls|Check free space on the new device-->

⚠️ Attention: If on the new one phone EMUI 13+, and on the old one - EMUI 10 or lower, you may need to update Phone Clone to the latest version. Otherwise, the application will not “see” the old device.

2. Huawei Share (fast transfer via Wi-Fi Direct)

Huawei Share is analogue AirDrop for the ecosystem Huaweiworking through Wi-Fi Direct i Bluetooth. It is built into the firmware and does not require the installation of additional applications. The main advantage is speed: files are transferred at speeds up to 10 MB/s (in theory up to 30 MB/s on flagships like Mate 50 Pro).

How to use:

1. Activate Huawei Share in the notification panel (swipe down → icon "Share").
2. On the old phone, select files in the gallery/file manager → "Share" → "Huawei Share".
3. On the new phone, confirm receiving files (a notification will appear).

Method limitations:

• 🚫 Does not work between Huawei and other brands (for example, Samsung or Xiaomi).
• 📛 The maximum size of one file is 1 GB (for folders the limit is ~10 GB).
• 🔋 Consumes a lot of battery power (up to 15% for 30 minutes of active transfer).

3. Transfer via USB-C to USB-C cable (OTG)

One of the most fast, but least known methods - direct connection of phones via USB-C to USB-C cable with support OTGTheoretically, the speed can reach 480 Mbps (USB 3.0), but in practice for Huawei this is ~20-40 MB/s (depending on the model and cable).

What you will need:

• 🔌 Cable USB-C — USB-C with support OTG (a regular charging cable will not work!).
• 📱 Both phones must support USB OTG (check in the model specifications).

Instructions:

1. Connect the cable to both phones.
2. On the old phone, select "File transfer" (or "USB modem", if the first option does not appear).
3. On the new phone, open the file manager (Files) → "USB device" → copy the required data.

Huawei model	OTG support	Max. transfer speed. data-i="131">Yes
Huawei P50 Pro	Yes	~35 MB/s
Huawei Mate 40 Pro	Yes	~40 MB/s
Huawei Nova 9	Yes	~25 MB/s
Huawei Y6p	No	—

⚠️ Attention: On some models (Huawei Y7 Prime 2019, Huawei P Smart 2021), when connecting via OTG, you may need to enable "Developer Mode" and activate "USB debugging" (Settings → About phone → Build number (7 taps) → Developer settings).

Phone Clone|Huawei Share|USB-C cable|Cloud services|Other-->

4. Cloud services: Huawei Cloud and Google Drive

If you don’t have a cable or your phones don’t “see” each other via Wi-Fi, cloud storage will be your salvation. Huawei offers its own solution - Huawei Cloud (5 GB free), but it only works on devices with HMS (without services Google). For models with GMS (until 2019) suitable Google Drive.

Comparison of services:

Service	Free space	Max. file size	Download speed
Huawei Cloud	5 GB	2 GB	Depends on the Internet
Google Drive	15 GB	5 TB	Faster on GMSdevices

How to transfer data via Huawei Cloud:

1. On your old phone, open "Huawei Cloud" → "Backup".
2. Select data (contacts, photos, videos) and click "Create a backup copy".
3. On the new phone, log in to the same account Huawei ID and restore the data.

Disadvantages of the method:

• ⏳ Long loading time when large volume (for example, 10 GB of photos can take 2-3 hours to load).
• 🔒 Data is stored on servers Huawei (privacy issues).
• 📶 Requires a stable Internet (if the connection is lost, the process starts again).

What to do if Huawei Cloud does not restore data?

If the backup is not restored, check:

1) Version EMUI on both phones (must be the same or differ by no more than 1 version).

2) Availability of free space on the new device.

3) Subscription status for Huawei Cloud+ (if you used paid storage).

If the problem persists, try downloading the data via the web version of cloud.huawei.com on your PC, and then transferring it to your phone.

5. Third-party applications: Xender, ShareMe, Snapdrop

If the built-in tools are not satisfactory, you can use third-party applications. The most popular: Huawei not satisfied, you can use third-party applications. The most popular:

• 📲 Xender —works without the Internet, speed up to 40 MB/s, but shows ads.
• 🔄 ShareMe (from Xiaomi, but compatible with Huawei) - simple interface, no file size restrictions.
• 🌐 Snapdrop - web service (no need to install), but requires a browser with support WebRTC.

How to use Xender:

1. Install the application on both phones (available in AppGallery or APKMirror).
2. On the old phone, click "Send", on the new one - "Receive".
3. Connect to the same Wi-Fi network or create a point access.
4. Select files and confirm transfer.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• ✅ Work between different brands (Huawei ↔ Samsung).
• ✅ Often support transfer applications with data (for example, saving games).
• ✅ Which (for example, Snapdrop) do not require registration.

⚠️ Attention: Applications like Xender or ShareMe may request access to contacts, SMS and storage. Before installation, check permissions in AppGallery or Google Play (if available).

6. Transfer via computer (USB + file manager)

If you have a PC or laptop, you can use it as an “intermediary” for transferring data. This method is reliable, but requires an additional device. Suitable for large volumes (for example, transferring 50+ GB photos and videos).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Connect old phone to PC via USB and select "File transfer" modeTransferring files" (MTP).
2. Copy data to the computer (for example, to a folder on the desktop).
3. Disconnect the old phone, connect the new one and transfer the files back.

Nuances:

• 🖥️ On Windows you may need to install drivers Huawei HiSuite (download from the official website).
• 🍎 On Mac use Android File Transfer (free software from Google).
• 🔌 If the phone is not detected, try another cable or port USB.

Advantages of the method:

• 💾 There are no restrictions on file size.
• 🔄 You can edit data before transferring (for example, sort photos).
• 🛡️ Security: files are not transferred over the air, the risk of interception is minimal.

7. NFC and Bluetooth: when there is nothing else

If you have old models Huawei (for example, Huawei P9 or Mate 10), you can try transmission via NFC or Bluetooth. These methods are extremely slow (speed 1-2 MB/s), but sometimes they help out. hopeless situations.

How to transfer files via Bluetooth:

1. Enable Bluetooth on both phones and pair them.
2. On the old phone, select the file → "Share" → "Bluetooth".
3. Select the target device and confirm reception on the new phone.

Limitations:

• 🐢 The speed is 10-20 times lower than that of Wi-Fi Direct.
• 📎 Maximum file size - usually 50-100 MB.
• 🔋 Severely drains the battery (up to 20% per hour of transfer).

NFC suitable only for transferring small files (for example, contacts or links). this:

1. Enable NFC on both phones (Settings → Wireless networks → NFC).
2. Open the contact or file you want to transfer.
3. Place the phones with their back covers towards each other (distance < 5 cm).

⚠️ Attention: On models Huawei s EMUI 12+ function NFC for file transfer may be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings → Advanced → NFC transfer.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring data to Huawei

Is it possible to transfer data from iPhone to Huawei?

Yes, but not all methods will work. It is better to use:

• Phone Clone (there is a mode for iOS).
• iCloud → download data to PC → transfer to Huawei.
• Applications like Move to iOS (reverse transfer is not supported, but you can export contacts and photos).

Difficulties will arise with the transfer iMessage messages and notes —they will have to be exported manually.

Why doesn’t Huawei Share find the second device?

The problem may be:

• Different versions EMUI (update the firmware to both phones).
• Disabled Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth.
• VPN or firewall (disable them temporarily).
• Regional restrictions (on some models Huawei Share works only in China).

Solution: try rebooting the phones or using Phone Clone.

How to transfer game saves from one Huawei to another?

Methods depend on the game:

• 🎮 Games with cloud saving (for example, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) - just enter that same account (Google Play Games, Facebook, Huawei GameCenter).
• 📁 Local saves — copy the folder /Android/data/[game name] via a file manager or OTGcable.
• 🔧 Use Helium (application for backing up games, but requires root on some models).

For games from Huawei (for example, Huawei Mobile Services Games) saves are linked to Huawei ID —just log in to your account.

Is it possible to transfer data from Huawei to Samsung?

Yes, but it is better to avoid Huawei Share (not compatible). Use:

• Smart Switch (from Samsung) - supports transfer from Huawei.
• Google Drive or Huawei Cloud (if Samsung has access to Google Play).
• Third-party applications: Xender, Send Anywhere.

When transferring via Smart Switch some data may not be transferred (for example, notes from Huawei Notes).

How long does it take to transfer 100 GB of data?

Approximate time (depending on the model and method):

• Phone Clone: 1.5–3 hours.
• Huawei Share: 2–4 hours (due to file size limitations).
• USB OTG: 30–60 minutes.
• Cloud: 3–5 hours (depending on Internet speed).

To speed up:

• Use USB 3.0 cable.
• Backup data to ZIP before transferring.
• Disable background applications on both phones.