Buying a new smartphone always causes mixed feelings: the joy of owning a modern gadget and a slight panic about the need to transfer your entire digital life. Device owners Honor are in an advantageous position as the brand ecosystem offers powerful migration tools. The process of switching from an old Android device to a new one has become as automated as possible, but requires careful attention to detail. Before starting the procedure, it is important to understand that the amount of information transferred can vary from a couple of gigabytes to hundreds. The copying speed directly depends on the selected method and the state of the wireless modules. We will look at the most effective methods that guarantee the safety of your contacts, media library and application settings without loss of quality. Honor has become as automated as possible, but requires a careful approach to detail.
Before starting the procedure, it is important to understand that the amount of information transferred can vary from a couple of gigabytes to hundreds. The copying speed directly depends on the selected method and the state of the wireless modules. We will look at the most effective ways to ensure the safety of your contacts, media library and application settings without loss of quality.
Preparing devices for data migration
Successful transfer of information begins long before pressing the “Start” button. It is critical to ensure a stable power supply for both gadgets. If one of the smartphones runs out of power during the synchronization process, the process will be interrupted, which may lead to file damage or partial loss. Connect both devices to chargers or make sure the charge level is above 60%.
Free up space on the receiving device. Even if the new one Honor has a large built-in drive, system files and pre-installed software already take up a significant amount of space. Check the available space in the menu Settings → Storage. If there is less free space than the weight of data on the old phone, the operation will have to be postponed until the cache is cleared or unnecessary files are deleted.
⚠️ Attention: Do not install complex screen locks (pattern or long password) on the new phone until the transfer is completed. Some older versions of Android may block data transfer due to incompatible authentication methods. It's better to use a simple PIN or fingerprint.
It is also recommended to update the software on both devices to the latest available version. Manufacturers often release patches that improve the stability of data transfer protocols. Go to Settings → System and updates → Software update and check for new firmware versions. This is especially true for older models that may not work correctly with new encryption standards.
☑️ Preparing for transfer
Using the proprietary Phone Clone application
The most effective and the preferred method is to use the utility Phone Clone. This is a proprietary solution from Honor, which creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, bypassing Internet traffic and cloud servers. The transfer speed with this method can reach 40 MB/s, which allows you to transfer 10 GB of data in about 4-5 minutes.
On a new smartphone Honor the application is usually pre-installed. If it is not there, download it from the store AppGallery. Launch the app and select the “This is a new phone” role. A QR code and network name will appear on the screen. On the old device also run Phone Clone (you need to download it from Google Play or the official website if it is deleted) and select “This is an old phone.” Scan the QR code with the camera of your old device to establish a connection.
After pairing, you will see a list of data categories available for transfer. The system allows you to flexibly customize the selection: you can transfer only contacts and messages, leaving heavy video files in place, or copy everything completely. Pay attention to the “System Settings” item: it will transfer your wallpaper, icon layout and alarm settings, creating a feeling of a familiar environment immediately after switching on.
When transferred via Phone Clone, applications are installed automatically, but banking apps and instant messengers will require re-authorization for security reasons.
The copying process is displayed in the form of a progress bar indicating the remaining time. Do not minimize the application or lock your device screens while working. Once the operation is complete, the new phone will prompt you to reboot to apply all the settings. This is an important stage that records changes in system files.
Recovery via Google Account
An alternative method, deeply integrated into the operating system Android, involves the use of cloud services Google. This method is ideal if your old phone has already been disposed of or is not physically accessible, but you have created backup copies in advance. When setting up a new one for the first time Honor the system itself will offer to restore data from the cloud.
For the method to work correctly, synchronization must be active on the old device. Check the settings in the Accounts → Googlesection. Make sure there are checkboxes next to Contacts, Calendar, Documents, and Application Data. It is also important to check for a fresh copy in the menu System → Backup. If the last copy was created a month ago, the current data will not be restored.
| Data type | Google Drive limit | Recovery speed | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Unlimited | Instantly | High |
| Photo/Video | 15 GB (free) | Depends on the Internet | High |
| Applications | Unlimited | Average | Average |
| SMS/MMS | Unlimited | Fast | High |
The main disadvantage of the method is its dependence on the speed of the Internet connection. Uploading a large amount of photos can take several hours when using mobile data. It is recommended to connect the new Honor to a stable Wi-Fi network before starting the recovery. In addition, free space in the cloud is often not enough for a complete backup of your media library.
Transferring data using a computer
For users who prefer full control over the file system, the copying method via a personal computer is suitable. This method requires a USB cable and allows you to manually sort the files before transferring. It is indispensable if you need to move specific folders that are not captured by automatic synchronization tools.
Connect your old smartphone to the PC in file transfer mode (MTP). Open the device's internal storage and copy the necessary directories to your computer's hard drive. Pay special attention to the folders DCIM (photos and videos from the camera), Download (downloads), Music and Documents. After this, connect the new one Honor and move the files to the appropriate sections of its memory.
When working with a computer, it is important to follow the folder structure. For example, for music to be displayed in a standard player Honor, the files must be in the folder Music, and ringtones in Ringtones. Chaotic copying to the root directory will make it difficult to find files in the future and may result in the system not seeing the media files.
⚠️ Attention: When copying via a PC, do not remove the cable until the recording operation is complete. Interrupting the process can damage the smartphone's file system, which will require formatting the drive.
This method also makes it easy to transfer large files, such as movies or archives of work documents, that may not fit into the cloud limit or cause a timeout during wireless transfer. However, it does not transfer application settings, call history and SMS messages.
Synchronizing contacts and calendar
The contact book is the most important element, the loss of which can be critical. In modern smartphones Honor contact synchronization occurs almost instantly when logging into your account. However, if you used to store contacts on a SIM card, the process will require additional steps.
To import from a SIM card, open the Contacts app on the new phone. Go to the control menu (usually three dots or a profile icon) and select Import/Export contacts. Specify the source as “SIM card” and the destination as “Phone” or “Google Account”. It is recommended to save contacts in the Google cloud, as this guarantees their safety even if the device itself is broken or lost.
If on your old phone the contacts were saved in a file format .vcf, the process is even simpler. Transfer this file to a new one Honor in any convenient way and just open it. The system will automatically offer to add all found entries to the phone book. This is a universal format that is supported by all operating systems.
What to do if contacts are duplicated?
If you see the same numbers multiple times after transferring, use the Merge Duplicates feature in the Contacts app. It will automatically find entries with the same names or numbers and merge them into one card.
Transferring WhatsApp and Viber messages
Messengers occupy a special place in the lives of users, and the history of correspondence is often more important than photos. Standard methods for copying files do not always transfer messenger databases correctly due to encryption. For WhatsApp and Viber there are own backup mechanisms.
In WhatsApp, go to Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Create a fresh copy in Google Drive. When you install WhatsApp on a new one Honor and enter the same phone number, the application will detect the backup and offer to restore your message history. Important: the phone number and Google account must match those on the old device.
For Viber the procedure is similar: More → Settings → Account → Viber backup. After restoring to the new device, all media files from chats will also be downloaded. If you use local backup (to phone memory), then the database file must be manually transferred via PC to a folder Viber on a new device before installing the application.
⚠️ Attention: Two-factor authentication in instant messengers may block login on a new device if you do not remember the PIN code. Make sure you know the verification code before resetting your old phone.
Frequently asked questions and problem solving
Why doesn't Phone Clone see your old phone?
Make sure Wi-Fi and geolocation are turned on on both devices. Sometimes it helps to turn off the mobile data on your old phone while searching. Also check if your firewall or antivirus is blocking the creation of a local network.
Is it possible to transfer data from iPhone to Honor?
Yes, Phone Clone app supports iOS. However, only contacts, photos, videos and calendars can be transferred. Applications and their data (correspondence) cannot be transferred due to differences in operating systems.
What to do if there is not enough space on the new Honor?
When using Phone Clone, you can choose selective transfer. Uncheck videos and heavy applications. The remaining files can be downloaded later via the cloud or computer, after clearing the space.
Have the icons of some applications disappeared after the transfer?
Some applications may be incompatible with the new version of Android or not available in the AppGallery store. Try to find them manually in Google Play or Petal Search and install them again - the data is often pulled from the developer’s cloud.
Is it safe to delete data from your old phone right away?
No, first actively use your new smartphone for a couple of days. Make sure all photos are open, contacts are in place, and applications are working correctly. Only after a complete check can you reset the old device.
The fastest and most complete transfer of all types of data, including system settings, is provided only by the proprietary Phone Clone utility.