Transferring contacts from phone to Honor phone via Bluetooth: a detailed guide

Transferring contacts between smartphones Honor via Bluetooth seems like a simple task, but in practice users faced with nuances: from the absence of an option in the menu to synchronization errors. In this article we will look all stages of the process from preparing devices to solving typical problems. We will pay special attention to the features of the firmware EMUI and MagicUIthat are installed on modern models Honor (for example, Honor 90, Honor X9a, Honor Magic5).

Many people mistakenly believe that Bluetooth is only intended for transferring files or music. In fact, the protocol supports exchange vCard-contacts (files with the extension .vcf), but manufacturers often hide this function behind several layers of menus. We will show you how to activate it, even if the option is not visible at first glance. And if Bluetooth refuses to work, we will offer proven alternatives without using cloud services.

Important: the instructions are suitable for smartphones Honor based on Android 10–14 with shells EMUI 10.0+ or MagicUI 7.0+. On older versions (for example EMUI 9.x), the interface may differ, but the general principle remains the same. If your model was released before 2019, check for software updates in Settings → System → Software update.

Preparing phones for contact transfer

Before starting the transfer, make sure that both smartphones Honor match the key requirements:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 30% - interruption of the process due to discharge can lead to the loss of some contacts.
• 📱 Bluetooth is on on both devices (icon in the notification panel or Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
• 🔒 Device visibility activated on the sending phone (the option "Make visible to everyone" or "Discoverable").
• 📇 Contacts are saved in the phone memory, and not only in your Google account. application Contacts → Settings → Accounts.

If contacts are synchronized only with Google Account, you will have to first export them to the device memory. To do this:

1. Open the application Contact.
2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner → Manage contacts → Import/Export.
3. Select Export to file and save .vcf to internal memory.

Battery charge >30%|Bluetooth is enabled on both phones|The sending phone is visible to other devices|Contacts are saved in the phone memory (not only in Google)|Unlock password is disabled (if required)-->

Attention! On some models Honor (for example, Honor 8X or Honor 10 Lite) the option to export contacts may be hidden behind an additional menu. If you don't find the "Import/Export" item, try this path: Contacts → Settings → Advanced → Managing contacts.

Step-by-step guide: transferring contacts via Bluetooth

When both phones ready, follow the algorithm:

1. Pairing devices:

   On the sending phone (Honorfrom which you are transferring contacts) open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.

   Click "Search for devices" and select the second Honor from the list. Confirm pairing on both phones (you may need to enter the same code, for example 0000 or 1234).

2. Sending contacts:

   Open the application Contact on the sending phone.

   Tap on the three dots (⋮) → Manage contacts → Send contacts (or "Share"). If there is no such option, select Import/Export → Send via Bluetooth.

   Tick the necessary contacts (or click "Select all") and confirm sending.

3. Receiving contacts:

   A notification about the incoming file will appear on the recipient phone .vcfAccept it.

   The system will offer to save contacts to the phone memory or Google account. option.

If at the sending stage you do not see the "Send via Bluetooth" option, then the contacts are linked to your Google account. In this case:

• 🔄 Export them to a file .vcf (as described in the previous section).
• 📎 Open the file manager. (for example Files), find the exported file and send it via Bluetooth manually.

Table: Compatibility of Honor models with Bluetooth transfer

Critical feature for models on MagicUI 7.x: if contacts were imported from iCloud or other cloud services (not Google), you will have to first export them manually - automatic sending via Bluetooth may not work.

Common errors and their solutions

Even with correct settings, the process may be interrupted. Let's look at typical scenarios and ways to eliminate them:

⚠️ Attention! If the error “Failed to send” or “File is damaged” appears when transferring contacts, do not try again immediately. First, reboot both phones - this will reset the Bluetooth module cache.

• 🚫 Error "The device does not support this file type":

  Cause: the recipient phone does not recognize the format .vcf. Solution: Before sending, open the file .vcf in a text editor (for example, Notepad) and make sure it starts with a line BEGIN:VCARD. If not, export the contacts again.

• ⏳ Transfer hangs at 0% or 100%:

  Cause: Bluetooth version conflict (for example, the sender uses Bluetooth 5.2, and the recipient uses 4.0). Solution: enable compatibility mode on both phones in Bluetooth Settings → Advanced → Compatibility with legacy devices.

• 🔄 Contacts are duplicated after import:

  Cause: The recipient phone already has contacts with the same names/numbers. Solution: before importing, delete duplicates or use the "Merge contacts" option in the application settings Contact.

• 📵 Bluetooth turns off spontaneously:

  Cause: power saving mode is active. Solution: add Bluetooth to battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Advanced → Battery optimization → All apps → Bluetooth).

Alternative ways to transfer contacts to Honor

If Bluetooth does not work or the transfer is constantly interrupted, consider these methods:

• 📁 Via memory card:

  Export contacts to a file .vcf (as described above), copy it to microSD, then insert the card into the second phone and import the file via Contacts → Import/Export.

• ☁️ Via Google Account:

  Synchronize contacts with Google on the first phone (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact synchronization), then add the same account on the second Honor and enable synchronization.

  Minus: requires an Internet connection and can take up to 10 minutes.

• 🤝 Data applications:

  Use SHAREit, Xender or Honor Share (built into MagicUI). These apps transfer contacts without restrictions on the number and support Wi-Fi Direct for speed.

• 🔌 Via USB cable (OTG):

  Connect both phones to the computer, copy the file .vcf from one device to another. For models with MagicUI 7.x you can use the function Huawei HiSuite (works also with Honor).

Comparison of methods for speed and reliability:

| Method | Speed | Reliability | Internet required | Limitations |

|----------------------|----------|------------|--------------------|------------------------------|

| Bluetooth | Nizkaya | Crednyaya | Net | Do 50 kontaktov za raz |

| Google Akkaunt | Vysokaya | Vysokaya | Da | Cinkhronizatsiya mozhet zaderzhatsya |

| Karta pamyati | Crednyaya | Vysokaya | Net | Nuzhna microSD |

| Applications (SHAREit) | Very high | High | No (Wi-Fi Direct) | Requires software installation |

Features of transfer on new Honor models (2023–2026)

Smartphones Honor latest generations (Honor 90, Honor Magic5, Honor Magic V2) work on MagicUI 7.x, where the process of transferring contacts is simplified, but there are nuances:

• 🔗 Function Honor Share:

  Instead of standard Bluetooth, use the built-in solution: activate Honor Share in the notification panel on both phones, select "Transfer" contacts" and follow the instructions. The transfer speed is higher than that of Bluetooth due to the use of Wi-Fi Direct.

• 🔒 Security restrictions:

  On MagicUI 7.2+ when pairing devices for the first time, confirmation via Huawei ID may be required (even if you have Honor). If it is not there, the system will prompt you to create an account or use an alternative transfer method.

• 📱 Support for multiple Bluetooth profiles:

  New models support simultaneous connection to several devices. This is convenient if you need to transfer contacts to Honor and, for example, to Huawei Watch in parallel.