Replacing a smartphone is always not only the joy of a new device, but also the stress associated with the need to transfer all the accumulated information. The question is especially relevant when the user moves between ecosystems within the world Android, for example, from Honor to Xiaomi. Despite the fact that both devices run on the same operating system, their interfaces (Honor and Xiaomi) have significant differences in architecture and pre-installed services. In this article we will look at them in detail. all available migration methods: from using specialized software from the manufacturer to cloud solutions. You'll learn how to maintain your folder structure, transfer call history, and avoid losing important application settings. The process may seem complicated only at first glance, but if you follow the algorithm of actions, it will take no more than 30-40 minutes, even with a large amount of data.EMUI or MagicOS from Honor and MIUI or HyperOS Xiaomi) have significant differences in architecture and pre-installed services.
In this article, we will analyze in detail all available migration methods: from using specialized software from the manufacturer to cloud solutions. You'll learn how to maintain your folder structure, transfer call history, and avoid losing important application settings. The process may seem complicated only at first glance, but if you follow the algorithm of actions, it will take no more than 30-40 minutes, even with a large amount of data.
Before taking active steps, you need to do a little preparation. Make sure both smartphones are charged at least 60-70%, as intensive file transfers via Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth can quickly drain battery power. Also check the availability of free space on the target device - it should exceed the amount of data that you plan to transfer from the old device.
Preparing devices and choosing a migration method
The first step is to choose the optimal tool for your situation. If you have access to stable Wi-Fi and both phones are nearby, wireless methods will be most convenient. However, if the data volume is in the hundreds of gigabytes (for example, a lot of 4K videos), it is worth considering a wired connection or using an external drive.
Account synchronization is a critical point. Before starting the transfer, make sure that the old device Honor is fully synchronized with Google account. This ensures the safety of your contacts, calendar and notes, even if the main file transfer process is interrupted. Go to the settings and check the status of the last synchronization.
It is also worth freeing up RAM on both devices by closing background applications. This will speed up the work of system services responsible for transmitting data packets. Don't forget that modern shells can aggressively "kill" background processes to save power, which can lead to a disconnection during a transfer.
⚠️ Warning: If your older Honor phone is running a version of the system without Google services (models released after May 2019), standard contact syncing may not work. In this case, you need to export contacts to a file
.vcfmanually before starting the procedure.
Using the Mi Mover application from Xiaomi
The most effective and native way to transfer data to devices Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO is the proprietary utility Mi Mover. This application is pre-installed on all new smartphones of the brand and is optimized for working with the shell MIUI. It allows you to transfer contacts, messages, call logs, photos, music, videos and even some system settings.
The process begins by installing the application on both devices. On the new one Xiaomi it is already in the “Tools” folder. On the old Honor it must be downloaded from Google Play or the manufacturer's official website. After launch, select the role of the device: on Xiaomi, click “I am the recipient,” and on Honor, “I am the sender.”
Next, the devices will create a Wi-Fi access point. Your Honor phone will ask you to connect to the network created by Xiaomi. Once the connection is confirmed, data scanning will begin. You can select specific categories of files to transfer, which is convenient if you don’t want to drag unnecessary garbage from old folders to your new phone.
☑️ Preparing to work with Mi Mover
The transfer speed depends on the number of files and the quality of the wireless connection. On average, transferring 50 GB of data takes 15 to 25 minutes. It is important not to minimize the application or lock the smartphone screens during the process, as this may pause the transfer of packets.
If the process is frozen at the “Connect” stage, try temporarily disabling mobile data on both devices so that the system does not try to switch to the cellular network instead of local Wi-Fi.
Alternative methods: Google Drive and cloud storage
If for some reason a direct connection between phones is impossible or is unstable, cloud technologies come to the rescue. The ecosystem Google provides a reliable backup mechanism that will automatically restore data the first time you log into your account on a new device.
To do this on the old one Honor you need to go to Google settings and select “Backup”. Here you can initiate the creation of a fresh copy of data, including the list of applications, call history, SMS and device settings. Please note that the files themselves (photos and videos) are usually uploaded to Google Photos, and not to the system backup.
On the new one Xiaomi during the initial setup (Master), the system will offer to restore data from the cloud. All you need to do is enter your username and password from the same Google account. The system will automatically download the list of applications from Play Market and restore system settings. However, this method will not transfer files from the internal memory that are not associated with specific applications.
There are also third-party cloud services, such as Yandex.Disk or Dropboxthat have photo auto-upload functions. This is a good additional channel for saving media content, but they are less suitable for a complete system migration due to restrictions on the types of data saved.
| Method | What is transferred | Speed | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Everything (photos, contacts, applications, settings) | High (Wi-Fi Direct) | Installing the application on both phones |
| Google Backup | Contacts, SMS, list of applications, settings | Average (depending on the Internet) | Stable Internet, Google account |
| Computer (USB) | Only files (photos, videos, documents) | Depends on the USB port | PC, two cables, file manager |
| Bluetooth | Contacts, small files | Very low | No (built into the system) |
Manual transfer via computer and USB cable
This method is the most reliable for transferring heavy media files when wireless networks are congested or unavailable. You will need a computer with enough free space and two working USB cables. Connect the old one Honor to the PC in the "File Transfer" (MTP) mode.
Copy the necessary folders (usually DCIM for photos, Music, Download and Documents) to the computer's hard drive. After the copying is complete, disconnect Honor and connect the new one Xiaomi. Move the files to the appropriate directories on the new device.
Pay special attention to the folder Android/data. In modern versions of Android, access to it is limited, and a simple copy-paste may not work for some applications. If you are transferring game cache or messenger data manually, it is better to use specialized functions within the applications themselves (for example, backing up WhatsApp chats).
⚠️ Attention: When manually copying via a PC, do not move system files and folders with names starting with a dot (for example,
.thumbnails). This may lead to errors in the gallery and other system services on the new phone.
Migration of messages, calls and specific data
The most difficult part of the migration is the SMS history and call log. Standard Android tools often ignore this data when simply copying files. The application Mi Mover copes with this task best, but if you use other methods, you will need third-party software.
It is recommended to use the utility SMS Backup & Restore. It creates an XML archive of all your messages and calls on your old phone, which can then be transferred to a new one Xiaomi and restored. This ensures that not a single important message with a confirmation code or personal correspondence is lost.
As for instant messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, then they have their own transfer mechanisms. For WhatsApp, you need to create a backup copy of your chats in the application settings on your old phone, linking it to Google Drive. When installed on a new device, the messenger itself will offer to restore the conversation history.
What to do if WhatsApp does not see the backup?
Make sure that on the new phone you are logged into the same Google account that was used to create the backup. Also check that the phone number matches. Sometimes it helps to manually copy the WhatsApp folder from your computer to the root of the internal memory of a new smartphone before installing the application.
Possible problems and their solutions
In the process of transferring data from Honor to Xiaomi users may encounter a number of technical difficulties. Most often they are associated with aggressive battery optimization or incompatibility between Android versions. For example, a new phone may fall asleep during the transfer, breaking the connection.
To avoid this, go to the battery settings on both devices and set the operating mode for the transfer application (Mi Mover) to “Unlimited”. This will prevent the system from killing the data transfer process in the background. Also disable power saving mode during migration.
Another common problem is errors when restoring applications. Some apps installed on Honor may not be compatible with the processor or version of Android on Xiaomi. In this case, the system will skip their installation. You will have to find analogs Play Market manually.
The main reason for failures during transfer is energy saving. Force migration apps to run in the background and disable screen sleep mode during the process.
If after the transfer you notice that contacts are displayed incorrectly or are duplicated, use the “Merge Duplicates” feature in the Contacts app on Xiaomi. This is a built-in tool that will quickly bring order to your phone book.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI and HyperOS interfaces are constantly updated. The location of menu items in the settings may differ depending on the firmware version. If you do not find the item you need, use the settings search by entering a keyword (for example, “Backup” or “Mi Mover”).
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Will passwords from Wi-Fi networks be transferred when you change your phone?
Yes, if you use the recovery method via Google account or Mi Mover application, saved passwords from Wi-Fi networks should be transferred. However, for security reasons, sometimes you need to re-enter the password the first time you connect to the network on a new device.
What will happen to the data in the Notes application from Honor?
The standard Notes application from Honor does not have a direct analogue on Xiaomi, and its data is not automatically transferred through Google. You need to export notes to text files or copy the text manually, or use third-party note apps that sync via the cloud (such as Google Keep or Notion).
Is it possible to interrupt the transfer process and continue later?
In the Mi Mover app, interrupting the process usually results in having to start over, since the integrity of the data packet is compromised. When using Google cloud backup, the process can be paused, but full downloads of large amounts of data require a stable connection. It is recommended to set aside time when the phones will not be needed for an hour.
Do you need to reset your new Xiaomi to factory settings before transferring?
No, this is not necessary. Mi Mover and other tools work on an already configured device. However, if you have already started actively using your new phone and filled it with your data, the transfer may create duplicate files. Ideally, transfer data immediately after the first turn on.