Changing a smartphone, especially moving from one popular ecosystem to another, is always accompanied by mild stress due to the fear of losing important contacts, photos or correspondence history. The owner Huaweiwho decides to switch to the device Xiaomifaces a unique situation, since both manufacturers use their own add-ons to the Android operating system, which may handle backups differently. Fortunately, modern technologies allow you to perform this procedure as quickly and safely as possible.
Unlike universal solutions, migration between devices of different brands requires choosing the right tool, since standard methods may not cover all file types. You have to consider several options: using a specialized application Mi Mover, recovery via a cloud service Google One or manual copying via a PC. Each method has its own advantages, depending on the amount of information and the version of Android on your devices.
Below we will analyze in detail the algorithms of actions that guarantee the successful transfer of all your digital assets. We will pay special attention to the nuances of working with the gallery and instant messengers, since it is this data that most often raises the most questions among users when changing gadgets.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before running any software transfer mechanism, you must properly prepare both smartphones. This is a basic step, which if ignored may result in process interruptions or errors when reading files. Make sure that both devices are charged at least 60%, since active data transfer via Wi-Fi or cable significantly consumes battery power.
You should turn on Wi-Fi modules on both devices, even if you plan to use a cable connection for some stages, since system services often check the network connection to authorize accounts. Also check the availability of free space on Xiaomi: the amount of available memory must exceed the amount of data you plan to transfer from Huawei.
⚠️ Attention: If your old Huawei installed EMUI version lower than 8.0, some system settings may not be transferred automatically due to differences in file system architecture. In this case, you will have to configure them manually.
It is also important to update the operating system on both devices to the latest available version. Developers MIUI and HarmonyOS (or EMUI) regularly release patches that improve compatibility during migration. Check for updates in the section Settings → System and update.
☑️ Preparing for the transfer
Using the Mi Mover application for quick migration
The most effective and native way for equipment owners Xiaomi is to use the official applications Mi Mover. This tool is designed specifically to receive data from any Android device, including competitor gadgets. The advantage of the method is high transfer speed and support for a wide range of file formats.
The process begins by installing the application on the receiving smartphone (if it is not pre-installed) and scanning the QR code on the old device to download the client part. After pairing devices through the created Wi-Fi Direct network, the user gets access to a flexible filter system.
- 📱 Contacts and calls: a complete copy of the phone book and call logs.
- 🖼️ Multimedia: photos, videos and audio recordings are transferred in original quality.
- 📲 Applications: installation files of apps (APK) and, in some cases, their data.
- 📝 System settings: Wi-Fi passwords, alarm clocks and location of icons on the desktop.
It is worth noting that when transferring applications, only the installation file is transferred. In-app data, such as progress in games or instant messenger cache, may not be saved if the developer has not provided cloud synchronization. For critical apps, it is better to use their built-in backup features.
What to do if Mi Mover does not see your old phone?
Make sure that all requested permissions for the Mi Mover app are allowed on your old device, including access to location and storage. Also try turning off the mobile data on both devices, leaving only the Wi-Fi modules active.
Comparative table of transfer methods
In order to choose the optimal migration path, it is worth comparing the main available methods according to key parameters. Different methods are suitable for different use cases and data volumes.
| Method | Speed | Data types | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | High | All types (photos, contacts, applications) | Installing the application on both devices |
| Google Account | Average | Contacts, calendar, photos (compressed) | Stable Internet, Google account |
| USB cable (PC) | Depends on the port | Multimedia files, documents | Computer, USB cable |
| Bluetooth | Low | Only small files, contacts | Proximity of devices |
As can be seen from the table, Mi Mover is a leader in versatility. However, if you only need to transfer contacts and photos, synchronization via Google may be more convenient, since it does not require installing additional software on the old phone.
For complete cloning of a smartphone, including the folder structure and applications, Mi Mover is the uncontested leader among free solutions.
Working with a Google account and cloud services
The Google ecosystem remains the most reliable way to store personal information, independent of the smartphone manufacturer. If you have previously used Huawei with Google services (GMS), then most of your data is already in the cloud. To activate this process on a new Xiaomi it is enough to enter the same email address during the first setup.
Particular attention should be paid Google Photos. If synchronization was enabled on your old device, all your photos will automatically appear in the new phone's gallery. However, if you used Huawei Cloud without being linked to Google, you will have to first upload photos from there or use the application Huawei Cloud on a new device to download them.
To transfer contacts, make sure that they are saved in your Google account, and not in your phone's memory or on SIM card. You can check this by going to Contacts → Settings → Accounts for synchronization. If the contacts are in the device memory, export them to a file .vcf and import them to a new phone.
Transfer of instant messengers and social networks
Messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viberrequire special attention. Unlike contacts, their chat history is not always transferred automatically when you change devices, especially between different Android brands. For WhatsApp it is critical to make a local backup or a copy in Google Drive on your old device before switching.
When you first launch the messenger on Xiaomi the application itself will offer to restore the history from the found backup. Make sure you are using the same phone number and the same Google Drive account where the backup is stored. In some cases, you may need to manually copy a folder WhatsApp from the internal memory of the old phone to the root directory of the new one.
⚠️ Attention: When transferring messenger data through third-party apps without using official backups, there is a risk of losing encrypted keys, which will make the correspondence history inaccessible.
For Telegram the situation is simpler: all data is stored on servers, and you just need to log in. However, Secret Chats are tied to a specific device and cannot be transferred - this is a feature of the encryption protocol, not a bug.
For WhatsApp on Android-to-Android, it is better to use the built-in "Transfer Chats" function in the settings of the application itself, choosing the method via QR code, as this is more reliable than restoring from Google Drive.
Problem solving and format compatibility
During the migration process, users may encounter incompatibility with some file formats or system settings. For example, themes and widgets EMUI will not work on the shell MIUI. The system will offer to delete them or find analogues in the theme store Xiaomi.
Another common problem is the absence of some system fonts or emojis. If you notice that some characters are displayed as squares, this can be solved by updating the system or installing a font package from the official store. There may also be conflicts when transferring Wi-Fi passwords if the old device used encryption that is not supported by default on the new one.
If the process freezes at a certain percentage, do not rush to interrupt the connection. Often the system simply processes a large volume of small files. However, if the wait lasts more than 15 minutes, it is recommended to restart the application Mi Mover on both devices and try to choose to transfer data in smaller groups (for example, photos first, then applications).
Why are some applications marked as "Not compatible"?
This means that the application developer has prohibited installation on devices with certain characteristics or version Android, or the application is optimized only for screens of a certain resolution.
Is it possible to transfer data if the screen of an old Huawei is broken?
Yes, if the sensor works and the image is at least partially visible. Connect a USB mouse via an OTG adapter for control. If the sensor doesn't work but USB debugging works, you can use PC phone management software like Scrcpy to create a backup.
How long does it take to transfer 64GB of data?
When using Mi Mover and 5GHz Wi-Fi, the process takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Via Bluetooth this would take several hours, and through Google Drive (online) the time would depend solely on the speed of your Internet channel.
Do you need to reset Xiaomi to factory settings before transferring?
No, this is not necessary. Mi Mover can work on an already configured device, simply adding new data and applications. However, if the new phone already has a lot of unnecessary junk, resetting can speed up the system after migration.