Changing a mobile device often raises concerns about the safety of personal information. This is especially true when moving between devices of different ecosystems, for example, from Honor to Samsung. Users are afraid of losing important contacts, chat history or valuable photos during the migration process. Fortunately, modern Android tools allow you to make this process as transparent and secure as possible.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods of transferring information. You'll learn how to use proprietary utilities from manufacturers, Google cloud services, and manual backup methods. The correct approach to preparing files will ensure a smooth start to work on a new smartphone without losing critical data.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready for use. Charge the new one to at least 80%, as the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy-consuming. Also check the availability of free space on the target device, which should be more than the amount of information being transferred. Honor and new Samsung at least up to 80%, since the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy-consuming. Also check the availability of free space on the target device, which should be more than the amount of information being transferred.
Both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to speed up over-the-air transfers, or you will need a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable (or an OTG adapter). Make sure USB debugging is enabled on both devices if you plan to use advanced methods, although it is not required for standard scenarios.
⚠️ Attention: Do not start the transfer if your Honor phone has power saving mode enabled. It can limit the background activity of synchronization applications, which will lead to an error or freezing of the process.
It is recommended to delete temporary files and cache on the old device so as not to clog the memory of the new device with garbage. This will speed up the process and save space. Cleaning can be done through the system's built-in tools or third-party utilities.
☑️ Ready to transfer
Using Samsung Smart Switch Mobile
The most reliable and official way is the application Samsung Smart Switch. It comes pre-installed on all new devices from the Korean brand, but you can also download it from Google Play on your Honor phone. This utility is specially designed to migrate data from any Android smartphone to the Samsung platform.
Run the application on both devices. On the old phone, select the “Sender” role, and on the new one, “Recipient”. The system will prompt you to select a connection method: wireless or via cable. The wireless method is more convenient, but the cable provides stability and high speed, which is critical when transferring gigabytes of video.
- 📱 Select the type of content to transfer: contacts, messages, call logs.
- 🖼️ Check the boxes for media files: photos, videos, music and documents.
- 📲 Allow access to system data when prompted on the Honor screen.
After selecting the data, the process of analysis and transmission will begin. The execution time depends on the amount of information and the quality of the connection. During the procedure, device screens may periodically turn off to save power, but do not block them completely.
Use the original cable provided by Samsung to connect the phones. Cheap analogues often do not support data transfer, working only for charging.
Synchronization via Google account
If you have previously actively used Google services on your Honor device, then most of the data is already in the cloud. When setting up Samsung for the first time, just enter the same email address to automatically restore contacts, calendar events and notes.
The service is used for photos and videos Google Photos. Make sure the Backup and Sync feature is turned on on your old phone. After logging into your account on the new device, all pictures will appear in the gallery, even if they do not take up physical space in the internal memory.
| Data type | Synchronization method | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | Google Contacts | Gmail account |
| Photos and Videos | Google Photos | Cloud space |
| Applications | Google Play | List of installed ones Software |
| Passwords | Google Password Manager | Synchronization enabled |
However, it is worth considering that system settings and the location of icons on the desktop are not transferred via the Google cloud. The interface One UI on Samsung differs from the shell Magic UI or EMUI on Honor, so you will have to get used to the new arrangement of elements manually.
Manual transfer via computer
For users who prefer complete control over the file system, the PC method is suitable. Connect your Honor phone to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the DCIM, Download, Music and Documents folders to your hard drive.
Then connect your Samsung and move the saved data to the appropriate directories. This method is ideal for transferring heavy video files or document archives that are impractical to transfer over a wireless network due to long latency.
⚠️ Attention: When copying folders manually, do not change their structure. Some applications look for media files strictly in standard directories, and moving may result in the gallery not seeing new pictures.
After copying is complete, it is recommended to restart the new smartphone. This will start the media scanning process, thanks to which the system indexes new files and displays them in the gallery and music player.
What to do if the computer does not see the phone?
If the computer does not respond to the device when you connect the cable, check the USB settings. On an Honor phone, pull down the notification shade, tap the USB Charging notification, and select File Transfer or MTP mode. Also try a different USB port or cable.
Features of transferring messages and calls
Transferring SMS and call history often causes the greatest difficulties when changing a brand. Standard Google tools do not always correctly restore text messages in the required format. Here Samsung Smart Switchcomes to the rescue again, as it can convert message databases during migration.
If the automatic method does not work, you can use specialized applications from the Play Market store, such as SMS Backup & Restore. They create a local XML backup file, which can then be restored to a new device.
To transfer them, you need to use the built-in backup functions inside the applications themselves, creating a backup to Google Drive before resetting or setting up a new phone.
System SMS and call logs are best transferred via a Smart Switch cable connection, while instant messengers require creating a separate backup in the cloud within each application.
Solving common problems and errors
During the migration process, users may experience a frozen progress bar or a connection error. Often the reason lies in an unstable Wi-Fi signal or background processes blocking data transfer on the old device.
Try restarting both smartphones and try again, closing all unnecessary applications. If the problem persists, switch to a cable connection, which is the most stable option for large volumes of information.
⚠️ Attention: Do not forcefully interrupt the transfer process by unplugging the cable or closing the application. This may result in damaged contact or message database files that will be difficult to recover.
In some cases, older firmware versions on Honor may not be compatible with new versions of Smart Switch on Samsung. Check for system updates on both devices before starting the procedure. Current software guarantees compatibility of data transfer protocols.
Why are some applications not migrated?
Not all applications can be migrated automatically due to differences in processor architecture or developer security policies. Banking applications and apps with enhanced security often require manual installation and re-authorization on a new device.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will passwords from Wi-Fi networks be transferred when you change your phone?
Yes, if you use a Google account to sync, saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords can automatically be pulled up to a new Samsung when you log in. Smart Switch may also offer to transfer these settings directly.
Do I need to reset Honor to factory settings before selling it?
Required. After successfully transferring all the data and checking its presence on the new Samsung, perform a hard reset on Honor. This will delete your personal data, accounts and history, preparing the device for transfer to the new owner.
Is it possible to transfer data if the screen on Honor is broken?
It is difficult, but possible. If the sensor works, connect the mouse via an OTG cable for control. If there is no image, but the phone responds to connections, you can try making a backup via ADB on your computer if USB debugging was previously enabled.
Will the data on Samsung be erased when you connect an old phone?
No, when using Smart Switch, the data is not deleted, but added to. However, if you restore a full system backup via the Recovery menu, it may overwrite your current data. With a standard transfer through the app, your new files will remain safe.
How to transfer the home screen layout?
Automatically transferring icons and widgets from Honor to Samsung is almost impossible due to different launchers. You will have to manually place application shortcuts on the desktop of the new device, adjusting them to the ergonomics of One UI.