Transfer Music from Huawei to iPhone: Easy Steps

Moving your music library from a Huawei phone to a new iPhone can feel like a chore, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide covers the most reliable methods—using a computer, a cloud service, or a direct transfer app—so you can keep your playlists and songs without losing anything. Before you start, make sure your Huawei is fully charged and that you know your Apple ID and password for the iPhone.

What You’ll Need

Your Huawei phone with the music files on it
Your iPhone (set up and connected to Wi-Fi)
A computer (Windows or Mac) with enough free storage—optional but recommended for the most reliable transfer
A USB cable for the Huawei (and the iPhone’s cable if using a computer)
Apple Music or another music app on the iPhone (free accounts work for syncing)

Step-by-Step

Find your music on the Huawei. Open the Files app (or File Manager) and look for a folder named Music, Download, or Media. Most songs are MP3, M4A, or WAV files. If you use a music app, check its settings for a “download location” or “storage” path.
Choose a transfer method. The easiest no-computer option is a cloud drive. The most reliable for large libraries is a computer. Pick one and follow the matching steps below.

Method A: Using a Computer (Recommended for Large Libraries)

Connect the Huawei to the computer. Plug it in with a USB cable. On the phone, a notification will appear—tap it and choose File Transfer or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol). If nothing happens, try a different cable or port.
Copy the music folder to the computer. Open the phone’s storage on the computer (it shows up as a drive). Locate the music folder, then copy it to a folder on your desktop, e.g., Huawei Music.
Connect the iPhone to the computer. Unplug the Huawei and plug in the iPhone. If you’re on a Mac, open Finder; on Windows, open iTunes (or the Apple Devices app if you have Windows 10/11 and iTunes isn’t installed). If prompted on the iPhone, tap Trust This Computer.
Add the music to your library. In Finder/iTunes, click the phone icon, then go to Music (or Songs). Drag the Huawei Music folder from your desktop into the music list window. Wait for the sync to finish.
Sync the music to the iPhone. Still in Finder/iTunes, check the box Sync Music, choose Entire music library (or selected playlists), then click Apply or Sync. The music will appear in the Apple Music app on your iPhone.

Method B: Using a Cloud Drive (No Computer)

Upload from the Huawei. Install Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox on the Huawei. Open the app, sign in, and upload the music folder. This can take a while for large libraries—keep the phone plugged in.
Download on the iPhone. Install the same cloud app on the iPhone, sign in with the same account, and download the music files. They will save to the Files app.
Import to the Music app. Open the Files app, find the downloaded songs, tap a file, then tap the share icon (square with arrow) and choose Save to Music (or Add to Music). Repeat for each song—or use a third-party app like Documents by Readdle to batch-import.

Method C: Using a Third-Party Transfer App

Install a transfer app on both phones. Apps like ShareIt, Xender, or Send Anywhere work over Wi-Fi. Install the same app on both devices.
Connect the two phones. Open the app on both, and follow the on-screen instructions to create a connection (usually one phone creates a hotspot or scans a QR code).
Send the music. Select the music files on the Huawei, then send. On the iPhone, accept the files and save them to the Files app, then import to Music as in Method B, step 5.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to switch the Huawei to “File Transfer” mode—it often defaults to “Charging only,” which hides the storage from the computer.
Dragging music into the iPhone’s “On My Device” section in Finder/iTunes instead of the phone’s Music tab—that only copies to the computer, not the phone.
Not checking file formats. iPhone natively plays MP3, AAC, ALAC, and WAV, but not FLAC or OGG. Convert those first (using a free tool like VLC or Audacity) or they won’t play.
Assuming Apple Music subscription is required. You can sync your own music files without a subscription—just use the Apple Music app to play them.
Using a cloud service with limited free storage—if your library is large, you’ll hit the cap. Check your plan before uploading.

Tips

Keep a backup. Before transferring, copy the music folder to a computer or external drive. This protects against accidental deletion.
Organize by folder. If you have many albums, keep them in subfolders. Finder/iTunes will preserve the folder structure as playlists.
Use Wi-Fi sync. After the first wired sync, you can enable Wi-Fi sync in Finder/iTunes so future transfers don’t need a cable.
For playlists from streaming apps like Spotify or Huawei Music, you can’t transfer the actual songs if they’re DRM-protected. Use a playlist converter (e.g., TuneMyMusic) to recreate the playlist on Apple Music, but you’ll need a subscription.
If you have a Mac with AirDrop, you can send music files directly from the Huawei to the Mac, then to the iPhone—faster than cloud upload for a few files.

Troubleshooting

Computer doesn’t recognize the Huawei. Try a different USB port, a different cable, and make sure the phone is unlocked. On Windows, install the Huawei USB driver from the manufacturer’s site. On Mac, you may need Android File Transfer app.
Music doesn’t appear on the iPhone after syncing. In Finder/iTunes, check that the phone is selected, not the computer’s library. Also, ensure you clicked “Apply” or “Sync” after adding music. If the music is still missing, restart both the computer and the iPhone.
Files are in a format the iPhone can’t play. Convert them to MP3 or AAC using a free converter (like VLC Media Player). Then re-sync.
Cloud upload is stuck. Check your Wi-Fi connection and storage space on the cloud. Try uploading in smaller batches (e.g., by album).
Transfer app keeps disconnecting. Make sure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and that they are close together. Restart the app and try again.
“Sync Music” is grayed out in Finder/iTunes. This usually means the iPhone is set to “Manually manage music.” Go to the phone’s Summary tab and check “Manually manage music” to enable drag-and-drop, or uncheck it to use automatic sync.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer music from Huawei to iPhone without a computer?

Yes, use a cloud drive (Google Drive, OneDrive) or a Wi-Fi transfer app (ShareIt, Xender). Upload from the Huawei, then download and import on the iPhone.

Will my playlists transfer too?

Playlists are not files—they are lists of song references. If you have the actual music files, you can recreate playlists manually on the iPhone. For playlists from streaming apps, use a service like TuneMyMusic to copy them to Apple Music.

Do I need an Apple Music subscription to play my own music?

No. The Apple Music app can play music you’ve synced or imported without a subscription. You just need a free Apple ID.

What music formats are supported on iPhone?

iPhone supports MP3, AAC, ALAC, WAV, and AIFF. It does not natively support FLAC or OGG. Convert those to MP3 or AAC before transferring.

Why is my music not showing up in the Apple Music app after syncing?

Make sure you synced to the phone, not just added to the computer’s library. In Finder/iTunes, select the phone, go to Music, and check the sync settings. Also, the music may be in the “Recently Added” or “Songs” tab—search for it.

Can I transfer music from Huawei Music app directly?

If the songs are downloaded to your phone (not streamed), they are in the phone’s storage. You can copy them using the methods above. If they are DRM-protected, you cannot transfer them—you’ll need to re-purchase or use a streaming service.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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