How to Export Contacts with Xiaomi: A Complete Guide

Changing your smartphone, especially switching to a new Xiaomi model or, conversely, leaving the Mi ecosystem, always carries the risk of losing important data. The most valuable asset for most users is a phone book containing hundreds of numbers of friends, colleagues and delivery services. The standard procedure of resetting or flashing the device without prior backup can lead to irretrievable loss of this information, the restoration of which in modern conditions becomes almost impossible.

Fortunately, the Android operating system that underpins the MIUI and HyperOS shell provides powerful and flexible tools to manage personal data. You can back up contacts manually by saving them to a separate file, or set up automatic sync with cloud storage, which will keep your records safe from any technical glitches. The specific method depends on your goals: whether you need a quick transfer to another phone, archiving for yourself or moving to the iOS platform.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to export a phone book from Xiaomi devices. We will look at working with built-in system tools, the functionality of the Mi Cloud service, as well as universal methods through a computer and third-party applications. Following these instructions will allow you to guarantee that you retain all records, including additional fields, photos and email addresses associated with subscribers.

Use of the built-in Export Contacts application

The easiest and fastest way to save numbers is to use the standard Contacts app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi smartphone.This method is ideal if you need to quickly create a file for transfer to another Android smartphone or for local storage on your computer. VCF (vCard) is a universal standard that is supported by almost all modern devices and email clients.

To start the procedure, you need to open the phonebook application and go to the management menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI firmware, but the logic of the actions remains the same. You will need to find the settings for display or import / export data, which is usually hidden in the drop-down menu or in the settings tab.

Once you've selected an export point, the system will suggest that you identify the source of the data, and if you've kept the records carefully, the numbers can be in different places: in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-For a full backup, make sure you select the source “Phone” or “All Contacts” so you don’t miss the entries stored locally.

• 📱 Open the Contacts app and click on the three dots or menu button in the corner of the screen.
• 💾 Select “Import/Export Contacts” and then “Export to the vault».
• 📂 The system will create a file with the.vcf extension, which will be saved in the root folder or in the directory. MIUI.
• 📤 The resulting file can be sent via Bluetooth, messenger or saved to a computer.

It's important to understand the difference between exporting all contacts and selectively saving. The standard app allows you to unload the entire book, which is convenient for creating a full copy before selling the device. However, if you only need to hand over a few important numbers, it's easier to open the contact card, select Share, and send a specific business card.

⚠️ Note: When exporting contacts to internal phone memory, do not reset to factory settings (Hard Reset) until you copy the created file.vcf to your computer or to the cloud, otherwise it will be deleted along with the rest of the data.

Once the process is complete, a file will appear in the device’s memory, usually called 00001.vcf or with a current date, and can be found through the file manager on the Internal Memory → MIUI → Contacts path, or simply at the root of the disk. This file contains all the textual information about contacts, including names, numbers, addresses and notes, but does not always correctly transfer photos of subscribers.

Synchronize and export through Google Contacts

The most reliable and modern way to store a phone book is by linking to a Google account. Unlike a local file, Google Contacts' cloud database is updated in real time, meaning that even if you lose your phone or it gets broken, your numbers will remain secure and will be automatically uploaded to any new device once you log in.

To make sure that sync is active, go to the phone's settings. You need to find the Accounts and Sync section or Google. Here the switch for Contacts should be activated. If sync is enabled, all new records you create are automatically sent to the search giant's servers.

To export data through this method, you'll need a computer with Internet access. Go to contacts.google.com and log in with the same account used on Xiaomi. This displays the full copy of your phone book. On the left side of the screen, you'll find a menu where you can select "Export."

The system will offer you to choose the unload format. For compatibility with other phones and programs (Outlook, Apple Contacts), the best format is Google CSV or vCard (for import into contacts). CSV format is convenient for editing in Excel spreadsheets, because it allows you to massively edit names or numbers, but for transferring to a phone vCard is better.

• 🌐 Go to the Google Contacts website from your computer via browser.
• ✅ Make sure that the list shows all your saved numbers.
• ⬇️ Click the "Export" button in the side menu on the left.
• 💻 Select the vCard or Google format CSV And download the file to the hard drive.

The advantage of Google is that you can roll back changes, and if you accidentally delete an important contact or make incorrect edits, Google Contacts has a Cancel Change feature on the web, which allows you to return the base state 10 minutes, 1 hour, or even a week ago, a unique feature that is not available in local storage.

Backup through Mi Cloud

Xiaomi smartphone owners have access to their own cloud service, Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the system, which is convenient for those who already use the Mi ecosystem and store photos or notes there. Contact synchronization through Mi Cloud is system-level and requires no additional actions after the initial setup.

To activate the function, open your phone settings and log into your Mi Account. In the “Mi Cloud” section, you need to find the Contacts item and activate the sync switch. After that, all changes in the phone book will instantly be reflected in the cloud, which is especially useful when you move from one Xiaomi to another, since the data will be pulled up immediately after authorization.

You can also export data from Mi Cloud via a web interface. Go to i.mi.com from your computer, enter your account details and select Contacts. The web version interface has a control button that allows you to upload your selected contacts or the entire phone book in vCard format.

Using Xiaomi’s native cloud also allows you to restore remote contacts within 30 days through the shopping cart in the web interface, which serves as an additional insurance in case of accidental deletion of important entries by the user or a failure of third-party synchronization applications.

Transfer of contacts to SIM-card

Method of copying contacts to SIM-The card is considered obsolete, but it remains the only universal way to transfer numbers to button phones or devices with a broken operating system.

For export on SIM-The card is stored only by name and phone number, and all additional fields, such as email address, home address, notes and photos, will be permanently lost. 10-15 Indicators, so long names can be cut off.

To complete the procedure, go to the Contacts app, open the settings and select Import/Export Contacts. In the action list, click Export on SIM-The system will alert you to the loss of additional data — confirm the action. It can take a while if there are many records in the book.

After the export is completed, extract SIM-You'll also need to do the import procedure on the new phone, find the "Copy with" item in the contacts. SIM-maps" and select destinations to your phone or Google account, which will free up SIM card memory for future trips.

⚠️ Attention: SIM-Maps of different operators and generations (3G, 4G, 5G) They have different memory capacity for contacts. Don't be surprised if the system reports that the SIM card space is over after saving it. 200-250 number.

Using the Mi Mover app to change your phone

If your goal is to move contacts (and other data) from the old Xiaomi to the new one, there is no point in creating files and sending them manually. The company has developed a special application called Mi Mover that transfers data directly over the Wi-Fi channel, which is the fastest way to migrate.

The app is preinstalled in the Tools folder on all of the brand's current smartphones. To get started, run Mi Mover on both devices. On the old phone, select Sender status and on the new phone, New phone, the devices will find each other and create a secure connection.

In the data selection menu, tick the "Contacts" box, and you can select photos, apps, system settings and messages at the same time. The speed of the transfer depends on the amount of data, but it usually takes a few minutes even with hundreds of megabytes of information.

• 📲 Launch the Mi Mover app on both smartphones.
• 🔗 Scan it. QR-code.
• ✅ Select the category “Contacts” and other necessary data.
• 🚀 Click the “Send” button and wait for the process to be completed.

What's unique about Mi Mover is that it can port not only the contacts themselves, but also the structure of their storage, and if the numbers are broken down into groups or accounts, they will fall into place on the new device, and it can also work in the background, allowing you to use your phone while you're transferring.

💡

If Mi Mover interrupts the connection, try to turn off mobile internet on both devices and leave only Wi-Fi on.

Export contacts for switching to iPhone (iOS)

The transition from Android to iOS often raises questions among users who fear data loss. However, the procedure for exporting contacts with Xiaomi for iPhone is as simple as possible. The best tool here is the official Apple app – Move to iOS.

The app is available from the GetApps store or Google Play on your Xiaomi. Install it, launch it and follow the instructions on the screen of the new iPhone. When setting up your iPhone, select the option to transfer data from Android. Devices will create a temporary Wi-Fi network to connect to.

In the data transfer list, make sure to select Contacts, and the app will recode the phone book into a format that is fully compatible with iCloud. Once the process is complete, all numbers will appear in the Phone app on the iPhone, while maintaining the separation by field (mobile, home, work).

An alternative manual method is to export to the file.vcf (described in the first section) and then import it via iCloud.com. On your computer, go to iCloud, select Contacts, click on the gear in the corner and select Import vCard, then specify the file received from the Xiaomi phone.

⚠️ Note: When transferring to your iPhone via the Moving to iOS app, make sure both devices are on flight mode (with active Wi-Fi) so that incoming calls or messages don’t interrupt the data transfer process.

Frequent Questions and Problem Solving (FAQ)

💡

Regular sync with Google or Mi Cloud is the only way to ensure that your contacts are safe when your smartphone is lost or broken.