The transition to a new flagship smartphone, such as the Xiaomi Mi 11, is always accompanied by a desire to get started with the device as quickly as possible without being distracted by routine setup tasks. The most critical stage of migration for most users is the transfer of the phone book, since losing the numbers of business partners or loved ones is unacceptable. Modern operating systems based on Android 11 or newer versions, which this device receives, offer many built-in tools to automate the process, but the nuances of the MIUI interface often raise questions among beginners.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can recover your phone book, from cloud sync to manually importing files via Bluetooth or USB. You will learn how to avoid duplicate records, what to do if contacts are not displayed after transfer, and how to properly configure the display of names for maximum comfort. Understanding these processes will save you time and avoid potential errors when working with the file system of the device.
Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that the source device (where you copy data) and the target smartphone Xiaomi Mi 11 have sufficient battery power. Interrupting the process of writing data to the disk can damage the contact database, which will require more complex recovery.
Preparation of the source device and format verification
The first step in successful data migration is to analyze where your numbers are stored right now. In modern smartphones, information can be scattered across different storage facilities: SIM-For the Xiaomi Mi 11, the most optimal and reliable source is a Google account, as it provides seamless integration with the operating system.
If your contacts are stored locally on an old phone, they must be pre-exported to the universal.vcf (vCard) format, which is supported by the vast majority of mobile platforms and email clients, making it a de facto standard for data transfer. Trying to migrate the database in a proprietary format of a particular manufacturer (for example, Samsung or Huawei) without converting can lead to the fact that the Xiaomi Mi 11 simply does not recognize the file.
⚠️ Warning: Before any export operations start, be sure to back up contacts on your old device. If there is a failure during the conversion or transfer, you will have the original file to try again.
Check the number of records on the original device. If there are several thousand, the import process may take longer than usual, at which point the phone's interface may temporarily respond to latency commands. This is the standard behavior of the system when it writes intensively to the SQLite database used by Android to store contacts.
☑️ Preparation for transfer
Synchronization through Google account: a regular method
The easiest and recommended way to move contacts to the Xiaomi Mi 11 is to use Google’s cloud service, which does not require a cable, computer or special intermediary applications, just so that the old device is synchronized and all the numbers are stored in a Google account, not in the phone’s memory.
When you first activate the new Xiaomi Mi 11, the system will prompt you to log in to your existing account. Once you enter your login and password, as well as accepting the terms of the license agreement, the background process of downloading data will start. You do not need to click anything additional – contacts, calendar and notes will appear in the corresponding applications automatically as they are downloaded from the server.
If your phone is already set up and you want to add contacts later, go to the Settings menu, then select Accounts and Sync. Here you need to find your Google account and make sure that the switch opposite to Contacts is active. Forced sync start can be done by clicking on the update button or selecting the Sync menu item.
- 🔄 Automatic update of data when you change the number on any device associated with the account.
- ☁️ Independence from physical media – access to the database of numbers is even in case of loss SIM-map.
- 🛡️ High level of security thanks to two-factor authorization and transmission channel encryption.
- ⚡ Instantly restore a full phone book immediately after logging in.
It's important to note that the speed of contacts depends on the size of the base and the speed of the Internet connection. If you have several thousand records, it can take 5 to 15 minutes to fully update, and at that time, you can see the indicator of the ongoing synchronization process in the notification curtain.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Import of contacts with SIM-maps to Xiaomi 11
Use of the SIM-The card as a transport medium is a "classic" method that is still relevant, especially when switching from notebook phones or devices with outdated OS: SIM-The card usually stores only a name and a number, cutting off long names and ignoring additional fields such as email or addresses.
First, insert SIM-card with saved numbers in the Xiaomi Mi 11 slot. After booting, open the standard "Contacts" application (usually a yellow icon with a human silhouette). In the upper right corner or in the side menu (three dots or three stripes), find "Settings" or "Contact Management".
In the control menu, select the option "Import contacts." The system will prompt you to select a source - in this case, it will be yours. SIM-map (may be indicated as"SIM 1" or"SIM 2) The next step is to specify the intended storage; it is strongly recommended to choose a Google account or phone memory, but not the device itself. SIM-To avoid cyclical copying.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Google account | Phone memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit of symbols in a name | 10-15 characters | No restrictions. | No restrictions. |
| Number of rooms | One in touch. | Plenty | Plenty |
| Additional fields (email, address) | No. | There is. | There is. |
| Risk of data loss | High (if card breaks) | Low (cloud) | Medium (on discharge) |
Once you have selected the source and the target storage, the system will request confirmation of the operation. Click "OK" or "Import." The process will be quick, because the amount of data on the data is not enough. SIM-The card rarely exceeds a few kilobytes. Upon completion, you will see a notification of successful importation.
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After importation from SIM-Make sure to check the contact list for duplicates. SIM-Maps can duplicate existing contacts in the cloud, but with cropped names.
Transfer over a VCF file (Bluetooth and file manager)
The.vcf file (or.vCard) is the most versatile container for contact information. If you have one (for example, received by email or downloaded from another phone), the process of implementing it in the Xiaomi Mi 11 is extremely simple. The MIUI file manager automatically recognizes this format and suggests the appropriate action.
You can transfer the file. The fastest is via Bluetooth if both devices are nearby. Send the file from the old device to the Xiaomi Mi 11. Once you accept the file in the notification curtain, you will see a message about the end of the transfer. Click on it, and the system will automatically start the import wizard.
The alternative is the use of USB-Copy the contacts.vcf file into the internal memory of your smartphone. Then, through the Explorer app, find this file and click on it. A window will open asking, "Import from the file.vcf?" Select the account to save the data to, and confirm the action.
This method is particularly useful because it allows you to transfer contacts in a batch, in a single file, even if there are thousands. In addition, the.vcf file can be checked in advance on a computer, opening it in a text editor or contact management program to verify the integrity of the data before downloading to the phone.
- 📂 Ability to store the complete history of contacts in one file on an external medium.
- 🚀 High speed of transferring large amounts of data compared to manual synchronization.
- 🔒 Full autonomy of the process – no Internet or registration in services is required.
⚠️ Note: When importing a large file VCF (More than 50MB or 10,000 contacts) a phone can temporarily freeze during processing. Don't force the device to restart, wait for the process to be completed, even if it takes a few minutes.
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A VCF file is the “gold standard” of backups that ensures that your contacts will be read on any device in the future, regardless of brand or operating system.
Using the Mi Mover app for migration
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all of the brand’s smartphones, a powerful tool designed not only to transfer contacts, but also to clone the entire system: applications, Wi-Fi settings, alarm clocks and media files, both of which must be on the same Wi-Fi network or connected via an access point.
Run the app on Xiaomi Mi 11 and select Receiver. On the old device (if it is also Xiaomi), run Mi Mover and select Sender. If the old device is not from Xiaomi, the app will prompt you to scan. QR-code or connect to the created (access point). After establishing the connection, select the category "Contacts" and click "Send".
The advantage of this method is that it's intelligently merging data, and Mi Mover can recognize duplicates and suggest that you combine records if you already have similar contacts on your new phone, and it helps keep your phone book clean and in order without manual cleaning.
Mi Mover is faster than Bluetooth, because it uses a direct Wi-Fi channel, and it takes a few thousand contacts to transmit in seconds, but it works best in Android-Android, and when you port it to iOS, it can be limited to basic data.
Solution: Duplicates and display errors
Once the contacts are imported, users often face the problem of duplication of records, which occurs when the same contact is stored in both the phone's memory and the phone's memory. SIM-The map, and Google account. Xiaomi Mi 11 has a built-in tool to combat this, but it needs to be activated manually.
Open the Contacts app, go to the settings and find the "Combine Repeated Contacts" (or similar wording depending on MIUI version). The system will analyze the database, find the records with the same numbers or names and suggest combining them into one card, summarizing all available fields (photos, addresses, social networks).
Another common problem is that contacts are listed, but not displayed when you call or search. Check the display filter. In the Contacts app, click three points (menu) and select Contacts to Display. Make sure that the checkbox "All Contacts" is ticked or that the specific accounts you just imported are selected.
If contacts are lost after a system update or reset, check the shopping cart in Google Contacts (via the contacts.google.com web interface). Deleted contacts are stored there for up to 30 days, and can be restored with a single click, returning the entire database to its original state.
- 🧹 Regularly use the function of combining duplicates to clean the base.
- 👁️ Check the display filters if you don’t see the numbers you need.
- ♻️ Use Google’s Recycle Bin to Recover Accidentally Deleted Records.