Changing the ecosystem from iOS to Android always brings with it a certain stress of data loss. Users often fear that when they switch from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone, they will lose their address book accumulated over the years. This is understandable concern, because contacts are not just a set of numbers, but an important part of digital life that requires careful attitude. Fortunately, modern technology offers several reliable ways of migration, each of which has its own advantages and features.
The process of data transfer has become much easier thanks to cloud services and specialized applications. You do not need to be an IT expert to perform this operation yourself, just follow a clear algorithm of actions and carefully read the hints on the device screen. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current methods available at the moment.
Before starting any data copying procedure, you need to make sure that both devices have sufficient battery power. The optimal solution is to connect both smartphones to a power source or have a charge of at least 60%. It is also recommended to check the stability of the Internet connection if you plan to use cloud synchronization methods, since transferring a large amount of data can take time.
Preparing iPhone for data export
The first and most important step is to check the status of your address book on an Apple device, and users often don't realize that some of the numbers are stored locally. SIM-To work correctly, all transfer methods need to be combined into a single database. Open the Contacts or Phone app and make sure all records are displayed.
Next, check your display settings. From the Contact Settings menu, select Groups or Accounts and make sure all sources are activated, including iCloud, Gmail and On iPhone. Sync should be enabled for all important accounts. If you see contacts marked “On iPhone”, you’d better copy them to iCloud so you don’t lose them when you reset your device.
⚠️ Warning: Don't perform an iPhone reset before fully checking contacts on the new Xiaomi device. backup is insurance, but it's better to be safe.
Make sure your iPhone has the latest available version of iOS installed, which minimizes the risk of compatibility errors when using cross-platform applications. Go to Settings → Main → Software Update and update the system if necessary. Older versions of the operating system may not work properly with the new encryption protocols used by Google services.
Synchronization method through Google Account
The most reliable and native way for Android to transfer is to use the capabilities of Google itself. Since the Android operating system installed on Xiaomi smartphones (the shell of MIUI or HyperOS) is deeply integrated with Google services, this method provides the best compatibility, the essence of the method is to get the iPhone to send its contacts to Google servers, from where they will automatically “fly” to the new phone.
To implement this method, you will need to download the official Google Drive app or Google Contacts from the App Store on your iPhone. If you use Google Drive, the process will be as follows: Once installed, open the app, log in to your account (the same one you will use on Xiaomi), and go to the backup settings menu.
In the backup settings, find Contacts and activate the Sync switch. Then click Start Copy. The process can take anywhere from minutes to an hour, depending on the number of entries in your phone book, and when you complete, you will see a message that you have successfully completed the operation.
Now, on the Xiaomi smartphone. When you first turn on or through your system settings, log in to the same Google account you used on your iPhone. The system will automatically prompt you to sync your data. If the phone is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure that the box is ticked against Contacts. In a few minutes, your entire address book will appear in the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
Use of the Mi Mover app
Xiaomi has developed its own utility app called Mi Mover, which is designed specifically for migrating users from other platforms, and it's one of the fastest ways to do this, because it creates direct Wi-Fi connections between devices without straining the Internet channel or using cloud storage, and the data transfer speed is much faster than through the cloud.
On a Xiaomi smartphone, the Mi Mover app is usually pre-installed in the Tools folder. If you don't find it, download it from GetApps or Google Play. On an iPhone, you need to download a similar app from the App Store. Run the program on both devices. On Xiaomi, select the role of "I'm the recipient" (Reciever), and on iPhone, "I'm the sender" (Sender).
| Parameter | Google Synchronization | Mi Mover | SIM-map |
|---|
| Speed. | Depends on the Internet. | High (locally) | Low. |
| Contact photos | Preserve. | Preserve. | Not preserved. |
| Email addresses | Preserve. | Preserve. | Not preserved. |
| PC required | No. | No. | No. |
Once the roles are selected, the devices will find each other. iPhone will require permission to access contacts and possibly set a configuration profile for the local network. Select Contacts category from the data transfer list and click Send. Mi Mover does not share your iPhone call history and SMS due to iOS security limitations, only media and contacts.
What if Mi Mover can’t see the iPhone?
Make sure your iPhone allows you to use the local network for the Mi Mover app in Wi-Fi settings. Also try rebooting the Wi-Fi module on both devices and disabling it. VPN, if he's active.> Transfer through SIM-The oldest and most clumsy method that still has the right to live in emergency situations when there is no Internet at hand. However, as you move from iPhone to Xiaomi, it is important to understand the technical limitations of this method. SIM-The card has extremely limited memory and storage format, which was standardized decades ago. SIM-The card is only capable of storing a phone number and name (often cropped to the 10-15 All additional fields, such as the second number, email, address, title and most importantly, the photo of the contact, will be permanently lost. So this is a method that can only be recommended as a temporary solution, or for very old phone books. SIM-iPhone card, you will need a special adapter (SIM-RW), There is no reading slot in the iPhone itself. SIM-You'll have to get the cards in the user's write/read mode. SIM-card, insert into the adapter, connect to the computer and use special. software, or, more likely, first transfer contacts to any Android smartphone, save them to the computer. SIM, And then move the map to Xiaomi, in its pure form, from the iPhone to the SIM This is impossible to do with regular means without third-party “crutches». ⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Xiaomi maps contact names can go or crop. Always check the result and be ready to manually edit the records. A more reasonable use case SIM-The maps in the iPhone-Xiaomi bundle look like this: you insert SIM-map in Xiaomi, copy it contacts from another Android background (if any), and then in Xiaomi choose to import from the same SIM-card in memory of your phone or Google account. SIM-The card directly from the iPhone is technically difficult and not recommended by experts. Solving encoding and duplicate problems After completing the transfer, users often face an unpleasant surprise: Instead of contact names, you're going to show squares, question marks, or a set of meaningless characters. This is a code problem. iPhones use the same text encoding standards (often they use text encoding standards). UTF-8 or Apple-specific, and there may be conflict when imported into Android, especially if the names used emojis or rare characters. To solve this problem on smartphones, Xiaomi often helps to clean the cache of the Contacts app. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory and click “Clear Cache” (not data, but cache). If this does not help, try changing the system language to English, synchronize, and then return Russian. Another common problem is duplicates. Since contacts could be saved in iCloud, Gmail, and locally, when combining databases, double entries can appear. In the Contacts app from (which can be downloaded to Google) there is a format without the system to delete the number and delete the number from the empty. This is solved by mass editing through the service Google Contacts on the computer (contacts.google.com), where the editing functionality is much wider than in the mobile application, where you can apply the formatting rules to all selected contacts at once. Alternatives and third-party utilities If standard methods don't work or cause errors, third-party solutions come to the rescue. One popular option is to use a vCard (.vcf) middle file. You can export all your iPhone contacts to this file (via iCloud.com on your computer) and then just open this file to Xiaomi. To do this, go from your computer to iCloud.com, log in and go to Contacts.+A or Cmd+A), click on the gear in the corner and select Export vCard». Send the file to your email or messenger, open it to Xiaomi and confirm the import. This is a “clean” method that is guaranteed to work, since the vCard format is the universal standard of the industry. 💡Use iCloud.com to export vCard contacts if your phone’s apps are unstable, and this is the most reliable manual way. There are also paid PC software, such as iMyFone iTransor or AnyTrans, that allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos and settings, but for the simple task of transferring a phone book, their use is often redundant and requires a connection to a computer. Free versions of these programs often have limits on the number of contacts they carry. Setting up the display of contacts on Xiaomi After a successful transfer, it is important to properly configure the display so that using the phone is convenient. MIUI And HyperOS can hide your contact settings in the back of the menu. Open the Contacts app, click three dots or a gear in the corner, and select Settings, and you can specify which accounts to display. It is recommended to set a display priority for a Google account so that new saved numbers automatically fly to the cloud rather than lying dead weight in the phone's memory.In the Accounts for Sync section, make sure that the Google switch is active. You can also configure the display of photo contacts and the format of the name (Family name or Surname Name). 💡Properly setting the Google account priority in Xiaomi’s contact settings ensures you never lose numbers again when changing your phone. Be sure to also check the permissions for the Contacts app. It should have access to a microphone (for voice dialing), phone and phone. SMS. Without these permissions, some features may not work properly. Go to Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Permits and grant all rights requested. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Will photos of contacts be saved when you move? Yes, when you use methods through Google Account or Mi Mover, photos are saved. SIM-What if the contacts on Xiaomi are displayed as "Unknown Number"? Most likely, the encoding or format of the number is broken. Try changing the format of the number in the contact settings to international or clear the app cache. Also check if the correct country code is in Google profile? Yes, with the Mi Mover app, which creates a local Wi-Fi network between phones, or by exporting to a.vcf file and transferring it over Bluetooth or cable. Where do contacts store after transfer to Xiaomi? By default and most correctly, in a Google account. You can check this by opening any contact: in the Address field or in detail, you should specify "Google" or your email, not "Phone" or "SIM." Do you need to delete contacts from your iPhone after transfer? No, you don't. On the iPhone, they will remain in iCloud. If you sell your phone, you will automatically reset your ID on your device (" "Apple, you will automatically reset your device, you will delete the content).