Changing your smartphone is always a little stressful, not so much unpacking a new device as moving all the important data. The most critical task is keeping your phone book, because losing your friends, colleagues and delivery numbers can be a big problem. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have several proven and reliable ways to resolve this issue in minutes without losing data quality.
Unlike older push-button phones, modern Android and MIUI-based gadgets allow you to not just copy numbers, but also completely clone settings, messages and applications. The choice of the specific method depends on whether you switch from another Android smartphone, from an iPhone or just restore a backup. We will analyze all available options so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
It’s worth noting that contacts saved to a Google or Mi Cloud account will automatically appear on a new device as soon as you sign in, making this the fastest method for those who have already used the ecosystem. However, if you’re changing the platform or haven’t used cloud services, you’ll need other tools, which we’ll discuss in detail below.
Syncing with a Google account: the fastest way
The most versatile and simple method is to use Google’s built-in sync, which is ideal if you’re switching from any Android smartphone, as the phonebook is by default tied to your Gmail. You don’t need to install additional apps or search for cables, just the Internet connection and password from your account.
On your old device, make sure that all numbers are saved in Google, not in memory. SIM-The card or the phone itself. Go to Settings for this. → Accounts and syncs and check the status of the data download.If you see contacts being stored locally, export them to a.vcf file or move them to a Google account via the contact management menu.
On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, the system will prompt you to enter Google's login and password. Once authorized, automatic sync will start in the background. If the phone is already configured, just add an account to the settings menu and force the data to be updated, which ensures that all records, including photos and additional numbers, are in place.
- ✅ Open the settings on your old phone and make sure the contact sync switch is active.
- ✅ On the new Xiaomi, sign in to the same Google account via Settings → Accounts.
- ✅ Wait for the synchronization to be completed by checking the status in the notification curtain.
- ✅ Make sure that the “Contacts” app selects the display of all accounts.
⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authentication for Google, make sure you have access to a phone number or authenticator app to confirm sign-in on a new device.
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If the sync is gone but the numbers don’t show up, open the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner and select Settings, then make sure it’s ticked opposite your Google account in the Display Contacts section.
Using the Mi Mover app for full cloning
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is perhaps the most powerful tool for data migration, allowing you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, music, installed applications and even desktop layout, the process takes place directly between devices over Wi-Fi, which ensures high speed transfer without the consumption of mobile traffic.
The app is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones in the Tools folder. If your old phone has Android, download Mi Mover from Google Play or scan it. QR-There's also an app version in the App Store for iPhone owners, which makes this method cross-platform.
Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old phone, "I'm the sender." QR-When you use a code or connection through (access point), select Contacts and start the transmission. Transfer speeds can reach tens of megabytes per second, which is much faster than Bluetooth.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
It is important to understand that when you migrate from iOS to Mi Mover, there may be restrictions on some types of data due to Apple’s security policy, but contacts and photos are usually copied without problems.
Transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi
Going from iOS to Android used to be a tricky quest, but now it's solved in a few touches. Besides the Mi Mover mentioned, there's a proven way to move through the port. SIM-Maps or using Apple cloud services, if you don't want to put unnecessary apps, but the most reliable method is using the application "Move to iOS" (Move to iOS, vice versa, but there are other solutions) or manual export.
Consider the option of exporting via iCloud, which does not require installing programs on your computer. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and make sure the Contacts switch is on. Then go to iCloud.com, select contacts and export them in.vcf format via your browser or iPhone itself.
Send the resulting file to your email or messenger, open it on the new Xiaomi and select the import. The system automatically recognizes the format and offers to save all records in your phone memory or Google account. The vCard format is a universal standard supported by all operating systems.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Keeps a photo of contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Synchronization | Tall. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Mi Mover | Very high. | No (locally) | Yes. |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. |
| Bluetooth | Very low. | No. | Partially. |
⚠️ Note: When transferring from your iPhone, make sure you don’t try to sync contacts via iTunes on your computer if you don’t know how to properly configure sync – this can result in the complete deletion of records.
Import via Bluetooth and local exchange
If you don't have the Internet or you don't want to use cloud services for privacy reasons, you can use classic Bluetooth or local file sharing, which is a good way to be autonomous, but it's much slower, especially if the phone book has hundreds of photos.
Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair. On your old phone, open contacts, select All Contacts, or select groups, then click Share or Send, and select Bluetooth. On the receiving device, confirm the request for the file.
An alternative is the Wi-Fi Sharing feature (Mi Drop or ShareMe), built into the MIUI shell. It works similarly to AirDrop: you pick contacts, hit Send, and the phone finds nearby devices. It's faster than Bluetooth and doesn't require you to configure complex networks.
What if Bluetooth can’t see the device?
Once you receive the.vcf file via Bluetooth, Xiaomi will automatically prompt you to import the data. You can choose where to save the numbers: in memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-You should choose a Google account for future security.
Work with SIM-map: the old proven method
Do not ignore the most traditional way – copying SIM-It's ideal for older smartphones that don't have Internet access or run different, incompatible OSes. However, this method has significant limitations on the amount and type of information stored.
On your old phone, go to Contact Management and select “Copy Contacts» → «Nana SIM-Be prepared for the fact that long names may be cropped, and the second numbers and photos will not be saved at all. 200-250 records depending on the capacity of the chip.
Put it in. SIM-map to the new Xiaomi. Go to the Contacts app, open the settings menu and select Import with SIM-The system will suggest you choose your destination. After you complete, be sure to check the list, as the formatting of names may get lost (for example, "Ivanov Ivan" instead of "Ivan Ivanov"). SIM Often causes problems with Cyrillic.
- 📱 Suitable for phones without touch screen and Internet.
- 📱 Does not save photos, email addresses or addresses.
- 📱 May require the trimming of long names when exporting.
- 📱 Perfect as a temporary solution or backup.
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Use of the SIM-Maps are a “plan B” when other methods are not available, but it is better to use digital accounts to fully transfer data.
Removal of duplicates and sorting after transfer
Once you successfully migrate your contacts to Xiaomi, there is often another problem: duplicates, which happens if you have previously synced some numbers with Google, and then added them to the same number. SIM-a map or other source. MIUI Integrated convenient cleaning tool.
Open the Contacts app, click on three dots or menu icons, and select Contact Organization (or Contact Management) and it will have the option “Combine Repeated Contacts” and the system will automatically find entries with the same names or numbers and offer to combine them into one card, saving all the data.
Also worth checking is where the new numbers are saved by default. Go to the contact app settings and select your Google account or Mi Cloud at Save Place, which will prevent future data loss if the phone breaks or gets lost.
⚠️ Attention: Before mass combination of contacts it is recommended to make a backup copy so that in case of algorithm error, you do not lose unique data that the system considered duplicates.
Not only does cleaning your phone book regularly make room, it also speeds up search and dialing. Modern smartphones index the contact database, and having thousands of takes can have a small impact on the speed of the call interface.