Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a mild stress associated with the risk of losing important data, and among them, the first thing users think about is the phone book. Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer many built-in tools that make this process as simple and fast as possible. You do not need to be a technician to successfully copy hundreds of numbers in minutes.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the current methods of data migration, from cloud services to wired connections. The security of your data is a priority, so we will only look at proven and reliable methods that work on current versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shell.
The choice of the particular method depends on which device you are upgrading from to the new Xiaomi. whether it's an old Android, iPhone or just a replacement. SIM-For each case, there is an optimal solution.
Using the Mi Mover app to transition to Android
The fastest and most convenient way for users to switch from another Android smartphone is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most new Xiaomi devices, but it can also be downloaded from Google Play to an old phone.
The data transfer process is done over a direct Wi-Fi connection that the phone creates, so there's no Internet traffic, and the copy speed is very high. You don't have to connect to the router, the devices connect to each other directly.
To start the process, run the app on both devices. On the new smartphone, select Receiver and on the old one, Sender. QR-code or manual Wi-Fi connection, select the category "Contacts" in the list of data transmitted.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
Importantly, the app allows you to select specific contact groups if you don’t need the entire phone book, which is especially useful if you have accumulated debris or duplicates on your old device.
⚠️ Warning: Do not leave the app or turn off smartphone screens during the transfer process, as this may break the connection and interrupt the copying.
Synchronization through Google account
The most universal method that works on almost all Android devices is sync through a Google account. If you’ve used Android before, your contacts are likely already saved to the cloud, even if you didn’t know it.
To start, make sure that the old device is synced. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure that the switch opposite Contact is active.
On the new Xiaomi, you just need to log into the same Google account when you first set up or add it later to the settings menu.
- 📱 Open the settings on the new phone.
- ☁️ Go to Accounts and Synchronization.
- 🔄 Click the Sync button for your Google account.
And the good thing about this is that contacts are tied to the mail, not to a particular device, so if you lose your phone, the numbers will stay safe.
What to do if no contacts appear?
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
iPhone owners who choose to switch to Android will need a slightly different approach, as the Apple and Google ecosystems work differently.The Mi Mover app also supports iOS, but requires a dedicated profile setup.
When you first turn on the new Xiaomi, select the option “Copy from iPhone.” The phone will prompt you to scan. QR-code that will open the download page of the Mi Mover app in the App Store. Once installed and launched on the iPhone, the devices will connect.
However, for full synchronization of contacts in the future, the best way to do this is to use the iCloud import method, which requires a computer or browser on the phone itself.
- Go to iCloud.com from your computer and log in.
- Open the Contacts section and select all numbers (Ctrl+A).
- Click on the gear and select Export vCard.
- Send the saved file to your email or cloud, and then open it on Xiaomi.
The system will suggest importing the found entries to your phone’s memory or Google account, and it is recommended to choose a Google account for automatic synchronization in the future.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Saves a photo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Very high. | No (locally) | Yes. |
| Google Sync | Medium | Yes. | Yes. |
| Bluetooth | Low. | No. | Partially. |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. |
Import of contacts from SIM-card
This method is considered “classic” and is suitable if you do not have access to the Internet or an old smartphone, but you can use it. SIM-But there are significant limitations to the volume and quality of the data.
Put it in. SIM-Go to the Contacts app (Phonebook). Click on the three dots in the upper right corner or the menu button, then select Import/Export Contacts».
In the menu that opens, select the option “Import with” SIM-The system will suggest you choose your destination: internal memory of the phone or Google account. Once confirmed, the copying process will begin.
⚠️ Attention: SIM-The cards have limited memory and often do not support the retention of long names, second numbers or photos.
If you have a button phone, export contacts from its memory to its memory first. SIM-Map via the phone menu and then transfer them to Xiaomi in the way described above.
Using Bluetooth to Transmit VCard
If you don't have Internet, and you can't install the Mi Mover app, you can use Bluetooth, which is a method that's convenient for sending a small number of contacts or individual important numbers.
On an old device, open a contact or contact group, click Share and select Bluetooth. On the new Xiaomi, turn on Bluetooth in the notification curtain and accept the file.
Once a file is received, the system automatically prompts you to open it and save it. The format of such files usually has the.vcf (vCard) extension, which is the universal standard for phone books.
- 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
- 👁️ Make devices visible for search.
- 📤 Send contact files via “Share».
Bluetooth transmission speeds are slow, so it takes a lot of time for thousands of contacts, and it's better to use it to pinpoint missing numbers.
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If Bluetooth pairing fails, try removing old pairing records in Bluetooth settings on both phones and start searching again.
Solution: Duplicates and missing numbers
After data transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate records, where the same contact is displayed twice or three times, which occurs if the numbers were stored on both SIM and in the phone's memory, and in Google.
MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in cleaning tool. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or stripes) and find Contact Organizer or Contact Management.
Select the function "Combine Repetitive Contacts" and the system will analyze the phone book, find matches by number or name and suggest combining them into a single card.
Settings → Applications → Contacts → Contact Management → CombineIt’s also worth checking where the new numbers are saved. Xiaomi can offer a phone save by default, making contacts inaccessible when you lose your device.
⚠️ Warning: Before mass merge or delete contacts, make sure you have a fresh backup to avoid accidentally losing important data.
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Regular sync with your Google account is the best protection against loss of contacts when you change or break your phone.