Changing your smartphone is always a bit stressful, especially when there is a risk of losing important data. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often wonder how to move the contact list to a new device as quickly and safely as possible. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers many built-in tools to solve this problem without the need to install third-party applications.
In this article, we’ll look at all the synchronization methods available, from classic cloud storage to using the branded Mi Mover utility. You’ll learn how to avoid duplicates and what to do if numbers don’t show up after porting. No matter which phone you’re switching from to Xiaomi, you’ll find the right way to do it.
Before we go into action, we need to make sure that both devices are charged and ready to go, and that a stable connection to the Internet or a proper Bluetooth connection will be key to success, and let's go through each method in detail.
Synchronization through Google account
The most reliable and modern way is to use Google Contacts, a cloud service that is ideal because your data is tied to your account, not to a physical medium, and if you lose your phone, your contacts will remain safe and sound.
First, make sure your old device is synced. Go to settings, find your Accounts and select your Google account. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If you just bought a new Xiaomi, just enter your login and password when you first set up your system.
On the new smartphone, the process is even easier. Once you log in to your Google profile, the system will automatically pull up all saved numbers, you can manage them through the web interface, delete duplicates or restore deleted records from the past 30 days.
- 🔄 Open the settings and go to the "Accounts and Synchronization" section".
- 👤 Select your Google account from the list of available accounts.
- ☁️ Make sure the contact slider is lit blue.
- ⏳ Click the "Sync" button or wait for the automatic update.
⚠️ Note: Make sure you keep your contacts in your Google account, not in your phone or phone memory. SIM-map, otherwise they may not sync automatically to the cloud.
The main advantage of this method is cross-platform. You can easily migrate the number base from both Android and iPhone if you pre-installe the Google app on iOS and allow synchronization.
Use of the Mi Mover app
The proprietary utility Mi Mover (or "Mi Moving") is a specialized tool from Xiaomi, created for rapid data migration. It allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications, music and even system settings. The transfer speed over Wi-Fi Direct is much faster than over Bluetooth.
The app is pre-installed on most Redmi and Poco smartphones. If the old device doesn't have it, download it. APK-You can find the file or find it in the app store. Run the program on both phones. On the new device, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old one, "I'm the sender".
Scanning. QR-The code will create a secure local area network between the gadgets. After the connection, select the category "Contacts" in the list of transmitted data.
Interrupting the connection can lead to incomplete data copying, so keep an eye on the battery level.
- 📲 Launch the Mi Mover app on both smartphones.
- 📡 Create an access point or scan it. QR-link-code.
- ✅ Select "Contacts" and click "Send".
- 💾 Wait until the process is over and check the phone book.
⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi via Mi Mover, you will need to install a special configuration profile, which the application will offer to download.
Exports and imports through VCF-file
The universal method that works even without the Internet is to create a business card file.vcf. This format is supported by almost all operating systems and email clients. You can transfer this file in any convenient way: through messenger, mail or simply save it to a flash drive.
To create a backup, open the standard Contacts app on your old phone. From the settings menu (usually three dots or bars), select "Import/Export." Next, click "Export to Device Memory" or "Export to Storage."
The resulting contacts.vcf file is transferred to the new Xiaomi. Open it on the new device, the system will automatically prompt you to import the numbers found, which is a great way to migrate contacts selectively or combine several databases.
Where to find the contact file after export?
Use of the VCF-Files are especially relevant when moving between different brands, where cloud services may differ, such as when switching from a notebook or a specific enterprise system.
- 📂 Open contacts and select Export".
- 💾 Save the file.vcf in internal memory.
- 📤 Transfer the file to the new smartphone in any way.
- 📥 Open the file on a new device for automatic import.
Transfer with SIM-map
An old but still relevant method is the use of SIM-This is a physical medium that works if you don't have access to the Internet or cloud, but it has significant limitations on the amount and type of information you store.
Nana SIM-The card can only be saved by number and name, additional fields such as email addresses, subscriber photos, addresses and will be lost, and the length limit of the name often cuts off long titles to the following: 10-12 symbolism.
Insert this method to implement SIM-map to your old phone, copy your contacts to it via the management menu. Then move the card to the new Xiaomi, go to the contact settings and select "Import from the new Xiaomi." SIM-map".
☑️ Pre-import checks with SIM
This method is often used as a temporary solution or for very old phone models that do not support modern data transmission standards.
| Parameter | Google Account | VCF file | SIM-map | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo preservation | Yes. | Yes. | No. | |
| Additional fields (email, address) | Yes. | Yes. | No. | No. |
| Internet is required | Yes. | No (for transmission) | No. | |
| Limit of symbols in a name | No. | No. | ~12 characters |
Transmission via Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology allows you to transfer contacts directly between devices without using the Internet, which is convenient when you need to drop one or more numbers here and now. The speed of transferring one contact is instantaneous, but for the entire phone book, the method can be slow.
Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair. In the contact list, select the entries you want (you can select several or all at once through the "Select All" menu). Press the "Share" button and select Bluetooth.
The receiving device will be prompted to accept the file, the file will be downloaded and automatically added to the phone book after confirmation, and make sure that the screen of the new phone does not go out during the transfer of a large amount of data.
💡
If you transfer contacts over Bluetooth and they are not saved, check the permissions of the Contacts or File Manager app to access the phone’s memory.
It is worth noting that modern versions of MIUI may require confirmation for each file received, which can slow down the process during mass transfer.
- 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both smartphones.
- 🔗 Perform device pairing.
- 📤 Select contacts and click "Share" → Bluetooth.
- 📥 Accept the file on the new device.
Solving problems with duplicates and display
After transferring data, users often face the problem of duplicate records, which occurs when the same contact is stored in the phone memory, in the Google account, and on the phone. SIM-Xiaomi has a built-in tool to solve this problem.
Go to the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner, and select Contact Organization. There's a "Combine Duplicates" option, and the system automatically finds the duplicates and prompts them to merge into one.
Also, contacts are moved but not visible in the list. Check the display settings. From the contacts menu, select "Display settings" or "Contact filter." Make sure that check "All contacts" and select the correct account to view.
⚠️ Note: Before combining duplicates, it is recommended to make a backup copy, since the merger process can irreversibly change the structure of records.
Regular cleaning of the phone book from duplicates not only improves visual perception, but also speeds up the search algorithm when dialing.
💡
The automatic combination of duplicates in MIUI works effectively, but always check the result so as not to lose unique numbers recorded under different names.