How to sync contacts on Xiaomi: all ways + error solving

Losing contacts when changing your phone or resetting is one of the most frustrating situations for users. Xiaomi smartphones offer several ways to synchronize contacts, but not everyone knows how to use them correctly. From standard synchronization via Mi Account and Google to manual transfer from SIM-card.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have two parallel sync systems: its own (Mi Cloud) and Google. This is both a plus and a minus: on the one hand, you have a backup option, on the other hand, you can accidentally create duplicate contacts. We will show you how to avoid chaos in the phone book and choose the best way to sync for your model (relevant to MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS).

1. synchronize contacts with Mi Account (Mi Cloud)

The most reliable way for Xiaomi owners to use a branded Mi Account, which works even without a connection to Google and saves contacts in the Mi Cloud with the ability to restore on any device of the brand, the main advantage is that synchronization is automatic when you have the Internet.

To enable synchronization:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Sign in to your account (if not authorized).
3. Go to Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
4. Activate the switch opposite "Contacts".
5. Click Sync Now to start the process manually.

⚠️ Note: If you have not used Mi Cloud before, the first 5GB of storage is free. Contacts take up minimal space, but with active use of the cloud (photos, notes) may require an expansion of the tariff.

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi|Check the space available in the Mi Cloud|Update the Contacts app to the latest version|Turn off traffic savings in network settings-->

2. synchronize through a Google account

For users who actively use Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Drive), it is more convenient to synchronize contacts through Google Account. This method is universal - contacts will be available on any Android device, not just Xiaomi.

Instructions for setting:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google.
• 🔑 Select your account (or add a new one).
• 🔄 Turn on the "Contact" switch".
• 📥 Click Sync for immediate update.

If the contacts are not synchronized, check:

• 🌐 Internet connection (better than Wi-Fi).
• 🔋 Adequate battery level (synchronization can be blocked at low charge).
• 📅 Date and time on the phone (incorrect settings can knock syncs).

Mi Account|Google Account|Both options |I don't sync |Another way-->

Manual transfer of contacts with SIM-map

If you still have contacts in your old SIM-This method is suitable for devices that support nano-SIM or micro-SIM (depending on the model). SIM-The card stores a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and they do not contain photos or additional fields.

Step-by-step:

1. Put it in. SIM-card to the phone slot (if necessary, use an adapter).
2. Open the Contacts app.
3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
4. Select an account to save (Mi Account or Google).
5. Confirm the import and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Contact names can be displayed in transliteration (e.g., "Ivan Ivanov" instead of "Ivan Ivanov"). After importing, check the correctness of the display and manually edit the contacts if necessary.

4.Export and import of contacts via VCF file

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal way to transfer contacts between devices, and it’s convenient to use if you’re changing your phone to a different brand or want to back up. You can save it to Google Drive, send it by email, or move it to Xiaomi Share.

How to export contacts to the file:

• 📱 Open Contacts. → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
• 📄 Select an account (Mi or Google) whose contacts you want to export.
• 💾 Save the file in the memory of the phone or on SD-map.

For import:

• 📁 Copy the.vcf file to a new phone (for example, via Mi Share or cable).
• 📥 In the Contacts app, select Import from the file and specify the path to.vcf.
• 🔄 Wait for the import to be completed and check the contacts.

5. Synchronization between two Xiaomi phones (Mi Share)

If you have two Xiaomi phones (like the old Redmi Note 8 and the new Xiaomi 14), the quickest way to move contacts is to use the Mi Share feature (formerly Xiaomi Quick Share) which works without internet and doesn’t require a cloud connection.

How to transfer contacts through Mi Share:

1. On both phones, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
2. On your old phone, open Contacts → Contact Management → Send.
3. Select contacts to transfer (or click Select All).
4. Press Mi Share and select a new phone from the list of devices.
5. On the new phone, confirm receipt of the file and import contacts.

⚠️ Note: When transferring via Mi Share, contacts are stored in the phone’s memory, not in the cloud. After transfer, we recommend syncing them with Mi Account or Google to avoid loss when resetting settings.

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Before transferring contacts via Mi Share, make sure that both phones have “Visibility for All” enabled in the Mi Share settings (Settings) → Connection and sharing → Mi Share).

6. Solving problems with contact synchronization

If contacts are not synced or missing after the MIUI update, try the following steps:

Problem 1: Contacts are not updated in the Mi Cloud

• 🔄 Restart your phone and check your internet connection.
• 🔧 Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and click Sync Now.
• 📱 Remove the cache of the Contacts app (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Clear the cache).

Problem 2: Duplicate contacts after synchronization

• 🧹 In the Contacts app, select Contact Management → Combining and correcting → Combine duplicates.
• 🔗 Turn off syncing contacts in one of your accounts (Mi or Google) if you use both.

Problem 3: Contacts are lost after resetting settings

• 🔍 Check if synchronization is included in Settings → Accounts.
• 📥 In the Contacts app, click Contact Management → Restore (if there was a backup copy).
• 📧 If your contacts were linked to Google, check the Gmail Contacts folder on your computer.

7. Automatic contact backup

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi phones have an automatic backup feature for contacts in the background, which works independently of cloud sync and saves a local copy that can be restored even without access to the Internet.

To enable automatic reservation:

1. Open Settings → System and Device → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Activate the Automatic Backup Switch.
3. In the Backup Settings section, select "Contacts".
4. Set the frequency of reservations (daily, weekly or manually).

To restore contacts from backup:

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the last copy and click Restore.
3. Confirm the restoration of contacts (you can select individual items).

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Local backup is the only way to restore contacts without the cloud if you lose access to your Mi Account or Google Account.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronizing contacts on Xiaomi