Replacing an old smartphone with a new Xiaomi model is always an exciting process that begins with the migration of user data. The most critical stage for most owners is to move the phone book, because the loss of important numbers can lead to serious inconveniences in work and personal life. Fortunately, the MIUI ecosystem offers several effective ways to migrate data, allowing you to choose the most convenient option for each case.
Unlike some competitors, Xiaomi and Redmi have built-in tools that make importing as easy and easy as possible for even inexperienced users. You don’t need third-party software or complex file manipulation if you follow a standard algorithm of actions.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of number transfer, look at the nuances of working with different versions of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell. You will learn how to avoid duplication of records, how to properly configure synchronization and what to do if standard methods do not work.
Preparation of SIM-card and compatibility check
Before you start importing directly, you need to make sure that the original SIM card is physically healthy and correctly recognized by the new device.Modern Xiaomi smartphones support the Nano-SIM and Micro-SIM standards, however, older Mini-SIM cards may require replacement from the operator or use a special adapter. If the SIM card is damaged or has a non-standard cropping, the phone may not read the data, which will lead to an error when trying to import.
Insert the SIM card with saved numbers into the corresponding slot of your new smartphone. After turning on the device, wait for the full system load and the network signal to appear. If a notification of new messages or calls appears on the screen, this means that the card is working correctly and is ready for data transfer. PIN-code that must be entered to unlock access to the phone book.
It is worth noting that SIM cards have limited storage and often do not support saving additional fields such as email addresses, photos or multiple numbers for a single contact. When transferred to a Xiaomi smartphone, these restrictions are removed, allowing you to expand the information about each subscriber. However, if the old card is stored a very large number of records (more than 500), the readout process can take some time.
Make sure your Xiaomi battery is at least 30-40%, as active telephony and data recording can consume energy. While the risk of data loss is minimal, a sudden power outage during mass recording in the phone's database could theoretically cause the Contacts app to malfunction.
Import contacts through the standard “Contacts” application
The most direct and often used method of number transfer is the use of the built-in functionality of the Contacts application in the shell. MIUI. This method does not require an Internet connection, since all operations are performed locally between the SIM card and the device’s internal memory. POCO, regardless of the Android version.
To start, open the standard Contacts app, which usually has a green icon with a human silhouette. In the upper right corner of the screen, find a menu represented by three vertical dots or horizontal bars. Click on this control to reveal the list of available actions. In the menu that appears, select Settings or immediately go to the Import/Export Contacts section if it is included in the main menu.
In the import and export menu, you will be offered several options for action. SIM-The system automatically determines the SIM cards installed if there are two, and then asks you to choose the one from which to read the data. After selecting the source, the system will ask where exactly to save the contacts: in memory of the phone, in Google account or in Mi Account.
- 📲 Import to phone memory: contacts are stored locally on the device, which is convenient in the absence of Internet, but risky when resetting settings.
- ☁️ Importing to Google Account: The Best Option for Syncing and Secure Storage in the Cloud.
- 🌐 Importing to Mi Account: An Alternative Way for Xiaomi Ecosystem Users to Sync Data Between Brand Devices.
Once the destination is selected, the copying process will begin, the progress bar may be displayed on the screen, and upon completion of the operation, the system will notify you of successful importation or report possible errors if some records have been corrupted or not read.
☑️ Checklist before import
Syncing with Google Account: The Most Reliable Method
Google’s cloud technology is the gold standard for Android users, including Xiaomi owners, which ensures that your contacts are not lost even when your smartphone is physically damaged or your SIM card is lost.
If you’ve used an Android smartphone before, chances are your contacts are already saved in the Google cloud. To check this out and upload them to the new Xiaomi, go to Device Settings. Find Accounts and Sync (or just Acca! in the new MIUI versions). If your Google account isn’t listed, click Add Account and enter your login and password.
After adding an account, make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated. The system will automatically start loading all stored numbers from the cloud into the phone's memory, a process that can take anywhere from seconds to minutes depending on the number of records and the speed of the Internet connection.
⚠️ Note: If you have imported contacts with SIM-cards in the phone memory, and then enabled synchronization, make sure that the contact display settings do not have a filter "Only" SIM», Otherwise, new records may not be visible immediately.
The advantage of this method is that you can manage contacts via the Google Contacts web interface from a computer. You can easily combine duplicates, edit names and add photos, and all the changes will instantly affect your Xiaomi. This is especially useful when you first set up a large amount of data.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
Using Mi Mover to migrate from another Xiaomi
If your previous phone was also made by Xiaomi or Redmi, the most effective tool is the built-in Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, call history, installed applications, photos and system settings, a comprehensive solution that saves time when switching to a new model.
The Mi Mover app is usually pre-installed in the Tools folder on your desktop, run it on both devices, select Recipient on your new phone, and Sender on your old phone. QR-code or manual password entry, after which the data will be transmitted over a protected Wi-Fi channel.
In the data transfer list, make sure to check "Contacts"; you can choose a particular SIM card or device memory as the source. The transfer speed depends on the amount of data, but usually the process takes no more than 5-1!0 minutes even for large archives. Once the transfer is completed, all numbers will be automatically distributed to selected storages on the new device.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Saves a photo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import with SIM | Quickly. | No. | No. |
| Google Synchronization | Middle-Average | Yes. | Yes. |
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No (locally) | Yes. |
| File vCard (.vcf) | Depends on size. | No. | Yes. |
Mi Mover is especially important if you are moving to a model with a newer version of MIUI, as the application automatically adapts the data formats to the new system, eliminating possible conflicts and errors in the display of names or special characters.
Transfer via vCard file (.vcf)
The universal way for any smartphone is to use a vCard file. This method is good in that it allows you to back up contacts that can be stored on a computer, a USB drive or sent to yourself by email. The.vcf file contains all the information about contacts, including names, numbers, addresses and photos.
On an old phone, export contacts to vCard via the contact management menu. Save the resulting file to the device memory or memory card. Then transfer this file to the new Xiaomi in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, USB-cable, messengers or cloud storage.
On the new device, find the saved file through the file manager and click on it. The system will prompt you to select the application to open - select Contacts or Import. You will be prompted to select an account to save (Google, Mi or phone memory). Once confirmed, you will begin importing all records from the file.
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Save the vCard file with contacts in multiple locations (such as the cloud and the computer) and this will create an additional recovery point in case the main account crashes.
This method is also useful for combining phone books from multiple devices: You can export contacts from all old phones into separate files, transfer them to Xiaomi and import them sequentially.
Solution: duplicates and missing numbers
After the contacts are moved, users often face the problem of duplicate records, when the same number is displayed twice or three times. SIM-It's in the memory of the phone, and in the cloud. MIUI There is a built-in tool to solve this problem.
Open the Contacts app, go to the settings, and find the "Combine Duplicate Contacts" option, and the system will analyze the phone book and suggest combining records with the same numbers or names, a secure operation that does not delete data, but only structures it.
If the numbers are missing after import, check the display filter. In the Contacts app, click three dots or swipe right to open the menu, and select Contacts to display. Make sure that the check boxes are in front of all sources: SIM-Maps, phones and accounts. Sometimes the default filter is only one source.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete contacts from SIM-cards immediately after import, until you make sure that all numbers are correctly displayed and work on the new phone.
In rare cases, it may be necessary to clear the cache of the Contacts and Phone app. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Contacts, select Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as this can remove local display settings.
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Regular sync with Google Account is the best protection against loss of numbers when changing your device or breaking your smartphone.
Final recommendations on data security
After successfully migrating all numbers to the new Xiaomi, it is recommended to follow several steps to ensure data security: First, back up your newly imported contacts to the cloud if you haven’t done so before. Second, check the important numbers by test call to make sure the recording format is correct (for example, the country code is +7 or 8).
Keep in mind that SIM-only contact storage is considered outdated and less reliable. SIM cards tend to wear out and have limited storage capacity. Switching to cloud storage in a bundle of Google or Mi Cloud gives you the freedom to instantly migrate to any new phone in the world.
Now your Xiaomi smartphone is fully ready to work with your personal phone book.Properly configured synchronization will save you from manual transfer in the future and keep important connections secure.