How to send contacts from one phone to another Xiaomi

Switching to a new smartphone or simply having to synchronize data between two Xiaomi devices is a standard situation that most users face. Modern technology allows you to make this process as fast and invisible as possible, turning what used to take hours into a matter of minutes.

In the Xiaomi and MIUI ecosystem (or the new HyperOS), developers have provided several built-in tools that work more stable and faster than third-party counterparts. Android also offers its universal methods that work perfectly on these devices. The choice of the specific method depends on the condition of your old phone, the availability of the Internet and personal preferences regarding the speed or volume of data transmitted.

In this article, we will take a look at all the current methods, from cloud synchronization to direct cable connection, how to avoid duplication of records and what to do if the process is stalled. Whether you have access to Wi-Fi or are in an unprotected area, you can keep your phone book intact.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and recommended way to transfer data between devices of the Chinese manufacturer is to use the regular application Mi Mover. This tool is pre-installed in the default system, although on global firmware it sometimes needs to be updated via GetApps. The main advantage of the method is to create a direct Wi-Fi connection between gadgets, which provides high speed transfer without the use of mobile traffic.

It runs on both devices. On the new device, you choose the role of Receiver, and on the old device, the role of Sender, the system will find the available devices and offer to connect. Mi Moover allows you to choose not only contacts, but also call history, SMS, photos, applications and even system settings, which makes it the ideal solution for a complete replacement of the phone.

📊 What data transfer method have you used before?
Manual input
Through SIM-map
Mi Mover
Google Account
Other annexes

When you transfer a lot of data, for example, if the contacts have photos or they weigh a lot of megabytes, the connection can be unstable, in which case the system will suggest to turn off mobile Internet on one of the devices, so that there are no conflicts of networks, it is important not to fold the application and keep the screens on until the process is completed.

What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure that both devices are enabled GPS Also make sure that the antivirus or firewall does not block the local network connection, sometimes rebooting the Wi-Fi module helps. The most versatile way that works not only between Xiaomi phones, but with any other Android device is synchronization through a Google account, which requires a stable Internet connection on both devices. The bottom line is that contacts are uploaded to the Google Contacts cloud and then automatically uploaded to the new device after login and password are entered. To activate the function, you need to go to the system settings. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Here, make sure that the slider opposite the Contacts item is activated. If you’ve just bought a phone, this step is often done automatically when you first set up the system. 📲 Go to Settings on your old phone and select your Google account. ☁️ Click on the “Sync” or “Sync Now” button to make sure all data has gone to the server. 🔑 On the new phone, log in to the same Google account and enable contact sync. Google Contacts has one important caveat: they can store data not only in your account, but also in your phone's memory. Before switching, it's important to check where the number is saved «SIM», It won't go to the cloud automatically, but you need to move those records to your Google account in advance through the contact editing menu. Xiaomi owners often ignore the company’s own cloud service, preferring solutions from Google, but Mi Cloud offers excellent integration with the MIUI shell. This method is especially convenient if you already use other ecosystem services, such as Gallery or Notes. The principle of operation is similar to Google: data is encrypted and sent to the manufacturer’s servers. To use this method, you need to create a Mi Account (Xiaomi account) and log in on to both devices. In the cloud settings menu, you should select Contacts and turn on the new phone’s unique backup via the cloud mode, after which the user is enough to delete the user’s background from the cloud. It's a kind of insurance against accidental data loss when cleaning a phone book. However, it's worth remembering that free space in the cloud is limited, and if you have thousands of contacts with photos, the place can run out. Google Contacts Mi Cloud Local Export Speed High Instantaneous Network Dependence Required Internet No need for compatibility Any Android/iOS Android/iOS (via the web) Any phone is limited to 15 GB (total) 5 GB (free) Depends on memory Export and import via file via VCard file, if you don't only have a file file, and the same file file, and the VCF file is not a reliable one, but the file file file. You can create such a file using the system's built-in tools without installing additional software. To create a backup, open the Contacts app on your old phone. In the settings menu (usually three dots or a gear), find the item "Import / Export contacts". Select the option “Export to Device Memory” or “Export to Storage.” The system will create a file that can be found in the root folder or directory. /MIUI/backup/AllBackup. ☑️ Checklist for working with the file VCFCreate an export file on an old phone Transfer a file via Bluetooth or messenger Find a file in the Downloads folder on a new phone Click on the file and confirm the import: 0 / 4 Once a file is created, it must be transferred to a new device, which can be done via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), or simply by transferring the file through the device. USB-cable to the computer and then to the new phone. On the receiving device, just click on the file, and the system will suggest importing the records contained in it. ⚠️ Note: When importing a file VCF, It's a long-standing system that can cause encoding conflicts, which can cause Krakozyabry to appear instead of Russian names, so try opening a file on your computer using Notepad and checking the encoding (usually you need to do it). UTF-8), Or use cloud-based methods that are free of this problem. SIM-The oldest and time-tested method of transferring numbers is copying to SIM-It's perfect for situations where you just need to flip phone numbers, without the extra details like photos, email addresses, or social media, and it doesn't require Internet, Bluetooth, or any kind of application, and it works on even the simplest of button phones. The procedure is extremely simple: in the contact app, select “Import / export”, then “Export to the country”. SIM-The system will warn that some data (e.g. multiple numbers per contact or long names) may be cropped because the SIM memory is limited and has an old format. After copying, insert the SIM card into the new Xiaomi and select “Import with the new Xiaomi” SIM-The main disadvantage of the method is the limitation on the number of characters in the name (usually up to the number of characters in the name). 20-30 The SIM card also does not store photos, so your phone book will lose visual identification of subscribers. 💡Use it. SIM-The card is only a temporary solution or for basic numbers, as this method does not retain the full structure of modern Android contacts. Solving duplicate and synchronization errors A common problem after data transfer is the appearance of duplicates: The same contact can be displayed twice or three times if you used multiple methods at the same time (e.g. first synced Google and then imported the file). Xiaomi's system has a built-in tool to combat this, but sometimes manual intervention is required. To clear the list, go to the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Contact Management or Clear Duplicates. The system will automatically scan the database, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining them. It is a secure operation that does not delete data, but only structures it. 🔍 Open the Contacts app and find the Unite function». 🗑️ Select all duplicates found and confirm the merger. ✅ Check that the joint contact has all the necessary fields (photos, mail). If sync is hanging or contacts do not appear, try to clear the cache of the Contacts app and Google Play services. Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Contacts → Memory and click "Clear." Don't worry, the numbers won't be deleted because they're stored in a database, not in a cache. ⚠️ Warning: Before performing a mass cleaning or contact merger, it is strongly recommended to back up the phone book into a file. VCF. This will allow you to roll back changes if the automatic algorithm makes a mistake and deletes the information you need. The choice of transfer method depends on your specific situation. If you change your phone entirely and you have both devices at hand, Mi Mover is unmatched in terms of convenience and completeness of data. It even replicates the desktop icons, which makes it feel like you've always used that phone. For regular backups and syncs between different types of devices (like Xiaomi and iPhone or tablet), the best fit is a Google account. This ensures that your phone book is always up to date anywhere in the world. VCF files are good for one-time archive transfer or transfer contacts to a person who has another phone. Ultimately, modern Xiaomi smartphones provide the user with an excessive set of tools for working with contacts. By combining cloud technologies and local files, you can be sure that your phone book is safe under any circumstances. If the sensor is working, you can use voice control or connect it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter: If the screen doesn’t show the image but the phone is working, connecting to your computer and using Android management software (like Scrcpy) will help, provided that debugging has been enabled previously. USB. In a pinch, you can extract contacts through your Google account on your PC if you've already had sync. Where do contacts go after you reset your phone to factory settings? If contacts are saved to your Google or Mi Cloud account, they're not going anywhere. Once reset and re-authorized in your account, they will automatically be downloaded back, and if they were stored only in your phone’s memory (“On the device”) and you did not back up, they will be permanently lost after the reset (Wipe data. Why when importing from SIM-Are the names of the contacts displayed in numbers or symbols? Is this due to the differences in the coding between the old ones? SIM-And the old SIMs used to use encoding. GSM, The solution to this problem is to try to import contacts through another phone (for example, an old Nokia or Samsung button), which correctly recognizes the encoding, or manually renaming the most important contacts.