Changing your old smartphone to a new Xiaomi or Redmi model is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the need to transfer data. The most critical information for most users is the phone book, the loss of which can lead to serious communication problems. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the proprietary shells MIUI or HyperOS offer a variety of tools for migration.
There are several proven methods to move contacts from any device, be it another Android, iPhone or button phone. The choice of the particular method depends on the source of the data, the amount of information and the availability of a stable Internet connection. In this article, we will discuss each option in detail so that you can choose the most convenient one.
Before you start active, make sure that both devices are at least 50-60% charged. The process of transferring large amounts of data can take time, and battery discharge at a critical moment can interrupt the operation.
Using a Google account to sync
The most reliable and versatile way that works on any Android device is through Google’s cloud service. If your old phone has been logged in to a Google account, chances are your numbers are already saved in the cloud. First, you need to make sure that your old device has your contacts synced on.
Go to your old smartphone settings, look for Accounts or Users and Accounts. Select your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. Then click Forced Sync to make sure all data is gone to the cloud.
On the new Xiaomi phone, sign in to the same Google account. The system will automatically prompt you to restore data from the backup. If no automatic recovery has occurred, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and enable manual contact sync.
- 🔄 Open the settings on your old phone and select "Accounts".
- 🔄 Find your Google account and click on Sync".
- 🔄 On the new Xiaomi, log in with the same login and password.
- 🔄 Wait for the number loading from the cloud to be completed.
The key advantage of the method is that contacts are stored in the Google cloud, not in the phone’s memory, which ensures their security even if the device is completely replaced in the future.
Transfer through the Mi Mover app
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is ideal for fast data transfer between devices, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, music, installed applications and even system settings. The application is pre-installed on all modern smartphones of the brand, but it can be downloaded to other Android devices.
Run Mi Mover on both devices. On the old phone, select Sender and on the new Xiaomi, Receiver. Apps will find each other via Wi-Fi Direct or via Wi-Fi Direct. QR-The code that will be displayed on the screen of the new phone, the connection is installed without using the Internet, which ensures high speed transmission.
Once connected, the device interfaces sync up, and you'll see a list of data categories to transfer. Select Contacts (or Contacts and Calls) and any other files you want to see on the new device. The copying process can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
It is important not to switch to other applications or lock the screen while Mi Mover is running. Interrupting the process can damage files or incorrectly transfer some of the records. If the transfer is interrupted, it is better to start the process again, having previously cleared the already copied duplicates.
⚠️ Note: When you migrate through Mi Mover on devices with different versions of Android (for example, from Android 10 to Android 13), some system settings may not apply, but the contacts will be saved completely.
Import of contacts from SIM-card
This method is considered classic and suitable for those who switch from a button phone or do not want to use cloud services and Wi-Fi. SIM-The card has a limited memory and allows you to store only basic information: name and number. Additional fields such as email, address or photo, during this transfer will be lost.
Put it in. SIM-If the device has two slots, make sure the card is installed in the active slot. After booting the system, go to the standard "Contacts" app. MIUI The interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same.
Click on the three dots or menus in the corner of the screen and select "Import/Export Contacts." From the menu that opens, select "Import with" option. SIM-The system will suggest you choose destination - where to save the numbers. It is recommended to choose "Google Account" or "Phone", but it is best to save them immediately to the account for security.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Google Account | Phone memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo preservation | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Saving email | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Risk of loss | High-pitched | Low. | Medium. |
| Symbolic limit | Limited. | No. | No. |
Once you've selected the source and the recipient, you'll start the copying process. It usually takes a few seconds. When you're done, you'll see a notification of successful import. SIM-If you plan to use another card, or leave it if it is the main one.
Transmission via Bluetooth and VCF-file
If you don't have the Internet, and Mi Mover doesn't work for some reason, you can use old-fashioned Bluetooth or file transfer, and the good thing about this is that it backs up.vcf, which you can save to your computer or send to your messenger.
On an old phone, open the contact app, click the menu and select Export. Select the export format,.vcf (vCard), the system will create one file containing all your records, or suggest you select specific contacts. Save this file to internal memory.
Now you need to transfer this file to the new Xiaomi. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, pair and send the file. Alternatively, you can send the file through any messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) or email. On the new phone, just open the file you receive - the system automatically prompts you to import the contacts contained in it.
What to do if the file is not opened?
This is especially useful if you want to flip contacts selectively or combine phone books from multiple devices. You can collect all.vcf files into one folder and import them in batches. However, with a large number of contacts (more than 2-3 thousand), the process can take time.
Migration of data from iPhone to Xiaomi
The transition from iOS to Android is often difficult, but for Xiaomi users, it is as simple as possible. Mi Mover has an iPhone version available in the App Store, which allows you to transfer contacts, photos and videos without losing quality.
Install Mi Mover on your iPhone. On Xiaomi, launch the app and select Receiver. On your iPhone, select Sender and scan. QR-The code from the screen of the new phone. After you connect, select Contacts and click Send".
Importantly, both devices need to be allowed to access the local Wi-Fi network to run the app. On iPhone, this is done through a pop-up window when you first start. Also make sure that the iPhone allows contact sync in iCloud settings, otherwise the app may not see some of the recordings.
- 🍎 Download Mi Mover from the App Store on iPhone.
- 🍎 Allow Wi-Fi and contacts on iOS.
- 🍎 Scan it. QR-Xiaomi screen code.
- 🍎 Select data to transfer and start the process.
Contacts with iPhones are often saved with additional fields that can be displayed differently in Android. After the transfer, it is recommended to check several records to make sure that the numbers are recorded correctly, without unnecessary country codes or symbols.
⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone to Mi Mover, iMessage call history and messages are not portable due to iOS operating system limitations.
Decision and duplicates
After data transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate records, this occurs when contacts have been saved and on the Internet. SIM-It's in the card, in the phone's memory, and in the Google account at the same time. Xiaomi has a built-in tool to solve this problem.
Open the Contacts app, go to the settings (three dots or gears) and find "Combine duplicate contacts" or "Clear repeat contacts." The system will analyze the list and suggest combining records with the same numbers or names, which will help to restore order in the phone book.
If contacts don't show up after all the procedures, check the display settings. In the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Filter or Displayed Contacts. Make sure that the "All Contacts" ticks, not just "Phone" or "SIM" tick.
💡
If numbers are displayed without a country code after import (e.g. 8 instead of +7), use the Contacts app -> Settings -> Number format to bring them to a single standard.
In rare cases, you may need to manually reset your contact app settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory and click Clear Cache. Don’t confuse it with Clear Data, as this can remove local display settings.
💡
Regularly checking the phone book for duplicates and correct format of numbers is the best prevention of communication problems in the future.