How to transfer contacts to Android on Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

The switch to a new smartphone is always a matter of getting started quickly, but it is often overshadowed by the need to move personal data. Xiaomi Redmi 9 owners who bought the popular budget phone often face the question of how to quickly and without loss to throw the phone book from the old device. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers a lot of built-in tools, and Xiaomi has developed its own effective software for migration.

In this article, we will take a look at all the current synchronization methods, from cloud services to local file transfers, how to avoid duplication of records and save all important numbers, including hidden fields and avatars. Data transfer is a critical step in the initial setup, which takes only a few minutes with the right approach.

Don’t rely on just one method, as older devices may have limitations on the operating system version or free memory. We’ll look at all scenarios: Wi-Fi, no Wi-Fi, a broken screen on an old phone, or a complete replacement of the device. Redmi 9 has a powerful communication module that makes the data copying process as fast as possible.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and preferred way for Xiaomi app owners is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on Redmi 9, and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, messages, system settings and even placement of icons on the desktop. The main advantage of the method is to create a direct Wi-Fi channel between devices, which provides high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.

To get started, you need to run the app on both devices. On the new Redmi 9, select Receiver, and on the old phone, Sender. QR-You can use the code or manually connect through device search. The local area network is automatically created, and you only have to choose the type of data to transfer. From the list, select Contacts and click the start button.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure both smartphones are charged at least 40-50%, Active operation of the Wi-Fi module in the mode of the access point can quickly consume battery power.

The copying process is done in the background, and you'll see the progress bar on the screen. Once completed, Mi Mover automatically recognizes duplicates and offers to combine the repetitive recordings, which is a unique feature of the MIUI shell. This allows you to keep the phone book clean and in order immediately after moving.

Synchronization through Google account

The classic method that works on any Android device, regardless of brand. If your old phone was synced, then all contacts are already saved in the Google cloud. To appear on Redmi 9, just log into your account when you initially set up the system or add it later through the settings menu.

To check for backup, go to Settings → Accounts and sync on your old device. Make sure the switch next to Contacts is active and blue. If you see the time of last sync, then the data is uploaded to the server. On the new Xiaomi, after entering the username and password, the system will prompt you to restore data from the cloud.

• 🔄 Open the settings on your old phone and find the Accounts section».
• 📲 Select your Google account and click on Sync».
• ☁️ Wait for the update of the status of “Contacts».
• 📥 On the new device, log in to the same account to automatically download.

This method is especially convenient because it provides a permanent backup. Even if you lose your phone, all numbers will remain safe. However, it is worth considering that when synchronizing, conflicts can occur if the old device contacts were scattered across different accounts (for example, SIM, phone, WhatsApp). Google Contacts allows you to manage them through the web interface, combining duplicates before downloading to Redmi 9.

Transfer of contacts through SIM-map

The most versatile, albeit somewhat outdated, method that doesn't require the Internet or special applications, is ideal if you only need to transfer text numbers and names, without unnecessary details like email addresses or photos. SIM-The card acts as a physical storage medium, which ensures compatibility even between very old push-button phones and the modern Redmi 9.

First, you need to export contacts to a memory card. SIM Go to the Contacts app, open the settings menu (often three dots or a gear) and select Import/Export Contacts. SIM-The system will warn you of the name length limitation and no possibility of saving additional fields.

After the export is completed, re-export SIM-The system will automatically detect new records and prompt them to import.If the automatic offer does not appear, go to the Phone app → Contacts → Settings → Import/export and select “Import with” SIM-It is important to know that when importing from SIM All contacts will be stored in the phone’s memory rather than on the card, which is a more reliable storage option.

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Before the reshuffle SIM-If you're on a card, take a picture of your contacts on your old phone just in case, although it's rarely required. It takes a minute, but it saves your nerves if you're not reading the card with a new device.

Import via VCF (Bluetooth or File Manager)

If wireless methods for transferring large amounts of data do not work, you can use the creation of a business card file in the format.vcf. This format is the de facto standard for exchanging contact data and is supported by the vast majority of devices. You can create such a file on an old phone and transfer it to Redmi 9 in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) or USB-cable.

The file creation process is simple: open contacts, click three dots in the corner of the screen, and select "Import/Export." Next, click "Export to file.vcf" (or "Export to storage"). The system will create a file, usually at the root of internal memory or a pack of "Downloads." This file contains the entire data structure, including grouping and additional fields.

• 📁 Create an export file on an old device.
• 📤 Send the file to a new phone (via Bluetooth or file sharing).
• 📥 Open the file on Redmi 9.
• ✅ Confirm the import of all found records.

When you transfer over Bluetooth, the speed can be low, but the reliability of the connection is high even without the Internet. After receiving a file on Xiaomi, just click on it in the notification or file manager. Choose a Google account or phone so you don’t have to depend on physical activity. SIM-maps in the future.

⚠️ Note: When transferring a file via messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), make sure you send it as a “File” and not as a document so as not to lose the extension.vcf, although modern messengers usually keep the format correctly.

Solution: duplicates and missing numbers

A common problem after migration is the appearance of duplicate contacts, when the same number is written several times with different names or from different sources. The MIUI shell on Redmi 9 has a built-in tool to solve this problem. Go to the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Cleanup Duplicates. The system will analyze the database and suggest combining the repeated records.

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where contacts seem to be synced but not displayed in the list, in which case you need to check the display filters. In the Contacts app, click on the display settings and make sure that the checkbox is opposite to All Contacts or the selected account. Often, only SIM contacts are displayed by default, and the main ones are located in Google.

If the problem is in number formats (e.g. +7 instead of 8), this can interfere with the definition of Caller ID in messengers. Number normalization usually occurs automatically, but in complex cases, a third-party application may be required to edit batch changes.

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Regularly cleaning duplicates and checking display filters is the key to a clean and user-friendly phone book on your new Xiaomi Redmi 9.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)