Changing your smartphone, especially to a popular model from Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, is always accompanied by a desire to get started with a new device as soon as possible. The most critical element that must be moved first is the phone book. Losing important numbers can be a serious problem, so the question of how to transfer contacts from android to android Xiaomi, worries every user when upgrading the gadget.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers a lot of built-in and third-party tools for data migration, making it as easy and fast as possible. You don't need to be an IT expert to do this in a few minutes. Modern methods allow you to transfer not only numbers, but also additional fields, subscriber photos and even call history.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the current portability methods, assess their pros and cons, and consider the possible errors that may occur in the process. You will learn which method will be most effective for your situation, whether it is moving from an old Samsung, Huawei or any other Android phone.
⚠️ Before you start any data manipulation, make sure that the battery charge on both devices is at least 40-50%, Avoid sudden shutdown at critical time.
Syncing through Google account: the classic method
The most reliable and versatile way to transfer contacts is to use Google Contacts cloud storage. This method works on any Android device and does not require installing additional software. All you need is a Gmail account to which the old phone is attached.
The essence of the method is that the phone book of the old device is uploaded to the Google cloud and then automatically uploaded to the new Xiaomi after logging in to the same account, ensuring that your data is safe and accessible even in the event of a loss of a physical device.
First, check the sync settings on your old phone. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync (the path may vary slightly depending on the model) and select your Google account. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated and is lit in blue.
Once sync is enabled, click on the menu button (usually three dots) and select Sync. Wait until the process is complete. Now your numbers are in the cloud. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, just type in the username and password from the same account.
- 📲 Full automation: everything happens in the background without user involvement.
- ☁️ Backup: Data is stored in the cloud and does not take up your phone’s memory.
- 🔄 Two-way communication: Changes made on one device are immediately displayed on all other devices.
But you have to consider that the speed of contact on a new device depends on the speed of the Internet connection, and if you have hundreds of photo numbers, the process can take several minutes.
📊 What kind of contact transfer you used before?
Through a Google account
Mi Mover appendix
Through SIM-map
Manually.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which allows you to transfer data from your old phone to your new phone on a local network, one of the fastest ways, since it transfers directly between devices via Wi-Fi Direct, bypassing Internet channels.
The application is preinstalled on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO If your old phone doesn't have it, you can download it easily. APK-file from the official website or through QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new device, and it supports not only the transfer of contacts, but also the transfer of contacts. SMS, Photos, applications and system settings.
The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new Xiaomi, select Recipient and on the old one, Sender, and the app will create a Wi-Fi hotspot that the old phone needs to connect to, and after you connect, you can choose the type of data to transfer.
When you select contacts, you'll see a list of all the groups available, and when you confirm the selection, you'll start copying, and the progress bar will show you the speed and the time remaining.
⚠️ Warning: Do not switch to other apps or lock phone screens while transmitting data via Mi Mover, as this may break the connection.
The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of the quality of the mobile Internet and can transfer huge amounts of data in a short time, transfer speeds can reach tens of megabytes per second.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both devices have GPS and location permissions enabled. Also check that the Wi-Fi module is activated. Sometimes it helps to reboot both smartphones before trying to reconnect. Bluetooth Transfer: working without the Internet If you don't have access to Wi-Fi networks or don't want to use cloud services, classic Bluetooth remains a working option. This method is ideal for transferring small amounts of data, such as only a phone book, when there is no cable or third-party applications at hand. Although Bluetooth speeds are much lower than Wi-Fi Direct, for transferring a vCard file (business card) the process is not critically important in terms. To start, turn on Bluetooth on both devices via the notification bar or in the Settings menu. → Bluetooth. On an old phone, search for devices and find your new Xiaomi. Click on the device name to pair and confirm the access code on both screens. After successful pairing, go to the Contacts app on the old phone. Open the menu (three dots or more buttons) and select Import/Export or Share Contacts. Select all contacts and choose Bluetooth as your transfer method. 📡 It works without the Internet: no connection to Wi-Fi or mobile network is required. 🔒 Local Transfer: Data does not leave your devices, which increases privacy. 📱 Universality: supported by the vast majority of mobile phones of any year of release. After receiving the file, the system will automatically prompt you to import the contacts into the phone book or memory. SIM-It is recommended to choose a phone memory or Google account to save all additional fields Export and import via file. VCF Format VCF (vCard is a de facto standard for sharing contact information, which allows you to create a single file containing the entire phone book, which can then be transferred in any convenient way: through instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email or file manager. On your old device, open the contact app, go to the settings and select "Contact Export." The system will prompt you to save the file to the device's memory. After you create the contacts.vcf file (or similar name), transfer it to the new Xiaomi. If you use the messenger to transfer, just send the file to yourself or to chat with a new device. On Xiaomi, open the file you receive. The system automatically recognizes the format and launches the import wizard. Parameter Description Recommendation File Format.vcf (vCard) Universal standard File Size Depends on the number of photos No photo - several KB Compatibility Android, iOS, PC All fields are saved (email, address) better than SIM This method is especially convenient if you need to transfer contacts to several devices at once or save a backup copy on your computer. VCF You can store it for years and be sure it will open on any modern gadget. SIM-Maps: Old proven way Many users still keep contacts on the Internet SIM-It's the most reliable way to change the phone, and it's really easy to change the SIM and the numbers will be available, but there are some limitations to this method that you need to be aware of. SIM-The card has limited memory and data structure, and can only store a phone number and a name (often with a limited number of characters, usually a limited number of characters). 10-15 Email, addresses, additional numbers and photos will be lost in this transfer. To import contacts to Xiaomi, insert SIM-card to the new phone (if it's not there already). Go to the Contacts app, click on the settings menu and select "Import/Export Contacts." Then click "Import with" SIM-The system will suggest you choose your destination: phone memory or Google account. It is highly recommended to choose a Google account or device memory, as this will allow you to edit contacts, add photos to them and sync them with other gadgets. ⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Long names may be cropped, and Cyrillic characters may in some rare cases be displayed incorrectly (in krakozyabs) if the card is not encoded in the system. Be sure to check several records to make sure numbers are saved correctly and full names are not cropped.Solution and possible errors Despite the simplicity of procedures, users sometimes face difficulties. One common problem is duplicate contacts, where two identical entries appear on a new device for the same person, often when multiple synchronization methods are used simultaneously. To solve the problem of duplicates in the application "Contacts" on Xiaomi (or Google Contacts) there is a function of combining. It is usually available through the settings menu or automatically offered by the system when similar entries are detected. Another problem is the lack of a part of the fields (for example, no email or address). SIM-map CSV In this case, only re-transfer through Google Account or VCF If contacts are not synced, check the date and time on the device. Incorrectly set time can cause an error in security certificates, which causes Google servers to refuse to sync data. 💡Syncing through Google Account is the most complete and secure method, preserving the entire data structure, including photos and additional fields. MIUI? In rare cases, after updating the firmware MIUI or HyperOS contacts can disappear visually. Check the display settings in the application Contacts. Make sure to check the box "Show contacts from all accounts" or select a specific Google account, not just "Phone" or "SIM." Often contacts are still there, just the display filter changed. Can you restore remote contacts? Yes, if you used sync with Google. Go to the site contacts from your computer, click on the gear (Settings) and select the date "Change the specific changes to the phone, you can change the date to the "Relortation of the book" 24 days. You can choose to sort by name or surname, and you can choose to display (name or surname) this is true if you're on the iPhone, where the logic of sorting may differ. How do you transfer contacts if the screen of the old phone is broken? If the sensor is not working, but the image is, you can connect it. USB-mouse-wise OTG-If the screen is completely black but the phone is turned on, try connecting to it from your computer via a control program (e.g. MyPhoneExplorer or a phone that is not connected to it). ADB), if previously permitted by the USB, And backup. Do synchronized contacts take up space on the phone? Text data itself takes up negligible space. However, if contacts contain high-resolution photos, they can take up several megabytes or even gigabytes with thousands of contacts. When synced with Google, photos are often stored in the cloud, saving space on the device.