How to transfer contacts to Xiaomi: the complete guide

Changing a mobile device is often stressful not because of the difficulty of mastering a new interface, but because of the risk of losing important data. The contact book is perhaps the most critical element, the loss of which can paralyze business and personal life. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones have several reliable ways of migrating data, each with its own technical nuances.

Modern Android operating systems offer flexible tools for portability, but the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem make adjustments to standard procedures, and you need to clearly understand where the numbers are stored to avoid situations where the list of subscribers is empty after a reset or change of device. Below we will discuss in detail all available methods and their features.

Using the Mi Cloud cloud service for synchronization

Xiaomi’s own cloud platform is the most native and deep way to integrate with the system, ideal if you’re switching from another Xiaomi smartphone or just want to back up before any manipulations.

The sync activation process requires attention to detail, as by default some options can be disabled to save traffic. You need to go to the Settings menu → Mi Account → Sync. This is where the switch is responsible for saving the phone book in the cloud.

Make sure the right data source is chosen. Users are often confused when they see multiple contact lists: local, SIM, and Google. Mi Cloud only works with those records that are physically or logically linked to a Xiaomi account or local phone storage, if the appropriate option is selected.

• 🔄 Automatic data update occurs when connected to Wi-Fi, if the option of background synchronization is enabled.
• 🔒 Data encryption on Xiaomi servers protects personal information from unauthorized access.
• 📱 Access to the database is possible not only from the phone, but also through the i.mi.com web interface from any computer.

⚠️ Attention: Free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If you have a lot of photos and videos, the contact space may run out and sync will stop.

Once synced on the new device is enabled, it is easy to log in to the same account, automatically tightening all the stored records, combining them with local ones, if any, which is the most seamless scenario for ecosystem users.

Transferring through Google Account as a universal method

Unlike proprietary solutions, Google bundling is the de facto standard for the entire Android platform, which is most reliable when switching from other devices (such as Samsung or iPhone) to Xiaomi.

The mechanism is simple: contacts are saved on Google servers and when logged in to a new phone, they instantly appear in the phone book. However, in order for this process to be successful, the old device must be synchronized. You can check this in Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.

The important thing is to choose the default location, so if you create a new contact and it's stored in your phone's memory or on SIM, it won't make it to the Google cloud, so you have to select your settings in the Contacts app and set Google as the primary storage for new records.

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Use the “Set up sync” feature in your Google account to choose which data to share if you want to save traffic or time.

When you first set up a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will suggest you restore data from Google's backup. If you missed this step, don't worry. Just add an account manually through the settings menu, and the phone book will load automatically in the background.

The advantage of this method is that it is brand independent, and even if you decide to change Xiaomi to another brand in a few years, your contacts will stay with you because they are tied to mail, not to the hardware of the phone.

Export and import via VCF file (local saving)

For those who prefer to keep data under full control or do not have a stable Internet connection, the method using VCF files (vCard) is ideal.

To create a manual backup, open the standard Contacts app on your old device. From the control menu (usually three dots or a gear), select Import/Export Contacts. Next, select Export to Storage.

The system will create a file with a.vcf extension, which is usually stored in the root of internal memory or in a folder. MIUI/backup. This file can be transferred to a new phone in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email or simply copying through the Internet. USB-computer-mount.

After transferring the file to the new Xiaomi, open the Contacts app, select Import from storage and specify the path to the file. The system will suggest choosing an account to which the numbers will be recorded.

⚠️ Note: When importing a large number of contacts (over 1000), the process can take several minutes.Do not close the application or lock the smartphone screen while processing the file to avoid corruption of data.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The Mi Mover app, developed by Xiaomi engineers, is designed to provide the fastest and most complete data transfer between phones, and is particularly effective when switching from Android to Android, as it allows you to migrate not only contacts, but also apps, settings and media files.

The app is preinstalled in the Tools folder on all MIUI smartphones. If it is not on the old device (for example, it is not Xiaomi), it can be downloaded from Google Play or GetApps. To start working, both phones must be unlocked and be nearby.

Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old phone, Sender, the connection is made by creating a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows for high speed transmission without consuming mobile traffic.

• 🚀 Transfer speeds are much faster than those via Bluetooth or cloud services.
• 📂 Transfer the full data structure, including the history of calls and SMS (when selecting appropriate options).
• 🔋 The process is energy intensive, so it is recommended to keep the devices on charge or have a high battery charge.

In the data transfer list, make sure to tick the contact box, you can select specific groups or individual records, if you do not want to migrate the entire list, and after confirmation, copying will begin, the progress of which is displayed as a percentage.

Mi Mover’s main advantage over cloud computing is its independence from internet speed and the ability to migrate data even in the field, but for iOS users, the functionality can be limited to basic data.

Transfer contacts from SIM-card and iPhone

The migration scenario from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi requires a special approach, since operating systems have different architectures. Direct synchronization through the Mi Cloud cloud with the iPhone is possible, but often works unstable due to the limitations of background processes in iOS.

The most reliable way for Apple device owners is to use the Move to iOS app, which is not suitable, because we need to reverse the direction. Instead, the iPhone needs to go to Settings → Contacts → Import SIM (if contacts are on SIM) or export all contacts to the VCF file through the Contacts app and send it to yourself by mail.

If you use SIM-map as an intermediate, be prepared for limitations. SIM-The cards are supported only by text data: name and number. Photos, additional numbers, email addresses and social networks will be irretrievably lost in this transfer.

For iPhone owners, the method of synchronization via iCloud is also relevant. Go to the iCloud.com website from a computer, export contacts in vCard format, and then upload this file to the site contacts.google.com. After that, you just need to add a Google account to Xiaomi.

When working with SIM-The map on the Xiaomi path looks like this: Contacts → Settings (three points) → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-The system will suggest you choose your account to save. Never choose your phone as your primary storage if you plan to change your device in the future, as this data will disappear when you reset.

Solving Common Synchronization Problems

Even if you follow all the instructions, users can experience technical failures, and one of the common problems is duplicate contacts, which occurs when multiple sources are active on the device simultaneously: local, Google, Mi Account and SIM. The phone book summarizes them, creating full namesakes.

To solve this problem, the Contacts app has a built-in cleaning tool. Go to settings and select "Combine Repetitive Contacts." The system will automatically find matches by phone number or name and suggest combining them into a single card.

Another common difficulty is that contacts don't show up on the caller list, even though they're in the address book, and that's done by checking the display filters. In the contact menu, click three dots and select Contacts to Display. Make sure that the "All Contacts" check box is ticked or the accounts are selected.

⚠️ Note: If after the transfer, subscriber names are displayed as phone numbers, check the permissions of the Phone and Contacts app. → Annexes → All apps find the appropriate services and make sure they have access to memory and phone book.

In rare cases, a forced cache cleaning of the sync service may be required. This is done through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps → Synchronizing MIUI (or Google). Select "Clear" and "Clear the cache," then restart the device. This often helps "click" the hung list update process.

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Regularly checking the display sources and combining the takes is the key to a clean and convenient phone book on your Xiaomi.

Understanding the address book in MIUI makes it not only easy to move data, but also efficient to manage it. Choose the method that best suits your habits: cloud-based for automation or local for full control. Either way, your data will remain secure with the right approach.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions