The shift from iOS to Android is always exciting, especially when it comes to privacy. The most important asset of any user is a phone book containing hundreds of numbers of friends, colleagues and delivery services. The process of migrating data from Apple devices to Xiaomi smartphones (which run on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS) has become much easier in recent years.
However, there are several proven methods, each with its own characteristics and advantages depending on the amount of data: Contact transfer can be done through Google cloud services, a specialized application from the manufacturer or a classic VCF file. It is important to choose a method that does not lead to duplicate records or loss of important details, such as subscriber photos or email addresses.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the options available so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation, we will look at both automated solutions and manual methods for those who are used to controlling each step, the main thing is to act consistently and not interrupt the synchronization process.
Preparing devices before data migration
Before you start moving information, you need to properly prepare both smartphones. An unstable connection or lack of space can interrupt the process halfway. Make sure that both your old iPhone and the new Xiaomi are charged at least 50-60%. Although text data transfer does not consume much energy, power surges when the Wi-Fi connection is broken can lead to error.
Connecting to the same Wi-Fi network is key. The speed of data transfer is directly dependent on the bandwidth of the router. If you have the opportunity, use a 5GHz network, as it provides a more stable channel of communication between devices, which is critical for large amounts of data.
- 📱 Check that the iPhone is enabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- 🔋 Make sure that both smartphones do not go into sleep mode during the process.
- ☁️ Remember your Google account password, you’ll need it to sync.
- 📂 Free up some space on the new Xiaomi just in case, although contacts take up a minimum of memory.
Also worth checking is the operating system version. On iPhone, go to Settings → Main → Software Update to make sure iOS is up to date. On Xiaomi, in the Settings menu → On your phone, check for MIUI updates. Data protocol compatibility often improves with the latest security patches.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The easiest and most native way, developed specifically for owners of Xiaomi equipment, is the Mi Mover utility. This application is preinstalled on most modern models of the Chinese brand, but if it is not available, it is easy to download from Google Play or GetApps. The main advantage of the method is the ability to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications and system settings in one package.
To get started, install the Mi Mover app on your iPhone from the App Store. On the new Xiaomi smartphone, run it through the settings menu or find it in the Tools folder. When you start, the system will ask you to choose the role of the device: “I am sending” (for iPhone) and “I am receiving” (for Xiaomi), this separation is necessary to properly configure the local Wi-Fi tunnel between gadgets.
After the scan. QR-If you use an iPhone camera, the devices will connect. In the interface on the new phone, select Contacts. You can deselect everything else if you only need phone numbers. Press Send and wait for completion. The speed depends on the number of records, but usually the process takes no more than a couple of minutes.
⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, the iPhone may warn you of a “unsafe network”: This is the normal iOS response to the creation of a local Xiaomi hotspot.
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If the Mi Mover is frozen during the scanning phase QR-Try to temporarily shut down the mobile Internet (LTE/5G) On iPhone, leaving only Wi-Fi.
Method 2: Sync through your Google account
This method is considered the “gold standard” in the Android world, as it provides the cleanest transfer without junk files.The bottom line is that the iPhone acts only as a source of data that is temporarily stored in the Google cloud and then automatically pulled up on Xiaomi, which is ideal if you plan to use Google services in the future on a permanent basis.
First, upload contacts from iCloud to Google. To do this, install the Google app or Gmail app from the App Store on your iPhone. Log in to your account. Go to the app settings and find the "Sync" or "Contacts" option. Activate the "Contacts" switch. The system will prompt you to copy all the records from your phone's memory and iCloud to the Google cloud.
Once you’ve synced to your iPhone, pick up the new Xiaomi. When you first set up or through the Settings menu → Accounts and Sync add the same Google account. Make sure it ticks the box against Contacts. In a few seconds, the entire phonebook will appear on the subscriber list.
| Parameter | Mi Mover | Google Synchronization | VCF File |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Tall. | Medium (depending on the Internet) | Instant. |
| We need the Internet. | Only local Wi-Fi | Yeah, stable. | No. |
| Contact photos | Transferred | Transferred | Often lost. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Low. |
Method 3: Transfer via VCF file
A classic method that works even without the Internet and special applications. VCF (vCard) is a universal standard for storing contact information. It is supported by any operating system, whether it is Symbian from the past or the latest HyperOS. This method is good in that it gives you a physical file that you can save to a flash drive or send yourself to a messenger.
On your iPhone, open the Contacts app. Click on three dots or select in the corner of the screen and select Select All. Then click on Share icon (square with arrow) and select the transfer method. The most convenient way is to send the file to yourself on Telegram (Favorites), to mail or save to Files. Make sure you choose the vCard format.
Open the file on Xiaomi's smartphone, and it automatically recognizes the extension and says "Import contacts." You'll be asked to choose a place to save: in memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-You can choose a Google account or a phone memory, because you can choose a Google account or a Google account. SIM-The card has length restrictions and does not support Cyrillic in names.
Once you have selected the target folder, confirm the action. The phone will process the file and add new entries to the common database. If you have duplicates (the same numbers with different names), Xiaomi's system may suggest combining them automatically after import.
Solution: Duplicates and coding problems
Often, after a transfer, users are faced with a situation where one contact is displayed twice or three times. This happens if you used several methods at the same time or if the contacts were saved in both iCloud and Gmail. There is a built-in cleaning tool in the MIUI shell.
Go to Contacts, click on the menu (three dots or stripes) and find “Clear duplicates” or “Combine repeat contacts.” The system will analyze the database, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining cards. This is a safe operation, the data will not be lost, but only structured.
- 🧹 Open the contact menu and select “Duplicate Cleanup».
- 🔍 The system will show a list of repeated records.
- ✅ Click on “Combine All” to automatically fix the base.
- 📝 Manually check for complicated cases where names are different but the numbers match.
What to do if the names of contacts are displayed by Krakozabras?
Transfer of additional data: Photos and Messages
Although the primary goal is contacts, you often want to take your email history and your gallery with you, and the Mi Mover app we talked about earlier can port that data, but there's a more elegant solution for photos, the Google Photos app.
Set Google Photos on your iPhone, log in and turn on Autoboot. Wait until the process is over. On Xiaomi, just log in to the same account and the entire gallery will be available in the cloud, taking up the minimum space on your device. For SMS/iMessage, the situation is more complicated: iMessage does not port to Android due to Apple's closed protocol, but regular SMS can be tossed over Mi Mover.
It is important to understand the difference between iMessage and regular SMS. Apple's blue messages won't work on Android ever.Make sure before changing SIM-Maps you disabled iMessage on your iPhone (Settings) → Messages) to avoid losing important confirmation codes from banks that may come to your old phone.
⚠️ Before disabling iMessage, be sure to wait for the arrival SMS-Apple's confirmation code, if you just take it out. SIM-The process of detaching the number from the Apple ecosystem can take up to 72 hours and you will temporarily be unable to receive the card. SMS on a new Android smartphone.
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iMessage doesn’t work on Android, so it’s critical to untie the number from iMessage before retrieving it. SIM-iPhone cards to avoid losing access to banking SMS.
Completion of the setup and verification of results
After a successful transfer, take your time to rent or sell your old iPhone. Conduct a thorough check of the new phone book on Xiaomi. scroll through the contact list, check for photos, correct spelling of names and the availability of all the necessary fields (working, mobile, email).
It's also worth checking which account the contacts are showing from. In the Contacts app, click on the display settings and make sure that you select "All Contacts." Sometimes a new phone book is available, but it's hidden by a filter. Make sure the tick is opposite your Google account and your local phone memory.
Now your Xiaomi is fully ready to work with your personal information.The transition process is completed successfully and you can enjoy the new features of the Android system without worrying about lost numbers.