Changing your smartphone to a new model is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the fear of losing important data. Owners of the Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem are in a better position, as MIUI offers powerful built-in tools for migration. The easiest and fastest way to transfer contacts from one phone to another is to use the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s devices.
However, not all users are aware of the nuances of this tool or prefer classic methods of syncing through accounts. In this article, we will examine in detail all the options available, from cloud services to manual file export, you will be able to choose the method that best suits your specific situation and the state of both devices.
Before you start any data manipulation, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 50-60%. Loss of power during the process of writing information to the disk can lead to damage to the database or incorrect display of numbers.
⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authentication, make sure you have access to a phone number or backup code to sign in to a Google or Mi Account on a new device.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
Mi Mover (or "Mi Move") is a native solution from the developers of the MIUI shell, created specifically for cloning data between the brand's smartphones. It allows you to transfer not only the phone book, but also messages, call history, photos and even installed applications. It works on a local Wi-Fi connection, which provides high speed transfer without using Internet traffic.
The process starts with the launch of the utility on both devices, and the old phone needs to select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and the new one - "Receiver" (New phone), and then the recipient will appear on the screen. QR-The devices automatically create a secure access point and connect to each other.
From the list of data available for transfer, select the category Contacts, you can select all entries or specify specific groups if your address book has a division, for example, into "Workers" and "Personal", after confirmation, the copying process will begin, the speed of which depends on the amount of information transferred.
- 📱 Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled for automatic detection.
- 🔋 Do not lock smartphone screens during transmission, so that the system does not interrupt the connection to save energy.
- 🔄 If the process is stalled, try restarting both phones and re-connecting again.
It is important to note that when you transfer through Mi Mover, duplicate numbers are not usually created, the system cleverly combines matching records, but if the new phone already has its own contact database, it is recommended to back it up before starting the operation.
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Before you start Mi Mover, close all background apps on both smartphones to free up RAM and speed up the transfer process.
Synchronization through Google account
The most versatile and reliable method, independent of the smartphone brand, is sync through Google’s cloud service, which is ideal if you’re switching from Android to Android, but also makes it easy to recover data on your iPhone or any other device.
To implement this method on an old phone, you need to go to the settings and find the Accounts and Sync section, where you need to select your Google account and make sure that the slider opposite the Contacts item is activated, and after activation, the system automatically uploads all the numbers to the cloud.
On the new device, you just need to enter the same login and password from Google, and when you first log in, the phone will prompt you to restore data from the cloud, and if you don't, you can manually sync through the account settings menu.
☑️ Checklist of Google synchronization
The main advantage of the method is the ability to manage contacts through a browser on a computer. You can edit, delete or combine duplicates in the Google Contacts interface, and the changes will automatically apply on the phone the next time you connect to the network.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting a contact in the Google cloud will cause it to disappear from all devices where sync with this account is enabled.
Transfer via Mi Cloud account
Xiaomi ecosystem owners can use Mi Cloud, a proprietary cloud storage service that is deeply integrated into the system, allowing you to save not only contacts, but also call schedules, notes and voice recordings. Free storage is limited, but it is enough for a phone book.
To re-connect, log into your Mi Account on your old device via the settings menu. Go to the "Mi Cloud" section and activate sync for "Contacts." The system will upload the data to the company's servers. On the new phone, you need to log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync, after which the numbers will appear in the phone book.
A feature of this method is the ability to restore data even if the phone was reset to factory settings. It is enough to enter the Mi Account data when you initially set up the device, and the system will suggest restoring the backup.
| Parameter | Google Contacts | Mi Cloud | Local exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network dependency | Internet is required | Internet is required | Not required |
| Speed of operation | Medium | Medium | Tall. |
| Risk of data loss | Minimum | Low. | Medium (depending on the carrier) |
| Compatibility | Any OS. | Android/IOS (partially) | Any OS. |
Using Mi Cloud is especially important if you are planning to buy a Xiaomi phone again in the future, in which case the data recovery will be as fast as possible and with the preservation of the entire structure of groups and tags.
Export and import via vCard (.vcf)
The classic method, which works on all phones without exception, is to create a special container file. The vCard format (.vcf) is the universal standard for sharing contact information. You can create such a file and transfer it in any convenient way: via messenger, mail or Bluetooth.
To create a file, open the Contacts app on your old phone. Click on the menu (usually three dots or bars) and select "Import/Export contacts." Then select "Export to device memory" or "Export to drive." The system will create a file that will lie in the root folder or in the /MIUI/backup/ directory.
You have to transfer the file to a new phone, and you can do this via Bluetooth if the devices are nearby, or you can send the file to yourself on a messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) and download it on a new device. Once you upload the file to a new smartphone, just click on it, and the system will suggest importing the records contained in it.
- 📂 A.vcf file can contain thousands of contacts in one archive, which is convenient for mass transfer.
- 📸 A saved file can be sent to yourself by email as an attachment for reliability.
- 🔒 When transferring via messengers, the file can be renamed, but the extension.vcf must be saved.
What to do if the file is not opened?
The good thing about this method is that it creates a physical copy of your database that can be stored for years, and even if the cloud services change policy or shut down, the.vcf file will remain readable.
Use of the SIM-portability
The oldest, but still relevant way is to use SIM-It's a medium that works if you don't have access to the Internet or to the cloud, but it has some limitations. SIM-The card can only be written with the number and name, without additional fields such as email, address or photo.
On your old phone, go to Contact Management and select “Copy Contacts” as your source, “Phone” or “Account” as your destination — «SIM-The process may take some time, as the speed of writing to the card chip is slow.
After the copying is completed, remodel SIM-Go to the same menu on the new device and select "Import from the new device" SIM-The contacts will appear in the memory of the phone or in the selected account.
⚠️ Note: When copying the SIM-Long names can be cut off, and numbers written in international format can lose plus or country code.
Modern Xiaomi smartphones often warn the user that (capacity) SIM-The card is limited. It usually has 250 to 500 records. If your phone book is larger, you'll have to do multiple copy cycles or choose a different method.
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SIM-The card is an emergency option for basic transfer, but to fully save all data (photo, email) it is better to use cloud methods or vCard file.
Solving problems with duplicates and display
Once you've managed to re-link, you may have a problem with duplicated records, which happens when the same person is stored in your phone's memory, in your Google account, and on your phone. SIM-map. MIUI It has a built-in tool to solve this problem.
Open the Contacts app, click on the menu, and find the "Clean" or "Contact Management" option. Select the "Combine Repetitive Contacts" function. The system will analyze the database, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining them into a single card.
It is also worth checking where the new numbers are saved, and you can set a priority saving location in the settings, for example, write to your Google account immediately, so that you do not have problems with data loss when changing your device in the future.
- 🧹 Regular cleaning of duplicates speeds up the phone book and search.
- 👁️ Visually combined contacts can be displayed with different photos from different sources.
- 🔙 The unification function is reversible in some launchers, but it is better to double-check the result manually.
If after all the manipulations, some of the numbers are invisible, check the display filters. In the contact menu, there is an option “Show contacts”, where you can choose to display all contacts, only from your phone or only from certain accounts.