Changing your smartphone is often accompanied by a mild panic associated with loss of personal data, and the first thing users wonder is how to transfer contacts from Samsung to Xiaomi without losing numbers. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem allows you to do this in several ways, from cloud synchronization to the use of specialized migration applications. Modern tools make the process almost invisible to the owner, but it is important to know the nuances of each technique.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available for transferring a phone book, including working with a Google account, the built-in Mi Mover app, and manually copying through a vCard file. The choice of the specific method depends on your situation: whether you are changing devices right now or preparing to move ahead. Understanding these differences will save time and avoid duplication of records.
Whether you have a new model Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 or flagship POCO F5, the algorithms of actions will be similar, but have their own features in the interface of the shell MIUI or HyperOS. We will look at each step in detail, so that even an inexperienced user can process.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the direct transfer, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to work. Charge Samsung and Xiaomi to at least 60%, as the data transfer process, especially over Wi-Fi Direct, can consume a significant amount of power. Also check for free space on the new device, although the contacts take up a minimum of space, backups may require additional volume.
Make sure both devices are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. Some methods, such as using the Mi Mover app, require creating a local wireless network between gadgets. A stable connection is critical to avoid a transmission breakdown in the middle of the process, which can damage the contact database.
Also worth checking is the operating system version. The old Samsung Galaxy may have an outdated Android, while the new Xiaomi 14 runs on the latest version. While compatibility is usually high, updating the system components on both devices will reduce the risk of compatibility errors between file formats or transfer protocols.
It's important to decide in advance where you want to save the numbers after the transfer. SIM-The recommended option is to link to a Google account, as this provides automatic backup and access from any device in the future.
Using the Mi Mover app for full portability
The most effective and native way for owners of Xiaomi equipment is to use the Mi Mover application, which is designed specifically for migration from other platforms, including Samsung, and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, applications and system settings.
To get started, open the app on Xiaomi’s new smartphone (usually in the Tools folder) and select the Receiver role. On your Samsung device, you need to install Mi Mover from Google Play Store or scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone. After connecting devices over a temporary Wi-Fi network, select the category "Contacts" and start the transfer.
What if Mi Mover can’t see the contact?
Sometimes the app doesn’t display contacts if they’re saved to a third-party messenger or hidden profile. Make sure that Samsung’s contact display settings select “All contacts” instead of just those on the app. SIM-Also check the permissions for the Mi Mover app in the Android privacy settings. Transfer speed depends on the number of records and the availability of multimedia content (profile photos, ringtones). Unlike cloud-based methods, Mi Mover is local, so there is no Internet traffic, and the speed is limited only by the capabilities of Wi-Fi modules. This is the fastest way to move thousands of numbers in minutes without loading servers. 📱 Open Mi Mover on both devices and select the device type (Sender/Receiver). 🔗 Connect Samsung to a Wi-Fi network created by Xiaomi, or scan QR-code. 📂 Select "Contacts" in the data list to transfer and click "Send". ✅ Wait until the process is over and check the integrity of the data in the phone book.Sync through Google Account The classic and most reliable method in the Android ecosystem is sync through Google Contacts. If your Samsung numbers are already linked to a Google account, then on Xiaomi it is easy to enter the same login and password when you initially set up or in the account menu. → Accounts. → Google and make sure the Contacts slider is activated. Click Sync to make sure all data is gone to the cloud. Then on Xiaomi in Settings. → Accounts and sync add the same account and enable contact sync, and the advantage of this method is that it doesn't require physical proximity devices. You can set up a new Xiaomi phone at home while the old Samsung is in the box or already sold. Google automatically combines duplicates, clearing the phonebook from repeats, which often happens when you manually copy. If your contacts are stored only in your device’s memory (“Phone” or “Device”), they are not automatically synced, in which case you need to go to the Samsung Contacts app before changing your phone, select all the records and move them to your Google account through the Contact Management menu. Exports and imports through VCF If the Internet connection is unstable or you prefer to keep data locally, use the vCard (.vcf) format.This universal format is supported by all smartphones and allows you to create a single file with the entire phone book that is easy to transfer via Bluetooth, messenger or messenger. USB-cable. On Samsung, open the Contacts app, go to the menu (three bars or dots) and select Contact Management. → Import/export of contacts → Export. Select a storage location (internal memory) and wait for the file to be created. Then transfer the file to Xiaomi in any convenient way and open it on the new device. Xiaomi automatically recognizes the format and suggests importing the records. You can choose to save the numbers in your phone memory or in your Google account, which is the last option for further data security, and it's a good thing that creates a physical copy of your phone book that you can store on your computer. 📤 On Samsung, create an export file through the Contact Management Menu. 📤 Save the file in.vcf format in internal memory. 📲 Transfer the file to Xiaomi via Bluetooth, Telegram or cable. 📥 Open the file on Xiaomi and confirm the import to the desired storage. SIM-The least recommended but still working method is the use of SIM-This is only suitable if the numbers are few, because the old ones are SIM-The cards have limits on the length of the contact name and the number of records, and in addition, when this transfer is often lost additional fields: email, addresses, photos and several numbers for a single contact. SIM-Samsung card (if it's not already there) Contact us, select "Import/Export" and click "Import with" SIM-cards" (to drive them into memory) or "to export to the SIM-Map (if they're in memory) After that, move the SIM to Xiaomi. On the new Xiaomi phone, go to the Contact App, select Settings. → Imports/exports → Import with SIM-map. After the procedure, be sure to check if all numbers are correctly displayed, as the encoding of names (especially Cyrillic) on old SIMs can go". 💡Use of the SIM-The card is an emergency method. It doesn't save photos, extra numbers, or long names. Use it only if other ways are not available. Modern Samsung and Xiaomi smartphones use Nano-SIM, but if you're moving from a very old device, the SIM card format may differ. In this case, you will either have to crop the card (not recommended) or go to the operator’s cabin for a replacement, which makes this method of transfer even less convenient compared to cloud technologies. To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of methods. It will help you weigh the pros and cons of each method depending on your specific situation and the technical condition of the devices.Speed Method Needs Internet Save photos Mi Mover complexity High No (locally) Yes Low Google Sync Average Yes Yes Very Low VCF File High No Yes Medium SIM-Often users face the problem of duplicate contacts, when after transferring the same number is displayed twice or three times. To avoid this, before starting the procedure on the new Xiaomi phone, it is better to clean the phone book or use the “Combine duplicates” function in the contact settings after importing. 📊 What is the most convenient way to transfer contacts?Mi Mover (automatically)Google Account (cloud)VCF File (manual)SIM-Map (old school) Another common problem is that contacts are displayed but not typed or edited, which means they were imported into Read Only mode (e.g., with a reading-only mode). SIM The solution is simple: copy them again, but in the "Phone" or "Google" section, where the editing rights are full. ⚠️ Note: When using Mi Mover, do not lock your phone screens during transmission. Although the protocol is protected, accidental connection interruption can cause some contacts to “hang” in the clipboard and not log into the database of the new device. ⚠️ Note: If you use WhatsApp or Viber, make sure that chat backups are made separately. Contact portability does not guarantee the preservation of your correspondence history unless you have selected the appropriate options in Mi Mover or backuped Google Drive (FAQ) Missing photos of contacts after transfer, how to restore? Most often it happens when transferring through the SIM-If you were using Google Sync or Mi Mover, the photos should have been saved, check if the sync of images is enabled in the settings of your Google account on Xiaomi, sometimes you need to wait a few minutes for the thumbnails from the cloud to load. Can I roll contacts if the Samsung screen is broken? Yes, if the phone turns on and the sensor is working partially or through an adapter. USB-OTG (You can also access your Google account from your computer through contacts.google.com, if you've already been synced, and you can upload all the numbers to a file. What if Xiaomi says "Not enough space" when importing? This is a rare error, as contacts take up little space. It can occur if the cache of the "Contacts" application or the system partition is full. Try clearing the cache of the "Contacts" application through Settings → Annexes → All applications → Contacts → Memory. → Clear the cache and try again. Is it safe to use third-party apps to transfer? Using proven apps like Mi Mover or Move to iOS (to reverse switch) is safe. However, downloading unknown utilities from unverified sources can lead to a leak of personal data.Always check the permissions the app requests when installing.