How to transfer contacts from phone to phone Xiaomi

Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new interface as with the risk of losing important data. Among all the information stored in a device’s memory, contacts are the most valuable asset that can paralyze your business and personal life. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often wonder how to quickly and without errors move a phone book from an old gadget, whether it is Android or iPhone.

Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers a lot of built-in tools, and Xiaomi has developed its own powerful data migration app. You don't have to be a techie or carry your phone to a service center to perform this procedure. Modern methods allow you to complete the process in minutes, saving not only numbers, but also associated avatars, email addresses and job records.

In this guide, we will look at all the current methods of transfer, from cloud sync to local copying via Wi-Fi Direct. We will look at the nuances of working with Mi Account, the features of importing from iOS and methods to combat duplicates that often occur when incorrect migration. The choice of the specific method will depend on the state of your old device and the presence of a stable Internet connection.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and recommended method by the manufacturer is the use of the proprietary application Mi Mover. This tool is pre-installed on all modern Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to transfer data over a direct Wi-Fi connection without consuming mobile traffic.

To get started, you need to run the app on both devices. If the old Mi Mover phone is missing, it can be easily downloaded from the Google Play store or scanned. QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new smartphone. After launch, the system will ask you to select the role of the device: on the new phone, select "I am the recipient", and on the old one, select "I am the sender", and then the devices will find each other, and you will need to confirm the connection.

☑️ Ready to transfer via Mi Mover

Done: 0 / 4

The application interface allows you to flexibly customize the selection of data. You can transfer not only contacts, but also messages (SMS/MMS), call history, photos, videos, music and even installed applications along with their data. After selecting file categories, the copying process will begin, the progress of which is displayed in real time.

What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both phones are Wi-Fi and GPS enabled. Sometimes it helps to reboot both devices. Also check if the antivirus or firewall blocks your local network connection. In rare cases, the problem is solved by updating the Mi Mover app to the latest version through the official app store.

Importantly, when you transfer contacts through Mi Mover, they are automatically saved to the memory of the phone or account you select when you first set up a new device, which eliminates data loss in the event of a reset in the future.

💡

Mi Mover is the fastest way to transfer large amounts of data without using the Internet, working on the principle of direct connection of devices.

Syncing through Google account: the classic method

If you are already a user of the Google ecosystem, the transfer process can be as automated as possible. Google Contacts’ sync mechanism is one of the most reliable in the industry, since data is stored on the corporation’s servers and is tied to your inbox, not to a specific physical device.

On an old phone, you need to make sure that sync is enabled. To do this, go to the settings, look for the Accounts or Users and AccaAccounts section, select your Google account and make sure that the slider opposite Contacts is activated. If you see the Sync or Sync Now button, click on it to make sure that all recent changes are uploaded to the cloud.

On a new Xiaomi phone, when you first turn on or in the Accounts and Sync settings section, you need to enter the same email address. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the backup. Even if the phone is already configured, just add an account, and after a few minutes (depending on the number of records), the phone book will automatically fill in.

💡

Before syncing, go to contacts.google.com from your computer to make sure all your numbers are actually in the cloud, not just in memory. SIM-map.

One of the key features of this method is the ability to manage contacts via a web interface, so you can edit numbers, merge duplicates, and recover deleted records (within 30 days) directly from your computer, which gives you an added layer of security: even if you lose both phones, your phone book will remain safe.

Transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iOS to Android often causes concerns among users due to differences in operating systems, but Xiaomi has provided a special algorithm for such cases. the Mi Mover app on the iPhone works stably and allows you to transfer basic data, including contacts, photos and videos, without the need to use third-party programs on the PC.

The process begins with downloading the Mi Mover app from the App Store on your iPhone. On a new Android smartphone, launch the app and select the recipient mode. iPhone scans. QR-Once the connection is established, iOS will request permission to access the contacts, which must be confirmed, otherwise data transfer will not be possible.

Note that due to Apple’s security limitations, some types of data may not be transferred, but contacts usually migrate without problems. If you use iCloud, an alternative method is to export contacts via the.vcf web version of iCloud and then import that file to a Xiaomi phone.

📊 Which phone do you use to switch to Xiaomi?
iPhone (iOS)
Other Android (Samsung, Huawei)
Old Xiaomi
Button phone

Once the transfer is complete, it is recommended to check whether the names and numbers are displayed correctly. Sometimes, when cross-platform transfer can have problems with encoding names if they contain rare characters, but in most cases, Mi Mover successfully copes with the conversion of data between file systems.

Import and export via VCF file

The universal language for the exchange of contact data is the format VCF (The good thing about this method is that it doesn't require an Internet connection, accounts, or special applications, except for the standard contact manager that every smartphone has. VCF A text document that contains a structured description of all contact record fields.

On the old device, you need to open the Contacts app, go to the settings menu (usually three dots or a gear), and select “Import/Export contacts.” Then select “Export to device memory” or “Export to VCF file.” The system will create a file, most commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf.

The resulting file must be transferred to a new Xiaomi phone, and this can be done in any convenient way: via instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), Bluetooth, email or simply copy the file through the Internet. USB-And then you have a cable on your computer, and then you have a phone, and once you have a file in your new smartphone, you just click on it, and the system will suggest that you import the records that it contains.

Method of file transferSpeed.We need the Internet.Convenience
BluetoothLow.No.Average.
MessagesTall.Yes.High.
USB CableVery high.No.Low (PC needed)
EmailMediumYes.High.

When importing, the system will ask where to save contacts: in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-The safest option is to save to a Google account, as this ensures the safety of data in case of loss or breakage of the device. SIM-The card is not recommended because the card capacity is limited and the format does not allow you to store additional fields such as email or addresses.

Copying contacts with SIM-map

Although this method is considered outdated, it is still one of the easiest for users who have stored numbers on the Internet. SIM-Physically repositioning the SIM card into a new Xiaomi slot is the first step, but it won’t automatically show up numbers in the phone book.

Once you install the card, you need to open the standard Contacts app on your Xiaomi smartphone. In the management menu (often hidden under the three-dot icon or the letter "E" in the corner), you need to find the item "Import Contacts «SIM-The system reads all the records and will suggest choosing a destination for them.

Why are some numbers cut off when importing with SIM?
SIM-The cards have a limited format for storing names (usually up to the end of the day). 15-20 When copying, long names may be cropped or incorrectly displayed, so it is recommended to check and edit the records immediately after import.

The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of the operating system of the old phone, you can transfer contacts even from a button phone if you first copy them to a SIM card: SIM-The card does not store multiple numbers for a single contact, email addresses, photos, and other metadata.

⚠️ Note: When copying with SIM-Always choose to save your cards to your Google account or your phone's memory. Don't leave your contacts to be stored only on your phone. SIM, If it is damaged or lost, you will lose the entire phone book without the possibility of recovery.

Solving problems with duplicates and synchronization

A common problem after data transfer is the appearance of duplicates: the same contact can be displayed several times if it was stored in both the phone’s memory and on the phone. SIM-This creates inconvenience when searching and calling, but modern Xiaomi smartphones have built-in tools to solve this problem.

To eliminate duplicates, open the Contacts app, go to settings, and find “Merge duplicates.” The system will automatically analyze the phone book, find entries with the same numbers or names, and suggest combining them into one card, a process that takes several seconds even when there are thousands of entries.

If sync is not happening and contacts are not displayed, check the display settings. The contact menu often has a filter that can hide certain groups, such as SIM Only or Phone Only. Make sure that check boxes are ticked against all sources, including your Google account and Mi Account.

  • 📱 Check if sync is enabled in Google account settings.
  • 🔄 Try to delete and add your account again in the Passwords and Security section».
  • 🌐 Make sure the Contacts app has permission to access the network in the application settings.
  • 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Contacts app through the settings -> Annexes -> All applications.

In difficult cases, when contacts are “disappeared” after a system update, it is worth checking the shopping cart in the web version of Google Contacts. Deleted records are stored there for 30 days, and they can be easily restored with a single click, returning the entire phone book to its original state.

What if the contacts are mixed with foreign symbols?
The encoding problem is rare, but it is possible when porting from very old phones. Solution: export contacts to a VCF file, open this file on your computer using a text editor (like Notepad++), change encoding to UTF-8 and save. Then delete the problematic contacts on your phone and import the corrected file again.
Can you transfer the history of the call to the new Xiaomi?
Yes, the Mi Mover app allows you to migrate the call log. However, standard Android tools often turn off synchronization of call history to the Google cloud. For a full history backup, it is better to use the Backup and Restore feature in the Xiaomi phone settings, creating a local backup on your PC or in the Mi Cloud.
Where are the contacts physically stored on Xiaomi?
The storage location depends on your choice. If you choose a Phone, the database is in the internal memory in the secure system partition. If Google is the data on Google servers. If SIM is on a SIM chip, you can find out the current storage location by opening any contact and looking at which account is listed at the top of the card.