Buying a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but the process of data transfer can turn into a real stress if you do not know the right algorithms of actions. Moving contacts is one of the first tasks that must be solved immediately after turning on the device, so as not to lose important numbers of colleagues, friends and delivery services. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices have at their disposal several effective tools built right into the shell of MIUI or HyperOS.
Modern synchronization techniques allow you to complete the migration of data in minutes, even if you are switching from a completely different operating system. You do not need to be a technician to copy a phone book from an iPhone or an old Android smartphone of any brand.
In this article, we will discuss all the current options in detail: from cloud synchronization via Google Account to local transfer via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You will learn how to avoid duplication of records, how to correctly import data from the Internet. SIM-maps and what to do if numbers are not displayed correctly. carefully study each method to choose the best.
⚠️ Warning: Before you start any phone book manipulations, make sure both devices have enough battery power to keep the process from being interrupted halfway through the discharge.
Using Mi Mover for a Quick Migration
The easiest and most native way for owners of Xiaomi equipment is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover application, which is designed specifically for fast data transfer between phones without using Internet traffic, creating a direct wireless connection.
To get started, you need to open the app on your new phone and select the Recipient role. On an older device, whether Android or iPhone, Mi Mover is also installed (on iOS downloaded from the App Store, on Android often already has or downloads through scanning). QR-Once you select the sender role and scan the code from the screen of the new gadget, the devices will connect.
The data selection menu should mark Contacts and start the transfer. The speed of copying depends on the number of records and the amount of photos attached to them, but usually the process takes no more than a couple of minutes, even for several thousand numbers.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
It is worth noting that when migrating from iPhone to Xiaomi via Mi Mover, there may be restrictions on transferring some specific fields, such as avatars or work addresses, if the iOS data structure is different from Android standards.
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If the transfer process is stalled, try to disable the screen lock on both devices and bring them closer together, as interference can break the Wi-Fi Direct connection.
Synchronization through Google Account
The most reliable and versatile method that all Android experts recommend is sync through Google Contacts.This method ensures that your data is secure and accessible from any device that logs in to your account. This is especially true when switching to a new phone, since you will not need to carry anything manually.
On an old smartphone, you need to go to the settings, find the Accounts or Users and Accounts section, select your Google profile and make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is active. Once synchronization is enabled, the data will be uploaded to Google servers. On the new Xiaomi, it is easy to enter the same login and password when you first set up the system.
Once logged in, the system will automatically prompt you to restore the data from the backup, and even if you've already set up your phone, you can just go to the sync settings and click on the Sync button. All the numbers stored in the cloud will appear in the call list, which is ideal for those who want to have a single database that is also accessible from a computer through a browser.
| Parameter | Description | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Depends on the Internet. | Instant update |
| Data volume | No restrictions. | Cloud storage |
| Difficulty | Minimum | Automation |
| Security | Tall. | Password protection |
It is important to understand the difference between the SIM-And when you store it in the cloud, you save not only the number, but also additional fields like address, company, notes, and multiple numbers for a single contact, which is not possible with a good old SIM.
Transfer with Mi Cloud
Xiaomi's ecosystem offers its own cloud storage, the Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the system. If you use a Mi Account, your contacts can automatically be saved there. It's a convenient way to back up your devices for that brand.
To take advantage of this method, on an old phone (if it's also Xiaomi), you have to go to the Mi Account settings, select Cloud, and enable contact sync. On a new device, just log into the same Mi Account, and the phonebook will fit automatically, a method that is often ignored, but it is very effective within the brand ecosystem.
For users switching from other Android smartphones, you can use the web version of i.mi.com. You can export contacts from your old phone in.vcf format, upload them to the Mi Cloud site, and then sync the new phone. However, this path seems more complicated than using Google, so it only makes sense if you actively use Xiaomi services.
⚠️ Note: When using Mi Cloud, make sure you have free space in the cloud storage, as the base amount of free space may be limited to 5GB.
The feature of Mi Cloud is the ability to manage contacts through a special web interface, where you can conveniently edit, combine duplicates and delete unnecessary entries from the large screen of the computer before syncing to the phone.
Import and export via VCF file
The classic method that works everywhere is to create a backup file of the.vcf (vCard) format, which is supported by all operating systems: Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. It allows you to transfer contacts even without the Internet, simply by transferring the file in any convenient way.
On your old phone, open the Contacts app, go to the settings or management menu, and select Import/Export Contacts. Then select Export to Device Memory or Export to File.vcf. The system will create a file that is usually saved in the root folder or in the /Contacts/ directory.
The resulting file can be transferred to the new Xiaomi via Bluetooth, messengers (for example, sending yourself to Telegram or WhatsApp) or through the new Xiaomi. USB-Once the file is on the new device, just click on it, and the system will suggest importing the entries contained in it into the phone book.
What to do if the file is not opened?
The good thing about this is that it creates a physical copy of your data that you can store on a flash drive or computer as an archive, and unlike the cloud, you have complete control over the storage of information and you don't depend on the servers of the companies.
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A VCF file is the most reliable way to create a local backup that is guaranteed to open on any phone in the future, even in 10 years.
Transfer of contacts from SIM-card
Many users still keep numbers on the SIM-Although this method has limitations (write only one number to your name, no photos and no additional fields), it remains popular. Insert a SIM in the new Xiaomi is the first step, but the data itself will not appear on the list, you need to import it.
Once you have installed the SIM card and turned on your phone, open the Contacts app. Click on three dots in the corner or the menu button, select Settings, and then Import Contacts «SIM-map».
The system will scan the chip and show you a list of the records found, you can select all the contacts or mark only the ones you need. Once you confirm the import, the numbers will be copied to your phone memory or to your Google Account (depending on the location you choose), and it is recommended that you choose Google storage immediately after that, so that in the future you do not depend on the SIM card.
- 📱 Limited volume: SIM-The card usually holds up to 250 contacts.
- 🔤 Text encoding: When transferring from old SIM cards, Cyrillic names can turn into unreadable characters.
- 💾 One field: There is only one phone number per record.
If you see Krakozyabr instead of names after importing, the problem is encoding the old SIM card, in which case re-importing through third-party contact managers from Google Play who know how to fix the encoding, or manually entering the most important numbers, can help.
Solution: Duplicates and missing numbers
Once data is transferred, users often face the problem of duplication: the same person can be listed twice or three times, which happens if the contacts were stored in Google, Mi Cloud, and phone memory at the same time, and fortunately, MIUI has a built-in cleanup tool.
Go to the Contacts app, click on the menu and find “Clean Duplicates” or “Combine Repeated Contacts.” The system will automatically find entries with the same names or numbers and suggest combining them into one card, summarizing all the available data (photo from one source, work number from another, mobile from a third).
If contacts are gone after updating or resetting, don't panic. They're probably just hidden by a filter. In the Contacts app, click on the display settings and make sure you check the "All Contacts" box or select the right accounts to display. Often, the phone only shows "Phone Contacts" while hiding Google's synchronized data.
⚠️ Note: Before combining duplicates, make sure you don’t lose unique data, although Xiaomi’s system usually works correctly and saves all fields when merging.
It's also worth checking the filtering settings in the call interface itself. Sometimes users accidentally turn on the contact display only from certain groups, making it seem like part of the phone book has disappeared. Return the default settings to see the full list.