Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone or simply changing the operating system is often a source of stress due to the risk of losing important data. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem allows you to store the entire phone book in the cloud, making the recovery process as simple as possible.
The basic mechanism of work of modern gadgets is built around a Google account, which by default stores all your records in a secure cloud storage. When you first activate a device based on MIUI or HyperOS, the system itself will suggest recovering data, but sometimes this process requires manual intervention. Understanding how exactly synchronization occurs will help to avoid duplication of records and loss of information.
In this article, we will take a look at all the import methods available, from automatic synchronization to manual transfer via.vcf. You will learn how to set up contact display and what to do if the phone book is empty after you sign in. Follow the instructions to quickly get your new Xiaomi working.
Preparing a Google account and verifying data
Before you start setting up a new device, you need to make sure your data is actually in the cloud. Often users rely on auto-save, but don't check where the numbers were saved. SIM-To successfully migrate to Xiaomi, it is critical that the starting point is Google Contacts.
You can check for a backup from any computer or other smartphone by going to contacts.google.com. If you see all your numbers there, you've already traveled half the way. If the list is empty or contains only a portion of the records, you first need to save to the old device.
⚠️ Note: If you have previously only saved the numbers SIM-A card or an old phone's internal memory without a cloud link, and simply syncing it on a new device won't pick it up.
Make sure your old device is synced. To do this, go to settings, find the Accounts section, and select your Google profile. Here, the switch opposite the Contacts item should be activated. After activating, wait until the data download is completed.
☑️ Checking readiness for transfer
Only after you have complete confidence in the integrity of the data in the cloud, you can proceed to set up your Xiaomi smartphone, which ensures that the process goes without loss.
Automatic synchronization on the first launch of Xiaomi
The easiest and most reliable way to migrate contacts is to use the standard MIUI or HyperOS activation procedure. When you first turn on a new phone or reset it to factory settings, the setup wizard will suggest connecting to Wi-Fi and logging into your Google account.
When you enter your login and password, the system will ask if you want to restore your data from the backup. If you agree, the phone will automatically tighten not only the apps and settings, but the entire phone book, which is ideal because it minimizes human error and eliminates errors in manual import.
Once you have completed the initial setup, open the Contacts app. If the numbers don't show up instantly, it may take a few minutes for the system to load the data in the background. Make sure the device is connected to a stable Internet connection.
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Use a fast Wi-Fi connection when you first sync to speed up the loading of not only contacts, but also photos of subscribers, which can weigh a lot of megabytes.
In some cases, especially when switching from iOS or a pushphone, automatic sync may not work correctly the first time, then check your sync settings manually.
Manual synchronization settings in MIUI and HyperOS
If the automatic import didn't happen, or you logged in later, you can force the process. Xiaomi shell interface may vary slightly depending on the version, but the logic remains the same. You need to get to account management.
Go to Settings, scroll down to Accounts and Sync (or just Users and Accounts) and find your Gmail address in the list. Click on it and you’ll see a list of data that you can sync: calendar, documents, notes, and of course contacts.
Make sure the slider opposite the Contacts item is active. If it's already on but there's no record, try turning it off and on again to initiate a forced update, and you can click on the menu button (three dots or hamburger menu) and select Sync.
| Parameter | Default value | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronization of contacts | Included. | Check the status of the switch |
| Frequency of update | Automatically. | Leave it unchanged. |
| Retention of new numbers | Google account | Establish as the main |
| Display | All contacts. | Check the filters. |
It is important to keep track of where new numbers are saved. In the Contacts app settings, there is a option called Display and Storage Settings (or similar) to make sure that you choose to save to Google, not to the phone's memory or SIM, so that future backups will be automatically passed.
After doing this, the phone book should be updated within a couple of minutes, and if it hasn't, move on to deeper diagnostic methods.
Import contacts via VCF (vCard) file
Sometimes cloud sync fails, or you need to move contacts from a device where you can’t log into the same Google account directly, in which case it saves the good old-fashioned method of importing via a.vcf file. This universal format is supported by all modern smartphones.
First, you need to get this file. On your old phone (or through your computer at Google Contacts), select all contacts and click Export. Choose vCard (for iOS and Android devices) and the file will be saved in your device memory or on your computer.
Transfer the resulting file to your Xiaomi in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp), or simply copy it to the download folder. Then open the Contacts app on the new phone.
In the app, find a menu (usually three dots or a user profile) and select Import/Export contacts. Next, click on Import from device memory (or Import from storage). The system will find a.vcf file and suggest you select an account to write numbers to. Select your Google account.
⚠️ Note: When importing from a file, be careful not to select the option “Duplicate” or “Add to existing” if you have already tried to sync.This can lead to double entries.
This is a great way to be autonomous: you don't need the Internet when you import it, just the file itself, and it also makes it easy to move contacts between different ecosystems, like from the iPhone to Xiaomi.
Resolving Duplicate and Display Problems
After transferring data, users often face a nasty situation: the same contact is displayed twice or three times, SIM-The card and memory of the phone, but does not automatically combine them.
To address this issue, Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful cleaning tool built in: Open the Contacts app, go to the profile settings or menu, and find Contact Management (or Contact Organization). Select the option to Combine Repetitive Contacts.
The system will scan and suggest a list of pairs that can be combined, and you can confirm the merger for all at once or selectively, and this action will create a single subscriber card, collecting all the numbers and mail addresses.