Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new interface, but with the risk of losing important data. For owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices, the process of migrating contacts has become as simple as possible thanks to the ecosystem. MIUI And HyperOS. You don't have to be an expert in the field. IT-To send a phone book in a few minutes.
There are several proven synchronization methods, from using cloud services to local transmission over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The choice of the particular method depends on which device you are switching from and whether you have access to a stable Internet. In this article, we will discuss all the options so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
Before you start, make sure that both devices are at least 30-40% charged. Data loss when battery drains during synchronization is a rare but possible phenomenon that can damage the contact database. Let's take a look at what tools we'll need.
Preparation for portability and format verification
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure your contacts are saved in a readable format.Most modern smartphones store records in vCard format, which is a universal standard. If you are switching from a button phone or a very old model, data can only be recorded on the phone. SIM-map.
It is important to understand the difference between storage SIM and in the memory of the phone. SIM-The card is limited in size and often crops long names or does not save additional numbers. Therefore, the first step should always be to export the data to a more reliable storage, if possible on the original device.
Check for free space on the new Xiaomi. Although text data weighs a bit, the system requires space for temporary files and indexing. Also make sure both devices are Bluetooth enabled or connected to the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to use wireless transmission methods.
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Always back up your contacts before any manipulation of your phone's memory, which will take a minute, but save you from losing important numbers.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most effective way for Android users is to use the Mi Mover branded tool, which is pre-installed on all new Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, messages and even placement of icons on the desktop.
The process starts with installing the app on both devices if it's missing. Once launched, you have to choose the device role: "I send" on the old phone and "I receive" on the new Xiaomi. The old phone will create a Wi-Fi hotspot to which the new device needs to connect.
Once you've established the connection, the interface will suggest you choose the types of data to transmit, and it's important not just to click "All", but to check that the list of selected files does have a "Contacts" section. The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data, but usually the process takes no more than a couple of minutes.
☑️ Preparation for work with Mi Mover
It's worth noting that the Mi Mover may not work properly with some heavy Android modifications from other manufacturers, such as Samsung or Huawei, due to aggressive battery optimization.If the connection is constantly breaking, try turning off power saving on both devices for the duration of the transfer.
Synchronization through Google account
The most reliable and versatile method that works regardless of the old phone model is sync through Google Account. If you’ve used Android before, your contacts are likely already saved to Google’s cloud, even if you didn’t know it.
To start, log into your Google account on the new Xiaomi. Go to settings, select Accounts and Sync, and make sure the slider opposite Contact is activated. The system automatically pulls all entries from the cloud into the phone book of the device.
If you’re switching from an iPhone, pre-install Google Contacts or Gmail on iOS, log in to your account and enable sync. After that, just add the same account to Xiaomi, and all numbers will appear automatically.
What to do if the contacts are duplicated?
The advantage of this method is that your data will always be safe, so even if you lose your phone or buy a new one, just type in your Google login and password to recover the entire phone book, and it eliminates the need to tinker with export files every time.
Export and import via VCF file
The VCF (vCard) method is ideal for manual data transfer or when there is no internet access, and is supported by almost all phones, computers and email clients, making it a “digital currency” for contacts.
On your old device, open the contacts app, select the menu, and find Import/Export. Select Export to Device Memory or Export to Storage. Then the file manager will have a file with the.vcf extension that contains your entire phone book.
Transfer this file to the new Xiaomi in any convenient way: via messenger, Bluetooth, USB-Cable or cloud storage: Opening a file on a new device, the system will suggest importing the data contained in it, select the account to which you want to save the numbers (usually a Google or Mi Account account).
This is especially good because it allows you to create cold backups, so you can store a contact file on a flash drive or computer and make sure your data is not going anywhere, even if your Google account is blocked.
Work with SIM-mapping
Despite the development of technology, many users still keep numbers on the Internet. SIM-This is not the most convenient way, since the limit of characters in the name is often limited, and saving several numbers per contact is impossible.
Put it in. SIM-Go to the Contacts app, click on the settings menu (three dots or gear) and select Import/Export Contacts. In the list that appears, select Import with SIM-map».
The system will suggest choosing an account to save, and we strongly advise you to choose a Google or Mi Cloud account over a phone, and saving it to SIM or to your phone’s memory without being linked to the cloud increases the risk of data loss when your device breaks down.
After importing, do not rush to throw out the old SIM-Check if all the numbers have been moved correctly, if there are cropped names or lost second numbers, and if you make sure the data is intact, you can clean up the data. SIM-map.
Comparison of data transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table of the main methods, which will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your specific situation.
| Method | Speed. | Network dependency | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | Not required (Wi-Fi Direct) | Tall. |
| Google Sync | Medium | Internet is required | Very high. |
| VCF file | Low. | Not required | Medium |
| SIM-map | Low. | Not required | Low. |
As you can see from the table, synchronization via Google or Mi Cloud is best for regular use. VCF are suitable for one-time transfers or archiving, and SIM-The card should be considered only as an extreme measure.
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The optimal strategy is a combined approach: basic synchronization through the Google cloud for automatic backup and periodic export to VCF for local copy.
Solving and eliminating errors
Users may encounter various problems during the transfer process, and one of the most common is that contacts are not displayed after synchronization, in which case you need to check the display settings in the Contacts app. Click on the menu and make sure that the "All Contacts" check box is ticked or the correct account is selected for display.
Another common problem is the app crash when importing a large VCF file. If the phone freezes or the app closes, try breaking the file into parts. On a computer, you can open a VCF file in a text editor (for example, Notepad++) and divide it into several files of 500-1000 contacts.
⚠️ Note: When importing contacts from unknown sources (files from the Internet, business cards from strangers), there is a risk of malware infecting the phone. Although the vCard format itself rarely contains viruses, be careful with files received from suspicious senders.
Also worth mentioning is the encoding problem: If after importing, the letters are "crackers," then the file was saved in the wrong encoding. Try opening the file on your computer and resaving it in UTF-8 format before re-importing it to your phone.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party memory cleanup applications (Clean Master and analogues), they can automatically delete files.vcf, considering them garbage. Add a folder with backups to the cleaner exceptions.