Changing the ecosystem from iOS to Android is often perceived as a complex and risky process, especially when it comes to protecting personal information. iPhone owners who choose to switch to Xiaomi smartphones are primarily concerned about the integrity of the phone book, because losing important numbers can be a fatal mistake. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to perform this operation quickly and without loss using built-in tools or cloud services.
The data migration process has become much easier with the advent of specialized utilities such as Mi Mover, which automatically find pairs of devices and transmit information over Wi-Fi. You do not need to be an expert in programming or have special cables to synchronize all records.
There are several proven ways of transfer, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of data and the version of the operating system. Some users prefer the classic method through Google Account, as it provides instant synchronization in the future. Others choose to connect devices directly so as not to depend on the speed of the Internet connection and cloud storage.
Preparing iPhone for data transfer
Before you start moving actively, make sure that the original device, your iPhone, is ready to interact with the outside world. The basic requirement is to have a stable Internet connection if you plan to use cloud-based methods, or a Wi-Fi module enabled for direct transmission. Check that the phone is not in In-Flight mode and that Bluetooth is activated to search for devices.
An important step is to clear the phonebook of duplicates and unnecessary entries so as not to litter the memory of the new Xiaomi with garbage. Go to the Contacts app on iOS and carefully review the list, combining the repeating numbers. This will take time, but optimize the migration process and make working with the new address book more comfortable.
⚠️ Note: Make sure your contacts are stored in iCloud memory or on your computer. SIM-map, not just locally on the device unless you're using cloud sync. You can check this in iCloud settings.
It is also recommended to update iOS to the latest available version to avoid possible compatibility bugs when transferring files.The battery charge of both smartphones should be at least 50-60%, as the process of transferring large amounts of data can be energy intensive.
Mi Mover Method: Official App from Xiaomi
The most efficient and quickest way to move from one platform to another is to use the Mi Mover branded tool, which is designed specifically to migrate data between different operating systems and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, music and even settings. First, you will need to download the Mi Mover app from the App Store on your iPhone.
Once installed, run the program on both devices. On a Xiaomi smartphone (which should already be enabled and configured), select the Receiver role, and on an iPhone, the Sender role. QR-code or connect to a Wi-Fi network that the new phone will form, creating a secure communication channel that doesn't require access to the external Internet.
☑️ Ready to migrate via Mi Mover
When the connection is established, the iPhone screen will show a list of the types of data available for transfer. Select Contacts, as well as any other data you want to save. Press Start Transfer and wait until the process is complete. The speed of copying depends on the number of records, but usually takes no more than a few minutes.
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If the transfer process is 99 percent frozen, don't panic, which often means that the finalization of the records in the Android database is underway. Wait 5-10 minutes before the forced closure of the application.
Once completed, a report of the number of objects transferred will appear on the screen, and all your numbers are now available in the standard Contacts or Phone app on Android, the advantage of which is that the structure of the records is preserved as accurately as possible, including additional fields and notes.
Synchronization through Google Account
If you plan to actively use the Google ecosystem on your new Xiaomi, this method will be the most logical and convenient in the long run, the essence of the method is to first upload your iPhone contacts to Google servers, and then simply log into this account on the new device.
In the application settings, find the Sync or Backup section and activate the contact transfer. Make sure that the Google account you will use on Xiaomi is selected. Once the download is complete, the data will be stored securely in the cloud and can be checked through the browser on your computer by logging into Google Contacts.
| Parameter | Importance for iPhone | Meaning for Xiaomi |
|---|---|---|
| Main account | Apple ID (iCloud) | Google Account |
| Synchronization application | Google Contacts / Drive | Built into the system |
| Speed of renewal | Demands the Internet. | Automatically. |
| Preservation of photo contacts | Yes (via Google) | Yes. |
On the new Xiaomi smartphone, when you first turn on or through your account settings, add the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to sync your data. In the Accounts and Sync section, make sure that the slider opposite the Contacts item is active. In a couple of minutes, the entire phone book will appear in the device.
The main advantage of this method is automatic synchronization in the future, so if you lose your phone or decide to change it again, all the numbers will be restored instantly after you enter your login and password, which eliminates the need to perform complex manipulations with cables or scan codes every time.
Transfer through SIM-map: classical method
This method is considered obsolete due to format limitations. SIM-It is universal and does not require the Internet or the installation of additional software. SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and often does not support the retention of long names, multiple numbers per contact or avatars.
On your iPhone, go to the Settings menu and find the Contacts section. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the option "Import Contacts with SIM" or "Export Contacts to SIM." Choose the second option. The system will alert you to the format limitations, then write the numbers to the chip.
⚠️ Note: When exporting to SIM-Contact names can be cut to 10-15 You'll lose the other phone numbers, and you'll only use this as a temporary solution.
After the export is completed, extract SIM-A card from your iPhone (using a clip to extract the tray) and paste it into your Xiaomi smartphone. If the dimensions don't match, use the adapter, but act carefully so as not to damage the chip. On your Xiaomi phone, open the Contacts app, go to the settings and select Import from SIM-Indicate where to save data – it is recommended to choose internal memory of the phone or Google account.
This method is good for its simplicity and software independence, but it is not recommended for users with a large volume of contacts, it is better to use it as a backup option if other methods are not available for some reason or work incorrectly.
Use of the "Move to iOS" application and its alternatives
Many users mistakenly believe that Apple’s “Move to iOS” app will help them transition to Android. In fact, this utility is designed strictly for migrating from Android to iPhone. For the reverse process (from iOS to Android), Apple does not provide official tools, so relying on third-party solutions or methods described above is the only sure way.
There are alternative applications from third-party developers, like Copy My Data or Send Anywhere, that work in a similar way to Mi Mover, which creates a local Wi-Fi network between devices and transfers data, but using such programs requires installing the application on both iPhone and Xiaomi, and registering or creating a pair of devices.
Why not trust unknown applications?
If you do choose to use third-party software, carefully review the permissions the app requests, which should not require access to a microphone, camera or location for simple communication, and personal data security should be a priority in the digital age.
In most cases, Mi Mover or Google sync functionality is more than enough, delivering high levels of reliability and speed, proven by millions of users around the world, and experimenting with unknown software often results in contacts being transferred with encoding errors or lost altogether.
Solving problems and checking results
Once the transfer procedure is complete, it is important to make sure that all data is saved correctly. Often users encounter a problem when contacts are available, but they do not appear in the call list or have strange characters instead of names. First of all, check the display settings in the Contacts app on Xiaomi. Click on three dots or menus, select Display Settings and make sure that the tick is All Contacts.
If the names are written in hieroglyphs or Krakozabra, this indicates a problem with the coding when exporting through the SIM-In this case, re-importing through Google Contacts from a computer, where you can manually correct the file, also check whether the contacts are divided into several records (for example, one person is listed twice with different numbers).
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Always back up your contacts in Google Contacts before you start any manipulations, and this is your insurance against accidental data loss.
In case profile photos are not loaded, try clearing the cache of the Contacts app through your phone settings. → Annexes → All applications → Contacts → Memory. → Clear the cache. It won't delete the numbers themselves, but it will force the system to re-engineer the data from the synchronized account.
Remember that after you switch to Android, you will have access to new features such as smart dialing, spam-base number determination and integration with the voice assistant Google Assistant. Correctly ported contacts will become the foundation for comfortable use of all these features.