Buying a new smartphone, especially one as popular as the Xiaomi Redmi 9, is always accompanied by a pleasant anticipation of familiarity with the functionality of the device. However, the initial euphoria is quickly replaced by the need to solve the practical problem of how to quickly and without errors move all your data from the old device. The most critical information for most users is the phone book, the loss of which can be a real disaster.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem offers a lot of built-in tools and third-party solutions for data migration. You don't have to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers or search for notebooks. Modern methods allow you to copy the entire address book in a few minutes, while preserving not only names and numbers, but also attached photos, email addresses and job positions.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at all the current ways to migrate contacts to Redmi 9.We’ll look at both Google’s cloud technology and the customized app from the manufacturer Mi Mover, which is often ignored, even though it’s one of the most effective tools for Xiaomi devices.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start taking active data transfer actions, you need to perform a number of preparatory operations, which will ensure the stability of the process and minimize the risk of errors or loss of information. First of all, make sure that both the old and new Redmi 9 smartphones have sufficient battery power.
The best solution would be to connect both devices to a power source or make sure that each device has a charge of at least 50-60%. Interrupting the data transfer process due to battery discharge can damage the contact database files, making them unreadable.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 60% for stable operation.
- 📶 Connect devices to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to cloud sync.
- 🧹 Clean Old Phone Memory of Temporary Garbage to Speed Up System.
- 🔐 Unlock the screens of both devices and keep them close to each other.
It is also worth checking the version of the operating system on the old device. Although Android is highly compatible, on very old versions (below 5.0), some modern transfer methods may not work correctly. SIM-map.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to start the transfer process if one of the devices is power-saving.The system can force the Wi-Fi or background services to be turned off, which will break the connection at the most critical time.
Method One: Sync through a Google account
The most reliable and versatile way that works on any Android device is through Google’s cloud service, if you’ve used your smartphone before, your contacts are probably already in the cloud. To check, go to contacts.google.com from your computer or any browser.
If your numbers are there, the process on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is as simple as possible. When you first turn on a new smartphone, the system will prompt you to enter your Google account information. Once you log in and enable sync, the phone book will automatically boot from the cloud.
In case the automatic download did not occur, you can start it manually through the settings. To do this, go to the Settings menu, find the Accounts and Sync section (or just Google), select the desired account and make sure that the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated.
What to do if no contacts appear?
Importantly, this method allows not only to restore numbers, but also to combine duplicates. Google automatically analyzes the downloaded database and suggests combining entries with the same names or numbers, making the address book clean and structured.
Method Two: Using the Mi Mover App
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on all of the brand’s devices, including the Redmi 9, which is perhaps the fastest way to migrate data, as it creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices without consuming Internet traffic.
On the new Redmi 9, the app is already in the Tools folder. On the old phone, you need to download it from the Google Play Store if it is not available. The process of launching is as follows: on the new device, select I am the recipient, and on the old one, I am the sender.
☑️ Algorithm of Mi Mover operation
After the scan. QR-You'll be asked to select the type of data to transmit. Be sure to tick the contact box. You can also select the selective transmission if you don't want to carry the entire phone book.
⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, device screens may go out to save power, but don't lock phones completely.If the screen is out, just tap it to resume work, but don't leave the app.
The advantage of this method is that it retains the structure of the records, including the attached images and additional fields. The speed of transmission depends on the number of contacts, but usually the process takes no more than 1-2 minutes for even a few thousand records.
Method Three: Export and Import via VCF
If you don’t have access to the Internet or prefer to store data locally, manual export to a.vcf (vCard) file is ideal, a universal standard for storing contact information and is supported by all email clients and phone books.
On your old device, open the Contacts app, go to the contact management settings or menu, and select Export. The system will suggest saving the file in the device's memory. Once you create the file, you can transfer it to Redmi 9 in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp), or simply copy it to your computer and then to your new phone.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .vcf (vCard) | Universal standard |
| File size | Usually less than 1 MB | Easy to transmit via Bluetooth |
| Photo safety | Depends on the Android version | Better to use the Mi Mover |
| Difficulty | Medium | Requires manual action |
The file you get on Xiaomi Redmi 9 needs to be opened, and it automatically recognizes the format and prompts you to import the data, so you can choose which account or phone memory you store the numbers to, and it's a great way to back up a file that you can store on a flash drive.
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Save the file.vcf not only on your phone, but also send it to your email, so you can always access the numbers even if you lose your device completely.
Transfer of contacts from SIM-card
Despite the development of cloud technologies, many users still store numbers on the Internet. SIM-This method has its limitations: usually only the name and number are saved, without additional fields, and the length of the name is limited by the number of characters.
To move contacts from the SIM card to Redmi 9, paste it into a new smartphone. Go to the Contacts app, open the settings menu and find the Import/Export Contacts option. SIM-map".
The system will suggest you choose your destination, and it is recommended to choose a Google Account or "Memory of the phone", but not the phone itself. SIM-So you don't want to duplicate it or take up the limited space of the SIM card, and then you start the copying process, which takes a few seconds.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Card names can be cropped or displayed incorrectly if they used special characters or Cyrillic in old encoding. Always check the result and edit the records if necessary.
This is good as a temporary solution or as an emergency option when other methods are not available, but for permanent use, it is better to set up synchronization with the cloud immediately after import to protect data.
Solving and eliminating errors
Users sometimes face technical difficulties in migrating data, and one common problem is the appearance of duplicate contacts, where the same number is written multiple times under different names or with different country codes.
To solve this problem, Xiaomi has a built-in unification function: In the Contacts app, go to the settings and select "Combine duplicate contacts." The system will analyze the database and suggest options for merging records.
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Regular cleaning and combining of duplicate contacts not only frees up memory, but also speeds up the search and dialing.
Another common problem is that the contacts don't have photos after transfer, which is often the case when using them. SIM-If you want to do this, you can only re-transfer it through Mi Mover or manually add photos from the gallery.
If contacts are not synced, check the date and time on the device. Incorrect system clocks can block the connection to Google servers. Also try to remove the Google account from the phone settings and add it again, this will restart the sync process.