How to transfer contacts to Android on Xiaomi Redmi

Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not so much because of the loss of a shell, but because of the risk of losing important data, among which the phone book is the number one. Current data migration methods avoid manually entering hundreds of numbers, but require a clear understanding of synchronization processes between operating systems. Xiaomi Redmi owner has a powerful tool for managing connections, but the initial setup requires careful attention.

The transfer process can be done in several ways, each with its own advantages depending on the version of the operating system on the old device and the availability of a stable Internet connection. SIM-It's in the memory of an old phone, or in the cloud, and it's the right algorithm to make a successful migration.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways that ensure the safety of your address book when you transition to the MIUI or HyperOS ecosystem. We will look at both automated solutions from the manufacturer and classic backup methods available on any Android device.

Preparing both devices for data migration

Before running any port utilities, a number of preparatory operations must be performed that are often ignored by users, leading to errors.The first step is to check the battery power on both smartphones, as the Wi-Fi Direct data transfer process can be energy-intensive.It is also worth making sure that both devices have wireless modules on.

Special attention should be paid to the account. If you plan to use cloud methods, login to Google account must be done on both devices. Owners of older Xiaomi or Redmi devices may also need Mi Account, although this is not always necessary for basic contact transfer.

It's important to check where the numbers on the old phone are physically stored, and users are often surprised that after the transfer, some of the numbers are gone, not knowing that they were only saved on the phone. SIM-a card or in the memory of the messenger application, not in the system phone book. Move all entries to the main registry of the device before starting the procedure.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most effective and preferred way for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the Mi Mover app. MIUI HyperOS and other Android smartphones are available for download in the form of APK-The application algorithm is built on creating a local Wi-Fi hotspot, which provides high speed transfer without using mobile traffic.

To start the process, the new Redmi needs to find the app in the Tools folder or through settings search. Once launched, the Recipient device role is selected, while the older smartphone selects the Sender role. QR-code allows you to instantly connect gadgets into a single network.

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When using Mi Mover, make sure that the screens of both phones do not go out during the transfer, otherwise the connection may break.

The unique feature of the Mi Mover is the ability to transfer not only the numbers themselves, but also the photos, email addresses and job titles associated with them, while maintaining a complete recording structure, which is especially important for those who are actively engaged in business correspondence.

Once the selection is confirmed, the copying process will begin, depending on the number of records, but usually takes no more than a few minutes, even for large phone books, and when completed, you will receive a notification of successful import, and all records will appear in the standard Contacts app.

Synchronization through Google Account

The method of synchronization through Google services is the most versatile and reliable, because it does not depend on the brand of the smartphone, the essence of the method is that the phone book is stored in the cloud, and the new device simply “pulls up” this data when you sign in, which is ideal if the old phone is already sold or unavailable, but the data was carefully stored earlier.

To implement this method on the old device, you need to go to the settings, find the Accounts or Users and Accounts section, select your Google profile and make sure that the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated. If the sync is successful, the data will fly to the cloud.

⚠️ Note: Make sure that the contacts on the old device are displayed with the Google icon, not the phone icon or the Google icon. SIM-Maps, otherwise they will not get into the cloud storage.

On the new Xiaomi Redmi, when you first set up the system or through the Settings menu → Accounts and sync, you need to add the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to sync the data. If this does not happen, you can force the update to run by clicking on three dots in the corner of the screen and selecting “Sync”.

The advantage of this method is that if a new phone is accidentally lost or broken, all contacts will remain safe on the servers of the corporation. In addition, editing the contact on any device (for example, through a computer in a browser) will instantly affect the smartphone.

Transfer through SIM-map VCF file

Classical methods such as the use of SIM-maps or files VCF (vCard, which is relevant in cases where both phones are nearby, but it is impossible to establish a direct connection over Wi-Fi, these methods are considered “offline” methods and do not require Internet, which can be critical in conditions of poor communication.

For transfer through SIM-card must open the contact app on the old phone, select the control menu and click "Copy contacts" or "Import / Export", indicating the source of the phone memory, and the recipient — SIM-It's worth remembering that SIM-The card has limitations: it usually only stores the number and name, cutting off long names and removing additional fields.

A more advanced option is to create a file. VCF. In the old Android contact app, select Export to file.vcf. The resulting file can be transferred to the new Redmi via Bluetooth, messenger or USB-On a new device, you just open the file and the system will suggest importing the records it contains.

This method is good because it allows you to back up the entire phone book with a single file that can be stored on a computer or a flash drive, but it requires manual intervention to transfer the file between devices, which can be inconvenient for inexperienced users.

Comparison of methods of transfer of contacts

To help you choose the best option, we have systematized the main characteristics of each method, different situations require different approaches: somewhere speed is important, and somewhere the complete preservation of the data structure.

As you can see from the table, Mi Mover and Google Synchronization are the leaders in functionality. SIM-The card is recommended only in extreme cases where other methods are not available, due to the risk of losing some of the information. VCF It is a good compromise solution for local transmission.

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For the best result on Xiaomi Redmi, use Mi Mover for full cloning or Google Sync for constant background data protection.

Solving and duplication of records

After the transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate contacts, when the same number is displayed twice or three times, this happens if the new phone already had some recordings, or if the sync was incorrect from different sources (for example, simultaneously with SIM and from Google).

There's a built-in tool in the MIUI and HyperOS shell to solve this problem: you open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or stripes) and select Contact Organization or Contact Management, where you'll have the "Combine Duplicates" feature available.

⚠️ Before combining duplicates, make sure the system correctly identifies pairs so that different people with similar names don’t accidentally mix up.

There may also be a situation where contacts are available but without names (numbers only), which is a sure sign that there has been an error in the encoding or data has been read from the data when exporting or importing. SIM-In this case, the re-importation through the VCF file or check the display settings in the contact application, where you can select the source of the displayed numbers.

If your contacts are gone completely, don't panic. Check the Contacts App settings for Contacts Displayed. Phone Only may be ticked and new entries are in your Google account, or vice versa. Switching filters often returns the "missing" phone book to the screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)