Switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone or recovering data after a system reset is a process that inevitably confronts the user with the need to move the address book. Often the phone number database is stored on the computer in the form of backups or simply disparate records, and it is important to integrate them correctly into the MIUI ecosystem. The wrong approach can lead to duplication of records or the complete loss of important data, so it is worth choosing the most reliable method of importing.
Today’s Redmi and Poco smartphones offer a variety of data management tools, from cloud services to local files. Contact synchronization is a critical feature that ensures your phone book is available at any time. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the current ways that will allow you to quickly and safely move numbers from your PC hard drive to your device.
Before you start taking action, you need to decide on the format of storage on your computer, most often in files.csv,.vcf or exported from email clients like Outlook. Understanding the original format will help you choose the best migration path without losing names, photos and additional fields.
Use Google Contacts for Synchronization
The most versatile and reliable way to transfer data is to use a Google account. Since the Android operating system that runs MIUI is deeply integrated with the services of the search giant, this method ensures automatic updating of data on all devices, you only need a browser on your computer and access to the Internet.
The process begins with preparing a file on your computer. If your contacts are in Excel or a text document, they must be led to the CSV format (Google CSV). Open contacts.google.com and log in to the same account you plan to use on a Xiaomi smartphone. On the left side of the screen, find the "Import" button and select the prepared file.
Important: Before downloading the file, check the encoding of the file. If you see Krakozyabry instead of Russian letters, save the file in UTF-8 encoding. Once downloaded, the system will automatically process the data and distribute it in fields.
After successfully importing to your computer, pick up your smartphone. Go to settings and make sure the correct Google profile is selected in the Accounts and Sync section. The system will automatically pull up new entries from the cloud. If that doesn't happen, open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Settings → Google Contacts → Set up and restore, then click Restore from backup.
⚠️ Note: When synced through Google, old contacts deleted in the cloud may disappear from your phone. Make sure the full version of the database is loaded in the cloud, not an empty template.
Import via Mi Cloud and Xiaomi Web Interface
Xiaomi device owners have access to their own Mi Cloud storage, which is often ignored by users but is a powerful tool in the ecosystem, and this method is especially handy if you are already using Mi Account to search for your device or back up your system settings.
To get started, go to i.mi.com from your computer. Sign in using your Mi Account. In the web version, select Contacts. Here you will see the Contact Import button, which allows you to upload a.vcf or.csv file directly to the company’s cloud storage.
Once the file is uploaded to the server, the data needs to be activated on the phone. Open your smartphone settings, go to the Mi Account section and make sure that the Contact Sync switch is activated, the system will detect new entries in the cloud and add them to the phone book of the device.
- 📂 The.vcf format is the preferred format for the Mi Cloud, as it retains the field structure better than the Mi Cloud. CSV.
- 🔄 Two-way synchronization allows you to edit numbers on both PC and phone, changes are applied everywhere.
- 🔒 Data in Mi Cloud is protected by account password and two-factor authentication.
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If you have a lot of duplicates after importing, use the built-in “Joint Repetitive Contacts” feature in the Contacts app on Xiaomi to clear the list.
The feature of this method is the high speed of work within the ecosystem. Unlike Google, where processing large files can take time, Mi Cloud is optimized for working with the brand's devices. However, it is worth remembering the limit of free storage, although it is usually enough for text data.
Direct transfer of VCF files via USB and Bluetooth
If you don’t want to use cloud services or don’t have a stable internet connection, you can use the direct file transfer method. vCard (.vcf) is the de facto standard for sharing contact information and is supported by almost any device.
First, create or find a file with contacts on your computer. Connect your Xiaomi smartphone to your PC via USB-In the notification on the phone screen, select the mode of operation. USB «File transfer» (MTP). On your computer, open the phone’s disk and copy the contacts.vcf file to any convenient folder, such as the root of internal memory.
Turn off the cable and open the Explorer or Files app on your phone. Find the copied file and click on it. The system automatically recognizes the format and suggests opening it through the Contacts or SIM Contacts app. Select Contacts (storage in your phone or Google account).
☑️ Pre-import checks VCF
When you click the "Import" button, you start reading the file, processing time depends on the number of records: a few hundred numbers will be added in a couple of seconds, and if the file is very large, the system can suggest breaking the import or warning you about a possible interface delay.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Contacts | Tall. | Yes. | Minimum |
| Mi Cloud | Tall. | Yes. | Minimum |
| USB (VCF file) | Instant. | No. | Medium (human factor) |
| Apps (Mi Mover) | Medium | No (Wi-Fi Direct) | Low. |
Using the Mi Mover app for migration
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is designed to quickly migrate data from an old device to a new one, and although it is more commonly used for wireless transfer from phone to phone, it also allows you to work efficiently with data structured in a certain way.
If your contact source is another Android smartphone, just install the Mi Mover on both devices. However, if you're talking about a computer, this method requires some preparation. You need to back up your contacts on your old device in a format that MIUI understands, transfer that backup to your computer and then to your new phone.
A more relevant scenario is when you restore your phone from a local system backup. If you previously did a full system backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore, then the backup file can be downloaded from your computer back to the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on the new device. After that, select this file from the recovery menu and tick only "Contacts".
⚠️ Warning: Restore from a full system backup can overwrite current system settings and installed applications. Use this method only on a new or reset phone.
Where is the local MIUI backup stored?
Working with CSV files and fixing encoding problems
Often users are faced with a situation where contacts on a computer are stored in Excel spreadsheets or databases. Simply copying text will not help, you need to convert correctly. The main enemy when translating is text encoding, which turns Russian names into unreadable characters.
To correctly port your file in a text editor (for example, Notepad++ or standard Windows Notepad). Select the option "Save as" and in the "Coding" field, be sure to specify UTF-8. If you use Excel, when exporting to CSV, also watch for the choice of encoding, otherwise you will not be able to import contacts with Cyrillic names.
The CSV file structure for successful import must contain column headings: standard fields that Android and MIUI understand: Name, Phone Number, Email Address. Make sure that the field divider is a comma or semicolon, depending on your computer's regional settings.
- 📝 Use English headers for maximum compatibility when exporting from Excel.
- 🔍 Check the file for extra spaces in phone numbers, they can interfere with the definition of the format of the number.
- 💾 Keep a backup copy of the original CSV file in case of error in conversion.
If you see that after importing the numbers are recorded in an international format without a plus (for example, 7900... instead of +7...), this is not critical. MIUI can recognize such numbers and display them correctly when calling, but for order you can use the function of mass editing.
Frequent mistakes and ways to solve them
Data transfer is rarely perfectly smooth, especially if the amount of information is large. One common problem is the appearance of duplicates, when the same contact is recorded several times with different numbers or name variations. Xiaomi's system offers tools to combat this, but it is better to prevent the problem.
Another common mistake is choosing the wrong place to save when importing. SIM-A card that limits the length of a name and number of numbers per contact. Modern smartphones allow you to store thousands of contacts in your account memory, so avoid using the phone. SIM-maps as the main storage.
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Always choose to save your contacts to your Google or Mi Account, not your phone or your phone. SIM-card - this guarantees their safety in case of breakage or loss of the device.
If the import is interrupted in half-grey, don't panic. Check the vacant space in your account's storage. Google Contacts has a shopping cart that gets deleted or altered records within 30 days. You can roll back the changes and try to download the file again, after fixing the errors in its structure.