Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to start using a new device faster, but the process of transferring data is often alarming for users, especially for a phone book, the loss of which can be a real disaster, because the numbers of colleagues, relatives and delivery services are extremely difficult to recover. If you became the owner of a new Xiaomi gadget after using a Lenovo device, you are lucky, because the Android ecosystem offers many convenient tools for migration.
In this article, we will take a look at all the synchronization options available, from cloud services to local Wi-Fi Direct transfer. You will learn how to avoid duplication of records and why some methods can be dangerous to the structure of your data. Current versions of MIUI and ZUI support direct data transfer without losing field formatting. Let's look at each method so you can choose the most suitable one for your situation.
Preparing devices before data migration
Before you start the active phase of the transfer, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that ensure the success of the operation. Make sure that both smartphones are charged at least 50-60%, as the process can require significant energy, especially if you use a wireless connection. Also check the availability of free space on the new device, although this is rarely a problem for text contact data.
An important step is to clean the phone book of debris on an old Lenovo device. Often duplicates, old numbers or entries without names accumulate in the contact list, which will only complicate the synchronization process.
Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.Some methods will also require a stable internet connection, so check your network's signal quality. SIM-card as an intermediate storage, make sure it is correctly defined by the system.
Don’t ignore this step, as interruption due to battery discharge can cause partial data loss or damage to the contact base on the new device, and it’s better to spend a couple of minutes checking than recovering the information.
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The most efficient and modern way to transfer data is the proprietary utility Mi Mover, designed specifically for migration to Xiaomi devices, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, music, installed applications and even system settings.
The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones. On the new Xiaomi, it is often preinstalled in the Tools folder, and on Lenovo, it needs to be downloaded from the Google Play Store or scanned. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone. After you start, select the device role: "I am sending" in the old one and "I am receiving" in the new one.
The connection occurs by scanning QR-Once you've established the connection, the system will suggest you to choose the types of data to transfer. Here, it's important to be careful: if you only need contacts, uncheck the other checkpoints to speed up the process.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure both phones have GPS and location permissions enabled. Also try to turn off mobile internet on one of the devices, leaving only Wi-Fi. Sometimes rebooting both smartphones helps.> Transfer speed depends on the amount of data, but text information is transferred almost instantly. Once the process is complete, be sure to check the new phone book for the integrity of records. Method 2: Synchronization through Google account The classic method that works on any Android device is synchronization via Google account. This method is ideal if you don't have a Wi-Fi router on hand or want to back up your phone before you synchronize your old phone, or make sure you need to go to Google contacts. Often, contacts are stored in the phone’s memory by default, not in the cloud, so you have to force them to copy. Go to the Contacts app, select the control menu and the Import/Export option. Select the action “Export to Google account” or “Copy contacts.” Once all the records are in the cloud, go to the setting of Xiaomi. When you first turn on or through the account settings, log into the same Google profile. The system automatically prompts you to sync the data. If this does not happen, go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google and click the “Sync” button next to the “Contacts” item». 💡Before syncing with Google, check which account you have multiple contacts to, and often the data goes to the wrong box you expect it to be from. The advantage of this method is that your contacts will be safe even in the event of loss or breakage of both devices.In addition, Google intelligently handles duplicates, suggesting that you combine repeating records. SIM-If you do not have access to the Internet or prefer old proven methods, you can use the card. SIM-This is a way to transfer basic data, such as name and phone number, but it has serious limitations in terms of volume and functionality. SIM-Go to the contact app, open the settings and select "Import/Export." Next, click "Export on" SIM-The system will warn you of the possible loss of additional fields such as a photo, email or address. After the export is completed, extract SIM-map and paste it into the new Xiaomi (or use the second slot if the model is two-symbol). From the contact menu of the new device, select "Import with the new device" SIM-You can specify where to save the data: you can choose a Google account or a phone memory, but not the SIM itself, which is convenient, but it is not without its disadvantages. The main problem is limiting the number of characters in the contact name and the inability to keep more than one number per record. Mi Mover Google Account setting SIM-Map Speed High Depends on Internet Low Saving Photo Yes No Internet Requirement No Yes No Double Risk Low Average High 📊 What is the most common way to transfer contacts?Mi Mover / Clone PhoneGoogle AccountSIM-map / VCF File Import and Export through VCF The universal format for storing contact information is a file with the extension.vcf (vCard), which is good because the file can be transferred in any convenient way: through instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email or simply copy over Bluetooth. On a Lenovo smartphone, open the contact app, go to management, and select Export to file.vcf or Share Contacts. The system will create a file containing your entire phone book. This file must be transferred to Xiaomi. Open the resulting file on the new device. Android automatically recognizes the format and prompts you to import the data contained in it. You can choose which directory to store the information in. ⚠️ Note: When transferring a file via messengers (such as WhatsApp), make sure that you send the document file, not just the text of the contact, otherwise the structure may be broken or only one number transferred. This is especially useful if you want to migrate contacts selectively or combine phone books from multiple older devices into one database on the new Xiaomi.Once data is transferred, users often face the problem of duplicate records. This happens when contacts are stored simultaneously in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-Xiaomi and Lenovo may have different sources priorities. To solve this problem in the shell MIUI (and ZUI) You have built-in cleaning tools. Go to Contacts, click on the menu (three dots or stripes) and select "Clean Duplicates" or "Combine Repeats." The system will analyze the database and suggest combining records with the same numbers or names. This will help you get your phone book in order and avoid confusion when you call it, and it's also worth checking the application permissions, and after the transfer, some programs may request re-authorization to access the phone book. Without it, they won't be able to display callers' names or use autocomplete. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can you move your Lenovo contacts to Xiaomi without the Internet? Yes, it's possible using the Mi Mover app or via the local area network. Bluetooth/VCF The file also works by copying the file to SIM-map. Do contact photos survive when you transfer them? Photos are saved only when you use Mi Mover, Google Account or VCF When you copy through a file. SIM-The map will be lost. What if the contacts are displayed by the Krakozabras after the transfer? It's a coding problem. Try importing data again by selecting vCard format (versions 3.0 or 4.0) that better supports Cyrillic, or use synchronization via Google. SIM-- If you're using Mi Mover, Google or something, you don't have to. VCF file, SIM-The card can stay in the old telefle or be inserted later, and it is only needed for the method of copying through the SIM memory.