Switching to a new smartphone is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the fear of losing important data, especially when it comes to a phone book that stores the numbers of colleagues, friends and delivery services. If you own a Lenovo device and plan to buy a Xiaomi device, you are lucky because both systems are based on Android, which makes it much easier to migrate.
Modern synchronization methods allow you to transfer contacts from Lenovo to Xiaomi in just a few minutes without requiring deep technical knowledge. You do not need to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers or search for complex programs for your computer.
In this article, we will look at all the current options, from using the proprietary utility Mi Mover to classic synchronization through a Google account. We will analyze the nuances of each method, point out possible errors and help you avoid losing information during the transition.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the direct transfer, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to go, which is a basic step, ignoring which can lead to interruption of the process or errors when copying files, make sure that both devices are charged at least 50% of the battery, so that a sudden shutdown does not disrupt the operation.
It is also critical to check for free space on your Xiaomi host device, and while contacts take up a bit of memory, if you plan to port photos or apps, there should be plenty of space available, and connect both smartphones to a stable Wi-Fi network if you plan to use cloud services.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to port data if one of the devices is in power saving mode, this may block the background services required for file transfers.
On older Lenovo models, Android versions may be below 6.0, which sometimes causes conflicts when using modern migration applications. Check the updates in the settings menu before starting the procedure.
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The most efficient and quickest way, which Xiaomi engineers recommend themselves, is to use a specialized application Mi Mover. This utility is designed specifically for data migration to smartphones of the line of Redmi and Poco. The application creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, making data transfer speeds much faster than over the Internet.
To get started, you need to install the app on both smartphones. On the new Xiaomi, it is often pre-installed in the Tools folder. On the old Lenovo, you will have to download it from the Google Play Store. Once installed, run the program on both devices.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
On the receiving device (Xiaomi), select the role "New device" and on the sender (Lenovo) - "Old device". QR-The code that will appear on the screen of the new phone, which is necessary to establish a secure connection between the gadgets.
Once you pair successfully, you will see a list of data categories to transfer. Select Contacts (or Contacts and Messages if you want to save correspondence too), start the process and wait until it is completed. It is not recommended to interrupt the connection at this point.
What if Mi Mover can't see an old phone?
Method 2: Sync through Google Account
Google’s ecosystem is the heart of Android, and if you set up your old Lenovo phone correctly, all your contacts are already in the cloud, and it’s the most reliable method to ensure that data is safe even if your old phone is physically lost or broken.
To check if your numbers are saved, go to Settings → Accounts → Google on your old device. Make sure the switch next to Contacts is active. If it is turned off, turn it on and press the sync button. After that, the data will go to the servers of the corporation.
On the new Xiaomi smartphone, the process is even easier. When you first turn on or through the settings menu, log in to the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the cloud. If the phone is already configured, just add the account again through Settings → Accounts and Sync.
The main advantage of this method is that it is independent of the physical condition of the old phone. You can sell, lose or break up Lenovo, but your numbers will remain available on any device that logs in to your profile, which is especially useful with frequent changes of gadgets.
Method 3: Transfer through SIM-map
This method is considered “classic” and is suitable for those cases where both smartphones are at hand, but there is no possibility to use Wi-Fi or the Internet. It is also relevant if you are transferring contacts from a very old device, where modern applications do not work.
First, you need to export the data to SIM-Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or strips) and select Import/Export. SIM-map.
After the export is completed, extract SIM-card from the old phone and paste it into the new Xiaomi. On the new device, go back to contact management and select Import with SIM-The system will suggest choosing a place to save: it is recommended to choose a Google account or phone memory, rather than the phone itself. SIM-card, so as not to limit the number of characters in the name.
💡
SIM-The card has a memory limit and often trims long contact names, so this method is best used as a temporary solution or backup.
It is worth noting that SIM-The card does not store additional data, such as email addresses, contact photos or additional numbers, it stores only the main number and name, so for full migration, this method is considered less preferable than cloud methods.
Comparison of data transfer methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your current conditions and speed requirements.
Note that data rates are directly dependent on the amount of information you have in your phone book, if you have a few thousand records, local methods (Mi Mover) will work faster than cloud synchronization, which depends on Internet speed.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Keeps a photo of contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Very high. | No (locally) | Yes. |
| Google Account | Medium | Yes. | Yes. |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. |
| File.vcf (Bluetooth) | Low. | No. | Yes. |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover is better off in terms of speed and no Internet connection, but the Google Account method is better for long-term data retention, and the choice depends on your priority: speed or reliability of archiving.
Solving problems in transfer
Even with all the instructions, there are sometimes technical difficulties, and one of the common problems is the appearance of duplicate contacts, which occurs when numbers are stored in both the phone and Google account simultaneously, and you can solve this through the standard Contacts app on Xiaomi by selecting the "Combine Duplicates" function.
Another common situation is the encoding error, where instead of Russian letters, "krakozyabr" is displayed. SIM-A card from old push-button phones, which can only be done by manually entering or using specialized encoding conversion applications, although this is rare on modern Android smartphones.
If the process is stalling at 99%, don't rush to restart the phone. Often the system completes the database background indexing. Wait 5-10 minutes. If progress is not moving, try turning off screen lock on both devices, as some versions of MIUI save energy and break the connection when the screen is turned off.
Cleaning and organizing contacts after migration
After successfully migrating data from Lenovo to Xiaomi, it is recommended that the phonebook be audited, which accumulates many unnecessary entries, old numbers and duplicates over the years, and cleansing up the search algorithms inside the smartphone.
Use the built-in MIUI tools to sort, you can group contacts by company, add shortcuts, or create select groups for quick access, which will make using a new device more comfortable.
⚠️ Warning: Before mass cleaning or deleting contact groups, make sure to back up. Exporting to.vcf will take a couple of minutes, but save you from losing important data in case of an error.
Keep in mind that regular cloud sync is the best protection against accidental loss of information: Set up an automatic update so that any changes you make to your new phone are instantly saved to your Google profile.