Changing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much with losing a familiar interface as with the risk of losing important data. Sony Xperia device owners who decide to move to the Xiaomi ecosystem (Redmi, POCO) are often afraid of losing their phone book, which has been accumulating for years. Fortunately, the Android operating system provides several reliable tools for migration that do not require complex technical skills.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods: from cloud synchronization through a Google account to direct copying through a Google account. USB-You'll learn how to avoid the name and duplicate encoding problems that often arise when you change device manufacturers. The fastest and most reliable way to do this is to use the built-in Mi Mover app, which creates a direct Wi-Fi link between devices.
Before you start the process, you need to make sure that both devices are charged at least 50-60%.Sharp surges of voltage or discharge at a critical moment can interrupt the data transfer, which will damage the database of contacts on the receiving device.
Preparing devices for data migration
Successful transfer of contacts from Sony to Xiaomi depends on the correct preparation of both gadgets. On the Sony device, you need to check where the numbers are physically stored: in memory SIM-maps, internal phone memory or cloud storage. Open the contact app and go to the display settings. SIM-The quality of the card may be affected (the length limit of the name), so it is better to copy them to the internal memory first.
Xiaomi should prepare space and accounts, make sure that the new device is logged in to the Google account you plan to use as your primary, and create or log in to your Mi Account, as Xiaomi’s proprietary tools may require it to back up local data.
⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulations are initiated, we strongly advise you to make a full backup of contacts to your memory card or send your vCard file to your email.
Special attention should be paid to cleaning the contact list from "junk." Often, duplicates or old entries accumulate in the Sony phone book. Use built-in cleaning tools or third-party applications to delete duplicate entries before transferring so that you do not load the new database with excess volume.
☑️ Preparation for transfer
Method 1: Sync through a Google account
This is the most universal and recommended method that works regardless of the smartphone model. The bottom line is that Sony’s contact database is uploaded to Google servers and then automatically uploaded to Xiaomi. To implement this method on your old device, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that the box is ticked against the Contacts item.
Once sync is enabled, wait until the process is complete. On Sony, you can open your browser and go to contacts.google.com to make sure that all numbers are displayed there visually, ensuring that data is safely stored in the cloud.
On Xiaomi’s new smartphone, the process is even easier. When you first set up or in the Settings menu → Acca accounts → Google, log in to the same account. The system automatically prompts you to sync your data. If that doesn’t happen, click on the Sync button manually. All contacts will appear in the phone book within minutes, depending on the speed of the Internet.
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Use Wi-Fi to sync if you have a lot of photos in your contacts. Mobile internet can be unstable or limited, which will interrupt the loading of avatars.
The main advantage of this method is continuity, and then you don't have to do anything when you change your phone, just type in your Google login and password, and your entire contact history will be restored automatically.
Method 2: Use the Mi Mover application
The Mi Mover utility is designed specifically for migrating to Xiaomi and Redmi devices, allowing you to transfer not only contacts, but also SMS, call history, apps and media files. On the new Xiaomi phone, the app is already preinstalled in the Tools folder. On Sony, it must be downloaded from Google Play.
Run the app on both devices. On Xiaomi, select Recieve and on Sony, Send. The app will create a Wi-Fi hotspot. Connect Sony to a network created by Xiaomi using the password displayed on the screen. After you connect, select Contacts and click Send.
The speed of transmission via Mi Mover is much higher than through Bluetooth or the cloud, since the data goes over a direct channel. However, it is important not to block the screens of smartphones during the process, so that the Android energy saving system does not break the connection.
| Parameter | Google Sync | Mi Mover | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Depends on the Internet. | High (Wi-Fi Direct) | Low. |
| We need the Internet. | Yes. | No. | No. |
| Portability of photo | Yes. | Yes. | Partially. |
| Difficulty | Minimum | Medium | Tall. |
Method 3: Export and import via VCF file
If the internet connection is unstable or you prefer to keep your data under full control, use the manual export method. On a Sony smartphone, open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or a hamburger) and select Import/Export Contacts. Select Export to Storage or Export to Storage.
The system will create a file with the.vcf extension (usually called contacts.vcf) and this file must be transferred to Xiaomi. USB-cable by connecting both phones to your computer, or by sending the file to yourself via messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) or mail.
On Xiaomi, open the file manager, find the file you received and click on it. The system will suggest you select the application to open — select Contacts or Import. You will be asked to choose the location of the save: it is recommended to save directly to your Google account or phone, but not on the phone. SIM-Map to keep full contact information.
⚠️ Note: When importing from the file VCF If you have thousands of contacts, importing can take a few minutes. Do not open other heavy applications at this point, so as not to overload RAM.
The good thing about this method is that you can store a.vcf file as an archived copy on your computer, and if you lose data, you can always recover your phone book in a couple of clicks by simply opening it on any Android device.
Solving problems with coding and duplicates
Conflicts can arise when switching between Android shells (in this case from near-stock Android on Sony to heavily modified MIUI or HyperOS), and one of the common problems is “crackberry cherries” instead of letters in company names or names, due to differences in encoding (UTF-8 vs UTF-16).
If you notice that names are not displayed correctly, try changing the method of importing. For example, if exporting through a VCF file makes an error, use Google sync - it automatically converts the encoding to standard.
Duplicates are the second most common problem. Xiaomi has a built-in tool to fix them. Go to the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Clear Duplicates. The system will suggest combining records with the same numbers or names, which is critical for the number detector to work properly.
Why are some contacts not synchronized?
In some cases, contacts can be displayed but without photos, which is because some methods of transfer (especially through SIM or old vCard formats) cut off graphic data, and the only way to save a photo is to use Mi Mover or full Google sync, which transmits the contact as a complex object with attachments.
Transfer through SIM-map: Whether to take the risk?
The oldest and easiest method is copying SIM-On Sony, in the contact menu, select "Copy contacts" → "SIM-But this is a very critical problem, SIM-The card has a very small amount of memory and limits the length of the contact name (usually up to a maximum of two times). 10-15 symbolism).
Second, when migrating to Xiaomi, you risk losing not only long names, but additional fields: addresses, emails, notes, and second phone numbers if they are tied to a single contact. SIM-The map perceives each record as separate, creating chaos from the takes of "Ivan (2)", "Ivan (3)".
Use this method is only necessary in emergency cases, when other methods are not available (there is no Internet, applications do not work). If you still decide to do this, after transferring to Xiaomi, be sure to copy contacts from the Internet. SIM-cards to your phone’s internal memory or Google account, then delete them from the SIM to make room.
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SIM-The map is an emergency method of only texting numbers. For full migration with photos and details, use cloud services or Wi-Fi transmission.