Replacing an old smartphone with a new gadget from the same manufacturer is often accompanied by a desire to transfer all important data as quickly as possible. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices may face a situation where cloud services are not available, the Internet connection is unstable or simply do not want to waste traffic on the transmission of small amounts of information.
Despite the advent of high-speed protocols like Wi-Fi Direct, the classic blue tooth remains a universal tool built into every mobile device, and connecting through this channel does not require installing third-party software, registering with accounts, or configuring your network environment in a complex way, just a few minutes and a basic understanding of how your smartphone’s settings menu works.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of synchronizing records between two Mi or Redmi devices, and not only the standard algorithm of actions, but also pay attention to nuances that often cause difficulties for users, such as security issues and file formats, which will help to avoid data loss in the future.
Preparation of devices for pairing
Before any data transfer procedure is started, it is critical to properly prepare both devices involved, and make sure that both smartphones, both old and new, have a wireless module on. To do this, lower the notification curtain and activate the Bluetooth icon, or go to the Settings menu. → Bluetooth.
The next step is to adjust visibility. By default, modern versions of the MIUI shell or HyperOS can hide the device from prying eyes for security reasons. To make sure the new phone can "see" the old one, you need to make sure it's in detection mode. This usually happens automatically when you're in the Bluetooth settings menu, but sometimes you need to manually start the search.
An important step is pairing (pairing) gadgets. Without this procedure, direct file transfer, including contacts, will not be possible. On one of the devices, start scanning available devices. When the name of your second phone (for example, Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13) appears in the list, click on it.
Both devices will be asked to confirm pairing with the verification code, check the numbers and confirm the action, and after successfully connecting next to the device name, the list will appear "Connected" status or the corresponding icon.
- 📱 Make sure that the screens of both smartphones are unlocked while searching.
- 🔋 Check the battery level – it must be above 20% for stable operation of the modules.
- 📶 Turn off the “In the Plane” mode if it has been activated before.
- 🔒 Remove old, unnecessary (conjugation) from the list if too many have accumulated to avoid confusion.
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If the devices can’t see each other, try turning off and re-enable Bluetooth on both smartphones at intervals of 5-10 seconds.
Export of contacts to vCard format
Before sending data by air, it needs to be packaged properly. In the Android ecosystem that Xiaomi phones use, the de facto standard is vCard (files with the extension.vcf). This format is universal and allows you to transfer not only phone numbers, but also additional fields: addresses, email, photos and posts.
The process starts with opening the standard Contacts app, and depending on the firmware version, the interface may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find a control menu that is often hidden under three dots in the corner of the screen or called by long pressing.
Select the option “Import/Export contacts”. The system will prompt you to select the source of data. Since we transfer the records stored directly on the device or in the phone account, select the appropriate item. Next, you should select the action “Export to memory of the device” or “Export to file.vcf”.
Once confirmed, the system will create a file, commonly called 00001.vcf or contacts.vcf, and store it in internal memory. In some cases, the phone may suggest you choose the way to send it right away, and if you choose Share, you can immediately move on to the next step.
⚠️ Note: When exporting, make sure you select the exact contacts to move. SIM-cards, they also need to be pre-copyed into the phone memory, since the Bluetooth protocol often works with the file system of the device.
Process of transferring a file via Bluetooth
Once the contact file is formed, the direct transfer step is in place. There are two main ways to do this on Xiaomi devices: the first option is to use the Share menu directly from the contacts app; the second is to search the file through the explorer and send it as a regular document.
Consider the first, faster way. Once you create a vCard file in the export menu, the phone often prompts you to choose the application to transfer. In the list of available options, find the Bluetooth icon. The system automatically opens a list of previously paired devices or starts scanning new ones.
Select your new smartphone from the list, the receiving device will pop up to request acceptance of the file, click "Accept." The speed of transfer depends on the volume of the phone book: for thousands of contacts with photos, the process can take from one to three minutes.
If the automatic export didn't work, use File Manager Explorer. Find the folder where the file was saved (often the root of internal memory or the MIUI/Contacts folder). Click on the file, select Send, and then Bluetooth.
☑️ Transfer checklist
Importing data on a new device
Receiving a file is only half the battle. To get numbers in the phone book of the new Xiaomi, you need to import them from the accepted file. Once you complete the download, the notification curtain will show you the file you received. Click on it to open.
If you do not automatically open, search the file in the Download folder through any file manager. When you try to open the file, the system will prompt you to choose the application to process.
The import menu will open, where you will be asked to select a destination to save, you can save them to your phone, Google account or on your phone. SIM-card (although the latter is not recommended due to character limitation) Choose your phone's memory to save all fields, including long names and additional numbers.
Confirm the action. The system will process the file and add the entries to the common database. Once the procedure is complete, it is recommended to open the Contacts app and selectively check several entries to make sure that the display of names and numbers is correct.
| Parameter | Old Xiaomi | Xiaomi's new | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action. | Exports to.vcf | Receiving the file | File in memory |
| Source | Phone memory | Bluetooth | Data transmitted |
| Format | vCard (.vcf) | vCard (.vcf) | Compatibility 100% |
| Finals. | File created. | Imports to base | Contacts on the list |
Despite the simplicity of the technology, users sometimes face difficulties. One of the common problems is that the device does not see the partner, although Bluetooth is on. In the MIUI ecosystem, this can be due to privacy settings. Make sure that the transmitting device has the option "Visible to all" or "Visible to 2 minutes." Another common mistake is interrupting the transmission in the middle of the process. This often happens if the screen of one of the smartphones goes out and the system goes into power saving mode, limiting background activity. During the transfer of large files, keep the screens on or set the sleep timer on "Never the codenamed" and the problem is also mentioned in the Russian. However, when transferring between two Xiaomi devices with current versions of the software, such situations occur extremely rarely, since standard encoding is used. UTF-8. If the transmission is constantly disrupted, try to “forget” the device in the Bluetooth settings on both phones and pair again. Sometimes the cache of the communication module overflows and interferes with stable operation. ⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to pass on contacts if one of the devices is power-saving mode "Ultra" which aggressively restricts the operation of wireless modules and can break the connection at the most inopportune time.
Alternative methods and conclusion
While Bluetooth is a reliable method, it’s not the only one. For Xiaomi app owners, there’s a special Mi Mover app that allows you to transfer contacts, photos, apps and settings over Wi-Fi Direct, which is much faster, especially if the amount of data is large.
Another option is sync through a Google account, where if you've had your contacts synced on your old phone, just type in your username and password on your new device, and all the records will appear automatically, which is the most modern and convenient way to do this without requiring physical proximity of the devices.
However, Bluetooth remains an indispensable tool in the user’s arsenal: it does not require Internet, does not consume mobile traffic and works even on devices without a set set of devices. SIM-A card or a blocked account is useful in all situations.
Why is Bluetooth slower than Wi-Fi?
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Bluetooth is the perfect choice for fast transfer of only contacts and small files without the need to set up a network or use Internet traffic.
In conclusion, moving your contacts from Xiaomi to Xiaomi via Bluetooth is a straightforward process that anyone can do, and the key is to keep a close eye on screen confirmation requests and choose the right export format, and following simple rules for preparing devices ensures a successful outcome.