Changing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much the loss of a familiar shell as the risk of losing important data. Owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem are in a better position, as MIUI (and its new version of HyperOS) offers many built-in tools for migration.
In this article, we will look at all the current methods, from cloud synchronization Mi Cloud to classic file export. You no longer have to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers or search for third-party dubious applications. We will look at the nuances of working with a Google account and the features of porting over local Wi-Fi, which is especially true in the absence of the Internet.
It doesn’t matter if you have an old Redmi Note 9 or the newest Xiaomi 15. The logic of the system applications remains the same for the entire lineup, the main thing is to follow the instructions clearly and choose the method that suits your current situation and the availability of a network connection.
Synchronization with Mi Cloud: the fastest method
The most organic way for ecosystem users is to use the Mi Cloud, which is ideal if both phones are on hand and connected to Wi-Fi, and you don't need cables or third-party software, because everything happens at the server level of the company.
First, make sure that the old device is signed in to your Mi Account, and if you're not already logged in, the system will suggest you create an ID or log in to an existing one, and that account will be the bridge to your phone book.
- 📱 Open the Contacts app on old Xiaomi.
- ⚙️ Go to the settings and select “Synchronization».
- ☁️ Activate the switch "Sync with Mi Cloud».
- ✅ Click the “Sync” button to force data updates.
Once the indicator shows you the completion of the process, grab a new phone. Sign in to the same Mi Account in the system settings. When you first set up the smartphone will prompt you to restore data from the cloud. If the device is already configured, just turn on the synchronization of contacts in the settings menu, and the numbers will appear automatically.
⚠️ Warning: Only 5GB of space is available for free in the Mi Cloud. If you have thousands of contacts with photos and detailed descriptions, make sure that the quota is not exceeded, otherwise sync may be interrupted.
☑️ Control of synchronization of Mi Cloud
Using Google Contacts for Cross-Platform Migration
If you’re planning to change your smartphone brand in the future, or just prefer the Google ecosystem, this will be your primary method, ensuring that your phone book is accessible from any device: tablet, computer, or new iPhone.
The idea is to change the default location, and by default, Xiaomi often suggests that you save numbers to your phone or to your Mi Account. We need to switch to a Google account.
Go to your contacts settings and find the "Contact Display" or "Save Location" section. Select your Gmail address. All new numbers will fly to the Google cloud. Old records may require a move action.
How to move old numbers to Google?
On the new device, just enter the username and password from Google on the first download, the system automatically tightens all the records that were saved under this account, a universal method that works regardless of the version of MIUI.
Local Transfer over Mi Mover for Large Databases
When you don't have Wi-Fi on hand or the amount of data is counted in thousands of records with heavy photos, you better use a direct connection. The Mi Mover app (or "Mi Move") creates a local Wi-Fi network between two devices.
The transmission speed in this case is limited only by the Wi-Fi modules of your smartphones and can reach tens of megabytes per second, which is much faster than downloading via the mobile Internet.
Run the app on both devices. On the old phone, select "I send" and on the new one, "I receive." Scan. QR-cameracode.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (up to 20-40 MB/s) | Perfect for 1000+ contacts |
| Internet | Not required | It's offline. |
| Battery | High-end spending | Keep your phones charged. |
| Data data | Contacts, photos, applications | Only contacts can be selected. |
In the data transfer list, select only Contacts to speed up the process, or tick other files if you need a full copy.The process is fully automated and does not require user intervention after start.
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When using Mi Mover, keep the screens of both smartphones on and don’t switch to other apps to avoid breaking your local Wi-Fi connection.
Export and import via VCF file (manual method)
The classic method that helps when clouds are not available and Mi Mover is not installed, you create one file with all the numbers and transfer it in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messenger or messenger. USB-cable.
The.vcf (vCard) format is the industry standard, and it's supported by any phone, whether it's a Nokia button or a Samsung flagship, which makes it as compatible as possible.
Open the Contacts app in old Xiaomi. Search the settings menu for “Import/Export Contacts.” Select “Export to Device Memory” or “Export to Storage.”
The system will create a file, commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf. Find it through the file manager and send it to a new phone. On the receiving side, just click on the file and the system will prompt you to add all the numbers you find.
⚠️ Note: When importing from VCF If you've already synced some numbers through Google and then imported the file, you may have double entries for the same people.
Transfer of contacts with SIM-maps: the good old method
Despite the development of technology, SIM-The card remains the simplest physical medium, and it's a very primitive method that doesn't require the Internet, or account settings, or complex applications.
However, it has significant limitations. SIM-The card usually stores only the number and name, and all the additional data — photos, email, addresses, links to social networks — will be irretrievably lost in this transfer.
Put it in. SIM-card to your old phone. From the contact menu, select "Import/Export» → «Exports to SIM-The phone will warn you of long name trimming and data loss - agree.
After completion, transfer the "Simka" to the new Xiaomi. From the import menu, select "Import with" SIM-The system will copy all the records to the internal memory or selected account.
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Use of the SIM-Cards are a last resort, and they're only for basic numbers, but they're not recommended if you want to keep a full history of communication and photos of subscribers.
Solving duplicate problems and combining
Once data migrates in different ways, chaos often occurs: the same person can be listed three times — from the phone, from the SIM and from the cloud. MIUI has a built-in tool to combat this.
Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or bars) and select Contact Organization or Contact Management.
The system will analyze the database, find the matches by phone numbers and names, and propose to combine them into a single card, which is a critical step in maintaining order in the phone book.
Also available here is the cleaning function: remove contacts without a number or contacts saved only on the SIM-card (if you have already copied them to your phone memory) Regular cleaning speeds up the application.