Changing a mobile device often causes users to feel stressed about losing important information. In the Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem, this process is made as simple as possible with built-in synchronization tools and a single shell MIUI or HyperOS. You do not need to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers or search for complex third-party programs, since the manufacturer has provided several reliable ways to migrate data.
The challenge is not the copying process itself, but choosing the most appropriate method for your particular situation: some prefer cloud technology for automatic updating, others trust only local files or physical data. SIM-In this article, we will discuss all the options available in detail so that you can choose the best way to transition to a new gadget without losing any records.
Before you start taking action, make sure that both smartphones are charged at least on the same time. 50-60%. This is critical, because synchronizing large amounts of data can take time and require a stable processor, and check if you plan to use cloud services, or make sure that adapters are in good working order. SIM-map.
Using a Mi Account to synchronize
The most efficient and modern way is to use your own cloud service, Mi Cloud, which allows you not only to copy numbers, but also to save their structure, image binding and additional fields, such as email addresses or birthdays. To get started, you will need a Mi Account account, which you can create directly in the settings menu of the phone.
On an older Xiaomi device, go to Settings → Mi Account. If you are not already logged in, enter your details or sign up. Once logged in, look for Sync and make sure the slider opposite Contacts is activated. The system automatically uploads all records to a secure storage, and you can see the number of synced items.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Now pick up a new Redmi phone. Sign in to the same Mi Account using the same login and password. immediately after login, the system will prompt you to recover data from the cloud. If automatic recovery has not started, manually go to Settings → Mi Account → Sync and click on the Sync button. In a few minutes, your contact list will be completely identical to what was on the previous device.
- 📱 The advantage of the method: contacts are preserved even when the physical device is completely lost or broken.
- 🔄 Automation: Any changes to the phone book are instantly displayed on all attached gadgets.
- 🛡️ Security: Data is protected by password and two-factor account authentication.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure there's enough free space on the Mi Cloud's cloud drive.The free fare provides 5GB, which is usually enough for thousands of contacts, but when overflowing, sync may stop.
It's important to understand that Mi Cloud syncs data in real time, which means that if you delete a number on one device, it will disappear on others, and be careful when cleaning the phone book, so that you don't accidentally erase important data from all your gadgets at the same time.
Transfer through Google Account
The Google ecosystem is an alternative to Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud, and many users default to Google’s profile without even thinking about it, a great option for those who plan to switch to a smartphone of another brand in the future, as the data will be tied to universal mail, not the phone brand.
Check on your old phone where new contacts are being saved. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or bars) and select Settings. The Contact Saving Account should show your name with Google's prefix. If there's a Phone or SIM on it, change that setting so that new entries fly to the search engine cloud.
On the new Redmi device, you will enter your Google account when you first turn on. The system will automatically pull up all the data associated with this email. If the phone is already configured, just add the account through Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure that the tick opposite Contacts is active. After clicking the sync button, the list of numbers will be replenished.
This method is particularly convenient because you can access contacts from any computer through a browser by going to the Google Contacts website, you can edit, delete and group subscribers from the PC keyboard, and the changes will immediately appear on the smartphone, which makes database management as convenient as possible.
- 🌐 Cross-platform: Access numbers from any device that has a Google login.
- 📧 Universality: When you change your phone brand (for example, Samsung or iPhone), the data will not go anywhere.
- 🔍 Google’s smart algorithms help find duplicates and combine them.
⚠️ Note: When synced via Google, old contacts stored in the phone’s memory (“local”) may not automatically pull up. First export them to your Google account on your old device.
Local Transfers via Mi Mover App
If you don’t have access to the Internet or don’t want to upload data to the cloud, use Mi Mover, a tool designed to quickly migrate data between Xiaomi and Redmi devices over a direct Wi-Fi channel, and the transfer speed is much faster than over the mobile Internet.
Run the app on both smartphones. It's usually pre-installed in the Tools folder. On the old device, select the sender role, and on the new Redmi, select the receiver. QR-code on the screen of the old, after which a secure connection will be established between the gadgets.
In the data selection menu, tick Contacts. You can also select other categories, such as photos, messages or installed apps, to move them along with the phone book. Click Send and wait for the process to be completed. The progress bar will show the status of the operation, which usually takes a few seconds for numbers.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
The main advantage of Mi Mover is that it copies data in its original format, saving all tags and groupings. You don't have to worry about file format compatibility or cloud storage limitations. It's a "clean" cloning of data from one device to another.
- 🚀 Speed: Data transfers over a direct channel without servers.
- 🔒 Privacy: Data does not leave your devices and is not stored on third-party servers.
- 📦 Complexity: the ability to transfer not only contacts, but also the entire user environment.
Import and export via VCF file
The classic method that works on all phones, regardless of the Android version or shell, is to create a special business card file with the.vcf extension, which contains all the information about contacts. USB-cable.
On the old Xiaomi, open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Import/Export Contacts. Select Export to Device Memory or Export to Storage. The system will create a file, which is usually called contacts.vcf, and save it in the root folder or in the MIUI/backup directory.
Send this file to a new Redmi. Open the file on the new device when you receive it. The system automatically recognizes the format and suggests importing the entries contained therein. You can choose which account or on which account. SIM-This is a great way to back up your data just in case».
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Save the file.vcf not only on your phone, but also send yourself an email or upload to a cloud-based file storage (such as Mi Drive or Google Disk) for reliability.
The file method is convenient because it makes it easy to separate contacts, for example, you can export only work numbers to one file and personal numbers to another, and then selectively import them to a new device, which gives you complete control over the structure of your phone book.
- 💾 Flexibility: Manual management of backups.
- 📤 Transfer: The file can be sent to anyone or saved to a flash drive.
- 🛠️ Compatibility: format VCF Readable by any modern smartphone and PC.
⚠️ Note: When importing from VCF-Please carefully monitor the location of the file «SIM-a card, part of the information (e.g. email or multiple numbers per person) may be lost due to format limitations SIM.
Comparison of transfer methods
To make your choice easier, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons according to your current conditions and preferences.
| Method | We need the Internet. | Speed. | Saves a photo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | Yes. | Medium | Yes. |
| Google Account | Yes. | Medium | Yes. |
| Mi Mover | No (Wi-Fi Direct) | Tall. | Yes. |
| VCF File | No. | Tall. | Yes. |
| SIM-map | No. | Low. | No. |
As can be seen from the table, the use of SIM-The card is the least preferred option in the 2026-2026 This method is only suitable for emergencies, when other methods are not available, the limited storage capacity of the SIM card and the lack of support for additional fields make it obsolete.
For most users, a combination of methods is best: constant background synchronization via Mi Cloud or Google for security, and using Mi Mover when initially configuring a new device to quickly transfer the entire dataset.
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The ideal strategy is to keep autosynchronization enabled in the cloud so that if you lose your phone, you can restore contacts in a couple of minutes on any device.
Possible problems and solutions
Even with proven methods, there can be technical failures, and users often experience a situation where contacts are “duplicated,” which happens if you have simultaneously enabled sync with Google and Mi Cloud, and the system has perceived the same numbers as different records, and this can be solved through the “Combine duplicates” function in the contact settings.
Another common problem is that the users don't have photos after the transfer, which is often the case when using the device. SIM-Incorrect export or export incorrectly VCF. In such cases, re-synchronization through a cloud account, where images are stored separately from the text data of the number, helps.
If the new Redmi phone runs on a more recent version of Android than the old one, there may be format conflicts, in which case it is recommended to first upgrade the old phone to the latest available version of the software, sync, and then proceed to transfer to the new device, this minimizes the risk of software errors.
Why do contacts appear with a delay?
In conclusion, Xiaomi’s ecosystem provides enough tools for a comfortable migration, so take your time and follow the steps of instructions consistently, and synchronization will save you a lot of nerves and time in the future.