Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by the stress of losing important data. It is especially frustrating when a phone book is lost, because manually recovering numbers can take hours. Fortunately, Xiaomi has powerful tools for quickly copying information. Users can choose the method that best suits their situation, from cloud sync to local backup via Mi Mover.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current ways to migrate data, learn how to use the built-in MIUI and HyperOS features, and proven methods through a Google account, and help you avoid the typical errors when transferring records between devices.
Preparation of devices for data transfer
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are ready to go. If you change your phone, make sure the new device is at least 50% charged. The old smartphone also needs to have enough power to keep the process from interrupting halfway.
Check for memory space. Contacts take up a bit of space, but temporary files may require buffering when transferred. Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi or stable mobile internet on if you plan to sync through the cloud.
The new Redmi Note models often pre-installed HyperOS, while older models can run MIUI 12 or 14. The compatibility of port methods is not affected, but the menu interface may differ.
☑️ Preparation for the migration of contacts
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and quickest way is to use the branded Mi Mover app, which is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications and system settings. The application is preinstalled on all smartphones of the brand, it does not need to be downloaded from third-party sources.
To start the process, open the menu and find the Services and Feedback app or a separate Mi Mover icon. On the new phone, select Receiver and on the old phone, Sender. Devices will create a Wi-Fi Direct hotspot to connect to.
Once connected, select the contact category in the data list to transmit. The copy speed depends on the number of records, but usually the process takes less than a minute even for several thousand numbers.
⚠️ Warning: Do not block smartphone screens while Mi Mover is running.Some energy-saving settings can break the connection if the screen goes out.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Synchronization through Google account
A universal method that works not only on Xiaomi, but on any Android smartphone is sync via Google.This is ideal if you move from an iPhone or another brand to Redmi Note. All your contacts are saved in the cloud and automatically appear when you log in to acc.
On your old device, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Select your Google account and make sure the Contacts switch is active. Press the Sync button to ensure that the latest changes are uploaded to the cloud.
On the new Redmi Note, simply log in to the same Google account when you first set up or add it manually through the settings menu. The system automatically tightens all saved numbers. This method is especially convenient because contacts are tied to your account, not to your phone's memory, which protects them from loss when the device breaks.
- 🔄 Open your Google account settings on your old phone.
- ☁️ Activate contact synchronization and wait until it is completed.
- 📲 Sign in to the same account on the new Xiaomi Redmi Note.
- ✅ Check the availability of numbers in the "Contact" application".
Working with the Mi Cloud cloud service
Xiaomi smartphone owners have access to their own cloud storage, Mi Cloud, a native tool that often works more stable than third-party solutions within the MIUI interface.
Go to your phone settings and select the Mi Account section. Make sure that the sync menu includes saving contacts. After that, all the numbers will be uploaded to Xiaomi servers. On the new device, just log in under the same ID, and the phonebook will recover automatically.
The advantage of Mi Cloud is the ability to manage contacts via a web interface on your computer. You can edit, delete duplicates and combine records through the browser if you do not have an old phone at hand.
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Use the i.mi.com web version to easily edit contacts from your computer before syncing to your new phone.
Import and export through SIM-map and file VCF
If you don't have the Internet or you prefer local storage, you can use classic methods. SIM-The card is the simplest, but it has limitations: usually only the number and name are saved, without additional fields such as email or address.
For a more complete transfer, use export to file VCF (In the Contacts app, select the settings menu and find "Import/Export contacts." Select the export to internal memory. You can flip the file over Bluetooth, USB-cable.
| Method | Speed. | Data stored | We need the Internet. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Sync | Tall. | All fields, photo | Yes. |
| Mi Mover | Very high. | All fields, photo | No (Wi-Fi Direct) |
| SIM-map | Low. | Name and number only | No. |
| VCF file | Medium | All fields, photo | No. |
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Long names can be cut off to the 10-12 symbols due to storage format limitations on the chip.
Solving and eliminating duplicates
After the transfer, users often face the problem of duplication of records, this happens when contacts are copied from both Google and Google. SIM-Xiaomi system offers built-in cleaning tool.
Go to Contacts, click three dots in the corner or the menu button, select Contact Organization or Remove Duplicates, and the system will suggest combining or deleting repeated records, an important step in keeping order in the phone book.
If contacts don't show up, check the display filter. In the Contacts app settings, make sure that the "All Contacts" tick is ticked, not just "Phone" or "SIM." Sometimes new entries fall into hidden groups.
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Regularly cleaning duplicates through the built-in MIUI tool helps avoid confusion and speeds up the search for numbers.