Changing your smartphone, especially the Xiaomi brand, is often accompanied by concerns about privacy. The most important asset for any user is a phone book, the loss of which can paralyze business and personal life. Modern technology offers many migration scenarios, from cloud services to local utilities, making the process accessible even to beginners.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to transfer contacts from phone to phone on Xiaomi Android, using both regular MIUI tools and third-party solutions. You will learn about the nuances of synchronization through Google, working with.vcf files and the peculiarities of moving from iOS. Understanding these processes will allow you to avoid duplication of records and loss of numbers.
Whether you have an old device or a new flagship, the algorithm will be similar, but have its own technical features. We will look at proven methods that guarantee data integrity. Get ready for quick and seamless integration into the Mi Account or Google ecosystem.
Preparing devices for data synchronization
Before any migration procedure, make sure both devices are ready to go, charge your old and new phones to at least 50-60%, as active data transfer can significantly consume battery power, and check the stability of your Internet connection if you plan to use cloud methods.
Special attention should be paid to cleaning up the memory from garbage on the old device. Sometimes temporary files or app cache can interfere with the export process. Make sure that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on both smartphones, as many utilities, including Mi Mover, use them to create a direct link.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the data transfer process, even if it seems to be suspended.Forced closure of the application or turning off the screen can damage the contact database file, making them unreadable.
An important step is to verify the operating system version. On Xiaomi devices with a MIUI shell or HyperOS, it is better to upgrade to the latest available version to eliminate bugs in the operation of the system components of synchronization, this is especially true for older models that have not received security updates for a long time.
Using the Mi Mover app for migration
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi owners is to use the pre-installed Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for fast data transfer between Android and iOS smartphones. It does not require an Internet connection, working through the local Wi-Fi network created by the device itself.
The process starts with running the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old one, Sender. QR-code or enter a password from the Wi-Fi network you created to pair. Once you connect, the interface will show the categories of data that are available for transfer.
- 📱 Select the Contacts category in the list of data transferred for the migration of the phone book.
- ⚙️ Optionally, you can choose to transfer messages, call logs and installed applications.
- 🚀 Click the “Send” button and wait for the process to complete without switching to other apps.
The main advantage of Mi Mover is that it automatically recognizes the structure of contacts and prevents the creation of duplicates if you have not previously synced. However, when migrating from iOS to Android, you can have difficulty formatting some fields, such as addresses or social networks.
What if the Mi Mover can’t see the device?
Make sure that both phones are on GPS (In Android version 10 and above without geolocation enabled scanning QR-The code and local network creation can be blocked by the security system, and make sure that the device screens do not go out during the search. The most versatile method that works regardless of the smartphone brand is sync through Google’s cloud service, which is ideal if you switch from any Android device to Xiaomi. All contacts are saved to your profile and automatically appear on the new gadget after logging in. On the old phone, you need to make sure that sync is enabled. → Accounts. → Google and make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is active. If it's off, turn it on and press the sync button. Data will instantly go to the cloud. On a new Xiaomi device when you first set up or through the Settings menu → Accounts and syncs, add the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to restore the data from the backup. Once the procedure is complete, all the numbers will appear in the phone book. It's worth noting that when using this method, contacts are not physically stored in the phone's memory as a separate file, but are loaded dynamically, saving space but requiring the Internet to initially display or search for new numbers. In the contact display settings, you can select All Contacts or Phone Only. Manual import and export via file. VCF If the internet connection is unstable or you prefer to store data locally, use the manual method via the.vcf file (vCard). This format is the de facto standard for sharing contact information and is supported by almost all email clients and phone books. To back up your old device, open the Contacts app, go to the settings or contact management menu. Select the option “Import/Export contacts” and click “Export to storage.” The system will create a file commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf, Transfer this file to Xiaomi's new phone in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) or USB-Once you have a file on a new device, just click on it. The system automatically recognizes the format and suggests that you import the entries into the phone book or on the phone book. SIM-map. Method Speed Dependence on the network The risk of loss of Google Sync High Requires Minimum Mi Mover Very high No Low file required VCF Medium (Human Factor) is not required) SIM-Card Low No need High (character limit) It is important to remember the limits of the vCard format. 500-1000) In one file, the import process on a new device can take a considerable time or cause the Contacts application to freeze. 📊 What is the most common way to transfer contacts?Through Google account:Mi Mover:File VCF manually: Through SIM-Transition from iOS to Android, in particular to Xiaomi, requires a special approach due to differences in file systems and ecosystems. Direct Bluetooth transmission between iPhone and Android is not possible due to Apple's restrictions. The best solution is again the Mi Mover app available in the App Store. Install Mi Mover on your iPhone. When you set up your new phone, select the import option with iOS. QR-The code you want to scan with your iPhone camera. Once connected, select Contacts and start the transfer. The data is converted to Android on the fly. The alternative, but more difficult, way is to use iCloud. Go to your computer through your browser at iCloud.com, log in and go to Contacts. All numbers (Ctrl)+A or Cmd+A) and in the settings (cogs bottom left) select "Export vCard." The resulting file is then sent to Xiaomi's phone and imported. ⚠️ Note: When importing contacts with iPhone, there is often a problem with number formats. Mobile numbers can be recorded as home numbers, and additional numbers may not be displayed correctly. It is recommended to selectively check important contacts after transfer. When migrating through Mi Mover, profile photos are often saved, while when exporting via iCloud to PC, images can be lost if not exported separately. For mass migration with preservation of media content, Mi Mover remains the leader. After successful transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate recordings, which occurs when the same contact is stored simultaneously in the phone's memory, on the phone. SIM-And the map and the Google account, and Xiaomi phones have a powerful tool built in to do this. Open the Contacts app, go to the settings, and find the “Combine Duplicate Contacts” (or “Clear Duplicates”) option. The system will analyze the database, find entries with the same names or numbers, and suggest combining them into one card. This action is irreversible, so make sure you choose the right fields to merge. 🧹 Use the “Delete Empty Contacts” function to clear the database of records without names and numbers. 🔍 Check the display filters to make sure you see contacts from all sources (SIM, Phone, Google). 💾 Backups regularly through the Import/Export menu to have a pullback point. If contacts are missing after an update or reset, don't panic. Go to contacts.google.com from your computer. From the menu on the left, select Restore Contacts (or Recycle Bin»). Google keeps a change history for up to 30 days, allowing you to roll back the status of the phone book to the time before the problem occurs. 💡Save your contacts directly to your Google account, not your phone memory, and when you create a new number in the Save to box, select your Gmail address, which ensures that you automatically back up and have access to the number even if you lose your smartphone completely. Why don't contacts show up after transfer? Most often the problem is filtering settings. In the Contacts app, click on three dots or settings and select Filter Contacts. Make sure you check the “All Contacts” box or select the specific Google account to which you have imported. SIM-Can you transfer your call history with your contacts? Yes, but standard Android is hard to do that. Mi Mover can transfer the call log (call history) when you switch from Android to Android. When you use Google sync, the call history is not portable, because Google only syncs the contacts themselves, not the logs. How to transfer contacts if the screen of the old phone is broken? If the sensor is working, plug in. USB-mouse-wise OTG-If you have an image, but the touch doesn't work, it helps you control the device. If the screen is black, but the phone is turning on, try connecting it to your computer and using software like Android Debug Bridge (ADB) To pull contacts.vcf from internal memory if you have access to the file system.