Changing a smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new interface as with the risk of losing important data. The transition from the Samsung ecosystem to Xiaomi devices (Redmi, POCO) is becoming increasingly popular due to the competitive price and functionality of MIUI or HyperOS. However, users often fear that the phone book accumulated over the years will disappear or mix in a chaotic manner.
Fortunately, modern Android operating systems provide several reliable migration tools, which require no special knowledge or contact with a service center, you can use built-in tools, Google cloud services or specialized utilities from the manufacturer, and the choice of the specific method depends on the version of Android, the amount of data and personal preferences of the user.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of transfer, from automatic migration to manual import through a file. We will pay attention to the nuances that are often overlooked: duplication of records, loss of numbering and features of account synchronization. Proper preparation of both devices will take only a few minutes, but will save hours of nerves in the future.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start directly copying data, you have to do a series of preparatory steps, which is a critical step that is often ignored, which leads to synchronization errors. Make sure that both the old Samsung and the new Xiaomi are charged at least 50-60%.
Check your network connection. Cloud services and some portable application features require a stable Internet connection. If you plan to use Bluetooth or a local Wi-Fi channel, make sure that the wireless modules are activated on both devices. It is also recommended to free up space on a new phone if the memory is full of system files.
Special attention should be paid to the structure of the storage of contacts on the old device. Often users store numbers in different places: part in the memory of the phone, part on the phone. SIM-You can use a map, and a part of it is in your Samsung account. You can consolidate your data to make a successful transfer. Go to the Contacts app on Samsung, open the management menu, and check where your records are stored.
⚠️ WARNING: If your contacts are scattered in different storage locations (SIM, Before transferring, it is better to export them all into one file or combine them through a Google account to avoid losing part of the numbers.
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The most effective and native solution for Xiaomi owners is the Mi Mover utility, an official application designed specifically for migrating data from any Android device to the company's smartphones, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, call history, photos and even installed applications.
The process starts with installing the app on both smartphones. On the new Xiaomi, it is often preinstalled in the Tools folder. On Samsung, it must be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Once the app is launched on both devices, you have to choose the role of each phone: on the old one, choose "I send" and on the new one, "I accept."
Then the devices connect through a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot. The Mi Mover will create a network that you need to connect to from the second phone. Once you establish the connection, the system will suggest you choose the types of data to transfer, and it's important not just to click "All", but to carefully look at what exactly you are copying.
- 📲 Select Contacts from the data transfer list to copy the phone book.
- 📸 You can simultaneously transfer the gallery and video, if the free space on the new device allows you to.
- 📱 The application allows you to move the list of installed programs, although they still have to update.
- 🔒 The transfer process is encrypted, which ensures the security of personal data in the local network.
The speed of the transfer depends on the volume of data and the quality of the Wi-Fi modules. When transferring only contacts, it takes seconds. If you copy gigabytes of photos, it can take 10-20 minutes. Don't turn off the screens of the devices and keep them next to each other until the process is complete.
Method 2: Sync through Google Account
The most versatile method, independent of the smartphone brand, is sync through a Google account. Since both Samsung and Xiaomi run on Android, this method ensures that your contacts will be available on any device after entering your login and password.
On the old Samsung, you need to make sure that contact sync is enabled. Go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management. Select your Google account and click on Account Sync. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If it has already been active, turn it off and turn it on again to trigger a forced update.
Once the old phone has confirmed that it has successfully uploaded data to the cloud, you can pick up the new Xiaomi. When you first turn on or in the Settings menu → Accounts and Sync, add the same Google account. The system automatically prompts you to sync the data. In a few minutes, the entire phone book will appear in the list of subscribers.
☑️ Checking Google Syncs
The main advantage of this method is automatic updating, so if you lose your phone or buy a third smartphone, you don't have to move anything manually, just log in, and Google is great at combining duplicates if they happen in the process.
Method 3: Export and import via VCF file
Sometimes there are situations when the Internet connection is unstable or the automated services are not working properly, and in such cases the good old method of manual export to a.vcf file (vCard) comes to the rescue.
On Samsung, open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three bars or dots) and select Contact Management. Find Import/Export Contacts and select Export. SD-Once the file is created, it needs to be transferred to a new phone.
File transfer is possible in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email or simply copying the file to your computer and then to a new phone. Once you get the file on Xiaomi, open the Contacts app, select Import / Export and specify the path to the received file.vcf.
| Parameter | Mi Mover | Google Synchronization | VCF File |
|---|---|---|---|
| We need the Internet. | No (locally) | Yes. | No (for transmission) |
| Speed. | Tall. | Medium | Depends on the method of transmission |
| Contact photos | Preserve. | Preserve. | Preserve. |
| The risk of doubles | Low. | Minimum | Medium. |
This method is good because it gives you a physical backup. A saved.vcf file can be stored on a flash drive or computer as a backup in case of any failures in cloud services.
Solving Duplicate Contact Problems
After transferring data, users often face a difficult situation: one subscriber can have two or three records, such as "Ivan" and "Ivan Mob." This happens when contacts are copied from the Internet. SIM-Maps are synced from Google, or when old records have not been deleted before a new import.
MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in tool to solve this problem: Go to Contacts, click on the profile avatar or settings menu, and find "Combine Repeated Contacts," and the system will prompt you to automatically find and merge duplicates into one card.
What happens when you connect contacts?
If auto-unification didn't work, you can use Google Contacts through your browser. On contacts.google.com, there's a "Combine and Fix" section on the left menu, where Google's algorithms show pairs of contacts that are likely to belong to the same person and suggest that they be combined.
⚠️ Warning: Before mass deletion or contact combination, make sure you have a fresh backup.A mistaken merger can result in the loss of important details such as work numbers or addresses.
Transfer of contacts from SIM-card
Despite the development of cloud technologies, many users still store numbers on the Internet. SIM-This is convenient for frequent change of phones, but has a serious disadvantage: SIM-The card is usually recorded only by name and one number, without additional phones, email and photo.
If you decide to use this method, insert it first. SIM-card from Samsung to Xiaomi. After turning on your phone, go to the Contacts app. From the menu, select Import/Export Contacts and click Import from SIM-The system will ask where to save data: select “Google Account” or “Phone».
It is recommended to choose to save to a Google account, this will ensure the safety of data even if you lose it. SIM-After importing, remember to copy the new contacts back to the SIM, If you plan to use this card in a button phone or other device without the Internet.
Setting up display and sorting after transfer
Once successfully migrated, it may turn out that contacts are available, but they are inconveniently sorted. In Xiaomi, as in pure Android, you can flexibly configure the list display. Go to the Contacts app settings and find the Sort section.
You can choose between first and last, and for Russian-speaking users, it's often more convenient to sort by first name, because in the phone book we look for "Alexei" rather than "Ivanov," and you can also customize the display name to show first the first name or last name.
Another important thing is to set up the contacts you display, and sometimes when you move, you have empty groups or contacts from messengers (Viber, Telegram) that clutter up the list, and you have Contacts to Display in your contact settings, and you can only select your Google account or your Phone account to hide the extra one.
💡
The correct sorting and display filtering setup will make using the new phone book comfortable from the first minutes, hiding technical debris and take.