The shift from Android to iOS is always a thrill, especially when it comes to protecting personal data. The most critical asset for most users is the phone book, the loss of which can paralyze business and personal life. Fortunately, modern technology allows data to migrate between platforms without losing the quality and structure of records.
The synchronization process can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the size of the database. In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from the official Apple application to Google cloud services, and also consider the nuances that are often overlooked.
Regardless of the method you choose, you'll need a stable Internet connection and sufficient battery life on both devices, and we'll look at both the standard tools and third-party solutions for complex cases, and let's start to look at each method in detail.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start the process of data transmission, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to work. On the Xiaomi device, you should check for system updates, as older versions of MIUI may not work properly with new transmission protocols. Also make sure that both phones are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
If there is not enough free space on the iPhone, the process can be interrupted in the middle, and it is recommended to free up at least 1-2 GB of disk space beyond the amount of data transferred.
- 🔋 Charge both smartphones to at least 80% or connect them to a power source.
- 📶 Make sure that the Wi-Fi network is stable and does not require authorization through the browser.
- 📱 Unlock the screens of both devices and keep them close to each other.
An important step is to check the format of saved numbers. Sometimes in Android contacts there are special characters or too long fields that iOS may not recognize correctly.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to start the portability process if Xiaomi has custom firmware installed (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience), as Google system services may not work smoothly.
After all the preliminary tests, you can move on to a specific method, and there are several main ways to solve the problem, each of which has its own advantages depending on the situation.
Use of the Move app to iOS
Apple’s official method is considered the most reliable and secure, requiring you to download a special Move to iOS app from the Google Play store to your Xiaomi. You don’t need to download anything on the new iPhone, the feature is already built into the system when you first set up.
Run the app on your Android device and accept the license agreement, and you'll see a six- or ten-digit code on the screen, and you'll enter that code on your iPhone when the system suggests you set up a wireless connection.
☑️ Checklist before launch Move to iOS
Once the devices are connected, you will be asked to select data types to transfer, select Contacts and other data, such as messages or call history, if necessary, the process will start automatically, and it is strongly advised not to interrupt it.
The latency depends on the amount of information you have, and if you have a few thousand contacts, it can take a while, and the screens of the devices may go out, but the process will continue in the background.
What to do if the code is not accepted?
When you complete the process, you will see a message about the successful completion of the contact automatically appear in the Phone app on the new Apple device.
Synchronization through Google account
The easiest way for those who have already used Google services on Xiaomi is to store the entire phone book in the cloud by default, as long as the appropriate option has been enabled. You do not need additional applications, only a login and password.
On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts. Add the Google account that was used on Xiaomi. In the list of services, make sure that the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated (burns in green).
| Parameter | Move to iOS | Google Sync | SIM-map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Medium | Tall. | Low. |
| Contact photos | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| Email addresses | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| PC required | No. | No. | Often |
Once synced, the iPhone will start downloading data from the cloud, which can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour depending on the speed of the Internet, and any changes made to one device will automatically be displayed on another.
This method is ideal if you are already using an iPhone and just adding a new Android smartphone to your life, or if the initial setup process for iOS is already complete.
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Tip: Before syncing, go to contacts.google.com from your computer to check if all numbers are actually saved in the cloud, not just in your phone’s memory.
Transfer via VCF file and iCloud
If wireless methods are in doubt or are not stable, you can use the old-fashioned.vcf (vCard) file, which is a universal standard for sharing contact information and is supported by almost all platforms.
On Xiaomi, open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or gears) and select "Import/Export Contacts." Click "Export to Device Memory" or "Export to.vcf file." The file is saved at the root of internal memory.
So then you have two ways: one is to send a file to yourself by email or messenger, open it on your iPhone and confirm the import, and the other, more professional way is to upload the file to icloud.com via your browser on your PC.
- 📤 Export contacts to.vcf file on Xiaomi.
- ☁️ Upload the file to iCloud via the browser on your computer.
- 🔄 Wait for the cloud to sync with the iPhone.
When importing via iCloud, all contacts are distributed in the appropriate fields (name, surname, company) much more carefully than when you directly open a file on your phone, which is the best way to keep the database structured.
⚠️ Note: When exporting a large number of contacts (over 5,000), the file can be broken up into multiple parts or the process takes a long time.
After the procedure is completed, check several random contacts on your iPhone to make sure that the display of names and numbers is correct.
Imports through SIM-map
This method is considered outdated and least preferred, but it can be the only way out if both smartphones do not have access to the Internet. SIM-The card has a very limited memory and functionality.
On Xiaomi, go to your contacts and select “Copy Contacts.” Specify the source for “Phone” and the recipient — «SIM-Be prepared for long names to be cut off and additional fields (email, addresses) to be lost.
After copying, rearrange. SIM-Map on the iPhone. Go to the settings. → Contact and find the item “Import contacts” SIM». The system copies the data to the device’s internal memory.
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SIM-The card does not store photos of contacts and full names, so this method is only suitable for emergency number recovery without multimedia data.
The main disadvantage of the method is the risk of data damage when retrieving the card and the lack of ability to restore the subscriber's photo.
If SIM-The card has old contacts from the previous operator, they can also mix with the new base, creating duplicates, which then have to be cleaned manually.
Solving duplicate problems
Often, after a transfer, users are faced with a situation where the same contact is displayed twice or three times, this happens if the sync was done several times by different methods or if the contacts were stored in both Google and phone memory.
The iPhone has a built-in merge mechanism, and if you see a card with the same name but different numbers, the system might suggest combining them, but for mass cleaning, it's better to use third-party tools or a web interface.
The most effective way to access iCloud is through a browser on your computer, where you can select duplicate entries and delete them or combine them, and there are apps in the App Store, such as Cleanup Duplicate Contacts, that automate this process.
It's important to understand that deleting a contact on an iPhone when synced on will remove it from both the Google cloud and other devices. Be careful when you clean the database mass.