Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not so much with getting used to a new operating system as with the risk of losing important data. The transition from Android to iOS requires special attention, since the storage architecture of these systems is radically different. Owners of Xiaomi devices often face the need to transfer the phone book to the new iPhone 11, and this process has its own nuances, ignoring which can lead to duplication of records or complete loss of numbers.
Fortunately, modern technology allows you to migrate contacts in several proven ways, each with its own advantages: you can use the official app from Apple, Google cloud services or even physical. SIM-The choice of method depends on the size of your phone book, the quality of the Internet connection and personal preferences in the organization of the digital space.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the portability options available, highlighting technical details that are often overlooked. We’ll look at the Move to iOS utility, Google account sync, and manual import methods. The right approach to synchronizing data initially will save you hours of time to eliminate the chaos of contacts in the future.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before you start copying numbers directly, you need to do a number of preparatory activities on both devices. This is a critical step, as software version incompatibility or lack of stable connection can interrupt the process halfway. Make sure that your Xiaomi and iPhone 11 are charged at least 60-70%, as transferring a large amount of data can significantly consume battery power.
On a Xiaomi device, check where your numbers are stored. Often users store them in their phone memory or on their phone. SIM-The best option is to pre-synchronize all records with your Google account, which will create a reliable backup. → Accounts and synchronization → Google and make sure that the slider opposite the “Contact” item is activated.
The new iPhone 11 doesn’t have to complete the initial system setup before the migration process starts if you plan to use Apple’s built-in tools. If the phone is already activated and in use, some methods will require resetting or using third-party solutions. It’s also critical that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, preferably at 5GHz to ensure high transfer speeds.
Be sure to check for space on your iPhone. Although contacts are memory-consuming, system migration processes may require additional buffer space, and remove unnecessary apps or photos if the device's memory is nearly full.
⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the data transfer process or switch between apps on smartphones during migration.This can damage the contact database on the receiving device.
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Use of the Move app to iOS
The most official and recommended way for the iPhone manufacturer is to use the “Move to iOS” utility, which is designed specifically for the transition from Android and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also your message history, photos and Wi-Fi settings. To get started, you need to download the “Move to iOS” app from the Google Play store to your Xiaomi smartphone.
Launch the app on Xiaomi and follow the instructions on the screen. During the setup phase of the iPhone 11, select “Move data from Android.” The system will give a six-digit or ten-digit code that you will need to enter on the Xiaomi device. Once the code is confirmed, the smartphones will create a temporary secure Wi-Fi network through which data transfer will go.
On the data selection screen, make sure to tick the "Contacts" box. You can deselect other items if you don't need a full copy of the system, but for data integrity, it's better to move everything at once. Transfer speed depends on the number of records and the quality of the wireless connection, so be patient and don't lock the device screens.
- 📱 Download the “Move to iOS” app on Xiaomi from Google Play.
- 🔗 Start setting up your iPhone and select the port option from Android.
- 🔑 Enter the code displayed on the iPhone screen into the app on Xiaomi.
- ✅ Select Contacts and wait until the loading band ends.
Once the process is complete, all your records will appear in the iPhone Phone app. It is important to note that the app may not work properly on some MIUI shells with aggressive energy saving. If the connection is constantly broken, try turning off power saving mode on Xiaomi during the transfer.
What to do if Move to iOS is suspended?
Synchronization through Google account
The Google ecosystem is the link between Android and iOS, and using this method is often more reliable than direct copying. Since most Xiaomi users already have a linked Google account, this method does not require installing additional software. The essence of the method is to make an iPhone friends with your Google account, after which it will independently upload all contacts.
First, make sure on Xiaomi that all the numbers you need are stored in your Google account, not in your device memory. Go to Contacts, select settings, and click Import/Export by selecting the “Phone Memory” source and Google destination. Then check on your computer through contacts.google.com that all numbers are displayed in the cloud.
Now go to iPhone 11. Open Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account. Select the Google logo and enter your account details. In the sync services list, be sure to activate the Contacts switch. The system will ask if you want to save data to your iPhone — agree.
In a few minutes (or seconds, depending on the number of records), the iPhone phone book will automatically be replenished with all the entries from the Google cloud, the advantage of this method is that it provides constant two-way synchronization: any changes made from the phone will be displayed in Gmail, and vice versa.
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If contacts don’t show up after syncing, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts, select your Google account, turn off the Contacts slider and turn it on again, confirming the Leave on iPhone action.
Imports through SIM-map and vCard files
If the Internet connection is unstable or you prefer local methods, you can use the classic version of the Internet. SIM-This method is suitable for transferring a basic data set (name and number), but it will not save additional fields such as addresses, emails or photos of subscribers.
For importing c SIM-Insert it into your iPhone 11 (using the tray or eSIM if the carrier supports profile transfer). → Contact and find the button “Import contacts” SIM». The system reads the data and suggests that you save it, and this method is only suitable if your numbers are physically stored on a SIM, which is rare in the age of smartphones.
A more advanced option is to use the vCard file. On Xiaomi, open contacts, select all entries (usually via the “More” menu or long-press) and select “Export”. Save the contacts.vcf file to internal memory or send it to your email/messaging app. Opening this file on your iPhone, the system will suggest adding all the contacts contained in it.
| Method | Saves a photo. | Saves the email. | Internet is required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move to iOS | Yes. | Yes. | Yes (local Wi-Fi) | Low. |
| Google Account | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Low. |
| SIM-map | No. | No. | No. | Low. |
| vCard file | Yes. | Yes. | No (for transmission) | Medium |
The good thing about file processing is that it creates a backup that can be stored for years. However, when you import a large file (over 1,000 contacts), the iPhone can hang for a few minutes processing the data.
Solution: Duplicates and missing numbers
After data transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate records, which occurs when the same contact is stored in the phone’s memory, iCloud account, and Google simultaneously. iPhone displays them as different entries, unless the correct merj operation is performed.
To eliminate duplicates on iPhone 11, go to the Contacts app. If the system detects duplicate entries, it may suggest combining them automatically at the top of the list. If this does not happen, you will have to use third-party utilities from the App Store, such as Clearup Duplicate Contacts, or perform the procedure manually by selecting cards and clicking “Merge”.
If the numbers are missing or appear in a “krakozer” (an encoding problem when importing vCard), the best way to do this is to roll back the changes. Go to icloud.com from your computer, go to the “Settings” section (bottom of the page), and select “Restore Contacts” and you can roll back the phone book’s status to the date until the failed import.
Also worth checking your display settings. In the Contacts app, click Groups (or Lists in newer iOS versions) and make sure that the checkmarks are in front of all sources, including Gmail and iCloud. Sometimes contacts don't go away, but are simply hidden by the display filter.
⚠️ Warning: Before combining duplicates, make sure you have a fresh backup.Automatic merger can erase unique data from one of the cards, leaving only shared fields.
Organization of contacts after migration
Once the transfer is successful, it's time to get things in order. iOS offers powerful phone book management tools that are worth getting into right away. Create Favorites for the most important numbers so you can quickly access them from the control center or widgets. This is especially handy on the big screen of the iPhone 11.
Check the formatting of numbers. Sometimes when you transfer from Xiaomi, numbers can be written without the country code (+7), which can cause problems with determining the number in messengers or roaming. Go through the main contacts and bring them to an international format. This will also help the system properly sort calls and messages.
Don't forget to set up signatures and rings. In iOS, you can set a unique vibration sound or melody for a specific contact, which will help you identify the caller without even looking at the screen. To do this, open the contact, click "Edit" and select the "Call" or "Vibration" fields.
- 📞 Create Family, Work, Services lists for easy filtering.
- 📸 Add photos to contacts for visual ID when calling.
- 🔍 Search for the names of the organizations if they have been saved.
- ⚙️ Set up the text of the message “Busy” for quick response to calls.
Cleaning your phone book regularly is a good habit, removing delivery numbers, random records, and old contacts you haven't used in a long time, not only making room, but also speeding up search and indexing on your device.
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The main idea of the section: Proper organization of contacts immediately after the transfer will save you from problems with finding numbers and duplicates in the future, making the use of the iPhone as comfortable as possible.