The transition from Android to iOS often raises concerns about the possible loss of important data. A particularly critical point is to keep a phone book that has been accumulating for years and contains hundreds, sometimes thousands, of important numbers. Changing the ecosystem from MIUI to iOS is no longer a difficult task due to the advent of specialized tools that simplify migration.
Owners of flagship devices like the iPhone 12 can take advantage of several proven synchronization methods. There is both an automated method offered by Apple itself, and manual options through cloud services or export files. The choice of the specific method depends on whether you have a new smartphone in your hands right now or are just planning to buy.
Regardless of the method chosen, the process takes no more than 10-15 minutes and requires no special technical knowledge, the main thing is to ensure a stable connection to the Wi-Fi network and charge both devices to avoid interrupting data transmission in the middle of the process. Below we will discuss in detail each of the available algorithms of actions.
Preparing devices for data migration
Before any transfer procedure is started, a number of preparatory steps must be taken on both smartphones, which ensures the stability of the connection and eliminates errors that may occur due to incompatibility of software versions or lack of memory. Make sure your Xiaomi has an up-to-date shell version installed. MIUI.
The second critical step is to check the space: If the phone book contains photos of contacts or associated audio files, the amount of data transferred can be significant. iPhone 12 should have enough space not only for contacts, but also for the system itself.
☑️ Checklist before transfer
It is also worth paying attention to the state of SIM-Although modern smartphones store numbers in the cloud or internal memory, some old records can remain on the operator's chip. SIM-card, it is recommended to copy its contents in advance to the internal memory of the phone through the standard application "Contacts».
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Before you start migrating, back up your Xiaomi contacts in any convenient way – this will create a kickback point in case of unforeseen errors.
The official way through the app Move to iOS
The most reliable and recommended method is the use of the tool Move to iOS. This is the official application from Apple, which creates a secure local Wi-Fi network between two devices and transmits data directly, bypassing the Internet, which ensures high speed and security of the transmitted information.
To get started, you need to have the iPhone 12 in the initial setup phase, and if the phone is already activated and in use, you’ll have to reset it to factory settings or use other methods described below. On the iOS settings screen, select “Move data from Android.”
On the Xiaomi side, you need to download and install Move to iOS from the Google Play store. Once the program is launched, a digital code will appear on both devices. Enter the code displayed on the Apple screen in the appropriate field on Android. The system automatically prompts you to select the types of data to transfer: contacts, messages, photos and Wi-Fi settings.
What should I do if the transmission is interrupted?
It is important not to switch to other apps on Xiaomi during transfer, as this can break the connection. Once the process is complete, the iPhone 12 screen will display a message about successful import, and all numbers will appear in the standard phone book.
Synchronization through Google account
If you’ve already used Xiaomi, you’re probably already saved to the Google cloud, and it’s the easiest way to migrate without having to install any additional software on your new phone, and the entire phone book is linked to your Gmail account and can be synced in a few clicks.
To implement this method on iPhone 12, go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts. Click Add Account and select the Google logo. Enter the username and password from the account that was used on Xiaomi. The system will prompt you to select data types for synchronization - make sure the switch opposite to Contacts is activated.
Once confirmed, the phonebook will automatically be loaded into the iOS address book, which is particularly useful because it provides two-way synchronization: any new number added to the iPhone will appear in the Google cloud and on other devices that log in to the account.
| Parameter | Move to iOS | Google Sync | VCF File |
|---|---|---|---|
| The need for Wi-Fi | Yes (local) | Yes (Internet) | No. |
| The status of the iPhone | Only new/dumped | Anybody | Anybody |
| Speed of operation | Tall. | Depends on the network. | Instant. |
| Photo preservation | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Import contacts via VCF file
The method of exporting to a.vcf file (vCard) is universal and works even without Internet access during the transfer stage. It is ideal if you need to migrate contacts selectively or if cloud services are not available for some reason.
On Xiaomi, open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or bars) and select Import/Export. Click Export to Device Memory or Export to Storage. The system will create a file, commonly called contacts.vcf, that can be found in the root folder or in the MIUI/Contacts directory.
Then you can send this file to iPhone 12, and you can do it via email, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or AirDrop (if you have an Android client installed), and once you have the file on iOS, just click on it, and the system automatically prompts "Add all contacts." Confirm the action, and the records will be integrated into the phone book.
⚠️ Note: When importing through VCF If you have previously synced some numbers through iCloud, check the book for duplicate entries after importing and combine them through the function "Linked contacts».
Use of third-party applications and PCs
For users who need advanced functionality, there are specialized programs for managing mobile devices, such as AnyTrans, iMazing or Copy My Data. These utilities are installed on a computer (Windows or macOS) and allow you to manage the file system of both phones at the same time.
Connecting Xiaomi and iPhone 12 to your computer USB-And you can use the Contact Manager feature in the software, which allows you not only to copy numbers, but also to edit them, delete duplicates, and group them before you send them to a new device, and this is especially true for enterprise users with large databases.
However, it is worth considering that most of the full-fledged features of such programs are paid. Free versions often have restrictions on the number of contacts transferred, and the use of third-party software requires permissions to access personal data, which may cause questions to users concerned about privacy.
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Using a PC and specialized software is justified when working with thousands of contacts or the need for complex data filtering before transferring.
Solving and eliminating errors
There can be technical difficulties in migrating. One of the common problems is that UTF-8 is not encoded when exporting files, which causes the names of contacts on iPhone to display "crackers" instead of Russian letters. To avoid this, when exporting through the file manager, make sure that the correct encoding format is chosen, or use cloud synchronization, which processes the encoding automatically.
Another common situation is that contacts are uploaded but without avatar photos, which can happen if photos are stored locally on Xiaomi and not tied to a Google account, in which case only manual method or using the Move to iOS app, which copies media attachments more correctly, will help.
If the iPhone 12 doesn’t see an Android device when trying to wirelessly connect, check the power saving settings. On Xiaomi, in Power Saving mode, background Wi-Fi work may be limited. Turn off the data saving mode for data transfer time and make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (if using the cloud method) or that Bluetooth is on for detection.
⚠️ Warning: Never force the sync process to be interrupted by closing applications or turning off the screen, which can damage the contact database on the new device and have to be restored from a backup.
Why do contacts duplicate after synchronization?
Setting up display and sorting after transfer
After a successful data transfer, it’s worth taking the time to set up the display of the phone book in the iOS interface. By default, the iPhone sorts contacts by name, which may be unusual for users who are used to sorting by surnames, typical for many Android builds. You can change this from the Settings menu → Contacts → Sorting order.
It is also recommended to check which account is set by default to create new entries. If you want all new numbers saved to the Google cloud for security, set the corresponding account to the main one in the Settings → Contacts → Default account.This will eliminate the risk of data loss when changing your phone in the future.
Remember to check the messengers. After transferring contacts, apps like WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram can request permission to access the phone book again, allow access so that contact names are displayed in chat rooms, not just phone numbers.
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Use Siri to check the port quality: just say “Show Mommy’s Number” or “Call the Police” to make sure the voice assistant correctly recognizes names from the new database.