Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to quickly set up a new device and start using it without spending hours restoring old information. Especially when it comes to a phone book, the loss of which can be a real disaster if you lose touch with important partners or loved ones. Moving from the MIUI ecosystem to a pure Android or the ColorOS shell from OnePlus requires a clear understanding of the synchronization processes so that no record is lost in the digital space.
There are several proven methods of data migration, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet connection. Local transfer via Wi-Fi Direct is considered the fastest way for large amounts of data, while synchronization through a Google account provides automatic updates in the future. In this article, we will discuss all the options available in detail so that you can choose the best one for your situation.
It is important to understand that modern smartphones Xiaomi and OnePlus use different algorithms for processing duplicates, so before starting the procedure, you should pay attention to cleaning records. This will help avoid confusion when one contact will be displayed several times with different numbers.
Preparation of devices for data transfer
Before you start directly copying records, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps on both smartphones. This is a critical step, as incompatibility of software versions or lack of space can interrupt the process halfway.
On a Xiaomi device, check if sync is enabled with a Google or Mi Account. If you plan to use cloud-based methods, a stable Wi-Fi connection is a must. For local data transfer, make sure that the Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth feature is activated and visible to other devices within range.
⚠️ Warning: Before any data manipulation is initiated, it is recommended to back up the phone book to an external medium or to the cloud, even if you are confident of the success of the operation.
It is also worth checking for updates to system applications that handle contacts and phone calls. Sometimes older versions of software modules do not properly handle special characters or long names when exported. Updating to the latest available version of software minimizes the risk of format errors.
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is ideal for migrating data to new devices, including smartphones from other Android-based brands, which is good because it creates a direct connection between devices without overloading the Internet channel or requiring registration with third-party services.
To get started, install the Mi Mover app on both smartphones. On the new OnePlus, select Receiver, and on the old Xiaomi, Sender. QR-In the case of code or manual connection via Wi-Fi hotspot, the system will prompt you to select data types to transfer.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
In the selectable data list, make sure to check "Contacts"; you can detail your selection by specifying specific groups or accounts if there are more than one, copying is fast enough, and the progress bar shows the status of the transaction in real time.
The main advantage of this method is that Mi Mover automatically allocates contacts to the correct fields on the new device, which means that names, surnames, numbers and email addresses will be allocated to the corresponding cells of the OnePlus database, preserving the record structure.
Method 2: Sync through your Google account
The most versatile and reliable way to transfer is using Google Contacts cloud storage, which ensures that your contacts are accessible not only on the new smartphone, but also on the tablet, computer or any other device where you log in to your account.
On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to your contacts settings and make sure that the checkmark is in front of your Google account. If contacts are stored locally on your phone or in Mi Cloud, they must first be imported to Google. To do this, open the Contacts app, click on the settings menu, and select Import/Export Contacts.
Select the option “Import from storage” and specify your Google account with your target. After this procedure, take a OnePlus smartphone. When you first turn on or in account settings, add the same Google account and enable sync.
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If contacts don’t appear immediately after sync is enabled, try opening the Google Contacts app on a new phone and pulling the list down for a forced update.
Within minutes, the entire phone book will be downloaded to the new device, a method that is particularly convenient because it automatically combines duplicates and updates information if you have changed numbers on other devices before.
Method 3: Transfer through SIM-map
Use of the SIM-The maps are an old school migration technique that can help in situations where there is no Internet access or both smartphones have technical limitations.
On Xiaomi device, open the contact app, go to settings and select Export to SIM-The system will alert you that some data (e.g. multiple numbers per contact or long email addresses) may be lost or cropped.
After the export is completed, extract SIM-map and paste it into OnePlus. From the new phone's contact menu, select "Import with" SIM-All records will be copied to the internal memory or Google account of the new device.
⚠️ Attention: SIM-The card has a limit on the number of characters in the name (usually up to the 15-20 The long names will be cut off and the second number may not be saved at all.
It's better used as a backup or to move the most important numbers if other methods are not available, and it's not a good fit for a full migration of a modern phone book with photos and social media.
Method 4: Import VCF-file
VCF (vCard) is a standard for sharing contact information, and allows you to create a single file containing your entire phone book with all the fields and transfer it in any convenient way: via instant messengers, email or Bluetooth.
On Xiaomi, open contacts, select Import/Export and click Export to Storage. The phone will create a file with the.vcf extension, which is usually stored in the root of internal memory or in the Contacts folder. Find this file through the file manager.
Transfer the file to OnePlus in any convenient way. Once you receive the file, simply open it on a new device. The system automatically prompts you to import the contacts contained in it. Select your target account (Google or locally stored phone) to complete the procedure.
What to do if the VCF file is too large?
The uniqueness of this method is its independence from operating systems and manufacturers. the contacts.vcf file can be opened even on a computer to check the content before transferring, which provides additional control over the data.
Comparison of transfer methods
To make your choice easier, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method, which will help you to weigh the pros and cons according to your current conditions and speed requirements.
| Method | Speed. | Internet is required | Photo preservation | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No (locally) | Yes. | Low. |
| Google Sync | Medium | Yes. | Yes. | Minimum |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. | High-pitched |
| VCF file | Depends on the way. | Optionally. | Yes. | Low. |
As you can see from the table, Mi Mover and Google Sync are the frontrunners in functionality. They keep not only numbers, but also contact avatars, addresses, posts and links to social profiles. SIM-The card is only justified in emergency cases.
The choice of the method also depends on the amount of data you have, and if you have 50 contacts, any method is the right one, and if the phone book has thousands of records with a history of correspondence, and cloud synchronization or direct Wi-Fi transfer will be the leader.
Addressing problems and duplicates
After data transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate records, which occurs when the same contact is stored simultaneously in the phone's memory, in a Google account and possibly in a Xiaomi account. OnePlus has a built-in tool to address this problem.
Open the Contacts app on your new smartphone, click on three dots in the corner or settings menu, and find Contact Management or Combine Duplicates. The system will automatically analyze the database and suggest combining the repeated records.
It is also worth checking the encoding of names. Sometimes, when transferring from devices with Russified firmware to international versions, there may be problems with displaying Cyrillic (the appearance of "brownberry"), in which case re-importing through Google Contacts from a computer where you can manually fix the erroneous encodings helps.
⚠️ Note: Don’t be in a hurry to delete data from your old Xiaomi smartphone immediately after transfer. Use the new device for a couple of days to make sure all calls and messages are coming correctly and no recording is lost.
If you notice that some contacts don't have ringtones or vibrations, check the default notification settings for the new device.When ported, system sound settings are often reset to standard OnePlus values.