How to transfer contacts to the memory of the Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to move entries from the phone book.This may be due to a replacement. SIM-It's a card, a switch to a new machine, or a desire to protect data from accidental loss. MIUI And HyperOS provides flexible tools for managing records, but menus are sometimes hidden or not obvious to beginners, and saving numbers directly to the device's internal storage allows you to quickly access them even without the Internet.

There are several reliable ways to do this, each with its own advantages: you can use built-in import features, cloud services or third-party backup apps. It is important to understand the difference between saving to a SIM card, to a Google account and locally in the device’s memory, as it depends on the security of your data when you reset.

In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available so you can choose the most suitable one for your situation. We will look at standard system tools, working with Google contacts and the nuances of porting from other platforms. Digital hygiene begins with the correct storage of important information, so pay due attention to this process.

Preparation for transfer and choice of data source

Before you start taking action, you need to determine where your numbers are stored right now, and users often don't even know that their records are scattered across different sources: some are located on the Internet. SIM-A map, part of the memory of an old phone, and some are already synchronized with the cloud, and analyzing the current state will help avoid duplication of records and loss of important information during the process.

If you are switching from another Android device or iPhone, make sure the original device is charged and has a stable connection to the Internet. Owners of push-button phones or devices with older versions of Android may need to pre-export data to a.vcf file.

⚠️ Attention: Before any manipulation of the phone book, we strongly advise you to back up your current data. Even if you are confident in your actions, a human factor or software failure can lead to unintended consequences.

Check the amount of free memory on your Xiaomi. Although contacts take up minimal space, overcrowded storage can cause errors when system applications work, and also make sure that the device has the current Contacts and Phone apps installed, since older versions may have bugs that interfere with the correct import.

Import contacts through the standard application

The easiest and fastest way to migrate recordings is to use the built-in functionality of the Contacts app, which does not require an Internet connection or third-party programs, and the algorithm of actions is the same for most Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco models, regardless of the shell version.

To start, open the Contacts app and find the settings menu, which is usually hidden under a three-dot icon or a gear in the top or bottom corner of the screen, and you'll need to find Import/Export Contacts, and that's where the database of the phone book is managed.

Once the importation point is selected, the system will suggest that the data source be specified. SIM-The choice of source is critical: if you choose the wrong item, the phone will not find the data to transfer.

Next, choose destination, where you will save your numbers. For maximum reliability, choose a Google account or internal phone memory, but do not use it. SIM-The map, because it has limitations on the length of the name and the number of fields, and once confirmed, the system automatically copies all the records found.

In some cases, especially when working with large files or crowded SIM-The process can take a few minutes, and do not interrupt the operation or switch between applications so as not to cause a problem with the task manager. MIUI.

Syncing with a Google account as the best method

Google's cloud technology is the most modern and secure way to store contacts: When you link your account, all your records are automatically stored on the corporation's servers, which eliminates their loss when your smartphone breaks, is stolen or dropped before factory settings. Data synchronization occurs in the background and does not require user intervention.

To activate this feature, go to your phone's settings and select Accounts and Sync. Search your Google account in the list and make sure there's an active switch opposite Contacts. If there's no one, add the account again by entering your login and password.

The main advantage of this method is cross-platform: you can edit a number on your computer through a browser, and it will instantly change on your Xiaomi. Google automatically combines duplicates, clearing the phone book of garbage, this is especially true after transferring data from different devices.

If you’ve just bought a new Xiaomi phone, just log in to your Google account the first time you set up.The system will prompt you to restore data from the last backup, and all your contacts will appear in the list automatically.

Transfer contacts from other Xiaomi devices

When switching from an old Xiaomi or Redmi to a new model, the best way to use the built-in application is to use the Mi Mover application, which is designed specifically for the manufacturer’s ecosystem and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also settings, applications and photos.

Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old phone, "I'm the sender." QR-Wi-Fi Direct transmission speeds are significantly faster than Bluetooth or cloud services.

In the data transfer list, make sure to tick the "Contacts" box, and you can choose to transfer only certain groups or the entire phone book, without using Internet traffic, which saves mobile user traffic.

Once the transfer is complete, the system will suggest combining duplicates. SIM-You can agree to a merger so your phone book looks neat.

Working with VCF backup files

.vcf (vCard) files are the universal standard for contact sharing, and can be created on any smartphone, sent by email, saved to a flash drive, or sent via messenger, the gold standard for handheld backups.

To create a file like this on Xiaomi, go to your contacts settings, select Export to file.vcf and specify where to save it. The resulting file can be copied to your computer or to cloud storage. To recover, simply open the file on a new device.

The.vcf file contains not only numbers, but also photos, email addresses and job positions if they were filled in in the contact card. SIM-map.

When importing from a file, the system may ask where to save the data. Always choose the phone option or your Google account. Avoid saving directly to SIM, as this will lose most of the additional contact information.

⚠️ Warning: Do not store the contact file only on the internal carrier of the phone without a copy in the cloud or on your computer. If the device fails, you will lose both the phone and the only copy of the backup database.

Solving typical transfer problems

Sometimes the transfer process can go wrong, users are faced with synchronization errors, duplication of records or the absence of part of the numbers, most often the problem lies in the format of saving or overflowing the clipboard.

If contacts are not displayed after import, check the display settings in the Contacts app. Often there is a filter "Contacts Only from your phone", while new records may have been saved to your Google account or on your Google account. SIM-Change the filter to "All contacts".

In case of errors in reading SIM-Try to remove the card and paste it again. Also make sure the card is not physically damaged. Older SIM cards may have less storage capacity and may not support long names in Unicode encoding.

💡

Use Google Contacts to clean up duplicates, which automatically finds duplicates and suggests combining them into a single card, which makes it much faster to search.

If you are porting data from your iPhone, use the “Move to iOS” app (at the setup stage) or sync iCloud with Google Contacts via your computer. Direct porting from iOS to Android inside Xiaomi system is also possible through the “Mi Mover” app, which supports iOS.

💡

Regular sync with your Google account is the only guarantee that you will never lose your phone number, even if your smartphone is completely broken.