Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to quickly start using a new device without losing important data. Contact transfer is a priority for any Xiaomi or Redmi owner, since the phone book is the basis of communication. Modern technology allows you to make this process as fast and automated as possible, excluding manual dialing hundreds of numbers.
Mi device owners have access to several proven methods of data migration, ranging from cloud services to physical transfer through the Internet. SIM-The way you choose depends on whether you're going from an Android device, an iPhone or a button phone, and understanding the nuances of each method will help you avoid duplication of records or loss of numbers.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the current sync options using built-in MIUI tools and third-party utilities, learn how to properly set up a Mi Account for backup and why it is more convenient than standard Google sync in the Xiaomi ecosystem.
Using Mi Mover for a Quick Migration
The most efficient and modern way to transfer data between smartphones is using the proprietary Mi Mover app. This tool is pre-installed on all Xiaomi and Redmi devices running MIUI, making it available immediately after unpacking. The application creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, ensuring high transfer speeds without using mobile traffic.
To start, you need to run the app on both devices, and on the new phone, select Receiver, and on the old phone, Sender. QR-The speed of data transfer via Mi Mover is much higher than when using Bluetooth, which is critical with a large amount of contacts with photos and additional fields.
In the scanning process, the system will suggest selecting data types to transfer, so in addition to the phone book, you can instantly re-schedule your call history, SMS, photos, and even desktop settings, which allows you to get a fully configured device in minutes.
- 📲 Open the app Tools → Mi Mover on both devices.
- 🔗 Confirm the connection by scanning QR-cameracode.
- ✅ Select the category “Contacts” and click the “Send” button».
- ⏳ Wait for the process to end and check the integrity of the phone book records.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the screens of both smartphones are on and the Mi Mover app is open in the foreground during transmission, otherwise the connection may break due to energy savings.
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If you don’t have the Mi Mover app on your old Android smartphone, you can download it from Google Play for free or scan it. QR-code on the screen of the new Xiaomi.
Synchronization through Google account
The classic method that most Android users are familiar with is using Google cloud storage, which means that if your contacts were previously saved to a Google profile, they will automatically appear on the new Redmi immediately after entering your login and password when you first set up your system, which is ideal for those who switch from another Android smartphone.
If the contacts are stored locally in the memory of the old device, they must be exported beforehand. To do this, go to the Contacts app on the old phone, select the settings menu and find the Import/Export option. Select the export to the.vcf file and save it, then download this file to the new phone for import.
On Xiaomi devices, Google Sync Management is located in Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. You can force a data update to run or choose which data (calendar, contacts, mail) to sync. Two-way sync ensures that any change in the phone number will be reflected in the cloud.
☑️ Checking Google Syncs
It is important to note that when importing from a.vcf file, duplicates may sometimes occur if a part of the numbers has already been stored in memory. SIM-card or other account. MIUI has a built-in tool for combining duplicates, which can be found in the Contacts app through the Cleanup or Contact Management menu».
Transfer via Mi Cloud and Xiaomi account
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers its own Mi Cloud storage, which is often more convenient for users of these devices than standard solutions. Mi Cloud allows you not only to save phone numbers, but also to back up your system settings, notes and voice recorder.
To activate the save contacts, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Make sure the switch opposite the contact item is activated. Once turned on, the system will automatically upload all the numbers to the cloud. On the new device, just log into the same acca-unt, and the phone book will fill in automatically.
| Parameter | Mi Cloud | Google Contacts | Local storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume of free space | 5GB | 15 GB (total) | Depends on the phone's memory. |
| Synchronization speed | High (local servers) | Medium | Instant. |
| Recovery on discharge | Automatic. | Automatic. | Impossible without a backup. |
| Access to PC | Through i.mi.com | Through contacts.google.com | No. |
One of the unique features of Mi Cloud is the ability to restore remote contacts within 30 days via the web interface. If you accidentally delete an important number or have a synchronization error, go to the Mi Cloud site from your computer, go to the contacts section and use the recovery function.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Import with SIM-maps and old phones
When switching from a button phone or without internet, the most reliable, albeit somewhat outdated, method is SIM-based transfer, which is universal and works even on the simplest devices without the support of complex data protocols.
First, you need to copy the contacts to SIM-You can then paste the card into the new Redmi. Open the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner or the menu button, and select Import Contacts «SIM-map, and the destination is better to choose a Google account or “Phone”, so as not to limit the length of names and number of numbers.
It is worth noting that SIM-The cards have technical limitations: they often do not support long names (cut them), do not save additional numbers (mobile, work, home) for one contact and do not transfer photos.
- 📀 Put it in. SIM-card with saved numbers in a new smartphone.
- 📂 Open the Contacts app → Menus. → Imports/Eexports.
- 📥 Select the option “Import with” SIM-map».
- 💾 Confirm data storage in device memory or cloud account.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Contact cards can be added with a prefix «+7" or "8" which will result in duplicates. After import, use the "Combine Duplicates" function in the contact menu.
Switching from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
The transition from the Apple ecosystem to Android has been difficult before, but now the procedure is as simple as possible. The most reliable way is to use the export function through iCloud.Go to iCloud.com from a computer or other device, log in with your Apple ID and go to Contacts.
Select all contacts (click Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), click on the gear in the lower left corner and select Export vCard. You will get a.vcf file that you need to transfer to the new Xiaomi in any convenient way (via email, messenger or Bluetooth). When you open this file on your smartphone, MIUI will suggest importing all the records found.
Alternatively, the Move to iOS app is not supported in the opposite direction, but you can use third-party apps from Google Play, such as Copy My Data, if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network. However, the method with iCloud remains the cleanest, since it does not require installing excess software on the iPhone.
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The.vcf file is the universal standard for phone books and is supported by almost all operating systems, making it the best choice for cross-platform portability.
After import, check the name encoding. Sometimes when switching from iOS to Android, you may have problems with displaying Cyrillic if the regional settings are different, but in modern versions of MIUI and iOS, such conflicts are rare.
Solving and eliminating duplicates
During data migration, users often face the problem of duplicate records, which occurs when the same contact is stored simultaneously in the phone’s memory, in the Google account and in the Mi Account. Xiaomi’s system provides a powerful tool to solve this problem without losing data.
To clean the phone book, open the Contacts app, click on the menu, and select Clean up or Contact Management. The system will scan and suggest combining repeated records or removing empty contacts. This action is safe and will not delete unique numbers.
Users may also experience contacts in the cloud but not on the screen, so check the display settings. In the Contacts app, go to the settings and make sure that the “Show All Contacts” check box is ticked or that the specific accounts that store your data are selected.
- 🧹 Use the built-in “Combine Duplicates” function after each import.
- 👁️ Check the display filter in the settings of the Contacts app».
- 🔄 Forced to update synchronization in the "Accounts" section».
- 📂 Make sure that the new contact is saved to the desired profile by default.
⚠️ Note: Before mass deletion or contact consolidation, we strongly advise you to back up your phone book in.vcf format so you can roll back changes in case of an error.