How to Transfer a Phone Book from Android to Xiaomi Android

Changing your smartphone to a new Xiaomi model is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the need to transfer accumulated data. The most important part of this procedure for most users is to save the phone book, because losing numbers can lead to serious communication problems. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem provides many convenient tools for migration, without requiring deep technical knowledge.

In this article, we will discuss the most effective and safe methods of contact transfer relevant to the 2026-2026 You'll learn about the nuances of synchronization through the cloud, working with the cloud. SIM-The choice of the specific method depends on the size of your database and the availability of a stable Internet connection.

Before any data port operation is initiated, it is essential to make sure that both devices are at least 50-60% charged. A sudden power outage during the recording process can cause file damage or complete loss of records. It is also worth checking that both devices have Bluetooth or NFC detection enabled if you plan to use wireless protocols.

Synchronization through Google Account

The most modern and reliable way to transfer a phone book is to use Google Contacts cloud storage. This method does not require cable or special applications, since it is built into the operating system by default. All you need is a Gmail account that was used on the old device.

On an old phone, you need to make sure that sync is on and successful. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and select the desired email address. Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated, and then click Sync.

⚠️ Note: If the old device only stores contacts in the phone memory or on the phone SIM-They will not be automatically accessed by the cloud, instead of by a Google account. Before syncing, export them to Google Contacts via the Contact Management menu.

After successful synchronization on the new Xiaomi, just enter the same login and password when you first set up the system. All contacts will appear in the phone book automatically within 5-10 minutes after connecting to Wi-Fi. This is due to the background synchronization service, which works constantly.

The advantage of this method is that your phone book will always be safe. Even if you lose your phone or it fails, the numbers will remain accessible through the web interface contacts.google.com. In addition, if you accidentally delete a number, it can be easily restored from the archive in the last 30 days.

If automatic synchronization does not occur, try to perform the following manually:

• 📱 Open the “Contact” app on your new smartphone.
• ⚙️ Click on three dots in the corner and select "Settings" or "Contact Management".
• 🔄 Find the item "Import / Export Contacts" and select "Import from your Google account".
• ✅ Confirm the selection of the correct Gmail account to copy data.

Use of the Mi Mover app

Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which allows you to quickly transfer data from any Android smartphone or iPhone. This is one of the fastest ways, since it creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices without consuming mobile operator traffic.

The process begins with installing the app on both phones. On the new Xiaomi models with a shell. MIUI or HyperOS, it's often pre-installed in the Tools folder. On an older device, you need to download the app from Google Play or scan it. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone.

When you start the app, select the "I'm the recipient" role on the new phone, and the old one, "I'm the sender." QR-code displayed on the screen of the old device, after which a secure connection is established between the gadgets. Next, you will be asked to select the type of data to transmit; tick the item "Contacts".

The data transfer speeds over Mi Mover are much faster than Bluetooth, and can reach 20-40 MB/s depending on the characteristics of Wi-Fi modules. This is especially true if you plan to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, videos and heavy applications.

⚠️ Warning: While Mi Mover is running, phone screens may go out, but the transfer process will continue.Do not lock the devices completely or switch to other applications so as not to break the connection.

The unique feature of the Mi Mover is the ability to port not only the numbers themselves, but also the history of calls and the location of icons on the desktop, which allows you to make the new Xiaomi an exact copy of the old device, while maintaining the familiar user environment.

Transfer through SIM-map

The SIM-transfer method is the most versatile and works even on the most budget-friendly models of phones without Internet access, but it has significant limitations in the volume and format of stored information that you should be aware of in advance.

Standard. SIM-The card has limited memory, usually allowing for 200 to 500 records, and the SIM storage format often cuts off long names and doesn’t allow you to save additional numbers, email addresses or photos for a single contact. This method is only suitable for small telephone books.

To implement the transfer, follow the following steps on the old device:

1. Open the Contacts app and go to the control menu (three dots or gear).
2. Select "Import / Export of Contacts" → "Export to SIM-card".
3. Mark the contacts you need to copy and confirm the operation.
4. Extract. SIM-Map and paste it into the new Xiaomi smartphone.
5. On the new device, repeat the path: Contacts → Import / Export → Import from SIM-card.

It is important to note that some modern smartphones may not have a physical slot for the device. SIM-The traditional sense of cards (e.g., using eSIM) makes this method less relevant in the future, but for classic Redmi and Poco models it is still a working option.

Export and import of VCF files

VCF (vCard) is a standard electronic business card format that is supported by almost all Android, iOS and Windows devices, and is ideal if you want to back up your phone book as a single file and save it to your computer or send it to your messenger.

The backup process is as follows: on an old phone, go to the contact settings, select Import/Export and click Export to file.vcf. The system will create a file, commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf, which will be saved in the device's memory.

This file must be transferred to the new Xiaomi in several ways:

• 📤 Send the file via any messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) or by email.
• 🔗 Flip over Bluetooth or Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share).
• 💾 Copy the file to a computer and then to a new phone USB-cable.

Once the file is in the memory of the new smartphone, just click on it. Android automatically recognizes the format and prompts you to import the contacts contained in it, you can choose which account or storage to save data to — in memory of the phone, on SIM or in Google.

The main advantage of the VCF method is that it can easily combine phone books from multiple devices, collect files from all your gadgets and import them to the new Xiaomi, having a single database of numbers, and the file can be stored for years as an archived copy.

Comparison of transfer methods

The best way to choose depends on your priorities: speed, Internet availability or the need to keep complete contact information. Below is a comparison table that will help determine the method.

As you can see from the table, Google Account and Mi Mover are the leaders in functionality, they allow you to transfer not only names and numbers, but also avatars, addresses, sites and additional phones. SIM-Today, the card can be considered more of an emergency option.

💡

Before selling or disposing of an old phone, be sure to do a full Wipe Data reset only after making sure all contacts have successfully appeared on the new Xiaomi and synced with the cloud.

Decision and advice

When you move data, you sometimes experience duplicate records, which happens when you have already saved some numbers on your new phone and you import them back from another source, and there's a built-in tool in the MIUI shell to solve this problem.

To remove duplicates, open the Contacts app, go to settings, and select "Combine Repetitive Contacts." The system will analyze the database and suggest combining records with the same names or phone numbers, which will help to clean up the phone book.

Another common problem is that contacts are not displayed after import, often with a display filter. In the Contacts app, click three dots and select Contacts to Display. Make sure that the checkbox "All Contacts" is ticked or the specific accounts you have imported into are selected.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party calling apps (like Truecaller or Yandex.Phone), they may have their own contact databases. Make sure you import the data into the Android system ledger so that it is available everywhere.

Regular backups are a best habit for a smartphone owner: set up automatic sync with Google once a week or month so that you don't lose important connections in the event of a device loss. Xiaomi also offers its Mi Cloud service, which can duplicate contacts, but for cross-platform it's better to rely on Google's ecosystem for cross-platform.

💡

The most reliable way to save contacts forever is to store them in your Google Account, not in your device’s memory.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)