Switching to a new smartphone often causes stress associated with the loss of important data, but owners of Xiaomi devices are more fortunate than others thanks to a clever system MIUI. The process of restoring the phone book takes only a few minutes if you know the correct algorithm of actions and do not rely on randomness. Modern shells Android offer many ways to transfer information, ranging from cloud storage to local files.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods that will help you quickly and error-free make import contacts on Xiaomi, you will learn how to avoid duplicate records, properly configure sync with your Google account and what to do if the phone book is empty after resetting.
Most importantly, don’t rush to remove the old one. SIM-A map or reset of a previous device until you make sure all numbers are saved in the new gadget. Proper preparation of the initial data ensures that no important contact is lost during the migration process.
Preparation for the transfer of the telephone book
Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that the source data is in a readable format. If you are switching from another Android smartphone, the best solution is to pre-sync with your Google account, which is the most reliable method that minimizes the risk of data loss.
Owners of iPhone or button phones should make sure in advance that the numbers are saved on the phone. SIM-card or exported to a.vcf file. Storing numbers only in the internal memory of the old device without a backup can lead to problems when transferring.
⚠️ Warning: Before any contact manipulations are initiated, we strongly advise you to back up your current phone book, even if it seems empty.This will take a minute, but save you from accidentally deleting important records.
Check the amount of free memory on the device, although the contacts take up the minimum space, the system requires a resource to process the import operation. SIM-The card is correctly installed in the tray and is determined by the system in the Settings section → The phone.
Import contacts from SIM-cards on Xiaomi
This is a classic method that remains relevant for users switching from button phones or devices with legacy OS. To make the import of contacts to Xiaomi from a SIM, you will need to open the standard Contacts app, which usually has a green icon with a human silhouette.
In the interface that opens, find the menu button, often indicated by three dots or stripes in the upper or lower right corner of the screen. In the drop-down list, select “Import contacts”, after which the system will prompt you to select the data source.
As a source, indicate your SIM-map (it may be indicated as SIM 1 SIM 2 depending on the slot. Then the system will ask where to save the data: choose a Google account or internal memory of the phone, but not the phone itself. SIM-To avoid cyclical copying.
☑️ Import checklist c SIM
Once confirmed, the copying process will begin, which can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records, and when the transaction is completed, you will see a notification of successful import, and all numbers will appear in the general phone book.
Synchronization through Google Account
The most modern and convenient way is cloud sync, which automatically updates the phone book on all your devices. To do this, make sure that the new Xiaomi has added the same Google account that was used on the previous device.
Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync and find your Google account in the list. Click on it and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated (blue). If the switch has been turned off, turn it on and wait a few minutes.
The system will automatically contact Google's servers and download all the numbers stored there. You can check the sync status by opening the Contacts app and pulling the list down for a forced update.
⚠️ Note: If contacts don’t appear immediately, check your internet connection. Also make sure that the contact display settings select “All contacts” and not just “Phone” or “Phone «SIM».
The advantage of this method is that if you lose or break your phone, the numbers are not going anywhere, they are stored securely in the cloud, and just type in your login and password on any new device to restore your entire call history and address book.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Transfer from a VCF or vCard file
The.vcf format is a universal standard for contact information exchange that is supported by almost all operating systems.If you have a backup file received from a friend or previously saved, it can be easily imported into the Xiaomi phone book.
First, you have to put the file in the memory of the smartphone. USB-You can send a file to yourself in the messenger or download it from the cloud storage. Once the file is in the Download or Download folder, find it through the file manager and click on it.
The system will automatically prompt you to open the file using the Contacts or Mi Contacts app. Select the application and a request for confirmation of import will appear on the screen, specify which account or device to save the data to.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .vcf / .vcard | Universal standard |
| Source | Memory of the phone, Email, Messenger | Any available path |
| Coding | UTF-8 | For the correct display of Cyrillic |
| Limit of records | Depends on memory. | Files up to 10 MB are opened instantly |
In some cases, if a file is very large or corrupted, the system may suggest selecting specific contacts to import rather than all at once.This is a useful feature to filter out unnecessary entries before adding them to the phone's database.
Use of the Mi Mover app
For users switching from another smartphone based on Android or iOS, Xiaomi has developed a special application Mi Mover.It allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications and settings of the system without using the Internet.
Install the app on both devices (on iPhone it is available in the App Store, on Android it is often built into the system or available in GetApps). Run the program on a new phone and select the Recipient role by scanning it. QR-code or connect to a Wi-Fi network created.
On the old device, select the role of “Sender” and in the list of transmitted data, be sure to mark “Contacts”; you can select specific groups or individual numbers if you do not want to carry the entire list.
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When transferring a lot of data through the Mi Mover, connect both phones to the charger. The process can take a long time and significantly consume the battery of both gadgets.
The data transfer speeds over Mi Mover are much faster than Bluetooth, as direct Wi-Fi connections are created between devices, and once the process is complete, all contacts will be automatically distributed to the corresponding fields in the phone book.
Solving problems with duplicates and display
A common problem after importation is the appearance of duplicates, when the same number is written several times under different names or with different country codes. MIUI There is a built-in tool for cleaning such records, which is located in the contact settings menu.
Open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Cleanup Duplicates (or Combine Repeated) and the system will analyze the database and suggest combining records that have the same phone numbers or similar names.
If you don't see some numbers after importing, check the display settings. There's a Contact Filter or Displayed Contacts item in the contact menu, where you can choose whether to show SIM-only, phone-only, or all sources at once.
⚠️ Note: Be careful when automatically combining contacts if you have namesakes with the same numbers but different additional data (for example, different email addresses.
For complex cases where contacts are “broken” or contain incorrect encoding, you may need a third-party application to edit VCF files or manually edit through the Google Contacts web interface, where the management functionality is wider.
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Regularly checking and cleaning the phone book from duplicates improves the speed of search and makes navigation by contacts more convenient.