Switching to a new smartphone or recovering data after a system reset is always stressful, with the risk of losing important information. Xiaomi and Redmi device owners often face the need to quickly move a phone book from an old device or secure their records from accidental deletion. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers many built-in tools to solve this problem without going to a service center.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to save and transfer numbers. You will learn about the nuances of working with Mi Cloud, synchronizing through a Google account and using specialized utilities for data migration. Properly configuring these features ensures that your contacts are always at hand, regardless of the state of the gadget itself.
Before you start taking action, it's important to understand where your data is currently stored. Many users keep numbers on the site for years. SIM-without knowing the risks or limitations of this method, we will help you organize the records and set up automatic backups.
Preparation for data transfer and verification of sources
The first step to successful synchronization is to carefully prepare both devices. Make sure your new Redmi Note is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, as transferring large amounts of data over the mobile Internet can be unstable or costly. It is also critical to check the battery level on both smartphones: it is recommended to have at least 50-60% of power or keep the devices connected to a power source.
Special attention should be paid to cleaning the memory of the old phone from junk files that can slow down the process of creating a backup. If you plan to use cloud services, make sure that there is sufficient free space available on your Google or Mi Account. Built-in tools often ignore duplicates, so pre-cleaning the phone book will save you time in the future.
⚠️ Note: Before any data transactions are initiated, it is strongly recommended to manually check the contact list for records stored on the data. SIM-These records are often not automatically synced to the cloud without explicit user indication.
For the convenience of users, we have prepared a survey that will help you understand which method of data migration is the most popular among owners of Xiaomi equipment.
Syncing through Google account: the classic method
The most reliable and versatile way for any Android operating system is to use Google Contacts cloud storage. This method is ideal if you are switching from another Android smartphone or even an iPhone, having previously uploaded contacts to Google. To start, open the settings on your old device, find the Accounts section and make sure your Gmail account is added to the system.
After you add an account, you need to activate sync. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Here you will see a list of services available for sync. Find Contacts and make sure the switch is green. If you just added an account, the system can suggest you choose which data to sync.
☑️ Checklist of Google Synchronization settings
On the new Redmi Note, the process looks similar: log in to the same Google account, automatically pulling all saved numbers from the cloud, a process that can take anywhere from seconds to minutes depending on the number of records and the speed of the Internet connection.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where contacts appeared, but without photos or with errors in the display of names, in which case you should go to the Contacts app on the new phone, open the display settings and make sure that the correct account is selected for display, and it is also useful to check whether a filter is turned on that hides contacts without numbers.
Using Mi Cloud and Mi Mover to migrate
Xiaomi device owners have a unique advantage of accessing their own Mi Cloud ecosystem, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI and HyperOS shell, allowing you to create complete casts of the system, including a phone book, messages and even desktop icon placement.
To enable synchronization, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. In the list of available data for backup, find Contacts and activate the switch. The system will suggest combining local data with cloud data or replacing it. If you are setting up a new phone, choose the option of replacing or combining depending on where the current data is located.
⚠️ Warning: Free space in Mi Cloud is limited (usually 5GB). If you have thousands of contacts with high-resolution photos, the space may run out. Regularly check the storage capacity.
Mi Mover is the perfect app for transferring data from one Xiaomi phone to another, creating a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices without going over the Internet. Run the app on both phones (it is built into the system or available in GetApps). On the old device, select "I send" on the new one, "I receive."
The Secrets of Mi Mover's Work
After the scan. QR-If you have a code or password connection, select the Contacts category in the data transfer list. The algorithm will identify duplicates and suggest the best portability. This is especially good because it retains the entire structure of the records, including additional numbers and notes.
Transfer through SIM-map and local files
Although modern smartphones allow you to store thousands of contacts in memory, the method of using a computer SIM-The card remains relevant for switching from button phones or very old Android models, the main limitation of this method is the amount of memory of the SIM card and the lack of support for long names or additional fields (address, email, second number).
For export of data to SIM-Open the Contacts app, click on three dots or the menu button and select Import/Export Contacts. SIM-The system will warn you that some data may be lost. Once the process is complete, insert the SIM card into the new Redmi Note and import in reverse order: "Import with the new Redmi Note". SIM-map» → «In memory of the phone or in Google account».
An alternative and more modern option is to use a local.vcf file (vCard). You can export all contacts to one file and transfer it via Bluetooth, messenger or save it to the Internet. USB-On a new device, you just open the file and the system will suggest importing the records contained therein.
| Method | Speed. | Saves a photo. | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Synchronization | Tall. | Yes. | Minimum |
| Mi Mover | Very high. | Yes. | Minimum |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | Tall (name cropping) |
| File.vcf | Medium | Yes. | Medium (depending on the vCard version) |
When using the file.vcf, it is important to pay attention to the format version. Older phones can create vCard 2.1 files that new smartphones read with encoding errors. The optimal format is vCard 3.0 or higher, which correctly displays Cyrillic and special characters.
Solving duplicate problems and combining records
A common problem after data migration is the appearance of duplicates, which happens when the same contact is stored simultaneously in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-in the cloud and in the map. MIUI HyperOS
Find the Merge duplicates feature, and the system will analyze the phone book, find the entries with the same names or numbers, and suggest combining them, and you can choose to automatically merge all the pairs you find, or check each pair manually to avoid mistakes, such as combining different people with the same names.
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Periodically combine duplicates, even if you haven't changed your phone, which helps keep your phone book clean and speeds up the search for the right subscriber.
If the automatic association didn’t work correctly, you can use the web version of Google Contacts (contacts.google.com), where the more powerful tool “Combine and Fix” is available, which allows you to see the preview of changes before applying them, and after cleaning the site, the changes are automatically synced with your Redmi Note.
It’s also worth checking your display settings. Sometimes duplicates appear to be contacts that are simply hidden or shown from different sources. In the Contacts app settings, you can select the option “Show only contacts with phones” or filter to a specific account, which will make navigation easier.
Working with VCF files and third-party utilities
For advanced users or when mass transfer of data between different platforms (for example, from iOS to Android), manual work with files may be required..vcf is the de facto standard for contact exchange. You can back up your computer and then upload it to your phone.
To import a file manually, copy it to the phone's internal memory. Then open the Contacts app, select Import from a.vcf file, and specify the path to the saved document. The system reads the file and adds all the records to the selected storage (local or cloud).
⚠️ Warning: When importing from unknown sources, always check the.vcf file for malicious links or strange characters. Although the risk of viruses through vCard is minimal, overflowing the note or name field can cause malfunctions in the Contacts app».
There are also third-party apps from Google Play, such as “Copy My Data” or “Send Anywhere”, which specialize in data transfer. These can be useful if Xiaomi’s standard methods for some reason do not work or fail.
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The safest and most complete way to transfer to the Xiaomi ecosystem is through the Mi Mover bundle (for initial setup) and the Google/Mi Cloud constant sync (for daily protection).
Remember that after successfully transferring and checking all numbers, it is recommended to make a final backup, which will create a recovery point to which you can roll back in case of any unforeseen circumstances in the future.