How to transfer contacts to Xiaomi: all ways

Changing a device, even within a single brand, is often accompanied by stress for fear of losing important data. Especially in a phone book that stores the numbers of friends, colleagues and delivery services. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers several convenient mechanisms for migrating data that avoid manually dialing hundreds of numbers. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS automate this process, making it accessible even to inexperienced users.

In this article, we will take a look at all the current sync methods, from cloud services to local Wi-Fi, learn how to use the built-in Mi Mover tool, which is the most effective solution for moving to a new phone, and consider alternative options in case standard features are not available or specific settings are required.

Before starting the procedure, check the charge of both devices.The copying process can take time, especially if you decide to transfer not only numbers, but also multimedia files or message history.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and quickest way to transfer data between Xiaomi devices is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most of the brand’s smartphones and allows data to be transmitted over a local Wi-Fi channel without using the Internet, and the transmission speed is much faster than using Bluetooth or a mobile network.

To start, you need to run the app on both devices. On the new smartphone, select Recieve, and on the old one, Send. QR-If you have a code or connection to the access point you've created, you'll have to choose the data types you want to transfer, and you can see not only the contacts, but also the photos, videos, applications and settings.

It's important to note that when you're sending a lot of data, the phone can get hot, and that's the normal reaction of the processor and the Wi-Fi module to high loads. If the process is interrupted, just repeat the procedure by selecting only the missing file categories, and the app can load the interrupted files, which saves time.

⚠️ Note: When porting applications, some banking programs may require re-authorization or reconfiguring the biometrics for security reasons.

Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account

Cloud technology is the foundation of modern mobility. If you've used a Xiaomi smartphone before, your contacts are probably already stored in the cloud. To check, go to the Mi Account settings and make sure that the slider opposite the Contacts item is active, which ensures that any record from the phone book is instantly copied to the server.

On the new device, you just need to log in to the same account, the system automatically prompts you to restore data from the backup, similarly works with Google Contacts, many users do not even suspect that their numbers are saved to Gmail, and if you add a new Google account to a Redmi or Poco phone, all the entries from the cloud will automatically pull up.

The advantage of the cloud is that it's invisible, you don't have to hold your phones nearby or look for a cable, you just have to have access to the Internet, but if you have a lot of contacts (a few thousand), the initial synchronization can take some time in the background.

There is also the ability to export data via a web interface. Once you access i.mi.com from a computer, you can upload all contacts to a file and then upload them to a new device, a convenient way to massively edit or clean duplicates before transferring to a new gadget.

Transfer through SIM-map: classical method

The SIM-transfer method is considered outdated, but it remains universal and works even on the simplest push-button phones or without internet, ideal if you want to quickly flip the main numbers without unnecessary settings and applications, but it has significant limitations on the volume and format of data.

First, you need to export contacts to a memory card. SIM Go to the Contacts app, select the settings or import/export menu, and click Export on SIM-The system will warn that some data may be lost because the format is not available. SIM-card.

After the export is completed, re-export SIM-card to the new Xiaomi smartphone. In the import menu, select "Import with" SIM-maps" and specify the location of the save — you better choose a Google account or phone memory, so as not to lose data the next time you change the SIM.

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SIM-The card is only suitable for base numbers without photos and additional fields, use this method as a backup or for very old devices.

Transfer via Bluetooth and vCard files

If you don't have the Internet at hand and Mi Mover doesn't start, you can use standard file sharing. Contacts on Android smartphones are often saved in.vcf (vCard) format. This file is an electronic business card that any phone or computer can read.

To implement this method, open the phone book on the old device. Allocate all contacts (usually via the "Select All" menu or long press). Press the "Share" button and choose the transfer method, Bluetooth or file creation. If you choose to create a file, the system will form a document with all the selected numbers.

Send this file to your new phone via Bluetooth, the receiving device will receive a notification of the incoming file, and once you agree to receive and open the file, the system will prompt you to import the records you find, and you can choose which account to save them to.

This is a great way to be autonomous, it doesn't require accounts, it doesn't require the Internet, it doesn't require any special cables, and the only downside is that Bluetooth is pretty slow, so it takes a long time to send thousands of contacts.

Import and export via file.vcf manually

A more advanced version of the previous method is the manual management of vCard files, which allows you to back up a phone book that you can store on a USB drive, send yourself to messengers or mail. A file with the.vcf extension weighs very little, even if it contains thousands of numbers.

To create a backup, go to the contact settings and select “Import/Export Contacts.” Click “Export to Storage.” The phone will create a file in the root folder or folder. MIUI/backup. Copy this file to your new phone in any convenient way: USB-cable, connecting to the PC, or through file sharing.

On the new device, run the file. The system automatically recognizes the format and opens the import menu. Here you can select the target folder to save. This is a great way to clean up the phone book from garbage: export contacts, delete duplicates on the PC, and import the clean file back.

⚠️ Note: When importing from a file, carefully monitor to avoid creating duplicates. MIUI They can combine similar records, but it is better to check the result.

Solving problems in synchronization

Sometimes the transfer process can run into technical difficulties, such as contacts that can be displayed but not saved, or the process hangs in the middle, often the problem lies in the lack of space in the cloud storage Mi Cloud (free is given 5 GB) or in an unstable connection.

If contacts are missing after the system update, don't panic. Check if they're hidden by the filter. In the contact app, click on the avatar or menu and make sure that the All Contacts display is selected. It's also worth checking if sync is active in your account settings.

In cases where nothing helps, you can use third-party utilities from Google Play, specializing in backup, but Xiaomi’s regular funds usually work more stable, since they have direct access to system databases without the security restrictions of Android.

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To prevent future data loss, enable automatic sync with Google Contacts – this is free and secure to protect against loss of numbers even if your phone breaks down.

Regularly backing up is a smartphone user’s best habit: Spend a couple of minutes a month checking the cloud and you’ll be sure your data is safe, no matter what phone you’re using today.