The switch to a new smartphone like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is always accompanied by a desire to get started quickly with the device, but the lack of a phone book can negate all the benefits of new technology. The process of data transfer has become much easier in recent years, but there are features in the MIUI ecosystem that need to be considered to correctly display all the fields. Owners often face duplicates or loss of information if they do not use proven synchronization methods.
There are several effective ways to do this, each suitable for different use cases and source devices: You can use Google cloud services, Xiaomi built-in tools, Bluetooth connection or specialized.vcf files. The choice of the best option depends on where exactly you plan to take data: from an old Android smartphone, iPhone or a simple one. SIM-map.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, with a focus on the nuances of working with the file system and cloud storage. Properly following the steps ensures that no number is lost and the structure of the records is preserved in full. Below are step-by-step instructions to help you avoid common errors when migrating data.
Using Google Accounts to Sync
The most reliable and versatile way is to link a Google account, which automatically pulls all saved numbers from the cloud, which is ideal if you have previously used an Android smartphone and already had activated synchronization. Simply enter your login and password when you first set up the Redmi Note 9 Pro, and the system will offer to restore the data.
If you don't automatically boot, you need to manually check the sync settings in the system menu, make sure the slider opposite the "Contacts" item is in the active position, and check the status of the Internet connection. Sometimes it takes several minutes to fully download a large amount of data, especially if the phone book has hundreds of entries with photos.
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Google-account provides automatic backup, which protects data even when the complete loss or breakdown of the smartphone.
To manage the list and clean up duplicates, you can use the web version of the service contacts.google.com. There is a convenient tool "Fix and Manage", which finds the duplicate records and combines them. Once cleaned on the server, the changes will instantly affect your Xiaomi.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to Accounts and Sync.
- ☁️ Select your Google account and make sure that the checkmark is on the Contact point.
- 🔄 Press the sync button or just wait a few minutes in the background.
- 📂 Check the Contacts or Phone app to see a list of numbers.
Transfer through the built-in Mi Mover tool
Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which allows you to quickly transfer data from your old phone to your new phone without using the Internet. This solution is especially relevant when switching from other Android devices, since it copies not only numbers, but also SMS, call history and installed applications. The application is usually preinstalled in the Tools folder, but it can be downloaded from Google Play.
The process begins with installing the application on both devices and choosing the role of each of them: "Sender" or "Receiver." The Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphone should act as a recipient of data. QR-code or password input creates a secure local Wi-Fi Direct connection, providing high transfer speeds.
Why can't Mi Mover see an old phone?
Importantly, when porting from an iPhone, functionality may be limited due to iOS' security policy, in which case the system will offer alternative solutions, such as through iTunes or iCloud. Android devices are almost unlimited, even copying desktop wallpaper and alarm settings.
☑️ Check before launching the Mi Mover
- 🚀 Run Mi Mover on both smartphones via the app menu.
- 📲 On the new Redmi Note 9 Pro, select “I am the recipient” and on the old one, “I am the sender".
- 🔗 Scan it. QR-camera-coded old connection device.
- ✅ Select the category "Contacts" and click the button "Send".
Import and export via vCard (.vcf)
The.vcf (vCard) file format is the de facto standard for sharing contact information between platforms, a method that is universal: it allows you to transfer a phone book from a computer, another phone, or from a backup copy simply by copying a file to the device's memory. A file can contain one record or thousands of contacts in one archive.
To import, you need to place the contact.vcf file in any available folder on the Redmi Note 9 Pro internal drive. After that, you should open the Contacts app, go to the settings and select Import/Export. The system will automatically find the file and offer to select a target account for saving.
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When importing a large file (.vcf), do not turn off the smartphone screen, as the process can take several minutes and interrupt when going to sleep.
The advantage of this is that you can pre-check the file on your computer, and you can open it in a text editor or a special program to verify the integrity of the data before downloading it to your phone, which is especially useful when recovering data from old backups.
Note the file encoding if the letters are not displayed when importing. Most times, MIUI handles UTF-8 correctly, but old files in Windows-1251 may require conversion. Use text editors like Notepad++ to change the encoding before transfer.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .vcf (vCard) | Use version 3.0 or higher |
| Coding | UTF-8 | Mandatory for Cyrillic names |
| Location. | Internal memory. | Root folder or Download |
| Size | Up to 50MB | Big files are better to break up |
Copying contacts with SIM-map
Although modern smartphones, including the Redmi Note 9 Pro, recommend storing data in the cloud or device memory, many users still keep numbers on the device. SIM-This method is suitable for quickly transferring a basic number list, but it has serious limitations in the scope and format of the information stored. SIM-Cards can only be written with one number and a short name.
Insert the procedure to begin SIM-In the Contacts menu, find the settings section, often hidden in the side menu or under the three-dot button. SIM-maps and specify where exactly you need to save data: in memory of the phone or in the Google account.
⚠️ Note: When copying with SIM-cards may be shortened long names, and additional numbers (mobile, work, home) may be combined into one entry or lost.
The process takes a few seconds, after which it is recommended to immediately check the result. SIM-the card has been recorded numbers in an international format, and the phone memory uses local, you may have to manually edit some records to correctly display the number determinant.
- 💾 Put it in. SIM-card in the corresponding tray Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro.
- ⚙️ Open the Contacts app and click on the settings menu.
- 📥 Select "Import/Export" →"Import with SIM-map".
- 💾 Confirm the action and wait for the copying process to be completed.
Transferring data from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
Migration from iOS to Android requires specialized tools, since direct copying via Bluetooth is impossible due to the closed Apple system. The most effective way is to use the application "Move to iOS" (at the setup stage) or, conversely, use cloud services to prepare data. However, if the phone is already configured, the best solution will be synchronization via iCloud.
To do this, you need to go to the iCloud settings on your iPhone and activate contact sync. Then, on your computer or directly on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, you need to log into icloud.com, select contacts and export them in vCard format. The resulting file is downloaded to the phone and imported by standard means, as described in the section on the files.vcf.
Alternatively, using MI Mover in import mode with iOS, it can request access to your iCloud account to securely retrieve data, a method that is convenient because it does not require computer intervention and allows you to transfer data directly over the air.
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When you transfer from your iPhone, your contact photos may not be saved if they are only stored in your local Apple ID memory, not iCloud.
Note that some specific fields specific to iOS (such as audio files for specific subscribers or complex address structures) can be simplified when converted to Android format.
Removing duplicates and restoring deleted numbers
After mass data import, there is often a problem of duplicate records, where the same contact is presented several times from different sources. MIUI has a built-in merging mechanism, but it does not always work perfectly. To restore order, you can use the "Combine Repetitives" function, which is available in the contact management menu.
If you've used Google sync, all deleted records are stored in the Recycle Bin for 30 days. To recover, you need to go to Google Contacts, go to the Recycle Bin menu and restore the desired positions. A similar feature is found in the Xiaomi cloud.
⚠️ Attention: Restoration from the Google Recycle Bin is only possible for 30 days, after which the data is deleted irrevocably.
For advanced users, the rollback feature is available, which allows you to return the state of the phone book to a certain date in the past, which is useful if you find that entire contact groups have disappeared or numbers have been changed as a result of synchronization.
- 🗑️ Open the web version of Google Contacts on your computer.
- ⏮️ Click on the settings gear and select "Cancel changes".
- 📅 Select a time period (10 minutes ago, 1 hour, yesterday, a week ago).
- ✅ Confirm the recovery and wait for sync with Redmi Note 9 Pro.