Replacing an old smartphone with a new Xiaomi or Redmi model is always a joyous event, but it is often overshadowed by the need to transfer personal data. The most important and voluminous part of this procedure is to save the phone book. Losing the numbers of friends, colleagues or business partners can be a real disaster, so the question of how to copy contacts from shawmi to shawmi is one of the first when unpacking a gadget. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offer many built-in tools to solve this problem without third-party software.
Modern methods allow you to complete the migration of data in minutes using wireless protocols or cloud storage. You do not need to be a technical specialist to perform this operation. You just need to choose the most convenient way for your situation: whether it is fast synchronization through an account, direct file sharing or using a proprietary utility Mi Mover. In this article, we will analyze each of the available options in detail so that you can choose the optimal algorithm for actions.
⚠️ Warning: Before you start any manipulation of the number database, make sure that both devices are charged at least 30-40% Abrupt power outage during recording or synchronization may damage a database file or lose part of the records.
Synchronization through Mi Cloud: Xiaomi’s proprietary method
The most organic way for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the company’s own cloud service, Mi Cloud. This method is ideal if you move from one tsiomi to another, since it allows you not only to transfer numbers, but also to restore the placement of icons on the desktop, call history and SMS. To start, you will need a Mi Account, which is created when you first activate the phone.
The synchronization process is in the background and does not require a constant user presence. You need to log in to your account on the old device, go to the synchronization settings and activate the contact option. After that, the phone will automatically upload all records to the cloud storage. On the new device, you just need to enter the same credentials, and the system will suggest combining or replacing local data with cloud data.
It's important to understand the difference between on-premises storage and cloud storage. If you only store numbers in your phone's memory without an account being tied, the risk of losing them when you break or reset your settings is maximum. Mi Cloud solves this problem by backing up your company's servers. 5GB of free space is available to the user, which is more than enough to store tens of thousands of contacts and photos.
When moving through the cloud, you should consider Internet connection speeds. Although text data weighs a bit, downloading thousands of records with photos of subscribers can take time on mobile traffic. It is recommended to use a stable Wi-Fi connection for initial synchronization to avoid disconnection and reloading data packets.
Transferring through a Google account: a cross-platform standard
The Android operating system that powers MIUI and HyperOS is originally designed to work with Google services, making the Google account a versatile tool for transferring contacts that will work not only between Xiaomi smartphones, but also when switching to devices of other brands, a method considered the “gold standard” of reliability in the Android world.
To copy contacts in this way, you need to make sure that the old phone is synced. Check this from the Settings menu → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. Once turned on, the system will instantly send all data to Google servers. On a new smartphone, when you log in to the same Google account, all numbers will appear in the phone book automatically within a few minutes.
The advantage of this method is that it is brand-independent: If you decide to switch from Xiaomi to Samsung or Pixel in the future, your contacts will not go anywhere, and Google provides a convenient web version through which you can edit, delete duplicates and restore deleted numbers from the archive in the past 30 days.
⚠️ Note: When syncing through Google, make sure you choose the account that stores the data. If multiple mailboxes are added to the phone, the contacts could be saved to the default email address.
You can use Google Contacts to manage your contacts through your browser, and there's a "Current and Manage" feature that automatically finds and combines duplicates, which is often the case with post-transfers, which helps keep your phone book clean and in order.
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Use the Restore Contacts feature in Google's website settings if you accidentally deleted important numbers or they disappeared after resetting your phone.History is stored for up to 30 days.
Using the Mi Mover application for direct transmission
The Mi Mover (or “Mi Move”) utility is a powerful tool pre-installed on most modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, and its main advantage is the ability to transfer data directly from device to device without using the Internet, which is especially true if you do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile traffic is limited.
The application is based on creating a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot between two phones. QR-The code that scans the new device, and after you connect, you can choose which data you want to send, whether it's contacts, messages, photos, apps, or system settings, and the transfer speed is much faster than Bluetooth.
☑️ Preparation for work with Mi Mover
The process of copying contacts through Mi Mover takes place in several stages. First, the application analyzes the volume of data, then creates an encrypted communication channel and begins to transfer packets. During this process, device screens may go out, but it is not recommended to interrupt the connection or fold the application so as not to violate the integrity of the transmitted files.
The unique feature of the Mi Mover is the ability to transfer not only the numbers themselves, but also the history of calls and application shortcuts from the desktop, which allows the new phone to become almost a complete copy of the old one, eliminating the need to reconfigure the interface and search for the desired applications.
Export and import via VCF file
The classic method that works on any phone is to back up.vcf (vCard) format, a universal format supported by all operating systems and email clients. You can save all contacts in one file, transfer it in any convenient way (via messenger, Bluetooth or other means). USB-cable) and import on a new device.
To create a file, open the Contacts app on the old Xiaomi. From the menu, select Import and Export Contacts, and then Export to Storage. The system will create a file, commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf, in the phone's memory. This file can be found through the file manager in the MIUI/Contacts folder or simply at the root of internal memory.
Once you transfer a file to a new phone (e.g., via Mi Share or send it to Telegram/WhatsApp), just click on it. The system automatically recognizes the format and suggests importing the entries contained in it into the phone book. This method is good in that the file can be saved to a computer or flash drive as an additional backup.
| Method | We need the Internet. | Speed. | What's transferable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | Yes (Wi-Fi/4G) | Medium | Contacts, photos, notes |
| Google Sync | Yes (Wi-Fi/4G) | Tall. | Contacts and mail only. |
| Mi Mover | No (locally) | Very high. | All phone data. |
| VCF File | No. | Depends on the transmission. | Only contacts. |
What happens if the VCF file is not opened?
Copying contacts with SIM-map
Despite the development of cloud technologies, many users still store numbers on the Internet. SIM-It makes sense if you change devices a lot and you don't want to depend on accounts. SIM-The card is limited and does not support saving additional fields such as email address, photo or multiple numbers for a single contact.
To copy the contacts with SIM-maps to the new Xiaomi, paste the SIM into the new device. Then go to the Contacts app, select the settings menu (three dots or gear) and find “Import and export contacts.” SIM-The system will prompt you to select an account to which the numbers will be saved (you should choose Google or Mi Account, not Phone»).
The reverse process is also possible: if you need to transfer numbers from your old phone to a SIM to then paste it into a new one, select the option “Export to the SIM” SIM-Be prepared for the fact that long names can be cropped and special characters can disappear, since the format of storage on the SIM card is extremely primitive and outdated.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Contacts often lose formatting and additional fields. Always check the result and, if possible, use cloud sync to keep full contact information.
Solution: duplicates and missing numbers
Once data is transferred, users often face the problem of duplicate records, which occurs when the same contact is stored simultaneously in the phone’s memory, in Google’s account and in the Mi Cloud. To eliminate the chaos in the phone book, use built-in cleaning tools.
The Contacts app on Xiaomi often has a “Combine Duplicates” feature, and if it’s not available, the best option is to use the web version of Google Contacts, and there’s an automatic “Combine and Correct” tool that finds the same numbers and offers to merge them into one card, saving all available fields.
If contacts are gone after sync, don't panic. They're probably hidden by display filters. Go to the contact display settings and make sure you check the "All Contacts" box or select all available accounts to show, and often numbers don't go away, but simply stop showing because of a filter failure.
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Regularly cleaning up duplicates and storing contacts in the cloud (Google or Mi Cloud) is the only guarantee that your phone book will be safe and in order whenever you change your device.
In conclusion, the choice of transfer method depends on your preferences and the condition of the old phone. Mi Mover is the best for a quick and complete migration. For constant data security, synchronization via Google or Mi Cloud. By combining these methods, you will always have an up-to-date backup of your critical data.