Switching to a new smartphone or having to secure data before flashing always raises questions about the safety of the phone book. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the interface. MIUI Or HyperOS, which has its own synchronization features. SIM-The card is no longer enough, as modern memory cards have character limits and do not store additional fields such as email or address.
Fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem offers many built-in backup tools: you can use cloud services, local storage, or third-party apps to create an exact copy of your phone book, and it’s important to choose a method that not only copies numbers, but also preserves the entire data structure without loss.
In this article, we will look at all the current ways of data transfer, from classical methods to cloud technologies, we will look at the nuances of working with different versions of the operating system and show you how to avoid common errors when migrating data between devices.
Using a Google account to sync
The most reliable and versatile way to save contacts is by linking to a Google account, which ensures that your data remains safe even if your smartphone is completely lost or broken, and when you activate a new device, just enter your username and password to automatically restore the phone book.
To get started, make sure that sync is enabled in your system settings. Go to Settings, select Accounts and Sync (or Users and Accounts) and find your Google account in the list and click on it to see the list of services.
⚠️ Note: If you have previously saved numbers only in your phone’s memory (the “Device”), they are not automatically synced. First, you need to copy them to your Google account through the Contacts app".
Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts button is activated, the system will immediately start transmitting data to the corporation's servers, and then you can manage your phone book via your browser on your computer at contacts.google.com, removing duplicates or editing information.
- 📱 Open your smartphone settings and go to the account section.
- 🔄 Make sure the contact sync slider is lit blue or green.
- 🌐 Check your status on Google Contacts from any other device.
- ✅ When setting up a new phone, just log in to the same account.
The advantage of this method is cross-platform, whether you switch to another Xiaomi, Samsung or iPhone — just add a Google account, and all the numbers will appear in the address book, which makes the method ideal for those who often change devices.
Export and import via VCF file
If you don’t have access to the Internet or prefer to store data locally, a VCF backup file (vCard) is a great solution, supported by almost all operating systems and contact management applications.
To create a backup, open the standard Contacts app on your Xiaomi. Click on the three dots in the top right corner (menu) and select "Import/Export Contacts." Then select "Export to Storage" or "Export to File.vcf."
The system will suggest you to choose which contacts to save: only with SIM-It is recommended to select all available sources so that you do not lose any number. Once confirmed, the file will be stored in the device memory, usually in the root of the internal memory or in a folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
Where to look for the saved file?
You can send the file to your mail, save it to the cloud, or transfer it to your computer, and to recover the data on a new device, you just need to copy the file to your phone's memory, open it, and confirm the import, and the system recognizes the format and suggests that you allocate the numbers to the right cells.
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The VCF file is a universal standard that allows you to transfer contacts even between different operating systems, for example, from Android to iOS or Windows Phone.
Transfer data via Mi Cloud and Mi Mover
Xiaomi smartphone owners have access to their own cloud service, Mi Cloud, a handy tool for those who are fully immersed in the brand ecosystem, and allows not only to save contacts, but also to synchronize messages, notes and system settings.
To activate the function, go to Settings -> Mi Account. If you do not have an account, you need to register it. After you log in, select "Mi Cloud" and make sure the Contacts switch is on. All data will automatically be uploaded to a 5GB cloud storage, provided for free.
For fast data transfer from the old Xiaomi phone to the new, the Mi Mover app is ideal, pre-installed on most of the brand’s devices, creating a direct Wi-Fi connection between two smartphones and transmitting data at maximum speed without consuming mobile traffic.
- 📲 Run the Mi Mover app on both devices.
- 📡 On the old phone, select "I send" and on the new one, "I receive".
- 🔗 Scan it. QR-link-in.
- 📂 Select "Contacts" in the list of transmitted data and click "Send".
The Mi Mover feature is that it can transfer not only the phone book, but also the layout of the home screen, passwords from Wi-Fi and installed applications, which significantly saves time when you first set up a new gadget.
Copying contacts on SIM-map
copying method SIM-The card is considered obsolete, but it is still relevant for push-button phones or situations where the smartphone does not have access to the Internet.
Open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Import/Export Contacts. From the action list that appears, select Export on SIM-The system will warn you that some data may be lost.
⚠️ Attention: SIM-The card has limited memory and supports only the main fields (name and number), photos, addresses, additional numbers and email addresses will be irretrievably deleted when you copy.
After the export is completed, extract SIM-map and paste it into a new phone. From the new device's contact menu, select "Import with" SIM-The process will take a few seconds, after which all the numbers will appear in the list.
This is a good way to be simple, but not recommended as the primary backup method. Use it only as a temporary solution or for very old phone models that don't support modern synchronization standards.
Comparison of backup methods
The best way to choose depends on your goals and technical environment, and to make it easier for you to decide, we have prepared a comparative table of the basic methods available to Xiaomi users.
| Method | Saves a photo. | We need the Internet. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | Yes. | Yes. | Low. |
| VCF file | Yes. | No. | Medium |
| Mi Cloud | Yes. | Yes. | Low. |
| SIM-map | No. | No. | Low. |
As you can see from the table, cloud methods (Google and Mi Cloud) are the most comprehensive, as they store all contact information, including avatars. VCF Best choice for local archive storage. SIM-The map remains the most limited option.
It's recommended that you combine these techniques, like keeping Google in sync for daily use, and backing up your VCF once a month and saving it to your computer, and that's going to double the protection of your data.
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Periodically check the Recycle Bin folder in the Contacts app or on Google's website, and the deleted numbers are stored there for 30 days, allowing you to restore them in case of an error.
Re-establishment of contacts after discharge
After performing a factory reset or buying a new device, the user is faced with an empty phone book. The recovery process depends on which backup method you used previously.
If you've used a Google account, the process happens automatically when you first start your phone, and when you first set up your system, you'll be asked to enter your login and password, and when you log in, the data will start loading in the background.
If you use a VCF file, you need to pre-download this file to your device. Then open the Contacts app, select the menu, and click Import/Export. Specify the path to the file on the internal drive and confirm the action.
☑️ Checklist before resetting the phone
For Mi Cloud users, recovery also occurs through account settings. Once you log in to Mi Account, you need to enable contact synchronization, and the system will tighten all saved records.
⚠️ Warning: When recovering from a backup, make sure that the phone has enough free memory. If memory is scarce, the import process may be interrupted in the middle, leading to partial data loss.
Once the procedure is complete, it is recommended to check several random contacts to make sure that the numbers are displayed correctly and have the correct international encoding.