How to transfer contacts with Xiaomi Redmi to Google Account: 3 proven ways

Losing contacts is one of the most frustrating situations for a smartphone owner, especially if you’re dealing with hundreds of important numbers that have been piling up in your phone book for years. Fortunately, Xiaomi Redmi offers a simple way to avoid this nightmare: synchronizing your contacts with your Google Account, a technique that not only protects your data from accidental deletion, but also allows you to instantly restore it to a new device or after resetting.

Many users mistakenly believe that backup contacts are complex and require specialized knowledge. MIUI (It's all done intuitively, and you just have to set up sync once, and your contacts will automatically update in the Google cloud, and they'll be available from any device. But how do you do it right? And what are the nuances that you need to take into account to avoid errors?

In this article, we will discuss three working methods for transferring contacts with Xiaomi Redmi to Google Account, including step-by-step instructions, possible problems and their solutions, and answer frequent questions: what to do if contacts are not synchronized, how to check the success of the backup, and whether it is possible to return deleted numbers from the cloud.

πŸ“Š How often do you back up your contacts?
Never.
Once a year.
Every month.
Automatically via Google

Why it is important to sync your contacts with your Google Account

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your contacts if a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone suddenly broke, lost, or stolen? Without a backup, it would be extremely difficult to recover phone numbers, email addresses, and other data β€” especially if you didn't manually save them on your computer or in a notebook. Google Account solves this problem by offering a reliable cloud storage with automatic updates.

Here are the key benefits of synchronization:

  • πŸ”„ Automatic update: Any changes to the phone book (add, edit, delete contacts) are instantly reflected in the cloud.
  • πŸ“± Cross-platform access: Contacts are available on any device with your Google Account – whether it’s another smartphone, tablet or computer.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Loss protection: Even when you reset your phone to factory settings or replace your device, all contacts will recover in a few minutes.
  • πŸ” Easy search: In the web version of Google Contacts, you can quickly find any number, filter duplicates or export data to a file.

Google Contacts is integrated with other ecosystem services such as Gmail, Google Meet and Android Auto, which means your contacts will automatically pull up to these apps, making it easier to communicate and set up.

⚠️ If you are using Xiaomi Redmi with two SIM-Make sure that the contacts are stored in the phone’s memory, not on the phone. SIM-Contacts from the map. SIM Not synced with Google Account!

Method 1: Automatic synchronization through MIUI settings

The easiest and most reliable way to transfer contacts is to enable automatic synchronization in the settings. MIUI. This method works on all Xiaomi Redmi models (including Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10, Redmi 9, etc.) and takes no more than 2-3 minutes).

Step-by-step:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi Redmi.
  2. Scroll down and select Accounts and Sync (on some versions) MIUI This may be called Google Accounts or Google Accounts).
  3. Tap your Google Account (if not, add it through Add Account).
  4. In the menu that opens, find the Sync account item and turn on the slider opposite Contact.
  5. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sync Now to start the process manually.

After that, all contacts stored in the phone’s memory will be uploaded to Google Account. To check if the operation is successful, go to contacts.google.com from a computer or other device, where all your numbers should be displayed.

Contacts are stored in the phone’s memory, not on the phone. SIM-map

Device connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile network)

In the account settings enabled synchronization of contacts

There is plenty of free space on the phone for temporary files.-->

⚠️ Note: If you have Mi Contacts from Xiaomi installed, some contacts may be duplicated. To avoid this, export contacts from Mi Contacts to the standard Google Contacts app before syncing.

Method 2: Manually export contacts to a file and import to Google

If the automatic synchronization is not working for some reason (for example, due to errors in the MIUI Or the limitations of corporate policy, you can use a manual method: export contacts to the.vcf file (business card) and upload it to Google Account.

Export instructions:

  1. Open the Contacts app on your phone.
  2. Click on the three dots (menu) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management. β†’ Import/Export of contacts.
  3. Select Export to the file and specify the location of the save (for example, Internal Memory or SD-map).
  4. Confirm the export – the contact.vcf file will be created.

Now you need to upload this file to Google Contacts:

  1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
  2. On the left menu, select Import.
  3. Click Select File and download contacts.vcf.
  4. Confirm the import – contacts will appear in your account in a few seconds.

This method is also useful if you want to back up your contacts on your computer before selling your phone or resetting your settings..vcf can be stored on your hard drive, in a cloud service (like Google Drive), or even sent to your own mail.

What happens if the contacts.vcf file is not opened?
If the file is corrupted or not readable, try the following steps: 1. Repeat exporting contacts by selecting a different format (if available). 2. Check the file on another device (for example, on your computer via Outlook or Thunderbird). 3. If the file is too large (more than 10,000 contacts), break it down using special applications, such as: VCF Splitter.

Method 3: Sync through the Google Contacts app

If you prefer to manage contacts through Google’s official app, you can set up Google Contacts from the Play Market and set up sync directly through it, a method that is especially convenient for users who are actively using other Google services (such as Gmail or Google Calendar).

How to set up:

  1. Install Google Contacts from Play Market (unless it is installed by default).
  2. Open the app and log in to your Google Account.
  3. In the upper right corner, tap on the profile icon and select Contact Sync Settings.
  4. Turn on Auto Sync and select the account you want to sync with.
  5. Return to the main menu and wait for the process to be completed (may take a few minutes depending on the number of contacts).

The advantage of this is that it's more flexible, for example, you can:

  • πŸ”„ Choose which contact groups to sync (e.g., only "Workers" or "Personal Contacts").
  • πŸ“‚ Create backups manually before important changes.
  • πŸ” Use advanced search with filters by tags, companies or events.

Google Contacts also automatically combines duplicates and offers fixes for incomplete entries (e.g., adding missing phone numbers from Gmail).

πŸ’‘

If you have duplicates in Google Contacts after synchronization, use the built-in merge function: open the application β†’ Contact management β†’ Combining and correcting.

Table: Comparison of methods of contact synchronization

To choose the best way to transfer contacts, compare the three methods considered by key parameters:

CriteriaAutomatic synchronization (MIUI)Manual export/import (.vcf)Google Contacts app
Speed of adjustment⚑ Quickly (2-3 minutes)⏳ Longer (5-10 minutes)⚑ Fast (3-5 minutes)
Internet is requiredβœ… Yes (for synchronization)❌ No (only for importation)βœ… Yes.
Suitable for a large number of contactsβœ… Yes, up to 25,000)⚠️ Limited file sizeβœ… Yes.
Opportunity to select contacts for synchronization❌ No, all or nothing)βœ… Yes (in manual export)βœ… Yes (through tags)
Automatic updates when changes occurβœ… Yes.❌ No (re-export required)βœ… Yes.

As you can see from the table, automatic synchronization through MIUI β€” It's the easiest and most reliable option for most users, but if you need to selectively move some contacts or make a backup without being linked to the Internet, you'd better use manual export to a.vcf file.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right timing setup, there are sometimes errors, and let's look at the most common problems and how to fix them:

1. Contacts are not synchronized

  • πŸ”Œ Check your internet connection: synchronization only works when you have an active connection.
  • πŸ”„ Update data manually: go to Settings β†’ Accounts. β†’ Google β†’ Sync and click Sync Now.
  • πŸ“± Reboot your phone: sometimes a banal reboot helps.
  • πŸ”§ Clear the cache of the "Contacts" application: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Contacts β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache.

2.Duplicate contacts

This happens if the contacts are saved in both Google Account and local phone memory to fix:

  1. Open Google Contacts on your phone or computer.
  2. In the menu, select Combine and Fix β†’ Find duplicates.
  3. Confirm the merger of the repeating records.

3. Contacts retained on SIM-map

Google Accounts are not synced with your contacts on the Internet SIM-To move them:

  1. Open Contacts β†’ Settings β†’ Import / Export.
  2. Select Import with SIM-Maps and keep contacts in your phone memory.
  3. Then enable sync with your Google Account (see Method 1).

Error "Synchronization stopped"

This error may occur due to:

  • πŸ”’ Corporate policy restrictions (if the phone is linked to a work account).
  • πŸ“΅ Lack of memory on the device (free up space).
  • πŸ› οΈ Google Services Failure (check status on Google Apps Status).

πŸ’‘

If none of these methods worked, try deleting and re-addressing your Google Account in your phone settings.

How to Restore Contacts from Google Account to New Xiaomi Redmi

If you bought a new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone or reset the old one to factory settings, you can restore contacts from Google Account in a few steps.

Instructions for remediation:

  1. Turn on the new (or reset) Xiaomi Redmi and connect to the internet.
  2. When you first start, the system will prompt you to log into Google Account – specify the same account as on the previous device.
  3. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings β†’ Accounts and synchronization β†’ Google and add an account.
  4. Turn on contact synchronization (slider opposite Contact).
  5. Wait until the process is completed – the contacts will appear in the phone book automatically.

If no contact is made:

  • πŸ”„ Go to Google Contacts on your computer and check if they are saved there.
  • πŸ“± Make sure that the phone is synchronized (see Method 1).
  • πŸ”§ Try to manually import contacts via.vcf file (see Method 2).

Important: If you used your Mi Account for backup (not Google), you can restore contacts through Settings. β†’ Memory. β†’ Backup by selecting the appropriate copy.

More tips for managing contacts in Xiaomi Redmi

Syncing with a Google Account is just part of the contact management capabilities on Xiaomi Redmi, and here are some useful life hacks to help optimize your phone book experience:

1. Configuring the display of contacts

By default. MIUI They can show contacts from different sources (SIM, Phone, Google, Mi Account, to organize the list:

  1. Open Contacts β†’ Settings β†’ Display Contacts.
  2. Select which accounts should be displayed (e.g. Google only).
  3. Set up a sort by name or surname.

2. backup in Mi Cloud

In addition to Google Account, Xiaomi offers its own cloud storage, Mi Cloud, to enable backup:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Mi Account.
  2. Select Mi Cloud β†’ Backup of the device.
  3. Enable the Contacts option and click Start Backup.

This is useful if you use multiple accounts or want to have an additional copy of your data.

3. Quick access to frequently used contacts

V MIUI You can pin important contacts on the home screen or in the notification panel:

  • πŸ“Œ Open Contacts, find the right contact and hold their icon.
  • πŸ–₯️ Select Add to the main screen – a shortcut for a quick call will appear.
  • πŸ”” For quick access from the notification panel, add the Contacts widget to the curtain.

4. Export of contacts to Excel or CSV

If you need to print a phone book or transfer it to another system (for example, CRM), export contacts to the format CSV:

  1. Go to contacts.google.com.
  2. On the left menu, select Export.
  3. Specify the format CSV for Google or CSV for Outlook.
  4. Download the file and open it in Excel or Google Sheets.

πŸ’‘

To avoid losing contacts when selling your phone, make sure to check before resetting that all data is synced with Google Account or saved to a.vcf file.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I sync contacts with Xiaomi Redmi without a Google Account?
Yes, there are alternatives: πŸ”΅ Mi Account: Backup to Mi Cloud (available after registration with Mi Account). πŸ“± Local Export: Save contacts to.vcf file on memory card or computer. ☁️ Other cloud services, such as Yandex Contacts or iCloud (for iPhone users), however, Google Account remains the most versatile and reliable solution.
How long does it take to synchronize contacts?
Time depends on: πŸ“Ά Internet speeds (via Wi-Fi faster than through a mobile network). πŸ“ž Number of contacts (100–200 contacts synchronized in 1-2 minutes, 10,000)+ It can take up to 10 minutes). πŸ“± Phone performance (on the flagship Redmi models, the process is faster). If the sync is delayed, check the Internet connection or restart the device.
What if old contacts are lost after synchronization?
It could have happened because of: πŸ”„ Version conflict: If the phone and Google account had different versions of contacts, the system could overwrite the data. πŸ—‘οΈ Error Delete: Check the Recycle Bin folder in Google Contacts (contacts are stored there for 30 days). πŸ“΅ Sync failure: try to disable and re-enable sync. To recover lost contacts: Go to Google Contacts. On the left menu, select Cancel Changes and go back to the previous version.
Can I sync contacts with Xiaomi Redmi on iPhone?
Yes, for this: Export your contacts with Xiaomi Redmi to a.vcf file (see Method 2). Send the file to your iPhone (e.g., via AirDrop, Email or Google Drive). On your iPhone, open the file and the system will suggest adding contacts to the phone book. Alternatively, you can set up a Google Account on your iPhone: Go to Settings. β†’ Contacts β†’ Accounts. β†’ Add an account β†’ Google. Enter your Google Account details and enable contact synchronization.
How to remove duplicate contacts after synchronization?
To delete duplicates: Open Google Contacts on your computer. On the left menu, select Combine and Fix. Click Find duplicates, the system will show all duplicate contacts. Choose Combine all or manually mark the desired entries. On Xiaomi Redmi phone, duplicates can be removed via Google Contacts: Open the app β†’ menu β†’ Combine and fix. Follow the system's clues.