Switching to a new Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco smartphone is always an exciting process, often accompanied by fears of losing important information. However, modern technology allows you to make data migration as fast and painless as possible. The question of how to transfer contacts to a new phone is solved in several ways, the choice of which depends on your old operating system and personal preferences.
Before you start to take action, you need to make sure that both devices are at least 50-60% charged and lock screens are unlocked. Data synchronization is a key point that will save you from manual dialing hundreds of numbers. In the Android ecosystem, which uses the shell MIUI or HyperOS, this process is automated, but requires proper configuration.
We're going to look at all the current methods, from cloud storage to local Bluetooth copies, and each has its own advantages depending on the situation. For example, if you're switching from an iPhone, the algorithm will be different from switching from another Android smartphone. Let's go through each option in detail so you can choose the best one.
Using Mi Mover for a Quick Migration
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi app owners is the Mi Mover app, which is pre-installed on most new devices of the brand and allows you to transfer not only the phone book, but also applications, photos, system settings and even desktop layout.
To get started, run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select Recipient and on the old phone, Sender. QR-code or connect to the network you've created, and it's important that the screens of the devices don't go out during the process, because that can interrupt the connection.
☑️ Preparation for transfer via Mi Mover
Once you connect, you'll see a list of data categories. Make sure the checkmark is in front of Contacts. If you move everything at once, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, and skipping the category selection phase will result in all the junk from the old phone being copied, including the unnecessary caches.
⚠️ Note: When using Mi Mover on an older iOS device, the functionality may be limited, in which case it is better to use cloud methods or third-party applications.
Synchronization through Mi Account
Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers a powerful backup tool, the Mi Cloud, which is ideal if you want your contacts to be saved automatically in the future and accessible from any device that logs in to your account, a method that is especially useful if your old phone was already running MIUI.
On your old device, go to settings and find the "Mi Account" section. Inside the menu, select "Sync" and make sure the switch opposite "Contact" is activated. Click on "Sync" right now to be sure that the data is up to date in the cloud.
On the new smartphone, sign in to the same Mi Account. The system automatically prompts you to restore data from the cloud. If this does not happen, go to the Contacts app, open settings, and select Import Contacts -> From Mi Account.
What to do if contacts do not appear?
Transfer through Google Account
Since Android is based on Google services, this method is universal and works seamlessly when switching between any smartphones on this OS. Google Contacts is a de facto standard that guarantees the safety of data even when the device is completely replaced.
On your old phone, open Settings -> Accounts and Sync (the path may vary slightly depending on the Android version). Select your Google account and click on Sync Account. Make sure the Contacts switch is green.
On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on or through settings, add the same Google account. The system will automatically pull up all saved numbers. If this does not happen, open the Contacts app, go to the settings and select Import -> Google.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Saves a photo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No (locally) | Yes. |
| Mi Cloud | Medium | Yes. | Yes. |
| Google Sync | Depends on the network. | Yes. | Yes. |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. |
Import with SIM-maps and Bluetooth
The oldest, but still relevant method is the use of SIM-It's suitable if you don't have access to the Internet or cloud services, or if you're switching from a button phone, but there's a serious limitation to this. SIM-The card is usually written only number and name, without additional fields and photos.
Put it in. SIM-Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots) and select Import Contacts «SIM-Map" and your destination, select your Google account or phone memory.
The alternative for sending a small number of contacts is Bluetooth: Open a contact on an old device, click Share, and select Bluetooth. On a new device, accept a file. This method is convenient for transferring 5-10 numbers on the fly, but is extremely inefficient for the entire phone book.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-The names of the cards can be cut to 10-15 Symbols due to storage format limitations on the chip. Always check the list after importing.
Work with VCF (vCard) files
The universal format for storing contact information is vCard (extension.vcf). This file can contain complete contact information: numbers, email, addresses, birthdays and photos. You can create such a file on any device and transfer it in any convenient way: via messenger, email or USB-cable.
To create a backup, open contacts on your old phone, select Contact Management or Export menu. Select the.vcf format and save the file to your device memory or send it to Telegram/WhatsApp. On the new Xiaomi, just open this file and the system will prompt you to import the data contained in it.
This method is also great for merging contact databases. If you have multiple files from different SIM cards or old phones, you can sequentially open them on a new device. MIUI automatically combine duplicates.
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Keep the file.vcf not only in your phone’s memory, but also send it to your email, which will create additional insurance in case of loss or failure of the device.
Solution: Duplicates and missing numbers
After transferring data, users often face the problem of duplicates, which occurs when the same contact is saved on Google, Mi Account, and on the Internet. SIM-And that results in two or three names appearing on the list, and you can actually solve this problem with built-in tools.
Go to the Contacts app, click on the settings menu, and find the Combine Duplicates (or Cleanup Duplicates) option. The system will analyze the database, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining them into a single card, a secure operation that does not delete data, but only structures it.
If the contacts are gone, check the display filter, check the contact settings with a checkmark that says "Make all contacts visible," and sometimes, after synchronization, the system defaults to only local records, hiding cloud records.
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Regular checks for duplicates and correct configuration of the display filter are the key to a clean and convenient phone book after migration.