Xiaomi Redmi 3: How to copy contacts and save phone book

Changing a mobile device often becomes stressful for the owner, especially if the memory of the old device stores hundreds of important numbers that need to be quickly transferred to the new gadget. For owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 3 model, the data migration procedure may seem confusing due to the features of the MIUI shell, but in fact this process is as automated and understandable as possible even for beginners.

There are several proven ways to restore a phone book, each of which depends on where your data is stored right now: SIM-It is important to understand that the right method will avoid duplication of records and loss of numbers with additional fields such as email or address.

In this detailed guide, we will break down all the current portability options, paying special attention to the MIUI Mi Mover application and working with a Google account, as these tools are the most reliable for the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Device preparation and data backup

Before you start the active phase of the transfer, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to work and have sufficient battery power, as the process can take from a few minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data.

If your contacts are stored on an old phone, check if sync is enabled or if there is a possibility to export files. Redmi 3 owners should create or sign in to their Mi Account and Google account in advance, as this is the foundation for many of the system functions of the smartphone.

Don’t ignore the preparation phase, as interrupting the process halfway through battery drain can corrupt the contact database, and you’ll have to restore the entire phone book again, and make sure both devices have a stable Internet connection and screens don’t go out too quickly during file transfer.

⚠️ Note: Before starting any contact operations, we strongly advise you to make a local copy of them in.vcf format to a memory card or computer to have a rollback point in the event of a failure.

Transferring Contacts through Google Account

The most versatile and reliable way for Xiaomi Redmi 3 owners is to use Google’s cloud storage capabilities. If your previous phone ran on Android, chances are your numbers are already saved in the cloud and you just need to log in to the new device.

To start, open the Settings menu on your Redmi 3 and search for Accounts and Sync. Add your Google account to it by entering your login and password, and then the system will prompt you to select data for sync.

Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts point is activated. Once turned on, the smartphone will automatically start loading all records from the cloud into the device's local memory, a technique that is good because contacts are not tied to a particular phone and are stored even when it is lost.

In some cases, manual sync activation is required. Go to your Google account settings, click on your email name, and select Account Sync. If the process is stalled, try turning off and re-enable the contact sync slider.

Using the Mi Mover app to migrate from Android

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners have a powerful built-in tool called Mi Mover, which allows you to transfer data from any Android device without using a computer or the Internet, ideal for those who want to copy not only contacts, but also photos, apps and settings.

Run the Mi Mover app on both devices. On Xiaomi Redmi 3, select Recipient, and on the old phone, Sender. Apps will find each other via Wi-Fi Direct or QR-code.

Once connected, select Contacts category from the data transfer list, and you can select specific groups or individual records if you don’t want to carry the entire phone book.

Transfer speeds depend on the number of records and the presence of multimedia attachments in contacts (for example, a subscriber’s photo). During the process, do not lock the screens of devices and keep them close to each other so as not to interrupt the Wi-Fi connection.

Import contacts with SIM-card and Bluetooth

The classic method that is still relevant for many users is the transfer of the SIM-This is a good way to do it if you have an old button phone or if you just saved the numbers on the chip. SIM-Map in Xiaomi Redmi 3 or use an adapter.

Open the standard Contacts app, click on the menu (usually three horizontal bars or dots) and select Import/Export. From the menu that appears, select Import with. SIM-map.

The system will offer to choose a destination: it is recommended to save contacts in Google account or in the memory of the phone, but not on the phone itself. SIM-the card, as it is limited and does not support the storage of additional data, such as multiple numbers per person.

If you use Bluetooth, the process will be different. On the old device, highlight contacts, select Share via Bluetooth, and send the file to Redmi 3. Once the file is accepted, the system will automatically prompt you to import the data into the phone book.

Work with VCF files and export data

Format VCF (vCard is a universal standard for storing contact information, and you can create a file on any device, transfer it via messenger (WhatsApp, Telegram), email or other means. USB-Cable and then open on Xiaomi Redmi 3.

To export contacts from another Android smartphone, go to the contacts app, select Import/Export, and click Export in the device memory. The created file is usually named 00001.vcf and is at the root of internal memory.

Pass this file to Redmi 3. Once received, simply click on it in the file manager or notification. The system will ask where to save the imported numbers. Select your primary account so that they go to the cloud immediately.

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When importing a large VCF file (more than 500 contacts), the process can take several minutes.

This method is especially useful if you want to transfer contacts from the iPhone to Xiaomi. On the iPhone, you can export contacts via iCloud.com or send a file directly from the Contacts app via AirDrop or messenger.

⚠️ Note: When importing VCF-The system may suggest combining the same records, which often leads to confusion, it is better to import into a separate group first, check and then combine.

Synchronization with iPhone and other platforms

Switching from iOS to Xiaomi Redmi 3 requires a special approach, as the Android and iOS ecosystems differ. The cleanest way is to use the iCloud cloud. Go to iCloud.com on your computer or in your phone browser, log in and select Contacts.

Select all contacts (on PC you can use the key combination Ctrl+A), click on the gear in the corner and select Export vCard. the resulting file send to your mail or to cloud storage available with Android.

Alternatively, the Move to iOS app won’t help in the opposite direction, but Redmi allows you to use third-party apps from Google Play specializing in importing from iCloud by entering Apple ID data directly into the app.

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Using cloud services (Google, iCloud) is always preferable to local copies, as this ensures the safety of data even in case of physical breakdown or loss of the smartphone.

After importing from iPhone, it is recommended to check the formatting of numbers. Often, the numbers from iPhone come in an international format, and there may be problems with determining the caller ID or displaying in instant messengers. The Redmi 3 contact app has a function of smart pairing of duplicates.

Solving and eliminating duplicates

After mass data transfer, users often face the problem of duplicate records, when the same contact is displayed twice or three times, this happens if the numbers were saved to both SIM and in the phone’s memory and in Google’s account at the same time.

Xiaomi Redmi 3 has an effective tool built in to solve this problem: Open the Contacts app, go to settings and find the Combination of duplicates (or Clear Repetitive Contacts) item. The system will analyze the database and suggest combining records with the same names or numbers.

Also a common problem is the lack of callers names when incoming calls. Make sure that the contact display settings do not include a “Phone Contacts Only” filter if the numbers are recorded in an international format and the caller is determined by local.

Regularly checking the phone book after data migration is a must-do step. Go through the list, check for photos, correct names and groups. This will take time, but will ensure that the Xiaomi Redmi 3 will be comfortable to use in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)