Shifting contacts from one device to another is one of the first tasks after buying a new smartphone. Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note (any model from the Redmi Note 8 Pro to the Redmi Note 13 Pro+) face the need to import contacts from an old phone or export them for backup. But how to do it correctly so as not to lose important numbers?
In this article, we will analyze all the current methods: from standard tools. MIUI to bypass the restrictions when transferring from iPhone or phones of other brands. VCF-files, Google Account and SIM-This is why the contacts are sometimes duplicated or lost after importation.
If you just purchased a Redmi Note or plan to reset it to factory settings, save this manual — it will save you hours to recover your phone book. And for those who like automation, we'll show you how to set up automatic contacts export to the cloud so you never lose data.
What is import and export of contacts: key differences
To start with the terminology, to avoid confusion, contact import is the process of downloading a phone book to your Xiaomi Redmi Note from an external source.
- 📱 Other smartphone (Android, iOS, featurephone)
- 🖥️ Computer (via.vcf or.csv files)
- ☁️ Cloud Storage (Google Contacts, iCloud, MI Cloud)
- 📇 SIM-map (obsolete, but still working method)
Exporting contacts is the reverse process: you save a phone book from Redmi Note to an external file or service.
- 🔄 Transfer of contacts to a new device
- 💾 Backup before resetting settings
- 📤 Transferring a contact list to colleagues (e.g., a corporate phone book)
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI The terms "import" and "export" are often replaced by "recovery" and "backup." Don't confuse: Reconnection in settings is import, and Backup is export.
The rule of thumb is always to export contacts before important phone manipulations (firmware, reset, repair). Even if you use Google sync, a local copy in.vcf format on a memory card or PC will be insurance against cloud failures.
How to import contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note
The choice of import method depends on where you move contacts from. Let's look at all the current scenarios.
1.Import from another Android phone
The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in MIUI or Google tools:
- 🔗 MI Mover (application from Xiaomi): automatically transfers contacts, messages and files over Wi-Fi Direct.
- ☁️ Google Contacts: If Google sync was enabled on your old phone, just add the same account to your Redmi Note.
- 📲 Bluetooth: Send contacts.vcf from your old phone and import it through the Contacts app.
For MI Mover:
- Install the app on both phones from Google Play.
- On the old phone, select I am the sender, on the Redmi Note, I am the receiver.
⚠️ Note: If the old phone only has the contacts saved SIM-map, MI Mover won't see them. First export them to your phone's memory.
2. Transfer contacts from iPhone (iOS)
There are two reliable methods here:
- 🍎 iCloud → Google Contacts:
🔹 Problem: When you move from your iPhone, photos of your contacts are sometimes lost. To avoid this, use the iCloud method. → Google Contacts – it stores all data, including avatars.
☑️ Preparation for the transfer of contacts from the iPhone
3.Imports with SIM-map
It's an outdated, but still working method.
- 📞 Old button phone with only support SIM-contact.
- 🔄 You need to temporarily move several numbers without synchronization.