VCF-Files (or vCard) is a standard format for storing contacts that is used by almost all modern smartphones, including Xiaomi devices, Redmi and other devices. POCO. Whether you need to transfer contacts to another phone, make a backup, or simply find a previously saved file with the.vcf extension, itโs important to know where exactly you are. MIUI (Xiaomi's firmware stores this data, unlike media files or documents, VCF-Contacts are not always in obvious folders like Downloads or Documents.
The problem is complicated by the fact that Xiaomi regularly updates the interface. MIUI, and the location of files may vary depending on the firmware version (for example, MIUI 14 vs HyperOS. users often confuse manually exported products. VCF-files (which are saved to a selected folder) and automatic backups (which the system hides in service directories) will be discussed in this article, from standard storage paths to hidden folders and alternative ways to access contacts.
What is it? VCF-The file and why you need it on Xiaomi
A.vcf file (or vCard) is a universal format for sharing contact information between devices.
- ๐ Phone numbers (including additional numbers)
- ๐ง E-mail addresses
- ๐ Addresses (house, job)
- ๐ Birthdays and other dates
- ๐ธ Contact photos
- ๐ Links to social media
On Xiaomi smartphones VCF-files are used for:
- Export contacts to transfer to another phone (for example, when changing the Redmi Note 12 to the iPhone).
- Create backups before resetting settings or updating firmware.
- Imports of contacts from other sources (e.g. SIM-Maps or Google Account).
It is important to understand that MIUI does not automatically create VCF-files โ you have to export them manually or search for backups. If you've never clicked "Export contacts," then there may not be a separate contact.vcf file on your phone.
Where it's stored VCF-file after manual export
If you manually exported contacts through the Contacts app, the.vcf file is saved to the folder you specified in the process. By default, MIUI offers the following paths:
| MIUI version | default folder | Example of a path |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12โ14 | Internal Storage/MIUI/backup/AllBackup | /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/contacts_20260515.vcf |
| HyperOS | Internal Storage/Downloads | /storage/emulated/0/Downloads/contacts.vcf |
| Any version (if selected manually) | Any user folder | /storage/emulated/0/Documents/MyContacts.vcf |
To find the file:
- Open the File Manager (or File Manager) application.
- Go to the internal memory (internal storage).
- Use the search (magnifying glass icon) and type.vcf.
- If the search does not give results, check the folders: ๐ Downloads (most often) ๐ MIUI/backup ๐ Documents ๐ Bluetooth (if the file was transmitted over Bluetooth)
โ๏ธ Search VCF-file on Xiaomi
Important: If you exported your contacts through Google Contacts, the file could be saved to Google Drive or email, in which case, look for it not on your phone, but in the cloud.
How to export VCF contacts to Xiaomi (Step-by-step instructions)
If you don't find VCF-The file may not have been created yet. Here's how to export contacts to Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO:
Method 1: Through the standard "Contact" application
- Open the Contacts app (an icon with a personโs silhouette).
- Press three points (โฎ) top-right โ Select Contact Management.
- Tap Import/Export contacts โ Export to file.
- Choose which contacts to export: ๐ฑ Phone Contacts (stored on the device) โ๏ธ Google (if synced to your account) ๐ฑ SIM-card (if contacted by the SIM)
Downloads
Export
Method 2: Google Contacts (if sync is enabled)
- Open contacts.google.com in your browser.
- On the left menu, select Export.
- Specify the format vCard (for iOS) or Google CSV (for Android).
- Click Export โ the file will be uploaded to the phone in the Downloads folder.
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If you export contacts to port to your iPhone, choose vCard format โ it is compatible with iOS without any further conversions.
Where to look for automatic contact backups (hidden) VCF-file)
MIUI and HyperOS automatically back up contacts, but they're not stored as separate.vcf files, but in encrypted archives.
- ๐ /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ โ Here are the full backups of the system, including contacts (files with the extension.bak).
- โ๏ธ /MIUI/backup/CloudBackup/ โ If backup is enabled in Mi Cloud.
- ๐ฑ /data/com.android.providers.contacts/ โ System folder with database contacts (available only with root rights).
To extract contacts from the automatic backup:
- Open Settings โ About the phone โ Backup.
- Select the latest backup and click Restore.
- Check only Contacts and confirm recovery.
How to open hidden folders on Xiaomi?
Critical information: Automatic backups MIUI are not VCF-They can only be retrieved from files and cannot be directly transferred to other devices, and can only be restored on the same Xiaomi phone.
Why? VCF-The file is not on the phone: possible causes
If you are sure you exported contacts but the.vcf file is not detected, check the following points:
- ๐ File saved in the cloud: You may have exported contacts to Google Drive or Mi Cloud instead of your phone.
- ๐๏ธ File deleted: MIUI Sometimes clears the Downloads folder when there is a lack of memory.
- ๐ฑ Contacts synced but not exported: If synced with Google is enabled, contacts are stored in an account, not as a file.
- ๐ File moved: You may have manually moved.vcf to another folder (e.g., to a different folder). SD-map).
- ๐ ๏ธ Export error: If the process is interrupted, the file may not be saved.
To check if your contacts are saved in the cloud:
- Open Settings โ Accounts and Synchronization.
- Check if sync is enabled for Google or Mi Account.
- If so, you can restore your contacts through Google Contacts or Mi Cloud.
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If you don't find VCF-file, first check if you have Google or Mi Account sync enabled.Perhaps the file is not needed - contacts are already available in the cloud.
โ ๏ธ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings without a backup and your cloud sync has been disabled, it will be impossible to restore contacts. Always check for a backup before resetting!
How to transfer VCF-File from Xiaomi to another phone
Once you have found a.vcf file, you can transfer it to another device in several ways:
- ๐ค Bluetooth: Open Files, find.vcf. Click on the file โ Share. โ Select Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth on the target device and accept the file.
- โ๏ธ Through the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Telegram): Upload the file to the cloud from your Xiaomi phone. Download it to a new device. Import it through the Contacts app".
- ๐ฑ Cable (USB OTG or computer: Connect Xiaomi to a PC and copy.vcf to your computer. Connect a new device and transfer the file.
- ๐ง Email: Send the file to your email from Xiaomi. Open the email on your new device and download the attachment.
After transferring the file to the new device:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Press three points (โฎ) โ Imports/Exports โ Import from the file.
- Select the copied.vcf file and confirm the import.
โ ๏ธ Note: When importing VCF-File on iPhone Use Contacts or Mail app โ iOS does not support direct import via file system.
Alternative ways to back up contacts on Xiaomi
If working with.vcf files seems difficult, consider alternative methods:
- โ๏ธ Sync with Google Account: Open Settings โ Accounts and sync. Add Google Account (if not added). Enable sync for Contacts. Pros: Automatic backup, access from any device. Cons: Requires Internet to sync.
- ๐ Backup to Mi Cloud: Register for Mi Account (if not registered). โ The phone. โ Backup. Enable Automatic Backup. Pros: Free 5GB of cloud storage. Cons: Only works on Xiaomi devices.
- ๐ฑ Exports to SIM-Map: Open Contacts โ Contact management โ Import/Export. Select Export to SIM-map.
Pros: It doesn't require the Internet: SIM-The card stores a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250).
For maximum reliability, it is recommended to use two methods at the same time (e.g. synchronization with Google + manual export to.vcf).