Exporting contacts with Xiaomi Redmi 9: all working ways in 2026

Moving your contacts from Xiaomi Redmi 9 to a new device or backup storage is often a headache for users, and even with cloud services, many people face problems: Contacts are duplicated, profile photos are lost or data from different accounts are not synchronized. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of exporting - from standard functions to the standard ones. MIUI It’s a little-known feature that works without access to Google.

Feature of Redmi 9 (model M2003J15SC/M2004J19G) The manufacturer has restricted some export options in new firmware versions. MIUI 14 We've gone out of direct export to.vcf through the contact menu, and now we've got to use workarounds, and we've tested each method on the latest software and we've weededed out the old instructions that don't work anymore.

1. Export contacts through Google account (the most reliable way)

Google Contact Sync remains the most versatile solution, with data automatically backed up and available on any device. On Redmi 9, this method works consistently, but there are nuances with the settings. MIUI, frequent-frequency.

To export your contacts to Google:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app and tap on three dots in the upper right corner.
• ⚙️ Select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Exports to Google.
• 🔄 If there is no option, go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize contacts and turn it on.
• ☁️ Wait for sync to complete (check in the web version of Google Contacts).

The important thing is, if you've used your Mi Account to store your contacts, you'll need to transfer them to Google first.

1. Open Contacts. → Settings → Default account.
2. Change it from Mi Account to Google.
3. Run manual sync in your Google account settings.

⚠️ Note: If there are two on the phone SIM-maps, contacts with each of them can be stored separately. Before exporting, check that all numbers are combined in one account (Google or Mi).

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi

Check the free space in the Google account (contacts are occupied) ~1-2 MB on 1000 record)

Disable battery optimization for the Contacts app

Reboot your phone if the sync is suspended-->

2. Save contacts in a file VCF (cloudless)

The.vcf (vCard) format is the universal standard for storing contacts that all modern phones support. 9 Exports to vcf are hidden in an unobvious place, especially after upgrading to the MIUI 13/14.

Instructions for creating a backup copy:

• 📄 Contact us. → Settings (⚙️) → Contact management.
• 📥 Choose Import/Export → Export to device.
• 📋 Check the necessary contacts (or click Select all).
• 💾 Click Export and save the file in the phone’s memory (e.g., in the Downloads folder).

File ready is available:

• 📎 Send by email or messenger.
• 🖥️ Copy to a computer through USB-cable.
• ☁️ Download to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Disk).

⚠️ Note: If your contact photos are lost in vcf, try using the Contacts to app. SIM It's from Google Play. It saves avatars to a separate folder on the phone.

3. Transfer of contacts to SIM-Card (for old phones)

Exports to SIM This is true if you are switching to a button phone or device without vcf support. Redmi 9 has a limitation: SIM-The card can only be saved by name and one number (without email, addresses or photos).

Step-by-step:

1. Put it in. SIM-slot-card SIM 1 (export only works with the main card).
2. Open Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → Import / Export.
3. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
4. Mark the contacts you need (maximum 250 entries per one) SIM).
5. Confirm your export and wait for notifications of success.

Challenges and solutions:

• 🚫 Mistake "SIM-card not supported" → Try another one. SIM Or format it through your phone settings.
• ⏳ Long-term exports → Extract. SIM, Restart your phone and try again.
• 📵 Contacts are not displayed on the new phone → Check that they are stored in memory. SIM, not a phone.

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If you need to move the contact with SIM Back to Redmi 9, use the Import option SIM-But remember, imported numbers will be added as new entries, not replaced by existing ones.

4. Backup through MIUI Backup (Hidden Function)

Xiaomi has built a backup tool into the firmware that saves contacts in encrypted.xbk format. This method is suitable if you plan to restore data on another Xiaomi device or after resetting settings.

How to make a backup:

• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backups.
• 📦 Select Contacts (you can add them). SMS, call-book).
• 🔐 Set a password for the archive (required!).
• 💾 Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed.

The backup file will be saved along the way:

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/

It can be copied to a computer or the cloud, and it can be recovered.

1. Move the file back to the same folder on your phone.
2. In the backup menu, select Restore.
3. Enter the password and confirm the recovery.

⚠️ Note:.xbk backup is not compatible with other brands. To port to Samsung or iPhone, first restore contacts to Xiaomi, then export them to vcf.

Synchronization with Google

Export to VCF file

Transfer to SIM-map

Backup of MIUI

Another way.-->

5. Transfer of contacts via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you want to quickly move contacts to another phone without cables, you can use wireless technology. On Redmi 9, this works through standard tools. MIUI, but with limitations:

Method 1: Through the "Contact" application

• 📱 Open the contact you want to send.
• 📤 Click Share (Arrow icon).
• 🔵 Choose Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔍 Connect to the target device and confirm the transfer.

Method 2: Mass sending via "Fast Transfer" (Xiaomi only)

• 📱 Open Contacts. → Settings → Contact management → Send contacts.
• 📋 Choose a few contacts or click Choose all.
• 🔗 Click Send and select Mi Share (formerly Mi Drop).
• 📱 On the second phone, accept the file via notification.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Bluetooth only transmits one contact at a time.
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct only works between Xiaomi devices (or Mi Share-enabled devices).
• 📎 Contact photos not shared.

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For mass transfer of contacts to a phone of another brand (for example, Samsung or iPhone), it is better to use cloud services or vcf file. Wireless methods are suitable only for one-time transmissions.

Export of contacts to the computer (through the USB or ADB)

If you want to save contacts on a PC for long-term storage or editing, there are several ways. The easiest way is to copy the vcf file through the computer. USB, Sometimes more advanced methods are required.

Method 1: Through a wired connection

1. Connect Redmi 9 to your computer via USB-cable.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Find the contacts.vcf file in the Downloads folder or MIUI/backup.
4. Copy it onto a hard drive.

Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)

If the standard export does not work (for example, due to a failure in the MIUI), You can get contacts through ADB:

adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/data --where "mimetype='vnd.android.cursor.item/phone_v2'"

This command will display a list of all phone numbers. For full export (including names and email), use the script:

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db

Note: This requires root rights or an unlocked bootloader.

To edit the database of contacts on the PC, use the program DB Browser for SQLite. Open the file. contacts2.db and export the table raw_contacts into CSV.

⚠️ Warning: Do not edit the contact database directly on your phone, this can lead to data loss!

7. Alternative applications for export of contacts

If the standard methods MIUI We don't like it, we can use third-party utilities.-3 Apps that run on Redmi 9 rootless:

Selection recommendations:

• 📧 If you need to send contacts to email, choose Contact Backup.
• 🖥️ For backup on PC is suitable Super Backup & Restore.
• ☁️ To automate backups in the cloud, use My Contacts Backup.

Before using third-party applications:

• 🔍 Check the reviews on Google Play (avoid programs with a score below 4.0).
• 🛡️ Opt out of applications that request unnecessary permissions (e.g. access to the SMS geolocation).
• 📥 Download. APK Only from the official store or developer website.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When exporting contacts with Redmi 9, users experience common mistakes, and we have collected the most common ways to eliminate them:

Problem 1: Contacts are not synced with Google

• 🔄 Check if synchronization is included in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📶 Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and start syncing manually.
• 🔧 If it doesn’t work, delete your Google account and add it again.

Problem 2: File VCF hollow

• 📄 Try exporting contacts in small batches (100-200 entries each).
• 🔄 Use another export application (e.g. Super Backup).
• 📥 Check the file on another device or through the service VCF Viewer.

Problem 3: On SIM-map lacks space

• 📋 Remove old contacts with SIM via the Contact Menu → SIM-map.
• 🔄 Export contacts in parts (for example, only with the letter "A" first).
• 📱 Use it instead SIM file transfer (vcf or Bluetooth).

Problem 4: Contact photos are missing after recovery

• ☁️ If you have used Google Contacts, check the Photos folder in the web version.
• 📱 On the Redmi. 9 photographs are stored in /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — copy them separately.
• 🔧 Use Contact Photo Sync to restore avatars.

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If none of the methods worked, try resetting the Contacts app settings via Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the data. Then restart the phone and re-export.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions