How to Transfer Contacts to Xiaomi Redmi Note: All Working Ways (2026)

Transferring contacts to the new Xiaomi Redmi Note is a challenge that every user faces when buying a device or after resetting. Even if you carefully saved all the numbers in the phone book of the old device, the risk of losing important data during the transition remains high, especially for the Redmi Note 12/11/10/9 lines, where the MIUI interface is regularly updated, and import methods may differ from standard solutions on “pure” Android.

In this article, we will discuss the 5 proven methods of importing contacts, from the classic transfer from the SIM- card to synchronization through Google Account and Mi Cloud. You will learn how to avoid duplication of records, why some numbers may not appear after import, and what to do if the smartphone does not see the VCF- file. And for owners of devices with dual SIM- cards, we have prepared a separate section with nuanced settings.

If you are switching from an iPhone or other brand, check out the section on exporting contacts to a universal format - this will save you hours of manual input. All instructions are current for MIUI 14/15 and tested on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi Note 11S, Redmi Note 10 5G models.

1. Import contacts with SIM- cards on Xiaomi Redmi Note

The easiest but limited way is to transfer contacts directly to the SIM- card, which is suitable if you have no more than 250 numbers saved (limiting most SIM) and you do not use additional fields like an email or address. On the Redmi Note, this process takes no more than a minute, but there are nuances with encoding Cyrillic names.

To import contacts with SIM:

1. Insert the SIM- card into the SIM 1 slot or the SIM 2 slot (on models with Dual SIM support).
2. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
3. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Import / Export contacts.
4. Select Import with SIM-maps and specify your target account (e.g. Device or Google).
5. Tick the necessary contacts or click Select All → Import.

⚠️ Warning: If contact names are displayed by Krakozabras (e.g.,???????), the problem is encoding SIM.

• 🔄 Try inserting SIM into another slot (e.g., from SIM1 to SIM2).
• 📱 Export contacts on the old phone to a.vcf file, and then import it to the Redmi Note (method №3).
• 🔧 Use third-party apps like SIM Card Contacts (available on Google Play).

Nano-SIM and eSIM (on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) support imports in a similar way, but for eSIM, you first need to activate the operator profile.

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Before importing with SIM, check if contacts are duplicated. To do this, after importing, open Contacts → Settings → Combine duplicates.

2. synchronize contacts through Google Account

The best method for users who have previously used Android smartphones: Google Account automatically saves contacts in the cloud, and they can be synced on any device, including Xiaomi Redmi Note. The main advantage is instant access to the current phone book after logging in to the account.

Synchronization instructions:

• 📱 On Redmi Note, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync.
• 🔄 Select Google and log in to your account (if you didn't do so when setting up).
• ☑️ Enable the Contacts switch in the Account Sync section.
• 🔄 Wait until synchronization is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes for a large number of records).

If no contact is made:

⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the contacts on the old device were saved in Google Account, not in the phone memory. Check this in the contact settings of the old smartphone: if the list of accounts shows only the Device, export the data manually (method №3 or №4).

To speed up the process:

1. Connect to a Wi-Fi network (synchronization over the mobile Internet can take longer).
2. Update the Google Contacts app in the Play Market.
3. Reboot your smartphone after synchronization is enabled.

Check the internet connection

Make sure your old phone has contacts tied to Google

Update the Google Contacts app

Enable autosynchronization in account settings

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3. Import contacts from the VCF file (vCard)

The.vcf (or vCard) format is a universal standard for storing contacts, supported by all modern smartphones.

• 📱 Go from iPhone (export via iCloud).
• 🖥️ Save a backup of contacts on the computer.
• 📧 Received a file with contacts via email or messenger.

How to import VCF on Redmi Note:

1. Copy the.vcf file to your smartphone (for example, via Bluetooth, Telegram, or Explorer).
2. Open the Contacts app → three points → Settings → Import/Export.
3. Select Import from the.vcf file and specify the path to the file (usually the Downloads folder or Downloads).
4. Click Import and select your target account (Device, Google or Mi Cloud).

⚠️ Warning: If a file weighs more than 50MB, break it down using services like VCF Splitter. Redmi Note with MIUI 14+ has a restriction on importing large files through a standard application.

For iPhone owners:

4.Contact Transfer via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up contacts, messages and photos, a method that is handy if you’ve previously used a Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco smartphone and included synchronization, with the advantage of seamless transition between devices in the same ecosystem.

To import contacts through Mi Cloud:

• 📱 On Redmi Note, go to Settings → Mi Account and log in to your profile (or create a new one).
• ☁️ Enable the Contact Sync switch in the Mi Cloud section.
• 🔄 Wait until synchronization is complete (time depends on internet speed).
• 📋 Check the contacts in the Contacts app – they should appear in the Mi Account section.

If the contacts are not synchronized:

⚠️ Warning: If you reset the Redmi Note to factory settings, make sure that the old device has synced on before you sign in to the Mi Account, otherwise the contacts may not be saved to the cloud.

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Mi Cloud automatically reserves contacts once a day when connecting to Wi-Fi. To force synchronization, open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization and tap on the update icon.

5. Transfer of contacts using third-party applications

If standard methods didn’t work (for example, when switching from a feature phone or Windows Phone), use specialized utilities. We tested 3 reliable applications that are compatible with MIUI 14/15:

Top.-3 contact-import:

• 📱 Copy My Data — transfers contacts, photos and calendars over Wi-Fi between devices of different brands. Supports iOS → Android.
• 🔄 Samsung Smart Switch — despite the name, it works with Xiaomi, too. Imports contacts, messages and media through USB- cable.
• ☁️ My Contacts Backup – Exports contacts to a.vcf file and uploads them to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) or sends them by email.

Instructions for Copy My Data (for example, transfer from iPhone):

1. Install the app on both devices (iPhone and Redmi Note).
2. On your iPhone, select Copy Data from This Phone → Contacts.
3. On Redmi Note, tap Copy Data To This Phone and connect to the same Wi-Fi network.
4. Scanned by Xiaomi QR- code from the iPhone screen.
5. Confirm the transfer and wait for completion (contacts will be stored in the device memory).

⚠️ Warning: When using third-party apps, turn off battery optimization for them in Redmi Note settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Program name] → Battery → Without restrictions.

Problem Solving: Doubles, Missing Contacts, Import Errors

Even after successful importation, Redmi Note users often face typical problems.

Problem 1: Duplicate contacts

Reason: Contacts are imported from multiple sources (e.g. SIM + Google + Mi Cloud).

Decision:

• 🔍 Open Contacts → Settings → Combine Doubles.
• 📊 Select Combine All or manually mark duplicates.
• 🗑️ Once combined, check the Recycle Bin folder in the contacts — there may be old records left.

Problem 2: Contacts are not displayed after importation

Possible causes and solutions:

Problem 3: “Can’t import contacts” error

Most often occurs when working with corrupted files.vcf. Check the integrity of the file:

1. Open the file on your computer using Notepad++ or Excel (should read like a table).
2. If the file is broken, export the contacts again on the original device.
3. Try importing through Google Contacts (download.vcf to contacts.google.com).

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If some contacts are missing after importing, check the filters in the Contacts app. Tap the icon 🔍 at the top and select All contacts — perhaps the records are hidden because of the link to another account.

FAQ: Frequent questions about importing contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note