How to transfer contacts to the Xiaomi smartphone: all working ways

Transferring contacts to Xiaomi’s new smartphone is a challenge that every user faces when buying a device or resetting settings. even if you’re an experienced Redmi owner, POCO Or Mi, the process can raise questions about what are the most reliable methods, how to avoid data loss, and what to do if contacts are not displayed after transfer. In this article, we will examine all the current ways from standard synchronization through Google to manual import from the Internet. SIM-map or file.vcf.

Xiaomi’s smartphone features include its own Mi Account ecosystem, which can make it both easier and more complicated. For example, if you’ve used a MIUI device before, your contacts could automatically be saved in the Xiaomi cloud, but not in Google. We’ll show you how to check this out and combine data from different sources so you don’t lose a single number. You’ll also learn how to transfer your iPhone contacts to Xiaomi without loss and why it’s sometimes better to use third-party apps.

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

Google sync is a universal method that works on all Android devices, including all Xiaomi models. Its main advantage is that contacts are automatically reserved in the cloud and available on any gadget after you sign in. If you have previously used an Android smartphone (even not Xiaomi), your contacts could already be saved in Google Contacts.

To move the contacts to the new Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select Google and log in to your account (if not previously logged in).
3. Activate the slider opposite Contact.
4. Wait until the synchronization is complete (may take a few minutes).

If no contact appears, check:

• 🔹 On your old device: Is your contacts synced with Google enabled (the same path: Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Contacts).
• 🔹 In the web version: go to contacts.google.com and make sure that contacts are there.
• 🔹 On the new Xiaomi: Google source selected in the Contacts app (click on three dots in the upper right corner) → Contact management → Display contacts from).

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If contacts are duplicated after synchronization, use the merge function in Google Contacts: highlight duplicates → More → Combine.

2. Transfer via Mi Account (if previously used by Xiaomi)

If your previous smartphone was also from Xiaomi, chances are that contacts are saved in the Mi Account cloud, which is useful if you haven’t used Google for sync or want to migrate additional data (such as notes or calendar entries).

Instructions:

1. On the new Xiaomi, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Log in to the same account you had on your old device.
3. Enable synchronization of Contacts (and other data if necessary).
4. Open the Contacts app and check if the records have appeared.

Important nuances:

• 📌 Contacts from Mi Account and Google are not automatically combined, they will appear in different groups.
• 📌 If the old Xiaomi synchronization with Mi Account was disabled, contacts could not be saved.
• 📌 In some regions (e.g. Europe), Mi Account features are limited due to the fact that the user is not able to access the account. GDPR.

3.Moving contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi is often accompanied by data portability issues. Apple uses its own iCloud ecosystem, which is not directly compatible with Android.

Method 1: Through iCloud (recommended)

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and make sure that your contacts sync is enabled.
2. On your computer, go to icloud.com and select Contacts.
3. Click on the gear in the lower left corner → Export vCard (save file.vcf).
4. Transfer the file to Xiaomi (e.g., via Google Drive or cable) and import it (see Section 4).

Method 2: The application "Move to iOS"

While this app is designed to be ported back (from Android to iPhone), some users have successfully used it in reverse, but the process is unstable and may not work on new versions of iOS.

Method 3: Through SIM-card if there are few contacts)

This method is only suitable for transferring the main numbers (without photos, email, and other fields):

1. On iPhone: Settings → Contacts → Imports SIM-Contacts (Move the necessary contacts to the SIM).
2. Insert the SIM into Xiaomi.
3. Open Contacts. → Settings → Imports/exports → Import with SIM-map.

4. Import contacts from the VCF file (universal method)

A.vcf (or vCard) file is the standard format for storing contacts that all modern smartphones support, which is suitable if you have a backup of contacts as a file (for example, exported from another phone or from Outlook).

How to import.vcf to Xiaomi:

1. Copy the.vcf file to your smartphone (via Google Drive, Telegram, cable, or Bluetooth).
2. Open the Contacts app.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Contact management → Import/Export → Import from the file.
4. Select the.vcf file and confirm the import.

Possible problems and solutions:

• ❌ File won't open: check the extension (should be.vcf, not.txt). If the file is corrupted, try opening it on your computer via Outlook or Google Contacts.
• ❌ Contacts are not imported: make sure the file is not too large (break it down if there are more than 1,000 contacts).
• ❌ Duplicate records: export current contacts to a separate file before importing (in case of rollback).

5. Transfer of contacts with SIM-maps (for basic models)

The method is suitable for older or budget Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 5A, Redmi 6) where there is no access to cloud services.

• 🚫 Only name and number are saved (without email, addresses, photos).
• 🚫 Limitation on the number of contacts (depending on the number of contacts) SIM-cards, usually 200-500).
• 🚫 Numbers are saved in format +7XXXXXXXXXX, This can cause problems with operator identification.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SIM-Map with old contacts in Xiaomi.
2. Open Contacts. → Settings (three points) → Imports/exports → Import with SIM-map.
3. Choose where to save contacts (Google, Mi Account or locally on your phone).
4. Confirm the import.

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Use it. SIM-The map is only a backup option. For full data transfer, it's best to combine this method with cloud synchronization.

If contacts are SIM-map in the wrong format (for example, without country code), correct them manually:

1. Export your SIM contacts to the.vcf file (via Export to SIM → Export to phone memory).
2. Open the file on your computer in a text editor (like Notepad++) and fix the numbers.
3. Import the corrected file back to your phone.

6. Transfer through third-party applications (alternative options)

If standard methods don't work, you can use specialized applications that are useful for transferring contacts between different platforms or for problems with synchronization.

Top.-3 contact-transfer applications:

How to use CLONEit (for example, transfer from Android to Xiaomi):

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On the old phone, select the sender, on the new one, the receiver.
3. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or use Hotspot.
4. Select Contacts and start the transfer.

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Before using third-party apps, check out reviews on Google Play – some may contain ads or request unnecessary permissions.

7 What to do if contacts are not transferred or missing

Sometimes, after the transfer, the contacts do not appear or appear completely.

Problem 1: Contacts are not displayed in the app

• 🔍 Check the source of the display: open the Contacts → Settings → Display contacts from and select All contacts or the desired account (Google/Mi Account).
• 🔍 Update the data: in Settings → Disable accounts and turn on contact sync again.
• 🔍 Reboot your phone – sometimes it helps with cache crashes.

Problem 2: Contacts are lost after resetting

• 🛠 If sync with Google or Mi Account was enabled before the reset, log in to your account and wait for data recovery.
• 🛠 Check the folder. MIUI/Backup/AllBackup on the phone – there may be a local backup.
• 🛠 If the contacts were only stored on your phone (without the cloud), it will be difficult to recover them.

Problem 3: Duplicate contacts

• 🗑 Use the built-in merge function: Open Contacts → Settings → Combine duplicates.
• 🗑 Google Contacts (web version) has a tool to find and combine duplicates.

If you used Mi Account for sync but your contacts are gone, check the archive on i.mi.com under the Recycle Bin. Remote contacts are stored there for up to 30 days.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi