How to save contacts on Xiaomi: all ways with instructions

Losing contacts on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations for a user, especially when it comes to hundreds of important numbers that have accumulated over the years. Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, Poco and Mi series) offer several reliable ways to save contacts, but not all users know how to use them correctly.

In this article, we'll look at all the current methods, from synchronization with cloud services to manual export to a file. SIM-map, link them to a Google or Mi Account, and how to back up in case of a phone reset, and pay special attention to hidden settings and nuances that are not written about in the standard instructions.

If you’ve just bought a new Xiaomi or are planning to reset your old one to factory settings, this article will help you avoid data loss, and if your contacts are already gone, we’ll show you how to restore them at the end.

1. Save contacts in the Xiaomi account (Mi Account)

The easiest way for Xiaomi owners to sync contacts with the brand’s Mi Cloud, which works on all devices of the brand, including the Redmi Note 12, Poco X5 and Mi 13. The main advantage is that contacts are automatically restored when you log into the same account on a new phone.

To enable synchronization:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Contact management.
3. Choose Contact Synchronization.
4. Activate the switch next to the Mi Account.

If you don't already have a Mi Account, the system will offer to sign up. Without linking to Mi Account, synchronization with the Xiaomi cloud is impossible - this is a key difference from a Google account.

Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data)

Sign in to one Mi Account on all Xiaomi devices

Check free space in the cloud (free 5 GB)

Disable battery optimization for the "Contact" application"-->

Sync is done in the background, but it can sometimes freeze. If contacts don't show up on a new phone,

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Click on your account → Synchronize.
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: When you delete your Mi Account from your phone, all contacts saved only in the Xiaomi cloud will be deleted from your device. SIM-map.

2. Export contacts to VCF file (for manual reserve)

VCF (or.vcf) is a universal standard for storing contacts, which can be copied to a computer, flash drive or mailed, and is a good method if you want to have full control over backups without relying on cloud services.

Export instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Click on three points → Contact Management → Import/Export Contacts.
3. Select Export to file.
4. Check the contacts (or click Select All).
5. Specify the folder to save (for example, Downloads) and confirm.

A file with the.vcf extension will appear in the selected directory.

• 📤 Send to the post office or messenger
• 💾 Copy to a computer or external drive
• 📱 Move to another phone via Bluetooth
• 🔄 Import back in case of data loss

If you need to import contacts from VCF back to Xiaomi, follow the same path: Contacts → Management → Import / Export → Import from the file and select saved.vcf.

⚠️ Note: When importing contacts from VCF Before the procedure, it is recommended to clear the phone book or use the option "Combine duplicates" in the contact settings.

3. Maintaining contacts on SIM-map

The good old way that helps when there is no Internet or cloud services at hand. SIM-The card can store a limited number of contacts (usually 200-250), but they will be available on any phone.

How to transfer contacts to SIM:

1. Open Contacts. → three-point → Contact management.
2. Choose Import/Export Contacts → Exports to SIM-map.
3. Mark the contacts you want (or click Select All).
4. Confirm the export.

Limitations of the method:

• 📵 Only name and number (without photo, email, addresses) are saved)
• 📏 Limitation of quantity (depending on the SIM-map)
• ⏳ Slow transfer with large data volume
• 🔄 For importation with SIM on the phone, there may be coding errors (Cyrillic is displayed by Krakozabras)

Every time you change the SIM

Only if you lose your phone.

I've never used this method.

I prefer cloud services.-->

If, when importing from SIM-Xiaomi cards appear “Krakozyabr” instead of Russian letters, try it:

1. Export your SIM contacts to your old phone (where they are displayed correctly).
2. Send them via Bluetooth or VCF-file on Xiaomi.

4. Synchronize with a Google account

For users who are actively using Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Drive), this method is the most reliable: contacts are synchronized with the Google Contacts cloud and are available on any device with the same account.

How to turn on synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select Google → your account.
3. Activate the Contact Switch.
4. Click Sync (or More → Sync Now).

Advantages of the method:

• 🌐 Access contacts from any device (including your computer via contacts.google.com)
• 🔄 Automatic backup
• 📊 Ability to edit contacts online
• 📱 Easy transfer to a new phone (just log in to your Google account)

If the synchronization is not working:

1. Check your Internet connection.
2. Make sure that the Autosynchronization option is enabled in the Google account settings.
3. Clear the Contacts app cache (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Memory → Clear the cache).
4. Reboot the phone.

💡

To avoid duplicate contacts when syncing with Google and Mi Account at the same time, select the main account in the contact settings to save new numbers: Contacts → Three points → Settings → Default Account

5. Backup of contacts via MIUI Backup

MIUI Backup allows you to back up all your phone data, including contacts, and is useful before resetting to factory settings or firmware.

How to make a backup:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Press Backup.
3. Select Contacts (you can also add messages, notes, settings).
4. Specify the location of the storage (internal memory or SD-map).
5. Confirm backup.

To restore contacts from backup:

1. In the same menu, select Recovery.
2. Specify the backup file (has the.mbk extension).
3. Check Contacts and confirm recovery.

Features of MIUI Backup:

⚠️ Note:.mbk files cannot be opened on a computer or other branded phones and are solely for recovery through the MIUI Backup.

6 Recovery of remote contacts

If the contacts are gone, don't panic, they can be returned. The way they are recovered depends on where they were stored before.

If your contacts are synced with Google:

1. Go to the Google Contacts website.
2. In the left menu, select More → Cancel the changes.
3. Please indicate the time range (up to 30 days ago).
4. Confirm recovery.

If you have contacted Mi Cloud:

1. Open i.mi.com and log in to your account.
2. Go to the Contacts section.
3. Check the cart (remote contacts are stored there for 30 days).

If there are no contacts in the cloud:

• 🔍 Check the backup folder (.vcf or.mbk) in internal memory.
• 📱 Try extracting data through applications like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData (works if contacts aren’t overwritten with new data).
• 💾 Contact Xiaomi Service Center – sometimes you can recover data from internal memory (if the phone was not used after deletion).

💡

The faster you start your recovery, the better the chances of getting your contacts back, and once you overwrite the new data to your phone, the old contacts can be lost forever.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with the right contacts, Xiaomi users face challenges. Consider typical situations and solutions.

Problem 1: Contacts are duplicated

Reason: Simultaneous synchronization with Mi Account and Google.

Decision:

• Open Contacts → Three Points → Settings → Default Account
• Select one primary account (e.g. Google).
• Manually combine duplicates in the Contacts app (option to Combine and Correct).

Problem 2: Contacts are not synced with Mi Cloud

Reason: No internet, no account confirmed or traffic savings enabled.

Decision:

1. Check the network connection.
2. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account and update your data.
3. Turn off traffic saving mode for the Contacts app.

Problem 3: When importing from the SIM-card, Russian letters disappear

Reason: Incompatibility of encoding SIM-maps and telephones.

Decision:

• Use an intermediate phone (such as an old Nokia or Samsung) to move contacts from the phone to the phone. SIM into VCF-file.
• Edit it. VCF-file in a text editor, replacing the encoding with UTF-8.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions