How to Find and Export Contacts from Xiaomi Phone via Computer: Full Guide

Lost access to Xiaomi phone, but need to find saved contacts urgently? Or just want to back up your address book on your computer? In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to retrieve contacts from Redmi, Poco and Mi devices via PC, from official tools to technical workarounds.

Smartphone-computer synchronization can be needed in a variety of situations, such as when changing devices, recovering from a reset, or if the phone screen is damaged. Fortunately, Xiaomi offers several built-in solutions, and for advanced users, alternative methods are available using ADB or third-party software. The main thing is to choose the appropriate method depending on your situation and phone model.

We tested each method on current MIUI 14/15 firmware and point out the limitations, for example, some methods require pre-setting synchronization, while others work even on locked devices, starting with the simplest and most reliable option.

1. Method: Use of Mi Cloud (official method)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that automatically syncs contacts if the feature has been activated on the phone, a technique that is suitable for most users as it does not require technical skills and works even if the phone is turned off or lost.

To access contacts through Mi Cloud, you will need a Xiaomi account (the same as your phone). If you do not remember the password, restore it through the official account.xiaomi.com website before you start the procedure. Please note that if two-factor authentication has been enabled, you will need confirmation via backup email or SMS.

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📱 In the menu, select the Contacts section)
• 📤 Click Export and select the format: VCF (for importation into other services) or CSV (for Excel)
• 💾 Save the file to your computer – contacts will be in a format compatible with Google Contacts, Outlook and other services

If contacts are not displayed in Mi Cloud, check:

1. Did you have sync enabled on your phone (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts)
2. Have contacts been manually removed from the cloud (they are synchronized in both directions)
3. Has Xiaomi account changed on your phone after the last backup?

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If you plan to switch to another phone, export contacts from Mi Cloud to VCF format – it is supported by all Android devices and iPhones.

2. Method: Connect via Mi PC Suite (for Windows)

Mi PC Suite is Xiaomi’s official phone-management app, which allows you to not only view contacts, but also transfer them, install apps, update firmware. It is compatible with most Redmi, Poco and Mi models, but may not support the latest devices on MIUI 15.

Before connecting, make sure your phone is enabled with USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → Developers → USB Debugging). Without this connection, the program will not be able to access the data.

• 🖥️ Download and install Mi. PC Suite from the official website
• 📱 Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original)
• 🔑 On the phone, confirm the trust in this computer (a request will appear)
• 📞 In the program go to the tab Contacts (Contacts)
• 📤 Select the contacts you need and click Export (or Backup)

⚠️ Note: If the phone is locked with a pattern lock or PIN-code, Mi PC Suite will not be able to access contacts without unlocking, in which case use the method with Mi Cloud or the other. ADB (described below).

Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|Use the original USB-cable|Allow access to data on the phone-->

Method 3: Export contacts via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., Mi Cloud sync is disabled), you can extract contacts via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that requires technical skills, but works even on locked phones if USB debugging is enabled.

The advantage of this method is that you can access the contact database (contacts2.db) directly without depending on cloud services, but there are also risks: if the commands are incorrect, you can damage the data, and we recommend this method only if other options are not available.

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


adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/data --where "mimetype_id=2"

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer
2. Connect your phone to your PC and allow debugging (on a locked phone, this is impossible!)
3. Open the command line in the folder with adb.exe and execute the commands above.
4. File. contacts2.db It will be copied to a computer, which can be opened through SQLite Browser or converted to a computer. VCF by means of specialized utilities

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 14+ If the team is not working, try an alternative request: adb shell content query. --uri content://contacts/phones/ This request will display the contact list directly to the console.

Mi Cloud|Mi PC Suite|ADB| Other service (Google, iCloud)|I don't know-->

4. Method: Sync with Google Account

If your Xiaomi has added a Google Account and enabled contact sync, they can be easily exported via the Google Contacts web interface.This method is versatile and works on any Android device, including the Redmi Note 12, Poco X5 and other models.

The advantage of this method is that contacts are automatically backed up in the Google cloud and accessible from any device. However, if sync has been disabled or the account has not been added, this method will not work. Check the settings on the phone: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Contacts.

• 🌐 Open contacts.google.com and log in
• 🔍 On the left menu, select Export.
• 📋 Specify which contacts to export (all or selected)
• 📄 Select the Google format CSV (For import to Gmail or vCard (Universal Format)
• 💾 Click Export and save the file to your computer

If contacts are duplicated or part of the records is missing, use the Combination and Correction function in Google Contacts. This will help clear the address book before exporting.

5. Method: Removing contacts from damaged phone

If Xiaomi’s screen crashes or the phone doesn’t turn on but reacts to a connection to a computer (defined as a device), you can try extracting contacts through recovery mode or specialized software.

Important: this method will require an unlocked bootloader. On new Xiaomi models, it is locked by default, and unlocking requires a wait of 7-15 days (by Xiaomi rules), If the bootloader is locked, this method will not work.

For extraction via TWRP:

1. Download your phone to recovery mode (usually Power + Vol Up)
2. Connect to your computer and select Mount → Enable MTP
3. Go to the folder. /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/ and copy the file contacts2.db
4. Use SQLite Browser to open a file and export contacts

⚠️ Note: On phones with data encryption (default in the MIUI 12+) file contacts2.db It's going to be encrypted. It's going to require a phone password or a specialized tool like Android Backup Extractor to decrypt it.

6. Method: Use of third-party programs (Dr.Fone, Mobitrix)

If the official methods are not suitable, you can use third-party data recovery software, popular utilities: Dr.Fone, Mobitrix, Tenorshare UltData, which can extract contacts even from locked phones (provided that debugging over USB was previously enabled).

Advantages of third-party programs:

• 🔍 Support for devices with damaged screen
• 📱 Recovery of remote contacts (under certain conditions)
• 🖥️ Simple interface without the need to enter commands

Disadvantages:

• 💰 Most features are paid (free versions have limitations)
• 🛡️ Risk of installing additional software (read the installation conditions carefully)
• 📉 Not all programs support the latest Xiaomi models. MIUI 15

An example of working with Dr.Fone:

1. Download and install the program from the official website
2. Connect your phone to your computer and select Android Data Recovery mode
3. Follow the instructions of the program to scan the device
4. After scanning, select Contacts and click Restore.

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The program side is the last option if other methods have not worked. Always check the reviews before installing the program to avoid viruses or fraud.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your situation. Here is a quick comparison:

For most users, Mi Cloud or Google Contacts is the best choice. If the phone is physically damaged but USB debugging has been enabled before, try ADB or third-party utilities. In extreme cases (for example, with a blocked bootloader), you may need to contact the Xiaomi service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions