How to quickly and safely transfer contacts from one Xiaomi to another: all the ways of 2026

Shifting contacts from an old Xiaomi smartphone to a new one is a challenge that every user faces when changing devices. Even if both phones are from the same manufacturer, the process can raise questions about which method to choose to avoid losing data, how to avoid duplicates, and what to do if contacts are not synchronized automatically. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer contacts between Xiaomi devices, from standard MIUI functions to alternative solutions, as well as give recommendations for backup and recovery.

The Xiaomi ecosystem offers several built-in tools for data synchronization, but not all of them are equally convenient. For example, transferring via Mi Account seems to be the easiest, but requires a stable Internet connection and may not work if the new device does not have the same account authorized. SIM-The maps don't work with the Internet, but they're limited by the amount of data that's being transmitted. We tested all of these on the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13T — The results of the comparison are shown in the table below.

It is also important to consider the format of the contacts’ storage: if they are linked to a Google account, they are easier to transfer through sync than through local.vcf files. And if you use Mi Contacts as the main application, you can not do without a backup in MI Cloud. Next, detailed instructions for each method with step-by-step screenshots and tips for eliminating typical errors.

1. Transfer contacts via Mi Account (the fastest way)

Syncing through Mi Account is the best option if both Xiaomi devices are tied to the same account. This method does not require additional actions: contacts will automatically be pulled to the new phone when you first turn on. However, there is a nuance: if you are not logged into MI Cloud on an old smartphone, data will not be stored in the cloud.

To check if synchronization is enabled:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud on an old phone.
• 🔄 Make sure the switch opposite Contact is active (green).
• ☁️ Click Sync manually if the data has not been updated for a long time.
• 🆕 On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and wait until sync is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

If no contact appears, check:

• 🌐 Internet connection (better to use Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 No restrictions on settings → Annexes → Permit management → Contacts.
• 📅 Last sync date in Mi Cloud (if it is older than a week, the data may not be saved).

⚠️ Note: If you reset your old phone to factory settings before transferring contacts, it will not be possible to restore them through Mi Account.

Check the authorization in one account on both devices

Enable Contact Synchronization in Mi Cloud

Update data manually on your old phone

Connect your new phone to Wi-Fi before you first log in to your account-->

2.Export and import via VCF file (for backup)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal way to save contacts to a file that can be transferred by email, messenger or cloud storage, which is suitable if you want to back up or transfer contacts to another device manufacturer.

Export instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app on the old Xiaomi.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
3. Select Export to Storage → Mark all contacts (or select the right ones) → Export.
4. The contacts.vcf file will be saved in the Download or MIUI folder.

For import on the new device:

1. Transfer the contacts.vcf file to a new phone (e.g. via Bluetooth or Xiaomi Share).
2. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Imports from storage.
3. Select the.vcf file and confirm the import.

💡

If the contacts.vcf file doesn’t open on a new phone, try renaming it as a new phone. contacts_backup.vcf or use the Google Contacts app to import.

3. Transfer via Bluetooth or Xiaomi Share

If you don’t have access to the Internet or Mi Account, you can transfer contacts via Bluetooth or through the Xiaomi Share feature (formerly Mi Share), which is suitable for transferring a small number of contacts (up to 500 pieces), since with a large amount of data, the connection can be interrupted.

Step-by-step instructions for Xiaomi Share:

• 📲 On your old phone, open your contacts. → Select the necessary contacts (or click Allocate all).
• 📤 Press Share. → Xiaomi Share.
• 🔍 On your new phone, turn Xiaomi Share on the notification curtain.
• 🤝 Confirm the connection on both devices and wait for the transfer to be completed.

For Bluetooth:

• 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both phones and pair them.
• 📋 In Contacts, select the necessary records → Share. → Bluetooth.
• 📥 On your new phone, accept the incoming file and save the contacts.

⚠️ Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, the contacts will be saved in.vcf format, but may not appear in the main list. Check the Bluetooth folder in the file manager and import the file manually.

Through Mi Account.

Exports/imports VCF-file

Bluetooth or Xiaomi Share

SIM-map

Google account-->

4. Transfer of contacts through SIM-map (for older models)

Method by using SIM-The cards are inferior in convenience to modern methods, but remain relevant for owners of older Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi). 4X or Mi A1). Keep in mind that SIM-The card stores a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and does not support photos or additional fields (e.g. email).

How to transfer contacts to SIM:

1. Put it in. SIM-card.
2. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
3. Select contacts for export (or click Allocate) → Export.
4. Extract. SIM-card and insert it into a new phone.
5. In Contacts of the new device select Import with SIM-map.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 No contact photos are transmitted.
• 📏 Limitation of quantity (depending on model) SIM-map).
• 🔠 Only the main fields (name, phone) are supported).

5. Sync through Google account (for Android users)

If you use Google Contacts as your primary storage, it takes only a few minutes to migrate to the new Xiaomi, a method that is reliable because the data is stored in the cloud and is independent of the device manufacturer, but it requires logging in to a Google account on both phones.

How to synchronize contacts:

• 📱 On your old phone, open Settings. → Accounts. → Google.
• 🔄 Make sure the contact switch is on.
• ☁️ Press Sync (if the button is inactive, wait for automatic sync to be activated).
• 🆕 On the new Xiaomi, add the same Google account in the settings and enable contact sync.

If the contacts are not displayed:

• 🔍 Check that the data is saved in Google Contacts (web version.
• 📥 In the contact settings on the new phone, select Display Contacts → Google.
• 🔄 Restart the device and wait for the synchronization to re-run.

💡

Syncing through a Google account is the most reliable way if you plan to use devices of different brands, and the data will be available even after the phone is reset.

6. Alternative methods: applications and cloud services

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party tools, like SHAREit or Send Anywhere, which allow you to transfer contacts without limiting the scope, and cloud services like Dropbox or Yandex Disk for sharing.vcf files.

Example from Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On the old device, select Send → Contacts and generate a 6-digit code.
3. On the new phone, enter this code in the Get section.
4. Confirm the transfer and keep the contacts.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🚀 High transmission speed (up to 10 MB/s).
• 🌍 Cross-platform (works with iOS, Android, PC).
• 🔒 Encryption of data during transmission.

Disadvantages:

• 📱 Requires the installation of additional software.
• 🛡️ Risk of data leakage when using unreliable services.

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

If you reset your old phone to factory settings but haven’t made a backup of your contacts, you can only restore them through MI Cloud or Google Contacts (provided that sync has been enabled before), otherwise the data will be lost irretrievably.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer