How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is not just about changing the operating system, it's also about transferring all the important data. Contacts are one of the most critical categories of information that you can't lose when you change your device. Fortunately, there are several proven ways to move it without loss or error.

Many users fear that the process will be difficult because of the difference between iOS and Android. In practice, most methods take only 5-15 minutes and do not require special skills. The main thing is to choose the right option depending on your preferences: whether you want to use cloud services, a physical SIM- map or third-party applications. In this article, we will discuss all the relevant methods, including nuances for specific Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5).

We will focus on data security, some methods involve temporary storage of contacts in the cloud, others – direct exchange between devices, we will also look at how to avoid duplication of records and why you should not rely on automatic synchronization without first checking.

If you’ve already started setting up a new Xiaomi and you’re facing a problem with an empty contact list, don’t panic. Even if your iPhone is disabled or has no internet access, there’s a solution, and the key is to act consistently and make sure that both devices have enough battery power.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start moving contacts, follow a few mandatory steps that will save time and prevent data loss.

1. Check the number of contacts on the iPhone.

Open the Contacts app, scroll through the list to the end and make sure all entries are in place. Pay attention to groups (e.g. iCloud, Google or SIM- card) – this will help you choose the best transfer method.

2. Update iOS and MIUI.

Outdated versions of the software may contain synchronization errors. On iPhone, go to Settings → Main → Software Update, on Xiaomi, to Settings → About Phone → System Update.

3. Make room on the devices.

If you plan to use a SIM- card or local backup, make sure that there is enough free space on it. For example, 500 contacts occupy about 1-2 MB.

• 📱 On iPhone: Check the free space in Settings → Main → iPhone Storage.
• 🤖 On Xiaomi: Open Settings → Memory and delete unnecessary files.
• 🔄 Sync accounts: If contacts are linked to Google or iCloud, make sure sync is enabled.

⚠️ Warning: If you’re using an iPhone with iOS 16 or later, check if iCloud Contacts is enabled as the primary source, otherwise if you turn off iCloud, all records may disappear from the device.

2. Method 1: Transfer over iCloud (the most reliable method)

This method works if your contacts are synced to iCloud, it doesn’t require physical devices to connect, and it works even if Xiaomi isn’t set up yet.

Step 1: Export your iCloud contacts to your computer:

1. Open your browser on a PC or Mac and go to iCloud.com.
2. Sign in under your Apple ID.
3. Select the Contacts section.
4. Click on the gear in the lower left corner → Select everything → once more gear → Export vCard.
5. Save the.vcf file to your computer.

Step 2. Import contacts to Xiaomi:

1. Send the.vcf file to Xiaomi via email, Telegram or Google Drive.
2. Open the file on your smartphone – the system will suggest importing contacts.
3. Select a Google account or local storage to save.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Security: Data is not transmitted through third-party services.
• 📁 Backup: The.vcf file remains on the computer.
• 🔄 Flexibility: You can edit contacts before importing.

⚠️ Warning: If you have two-factor authentication in iCloud, you will need a code from a trusted device to log in. If your iPhone is already reset, restore access via iforgot.apple.com.

3. Method 2: Sync through Google Account

If you use Google services (such as Gmail or YouTube), this method will be the fastest. Contacts are synced automatically and available on any device with the same account.

Step 1: Set up sync on your iPhone:

1. Open Settings → Contacts → Accounts.
2. Click Add Add Account → Google.
3. Enter your Google Account details.
4. Activate the Contact Switch.

Step 2. Wait for synchronization:

• The process can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on the number of contacts.
• Check the sync at contacts.google.com.

Step 3: Connect to your Xiaomi account:

1. When you first turn on your smartphone, select the addition of Google Account.
2. If your device is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
3. Turn on contact sync.

Features of the method:

• ☁️ Automatic update: New contacts will sync across both devices.
• 🔄 Cross-platform: It runs on iOS, Android, and even Windows Phone.
• ⚠️ Limit: If contacts have been manually added to the SIM- card, they must first be transferred to the iPhone memory.

💡

If contacts are not synced with Google, check if the iPhone has enabled the “Contact Limitations” option in Settings → Screen Time → Content Limitations → Contacts.

4 Method 3: Transfer via SIM- card (without Internet)

If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or mobile internet, you can use a SIM- card, which is suitable for a small number of contacts (usually up to 250-300 records).

Step 1. Copy contacts on the SIM- card on the iPhone:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Click on Contact → Share Contact → Copy on SIM.
3. Repeat for all the required records (unfortunately, there is no batch copying).

Step 2. Insert the SIM- card in Xiaomi:

1. Extract. SIM-Map from iPhone and paste into Xiaomi.
2. Open the Contacts application → Settings → Import / Export → Import with SIM- cards.
3. Select an account to save (such as Google or local memory).

Limitations of the method:

• 📵 Small number: The SIM- card supports a limited number of records.
• 📇 No photos and no additional fields: only name and number are transferred.
• ⏳ Long process: Copying each contact manually takes a long time.

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 10 and older), the import option from the SIM- card may be located elsewhere: Settings → System and Device → Additional → Import/Export contacts.

5. Method 4: Using the Move to iOS app (reverse port)

Apple’s Move to iOS app is designed to transfer data from Android to iPhone, but it can be used in the opposite direction with some caveats.

Step 1. Prepare Xiaomi:

1. Reset Xiaomi to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
2. When you first turn on, select Data Import → iPhone.

Step 2: Install Move to iOS on your iPhone:

1. Download the Move to iOS app from the App Store.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen until the connection code appears.

Step 3. Move the contacts:

• On Xiaomi, enter the code from the iPhone.
• Select Contacts in the data list for transfer.
• Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

Important nuances:

• 🔄 One-time transfer: after resetting Xiaomi, you can not repeat the procedure.
• 📱 Not all data: only contacts, messages, and photos (not apps) are transferred.
• ⚠️ Connection errors: If the devices can’t see each other, check that both are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

💡

The Move to iOS app is Apple's only official way to migrate data to Android, but it requires Xiaomi to reset before factory settings. Use it only if you're ready to completely reinstall the system.

Method 5: Third-party applications (e.g., My Contacts Backup)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can use specialized applications, one of the most popular is My Contacts Backup (available for iOS and Android).

Step 1. Install the app on your iPhone:

1. Download My Contacts Backup from the App Store.
2. Launch the app and press Backup.
3. Send backup to email or save to iCloud.

Step 2. Restore your contacts on Xiaomi:

1. Install My Contacts Backup from Google Play.
2. Open the email with a backup on Xiaomi and download the.vcf attachment.
3. Import contacts through the app.

Pros and cons of the method:

• ✅ Simplicity: does not require a computer or cloud service.
• ✅ Backup: The file can be saved for the future.
• ❌ Advertising: There are banners in the free version.
• ❌ Restrictions: Some apps don’t tolerate contact photos.

Important: When using third-party apps, always check reviews and ratings in the store. Some programs may request unnecessary permissions (for example, access to SMS or geolocation), which is dangerous for security.

Verification and cleaning of duplicates after transfer

After migrating contacts to Xiaomi, be sure to check the list for duplicates or missing entries, which is especially true if you’ve used multiple methods (e.g. iCloud + Google).

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Contact management → Combine and fix.
3. Select Find duplicates and follow the instructions.

Additional advice:

• 🔍 Group search: If your contacts are split into iCloud, Google, and Phone, group them together.
• 📱 Backup on Xiaomi: Create a local backup in Settings → System & Device → Backup.
• 🔄 Autosynchronization: Enable automatic contact updates in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync.

⚠️ Warning: If some contacts are displayed without names after transfer (numbers only), check the encoding of the.vcf file. Sometimes when exporting from iCloud, there are errors with Cyrillic alphabet. Solution: open the file on your computer in Notepad and save to encoding UTF-8.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer