How to Transfer Contacts from Samsung Phone to Xiaomi: All Ways to 2026

Why is it difficult to transfer contacts between Android devices of different brands?

The switch from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi/POCO is often accompanied by unexpected problems, even with the same Android operating system.The fact is that manufacturers modify standard features to their proprietary shells: One UI from Samsung and MIUI/HyperOS from Xiaomi. These shells process contact data in different ways, store them in different formats and even block some synchronization methods.

For example, Samsung defaults to keep contacts in its own Samsung Account cloud, not Google, which creates problems when switching to Xiaomi, where priority is given to the Mi Account. In addition, many users accumulate duplicate contacts, unstructured records with multiple numbers per person for years, and when transferring all this chaos “pop up.” We tested 5 current methods of transfer and identified their strengths / weaknesses.

Method 1: Sync through Google Account (the most reliable method)

This method works on 100% of Android 8.0 and newer devices, but requires pre-setting on an old Samsung phone.The main advantage is that contacts are automatically updated on the new Xiaomi whenever you change.

Instructions for Samsung:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app → press ⋮ (three-point) → Contact management → Synchronization of contacts
• 🔄 Select Google (not Samsung Account!) → switch on the synchronization switch
• ☁️ Wait for the process to be completed (progress is displayed in the status bar)
• 🔒 Make sure contacts are saved: go to contacts.google.com from your computer

Instructions for Xiaomi:

• 📱 When you first turn on, select “Restore from Google” orlater: go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google
• 🔄 Enable contact synchronization (reboot may be required)
• ⚡ If no contacts appear, manually update the data: Contacts → ⋮ → Update

Check Wi-Fi connection on both phones|

Make sure there is enough space on Google Drive (contacts take ~1-5 MB)|

Disable battery optimization for the Contacts app on Xiaomi|

Remember the password from your Google Account (required to confirm on your new phone)-->

⚠️ Note: If you’ve only used a Samsung account for years, your contacts may not be synced with Google, in which case, export them to a file before penos. VCF (see method 3).

Method 2: Transmission via Bluetooth (fast but limited)

The method is suitable for transferring up to 500 contacts at a time and does not require Internet access, but it has critical disadvantages: it loses profile photos, contacts’ notes and call history, but it is the only way that works even on phones without access to Google services (for example, in China).

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Send contacts
2. Select contacts (or click “Select all”) → Share → Bluetooth
3. On Xiaomi: Turn on Bluetooth in the notification panel and confirm the reception of the contact.vcf file
4. After transfer, open the file - the system will suggest importing contacts into the memory of the phone or SIM-map

Synced with Google|

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct|

VCF file via computer |

Applications such as SHAREit|

Another way.-->

Method 3: Export/import via VCF file (for advanced users)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal standard for storing contacts that all smartphones understand, a method that is suitable if you want to back up or transfer contacts through a computer. An important nuance: some Chinese Xiaomi firmware blocks VCF imports due to security restrictions.

Instructions for Samsung:

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports
2. Choose the internal memory or SD-map
3. The file will be saved as contacts.vcf in the Download or Documents folder.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

• 📁 Move the contacts.vcf file to your phone (via cable, cloud or messenger)
• 📱 Open the file through Files or Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → File-based import
• 🔍 If the import option is inactive, install the Contacts Backup & Restore app from Google Play.

Method 4: Using data transfer applications (SHAREit, Xender)

Specialized applications like SHAREit, Xender or Send Anywhere promise instantaneous contact transfer without cables, and in practice they are unstable, often losing Russian characters in names, and the process is interrupted on large databases (1000+ contacts), but it is a convenient option for users without access to Google services.

Recommendations for use:

• 📲 Install the same app on both phones (e.g. Xender from Google Play)
• 🔗 On Samsung, select "Send» → «Contacts» → highlight → wait for the creation QR-code
• 📷 On Xiaomi, scan. QR-code through the camera or in the application itself
• ⚡ Confirm the data reception (the process can take up to 10 minutes for 1000)+ contact)

⚠️ Note: SHAREit applications request access to Contacts, Warehouse, Locations and Camera, and delete them after transfer, they continue to work in the background and consume battery.

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Before using third-party apps, check their Google Play rankings for the past month. If it is below 4.0, you better choose another method, as there is a high probability of crashes or viruses.

Method 5: Transfer through SIM-map (outdated but working)

This method is relevant for phones with one SIM-A card and a small phone book (up to 250 contacts), the main advantage is that you do not need the Internet or additional devices: SIM-The card only stores names and primary numbers (no email, addresses, photos) and the process takes a long time.

How to move:

1. On Samsung: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map
2. Choose contacts (or all) → Confirm exports
3. Extract. SIM-Map and paste it into Xiaomi
4. On Xiaomi: Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Multiple numbers are not maintained (only the first number is retained)
• 🚫 Names longer than 20 characters are cut off
• 🚫 Cyrillic symbols can be displayed as???? on old SIM-card

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, users face problems.-5 errors and ways of solving them:

1. Contacts duplicated on Xiaomi Reason: The phone already had contacts and new ones added on top of them Solution: Before importing, clear memory: Contacts → ⋮ → Delete everything (take backup copy!).
2. Contact photos were not transferred Reason: Photos are stored separately from the main data Solution: Use Google Contacts (they sync photos) or the Copy My Data app.
3. Xiaomi does not see contacts after syncing with Google Reason: Account settings are disabled sync. Solution: Go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync and enable Contacts.
4. When you transfer over Bluetooth, the Russian letters disappear: Incompatibility of encodings. Solution: Use a VCF file or Google Account.
5. Contacts have been moved but are not displayed in the Phone app Reason: Contacts are saved to SIM-Map or hidden folder Solution: Contact Contacts ⋮ → Display contacts → Select "All contacts».

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If none of the methods worked, check if the antivirus (for example, Mi Security on Xiaomi) blocks access to contacts. temporarily disable the protection and try again.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions