How to transfer contacts to Xiaomi smartphone: the full guide 2026

Transferring contacts to Xiaomi’s new smartphone is a challenge that every user faces when changing devices, even if you’re switching from the same Redmi or a single device. POCO In other words, the process can be complicated: photos of contacts are lost, records are duplicated, and sometimes parts of numbers are lost. In this article, we will examine all the current ways of transferring contacts - from the classic import of contacts to the traditional ones. SIM-maps before synchronization through Google Account and Mi Cloud services.

We will focus on nuances that are often overlooked in standard instructions, such as why Bluetooth transfers may not send notes to contacts, how to avoid duplication of records when synced with Google, and what to do if you do not have a contact message. MIUI I don't see any contacts SIM-We also look at the specific problems with the devices. MIUI 14/15 and models without a slot for physical SIM (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mix Fold 3).

1. Transfer of contacts with SIM-maps on Xiaomi

The easiest, but not the most reliable way is to import contacts directly from the Internet. SIM-It is suitable if you have a small phone book (up to the phone). 200-300 records) and no link to cloud services. However, there are some limitations:

• 📱 Volume limit: one SIM-The card usually stores no more than 250 contacts (depending on the operator).
• 📝 Data loss: only names and numbers are transferred, without photos, email or additional fields.
• ⚠️ Encoding: Cyrillic symbols can be displayed by Krakozabras (relevant to old ones) SIM).

To transfer your SIM contacts to Xiaomi:

1. Put it in. SIM-card to smartphone (if you use two cards, choose a slot with the right contacts).
2. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
3. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
4. Choose where to save contacts: on the device or in Google Account (we recommend the second option).
5. Confirm the import and wait until the completion (can take up to 1-2 minutes with a large number of records).

⚠️ Note: If after importing, the contacts display question marks instead of letters, go to Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Coding SIM and choose UTF-8.

Make sure that SIM-card not blocked PUK-code

Check the memory balance on SIM (via ##4636###)

Turn off two-factor authentication in contacts (if enabled)

Make a backup of contacts on your old phone-->

2. synchronize contacts through Google Account

The most versatile and reliable method is synchronization through Google, which works on all Xiaomi devices, including models without a slot for SIM (Xiaomi 13T Pro, POCO F5 Pro) and gadgets with MIUI for tablets.

• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Contacts are available on any device after logging in to your account.
• 🔄 Automatic Update: Changes to one device immediately appear on all others.
• 📎 Full data: photos, email, addresses and notes are stored.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that your contacts sync is enabled.
2. On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, log in to the same Google Account. If the device is already configured, add an account to Settings → Accounts → Add an account.
3. Go to Settings → Synchronize and activate the slider opposite Contact.
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (it can take up to 10 minutes with a large amount of data).

If no contact is made:

• Check your internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• Update the Google Contacts app in the Play Market.
• Restart the device and repeat the synchronization.

Synchronization through Google

Imports from SIM-cards

Transfer via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct

Backup in Mi Cloud

Another way.-->

3. Transfer contacts via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that allows you to synchronize not only contacts, but also contacts. SMS, Notes, photos, and this is a convenient way to go from one device to another. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO But there are nuances:

• 🔒 Mi Account Linking: If you reset your device without detaching your account, contacts may be blocked.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: in some countries (e.g. India) Mi Cloud is restricted.
• 📱 Incompatibility: on devices without MIUI (for example, POCO F1 On custom firmware, synchronization may not work.

How to transfer contacts through Mi Cloud:

1. On the old Xiaomi, open Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud account.
2. Make sure that the contacts sync is enabled (the slider must be active).
3. On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and enable contact synchronization.
4. Wait until the process is complete (time depends on the speed of the Internet).

⚠️ Note: If you are selling an old Xiaomi device, be sure to untie your Mi Account in Settings → Mi Account → Otherwise, the new owner will be able to access your contacts via Mi Cloud!

4.Contact transfer via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you don’t have internet access or are switching from a device to another Android (not Xiaomi), you can use direct data transfer over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct.This method is suitable for transferring a small number of contacts (up to 500), but has limitations:

• 📶 Speed: transmission 300 Contacts may take up to 15-20 minute.
• 📸 Photographs: Not always transmitted or compressed to low quality.
• 🔗 Related Contacts: Groups (e.g., “Family” or “Work”) may not be retained.

Instructions for Bluetooth:

1. On both devices, enable Bluetooth in the Quick Settings Panel.
2. On your old phone, open Contacts, click on three points → Export/Import → Send Contacts.
3. Select the contacts to transfer (you can mark everything) and click Send via Bluetooth.
4. On the new Xiaomi, confirm the file acceptance (usually a file with the.vcf extension).
5. After downloading, open the file and confirm the import to Contacts.

For Wi-Fi Direct:

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct on both devices.
2. Connect devices to each other (code confirmation may be required).
3. On your old phone, export your contacts to.vcf (via Contacts → Export).
4. Send the file to the new device via Wi-Fi Direct (like a regular file).
5. Import.vcf to Xiaomi via Files → Downloads.

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If you are duplicating contacts when transmitting via Bluetooth, open the.vcf file in the text editor before importing and manually delete the duplicate entries (look for BEGIN:VCARD blocks).

5.Moving contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi

The shift from iPhone to Xiaomi is often accompanied by data portability issues, with the main challenge being the closed Apple ecosystem, where the default contacts are synchronized with iCloud rather than Google.

Method 1: Through iCloud and Google Account

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and make sure that your contacts sync is enabled.
2. Go to iCloud.com, log in to your account and export your contacts to.vcf.
3. Import this file to Google Contacts via the web version (contacts.google.com).
4. On Xiaomi, log into the same Google Account and enable contact sync.

Method 2: Using the Move to iOS app (reverse port)

While Move to iOS is designed to transfer data from Android to iPhone, you can use the reverse method:

1. Download the Move to iOS app from the Play Market on Xiaomi.
2. Reset your iPhone to factory settings and select Data Transfer from Android during the setup phase.
3. On Xiaomi, open Move to iOS, enter the code from your iPhone, and select Contacts to port.
4. After the transfer is complete, export your iPhone contacts to Google (as in Method 1).

⚠️ Note: When transferring from iPhone to Xiaomi via Move to iOS, you may lose the attached photos to your contacts. To save them, pre-export the contacts to.vcf via iCloud and check for the photo in the file (open it through the text editor and look for lines from the file). PHOTO).

6. Transfer of contacts using third-party applications

If standard methods don't work (like when Google or Mi Cloud sync fails), we can use third-party utilities, and we tested a few apps and selected the most reliable ones:

• 📲 Copy My Data: transfers contacts, calendars and photos over Wi-Fi. Supports Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei.
• 🔗 My Contacts Backup: Creates a.vcf backup and sends it to the cloud or email.

Instructions for Copy My Data:

1. Install the app on both devices (old and new).
2. On your old phone, select Send Data → Contacts.
3. On the new Xiaomi, select Receive Data and connect to your old device via Wi-Fi.
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until the completion (the app will show the number of successfully transferred contacts).

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🛡️ Backup: You can create a local copy of contacts on a memory card.
• 🔄 Selective transfer: Some programs allow you to select only the necessary contacts.
• 📊 Error Logs: If the transfer fails, the app will show which records were not copied.

💡

The app side is useful if you have more than 1,000 contacts or need to transfer data from your old phone to Xiaomi without loss (for example, from Nokia to Symbian or Windows Phone).

7. Solving problems in the transfer of contacts

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can get errors, and let's look at the typical problems and their solutions.

If none of these methods worked, try manual export/import:

1. On your old phone, export your contacts to.vcf (via Contacts → Export).
2. Send the file to yourself by email or save it to a memory card.
3. On Xiaomi, open the file through Files and import contacts.

Critical information: If you use two-factor authentication (2FA) on Google or Mi Account, turn it off for 10-15 minutes before contact perenos. In rare cases, sync may be blocked due to additional security checks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi