How to transfer numbers from Xiaomi Redmi phone to another Android: all working ways

Transferring contacts from one Xiaomi Redmi smartphone to another Android device is a challenge that every user faces when changing a gadget. Even if you have never synchronized data before, the process can be done in 5-15 minutes by choosing the right method. The main thing is to take into account the nuances of firmware MIUI, This puts restrictions on some of the standard Android features.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to transfer numbers: from official tools (Google Account, MI Clouds, up to universal solutions like SIM-We will focus on the problems faced by owners of Redmi Note. 12/13, POCO X5 and other models MIUI 14/15, where standard sync sometimes doesn't work properly, and you'll also learn how to avoid data loss when you reset your phone or flash it.

1. Transfer contacts through Google Account (the most reliable way)

Google sync is the only method that ensures that contacts are safe even when your phone breaks or is reset to factory settings. All numbers are automatically backed up in the cloud and available on any device with the same account. On Xiaomi Redmi, this process may require additional settings due to the features of MIUI.

To move contacts:

  • 📱 Open the Settings. → Google accounts → Synchronization of the account.
  • 🔄 Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is on (if not, move it to the right).
  • 🔄 Press More. → Sync now (in some versions) MIUI This item is hidden - see spoiler below).
  • 📲 On your new phone, log in to the same Google Account and wait for automatic sync (can take up to 10 minutes).
What if MIUI doesn’t have a “Sync Now” button?
MIUI 14+ firmware for Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO X5 sometimes lacks manual sync. In this case: 1. Delete your Google account and add it again via Settings → Accounts → Add an account. 2. Once added, open the Contacts app, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings → Contact Management → Import/Export → Sync. 3. If that doesn’t work, use an alternative method (e.g. MI Cloud or export to a VCF file).

Advantages of the method:

  • 🔒 Data is stored in the cloud and is not dependent on your phone.
  • 🔄 Automatic updates when adding new contacts.
  • 📱 It works on all Android devices, not just Xiaomi.

💡

If not all contacts are displayed on the new phone after syncing, check the filter in the Contacts app. Often MIUI hides numbers from Google under the All Contacts or Other Accounts tab.

2.Using MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

MI Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up contacts, messages and photos, which is convenient if both phones are from Xiaomi (or at least one of them), but there is an important limitation to the method: only 5 GB of storage is available for free, which is enough only for contacts and part of messages.

Instructions for transfer:

  1. On the old Redmi, go to Settings → Mi Account → MI Cloud.
  2. Turn on the synchronization of "Contacts"** (if it is disabled).
  3. Click Sync and wait for the process to be completed.
  4. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable contact synchronization.

Sign in to Mi Account on both phones|Make sure that the old device is enabled contact synchronization|Check the vacant space in MI Cloud (5GB) free of charge)|On the new phone, wait until the first sync is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes)-->

Important nuances:

  • 📱 Not-Xiaomi phone contacts MI Cloud will have to be exported to the file. VCF hand-import.
📊 What contact synchronization method do you use more often?
Google Account
MI Cloud (Xiaomi)
SIM-map
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct
The side of the application (e.g. SHAREit)

3. Transfer of contacts through SIM-Card (for small telephone books)

This method is suitable if you have few contacts (up to 250-300 numbers). SIM-The cards have a memory limit, and you also have to remember that only numbers and names are transferred, and photos, mails and additional fields will be lost.

How to transfer contacts to SIM:

  1. Open the Contacts app on Redmi.
  2. Press three dots (menu) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
  3. Select contacts for export (you can note everything) and confirm the action.
  4. Extract. SIM-Card, insert it into a new phone.
  5. On the new device, repeat the path: Contacts → Management → Import with SIM-map.

Limitations of the method:

  • 🚫 Contacts with multiple numbers or additional fields (e.g. email address) are not maintained).
  • 📏 Limitation on the number of contacts (depending on the number of contacts) SIM-cards, usually 200-300).
  • ⏳ The process is manual and takes a lot of time with a large number of numbers.

💡

SIM-The card is the only way to transfer contacts without the Internet, but due to space constraints, it is only suitable for small phone books or emergency cases.

4. Transfer of contacts via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have internet access, but you can connect both phones directly, you can use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct, which works between any Android device, but requires manual confirmation at every step.

Step-by-step instructions for Xiaomi Redmi:

  1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
  2. Connect devices (click Search on one phone and confirm the connection on the second).
  3. On the old Redmi, open Contacts, select a menu (three dots) → Share.
  4. Tag the contacts you want (or click “Select All”) and select Bluetooth from the list of transmission methods.
  5. Confirm the file on the new phone (contacts will come as a.vcf file to be opened and imported).

Challenges and solutions:

  • ⚠️ Nana MIUI 14+ The Bluetooth share function can be hidden, in which case export contacts to a file. VCF (Contact management → Export) and send it via Bluetooth manually.
  • 📶 Wi-Fi Direct is faster than Bluetooth, but on Xiaomi it often needs to be enabled through Settings. → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.
  • 🔄 If contacts are not automatically imported, open the resulting.vcf file via the Contacts app.

5. Party of the application: SHAREit, Xender and others

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to MIUI failures or lack of Internet), you can use third-party utilities.

  • 📲 SHAREit – Wi-Fi Direct transmission without limit on volume.
  • ⚡ Xender – Supports contact, photo and video transfer.
  • 🔗 Send Anywhere – generation of a temporary link for downloading contacts.

How to transfer contacts through Shareit:

  1. Install SHAREit on both phones (you can download from APKPure if Google Play is not available).
  2. On old Redmi, open the app, select Send → Contacts.
  3. Mark the numbers you need and click "Send".
  4. On the new phone, select Receive and connect to the access point created by the first device.
  5. Confirm the file acceptance and import the contacts.

Warnings:

⚠️ Note: Apps like SHAREit and Xender often collect user data. → Annexes → Permissions and disable access to unnecessary features (such as geolocation or microphone).

MethodSpeed.LimitationsSuitable for
Google Account⚡ Quickly (5-10 minutes)Demands the Internet.Any Android devices
MI Cloud🔄 Average (10-30 min)Only for Xiaomi, 5 GB is freeOwners of Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO
SIM-map🐢 Slowly (manual input)Up to 300 contacts, numbers onlyEmergency cases without the Internet
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct🏃‍♂️ Average (depending on the amount)Limitation on file sizeTransfer between any Android
Party of annex⚡ Quickly.Risk of data leakageLarge phone books

6.Export and import via VCF file (for power users)

The.vcf file (vCard) is a universal format for storing contacts. It can be created on Xiaomi Redmi, transferred to another phone by any means (for example, via Google Drive or Telegram), and imported. This method is suitable if you want to have a backup of contacts on your computer.

Instructions:

  1. On Redmi, open Contacts → Contact Management → Export/Import → Export to File.
  2. Select a save location (e.g., Internal Memory → Downloads) and confirm the export.
  3. Transfer the contacts.vcf file to a new phone (e.g., via Google Drive or USB cable).
  4. On the new device, open the file through Contacts and confirm the import.

Advice:

  • 💾 Save the.vcf file to your computer or the cloud – it will be a backup in case of losing your phone.
  • 🔍 If there is an error when importing, try opening the file via Gmail (go to Google Contacts). → Imports).
  • 📂 Nana MIUI A.vcf file is sometimes saved in a folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup — Check it if you don’t find the exported file.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When transferring contacts with Xiaomi Redmi, users often encounter the following mistakes:

⚠️ Note: If not all contacts are displayed on the new phone after syncing through Google Account, check the filter settings in the Contacts app. MIUI By default, numbers from Google can be hidden – go to Settings → Display contacts → All accounts.

Problem 1: Contacts are duplicated after the transfer.

Solution: In Contacts, click on three points → Contact Management → Combine duplicates.

Issue 2: Exports to the SIM-map missing some numbers.

Decision: SIM-The cards do not have multiple numbers, so divide them into separate contacts before export.

Problem 3: MI Cloud does not sync contacts.

Decision:

  • Check if sync is enabled in Settings → Mi Account → MI Cloud → Contacts.
  • Update your MIUI firmware to the latest version (older versions have cloud bugs).
  • Delete and add the Mi Account again.

Can I transfer contacts from Xiaomi to iPhone?
Yes, but only through Google Account or.vcf: Export your contacts to Google Contacts (as described in the first method). On iPhone, add the same Google Account to Settings → Passwords and accounts. Enable contact sync. Or transfer the.vcf file to your iPhone via iCloud Drive and import it.
Why did the phone drop off the phone?
If you haven’t synced with Google or MI Cloud, contacts are stored only in your phone’s memory and deleted when reset. To restore them: Check backups to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset (if you’ve backed up through MIUI). If you’ve used a Google Account, log in on any device and export contacts to a.vcf file. Contact Xiaomi Support – sometimes you can recover data from the cloud within 30 days of a reset.
How to transfer contacts from a phone that does not turn on?
If Redmi does not respond to the on button, but the screen is working (for example, after a fall), connect it to the computer via the device. USB Copy the contacts.vcf file from the folder MIUI/backup If the phone is completely dead, take it out. SIM-Check if you have any contacts (if you have exported them before) and contact the service center, sometimes you can retrieve the data through the service. EDL-mode (requires disassembly of the phone).
Can I transfer contacts without the Internet?
Yes, there are three ways: SIM-Card - export/import (limitation to the 300 contact). Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Direct - transfer of the file.vcf. Cable OTG — Connect the flash drive to Redmi, save the contacts.vcf file to it, then transfer it to the new phone.
How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi to your computer?
Save contacts to a.vcf file (as described in method 6) and move it to a PC via: 📁 Cable USB (file transfer mode). ☁️ Cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex Drive). 📧 Email (send the file to yourself) Open the file on your computer via Outlook, Thunderbird or import it to Google Contacts.