How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi to another Android: all the ways of 2026

Shifting contacts from one Xiaomi smartphone to another is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device. Even if you stay in the Mi ecosystem (for example, switch from Redmi Note 10 to POCO X6 Pro), or migrate to another brandโ€™s phone (Samsung, Realme), keeping your phone book safe is critical. Mistakes here are costly: lost numbers of customers, friends or relatives can create serious inconveniences.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer contacts with Xiaomi to another Android device, including synchronization through Google Account, export to the Internet. SIM-Map, Mi Cloud use, and even manual transfer via.vcf. We will focus on hidden nuances (for example, why contacts may not be displayed after synchronization) and alternative methods for devices without Internet access.

Before you start, check:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Both phones have enough charge (minimum 30%) โ€“ interruption of the process can lead to data loss.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Stable Wi-Fi or mobile network connection (for cloud-based ways).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ The new phone has the latest version of Google Contacts (download to Play Market).
๐Ÿ“Š What kind of contact transfer you use more often?
Google Account
SIM-map
Bluetooth
Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud)
VCF file

1. Sync through Google Account (the most reliable way)

This method works on any Android device, including Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus and others, and the main advantage is automatic backup and the ability to restore contacts even after resetting the phone to factory settings.

How to transfer contacts via Google:

  1. On an old Xiaomi phone, open the Contacts app.
  2. Tap it on three points (โ‹ฎ) top-right โ†’ Contact management โ†’ Import/Export of contacts.
  3. Select Export to Google (or Sync with Google if your contacts are not already linked to your account).
  4. Sign in to the same Google Account on your new phone โ€“ contacts will be automatically downloaded within 5-10 minutes.

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Note: If your old phone only stores contacts in your device memory (not Google), you must export them first. To do this, select Export to SIM or Export to file in the Contact Management menu, and then import to Google.

โ˜‘๏ธ Preparing for synchronization through Google

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2. Transfer of contacts through SIM-map (without internet)

If you do not have access to Wi-Fi or mobile network, SIM-This is a way to save the card. This method is suitable for Xiaomi Redmi devices, POCO and other Android smartphones, but has a limitation: SIM The card usually contains no more than 250 contacts (depending on the operator).

Instructions:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ On your old phone, open your contacts. โ†’ Contact management โ†’ Imports/Exports โ†’ Exports to SIM-map.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Select contacts for export (you can note everything) and confirm the action.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Move it. SIM-card.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฅ On the new device, repeat the path: Contacts โ†’ Management โ†’ Import with SIM.

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Attention: SIM-The card only retains the name and number - photos, mail, addresses and notes to contacts will be lost.

What if your contacts are not imported with SIM?
Check if the new one supports SIM-Contact card storage (some of the 4G/5G Also try restarting your phone or using a nano-SIM adapter if contacts are not displayed.

3.Using Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If youโ€™re using the Xiaomi ecosystem, Mi Cloud is a handy tool for transferring contacts between brand devices (Mi 11, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.) The advantage of the method is that in addition to numbers, profile photos, call history and even notes are synchronized.

Step-by-step:

  1. On your old phone, go to Settings โ†’ Xiaomi Account โ†’ Mi Cloud.
  2. Enable synchronization of Contacts (and other data if necessary).
  3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and activate sync.
  4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 15 minutes).

๐Ÿ”น Important: If you are switching to a phone from another brand (not Xiaomi), export your contacts from Mi Cloud to.vcf first:

  • Visit i.mi.com from your computer.
  • Sign in and go to the Contacts section.
  • Click Export โ†’ save the file to PC.
  • Transfer the file to your new phone and import through Google Contacts.

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If Mi Cloud does not sync contacts, check if AutoSync is enabled in your account settings, and make sure that your phone has enough free space (minimum 100MB).

4. Contacts Transfer via Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a versatile way to work even on older phones, suitable for transferring contacts between Xiaomi and devices of other brands (Samsung, Huawei), but transmits data at a single contact (long with a large phone book).

How to move:

  • ๐Ÿ”ต Turn on Bluetooth on both phones and pair them.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ On your old phone, open Contacts, select the contact you want. โ†’ Share. โ†’ Bluetooth.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ On the new phone, confirm the file reception (.vcf format).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Repeat for all contacts or use the option Send multiple contacts (not available on all models).

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Attention: Some phones limit Bluetooth transmission to 10 contacts at a time. For large phone books, other methods are better used.

5.Export and import via VCF file (for advanced users)

The.vcf file (vCard) is a universal format for storing contacts. USB-cable, email, messengers or cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex Drive) is suitable for full backup with all the details (photo, address, mail).

Instructions:

  1. On an old phone, export contacts: Open Contacts โ†’ Contact Management โ†’ Export to file. Choose the.vcf format and save the file to the phone memory.
  2. Transfer the file to a new phone: ๐Ÿ“ Through USB-cable (plug in as a flash drive). โ˜๏ธ Through the cloud (download to Google Drive and download on a new device).
  3. Import contacts: Open the.vcf file on your new phone โ†’ select Google Contacts to import.

If a VCF file weighs more than 10MB, break it down with services like VCF Splitter, otherwise the phone may not be importing it.

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The VCF file is the only way to transfer contacts, saving all fields (including photos, addresses, and notes).

6. Comparison of methods of transfer of contacts

To choose the best method, focus on this table:

MethodSpeed.Data storedInternet is requiredSuitable for
Google Accountโšก Quickly (5-10 minutes)Name, number, mail, notes.โœ… Yes.Any Android devices
SIM-map๐Ÿข Slowly (up to 250 contacts)Name and number onlyโŒ No.Phones without internet
Mi Cloudโšก Quickly (10-15 minutes)Everything (including photos and stories)โœ… Yes.Only Xiaomi. โ†’ Xiaomi
Bluetooth๐Ÿข Very slowly.Name, number, post office.โŒ No.Single contacts
VCF fileโšก Quickly.All (full copy)โŒ No, I need you. USB/cloud)Backup

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even if you do the right things, you can have a lot of problems.-5 errors and ways of eliminating them:

๐Ÿ”˜ Contacts are not synced with Google:

  • Check if sync is enabled in Settings โ†’ Accounts โ†’ Google โ†’ Contact Sync.
  • Delete and re-add your Google Account on your phone.
  • Update the Google Contacts app in the Play Market.

๐Ÿ”˜ Mi Cloud does not keep any contacts:

  • Make sure that the phone has enabled the option of Auto Sync in the Mi Cloud settings.
  • Check if there is enough space in the cloud (free 5 GB).
  • Restart the phone and start syncing manually.

๐Ÿ”˜ File. VCF import-free:

  • Try opening a file through Google Contacts, not the standard Contacts app.
  • If the file is too large, break it down (see services like VCF Splitter).
  • Check the file extension โ€“ it should be.vcf, not.txt.

๐Ÿ”˜ Contacts are duplicated after the transfer:

  • In Google Contacts, use the Connect and Correct function.
  • Export your contacts to a single account (e.g., only to Google, not to your phoneโ€™s memory).

๐Ÿ”˜ Bluetooth does not transmit contacts:

  • Make sure that both phones have Bluetooth visibility enabled.
  • Try restarting both devices.
  • Use alternative methods (e.g., a VCF file).
Can I transfer contacts from Xiaomi to iPhone?
Yes, for this: Export your contacts with Xiaomi to a.vcf file (via Contacts โ†’ Management โ†’ Export). Send the file to your iPhone (via email or messenger). Open the file on your iPhone and choose Add All Contacts. Or sync through your Google Account: on Xiaomi export your contacts to Google, and on your iPhone add this account to Settings โ†’ Passwords and accounts.
Why did the photos of the contacts disappear after the transfer?
Photos are saved only when: Sync via Mi Cloud (if both phones are Xiaomi); Export to.vcf (but not all phones support importing photos from VCF). If photos are important, use Mi Cloud or manually save them through Contacts โ†’ Edit โ†’ Save photos.
How to transfer contacts if the old phone is broken?
If the phone is not turned on, but synchronization was previously enabled: ๐Ÿ”„ Google Account: Sign in on your new phone โ€“ your contacts will be automatically downloaded. โ˜๏ธ Mi Cloud: Go to i.mi.com from a PC, export contacts to.vcf and transfer to a new device. If sync wasn't set up, try extracting SIM-card (if contacts are saved) or contact the service center to retrieve data from the damaged phone.
Can I transfer contacts without the Internet?
Yes, use it: ๐Ÿ“ฑ SIM-card (limited to 250 contacts). ๐Ÿ“ File. VCF through USB-cable. ๐Ÿ”ต Bluetooth (one contact at a time).
How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi to Xiaomi as quickly as possible?
The fastest way is Mi Cloud: On an old phone, turn on sync in Settings โ†’ Mi Cloud. On a new phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account - contacts will be downloaded in 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, clone the system through Mi Mover (offered when you first turn on a new Xiaomi phone).