How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi phone to Xiaomi: all working ways

Why moving contacts to Xiaomi requires a special approach

Xiaomi smartphones run on the MIUI shell, which is integrated with the Mi Account ecosystem. This simultaneously simplifies and complicates data transfer. On the one hand, built-in synchronization tools (for example, MI Cloud) allow you to flip numbers in a few clicks. On the other hand, users often face problems when trying to use standard methods like vCard files or Google Contacts, which on Xiaomi work differently than on pure Android.

Another feature is that Xiaomi devices default to Google contact sync unless you manually activated it the first time you set it up, which means that even if you used Gmail on an old phone, contacts could only be saved in local memory or in MI Cloud. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of transfer, from official to alternative, taking into account the nuances of MIUI 14/15 and the new Xiaomi models 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI on both phones (path: Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI). On older versions (below). MIUI 12) some methods may not work.
• 🔋 Battery charge - data transfer discharges the battery faster than usual.
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (for cloud methods) with a weak signal, synchronization can be interrupted.

Method 1: Transfer over MI Cloud (official method)

MI Cloud is the most reliable solution for Xiaomi owners, as data is synchronized directly with the company’s servers, which works even if the old phone has a Google Account disabled or is missing. SIM-The main condition is that both devices must be linked to the same Mi Account.

Step instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Mi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Make sure the switch opposite Contact is active (green). If not, turn on sync and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account (when you first turn on or through Settings → Mi Account).
4. Go to MI Cloud → Contacts and enable synchronization. Numbers will appear automatically.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has contacts, they will be combined with those downloaded from the cloud. If the names match, the system will prompt you to choose which record to leave. To avoid duplicates, export local contacts to.vcf before transfer (see Method 3).

The synchronization speed depends on the number of contacts:

• 📞 Up to 500 rooms – 1-3 minutes.
• 📇 500–2000 rooms – 5–15 minutes.
• 📊 More than 2,000 to 30 minutes (probable delays due to server limitations).

Sign in to Mi Account on both phones

Check the activated contact synchronization

Connect devices to Wi-Fi

Charge the battery at least 50 times%-->

Method 2: Copying contacts to SIM-map

This method is suitable if you do not have access to the Internet or Mi Account, but you do not have access to the Internet. SIM-Note that Xiaomi (like other modern smartphones) limits the number of contacts on the phone. SIM — Usually 250-500, depending on the operator, and no profile photos or additional fields (e.g., dates of birth) will be saved).

How to move:

1. Put it in. SIM-card.
2. Open the "Contacts" app (icon) 📇).
3. Press three points (⋮) top-right → "Contact management" → "Imports/Exports" → "Exports to SIM-map".
4. Select contacts for export (or click "Secret All") and confirm.
5. Move it. SIM-card to the new phone and repeat the steps, but select "Import with" SIM-map".

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) export option SIM To see it, first press "Settings" (⚙️) in the "Contact" app and activate "Show Contacts" SIM".

Method 3: Export and import via.vcf file

The.vcf file (or vCard) is a universal format for storing contacts that is compatible with any device, which can be created on Xiaomi without additional applications, and the advantage of the method is that all data is stored: numbers, email, addresses, photos and notes.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open "Contacts" → ⋮ → "Contact management" → "Imports/Exports" → "Exports to the vault".
2. Select a place to save (e.g., Internal Memory or MicroSD) and the file will be called contacts.vcf.
3. Transfer the file to your new phone in any way you can: 📎 Bluetooth (slowly but without internet). 📥 Xiaomi File Manager with Wi-Fi Direct. ☁️ Download to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) and download to a new device.

contacts.vcf

🔹 Useful tip: If some contacts don't show up when importing, check if they're duplicated with existing records. MIUI There is a hidden function of merging takes: open "Contacts" → ⋮ → "Settings" → "Connecting contacts".

MI Cloud|SIM-map|File.vcf|Google Account|Other-->

Method 4: Sync through Google Account

If you've used Google Contacts on your old phone, it'll only take a couple of minutes to transfer, but on Xiaomi, it's often disabled by default.

• 🔹 On the old phone, sync with Google is enabled (path: Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account → Contacts).
• 🔹 You use the same Google Account on both devices.
• 🔹 The new phone has been disabled synchronization with MI Cloud (to avoid conflicts).

How to move:

1. On an old Forced phone sync: Open Google Contacts (application or web version) and click ⋮ → "Synchronize".
2. On the new phone, add the same Google Account (if not added during the setup) and enable contact sync.
3. Wait until the end (the progress can be seen in the status bar).

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) Google Contacts may not appear in the app list. To see them, download the official Google Contacts app from the Play Market.

1. Internet connection (synchronization works only through Wi-Fi or mobile data).

2. date and time on the phone (incorrect settings can block synchronization).

3. Free space in Google Account (limit – 25,000 contacts).-->

Method 5: Alternative applications (for complex cases)

If standard methods didn’t work (for example, due to a failure of the MI Cloud or lack of access to the Mi Account), use third-party utilities. We tested 5 popular applications and selected the best ones for Xiaomi:

🔹 Recommendation: For maximum reliability, use My Contacts Backup, which backs up as a.vcf file that can be imported even after 5 years.

Some utilities (such as CLONEit) request access to SMS and call history.

When transferring via Wi-Fi Direct, data is not encrypted – do not use the method on public networks.

— Check the reviews in the Play Market before using (especially for lesser-known apps).-->

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To help determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

🔹 Expert advice: If you plan to change phones frequently (e.g., testing new Xiaomi models), set up automatic sync and use the same system. MI Cloud, and Google Contacts, so you get a double backup and you can restore numbers on any device — whether it’s an iPhone, Samsung or another Xiaomi.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and we've collected some of the most common ways to fix them: