How to transfer contacts from one Xiaomi to another: all the ways from MI cloud SIM-map

Shifting contacts between Xiaomi smartphones only seems like a trivial task – in practice, users face the nuances of synchronization, firmware limitations and features of specific models. If you upgraded the Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14, or just want to copy the phone book from POCO X5 to a spare device, it is important to choose a method that will save not only numbers, but also attached photos, notes to contacts and groups. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods – from MIUI branded tools to universal solutions through Google Account, and also reveal the pitfalls of each option.

Compounding the complexity of the choice, Xiaomi regularly updates the logic of MI Cloud and integration with Google services. For example, the Android 14 firmware (MIUI 15+) has changed the algorithm for exporting contacts via Bluetooth, and owners of older models (up to Redmi 9) may face a lack of support for modern protocols. We have tested each method on devices of different generations — from Mi 10T (2020) to Xiaomi 13 Ultra (2023) — and are ready to provide step-by-step instructions with these nuances.

1.Contact transfer via MI Cloud: a proprietary solution from Xiaomi

Synchronization via MI Cloud is the most “native” way for the Xiaomi ecosystem, which guarantees the safety of all data, including call histories and user contact fields. The main advantage of the method is automatic backup, which can be configured once and forget about the problem of losing contacts when changing the device.

To move contacts through MI Cloud, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On the old Xiaomi smartphone, open Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud.
• ☁️ Make sure the switch next to Contact is active (green). If not, turn on sync and wait until the process is complete (the indicator will appear in the top notification bar).
• 🔄 On the new device, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable contact synchronization in the new device. MI Cloud.
• ⏳ Wait for the data download to be completed (time depends on the number of contacts and Internet speed).

Important: if you use Xiaomi with firmware MIUI Global, check your account region. In some cases (e.g., if you move from China to Europe), you may need to manually migrate data through support. SIM-The map is not synchronized with MI Cloud – You need to transfer them to your phone’s memory.

A stable Wi-Fi connection on both devices

The same Xiaomi account on both smartphones

Enough free space in MI Cloud (free – 5 GB)

Power saving mode for background synchronization is turned off-->

⚠️ Note: If the new smartphone already has contacts associated with another Xiaomi account, they will be overwritten with data from the cloud. VCF via Contact → Settings → Exports.

2. Sync through Google Account: a universal method

Google Contacts is the best option if you plan to switch to a smartphone of another brand in the future (such as Samsung or Pixel), which is also suitable for users who actively use Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Drive), the main plus is cross-platform: contacts will be available not only on Xiaomi, but also on the web version of contacts.google.com.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On an old smartphone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and select your profile.
2. Activate synchronization for the Contact point (if it is disabled).
3. Wait until sync is complete (check the time of the last update in the Google Contacts section).
4. On the new device, add the same Google account and enable contact sync.

The feature of the method: if the new smartphone has already had contacts associated with another Google account, they will be combined with the downloaded ones. To avoid duplicates, before synchronizing, manually merge contacts through the web version of Google Contacts (Duplicate menu → Combine).

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If contacts are not synced, check your energy saving settings: add the Contacts app to the background activity exception list (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).

Xiaomi users with MIUI 14+ firmware are now able to access the Import/Export option directly from the Contacts app, to move data without the cloud:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → Import / Export.
2. Select Export to file (VCF format).
3. Transfer the file to your new smartphone (via Bluetooth, Mi Share or the cloud).
4. On the new device, import the file through the same section.

Direct Bluetooth transmission: when there is no internet

Bluetooth is the only way that works without an internet connection, and is suitable for owners of older Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 4X or Mi A1), which may not have modern synchronization protocols.

• 🚫 Contact photos and user fields (names and numbers only) are not shared).
• 🐢 Transfer speed depends on the version of Bluetooth (on Xiaomi with Bluetooth 5.0)+ It's faster).
• 📵 On some firmware MIUI The option is hidden in the depth of the menu.

Step-by-step:

1. On an old smartphone, open Contacts, click on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Send.
2. Select the necessary contacts (or click Select All).
3. Select the method of sending – Bluetooth.
4. On the new device, turn on Bluetooth and confirm the file reception (VCF format).
5. After transfer, open the received file and import contacts.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ The send option may not be available in the standard Contacts app, in which case use an alternative solution: export contacts to the file. VCF through settings → System system → Backup → Local backup and then transfer it over Bluetooth.

4.SIM-card contact transfer: outdated, but working method

Export of contacts to SIM-The map is the oldest method that is still maintained in the MIUI. It is suitable for owners of dual devices. SIM-It's a card or a physical backup, but it's a critical flaw:

• 📇 SIM-The card only stores the name and number (maximum 2 numbers per contact) and all other data (email, addresses, photos) are lost.
• 🔢 Limitation on the number of contacts: most SIM-The card is not more than 250 records.
• ⚠️ Risk of data loss in case of incorrect map extraction.

How to transfer contacts via SIM:

1. On an old smartphone, insert SIM-slot-card SIM 1 (recommended).
2. Open Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → Import / Export → Export to SIM-card.
3. Select contacts for export (or click Select All).
4. Wait for the process to be completed and retrieve SIM-map.
5. Put it in. SIM-card to new smartphone and import contacts through the same menu section.

Important: on devices with MIUI 12+ export option SIM-The map can be hidden. To find it, use a search by settings (swipe down on the main Settings screen and type in the request «SIM contact»).

5. Use of third-party applications: when standard methods do not work

If none of these methods is suitable (for example, due to a failure of synchronization of the MI Cloud or the lack of Google services), you can use third-party applications.

• 📲 Mi Mover (official app from Xiaomi) – transfers not only contacts, but also SMS, Photos, apps. It works on Wi-Fi Direct.
• 🔄 CLONEit – supports data transfer between devices of different brands (including Xiaomi) → Samsung).
• ☁️ Super Backup & Restore – Creates backups of contacts in the format XML or VCF uploadable.

Example of transfer via Mi Mover:

1. Install the app on both smartphones from Google Play or App Gallery.
2. On the old device, select Send, on the new one – Receive.
3. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or use Hotspot.
4. Select Contacts in the data list for transfer and wait for completion.

Warning: When using third-party apps, always check the permissions they request. For example, CLONEit requires access to SMS, call histories and storage – this can be a privacy risk if the application is from an unreliable developer.

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Apps like Mi Mover or CLONEit are convenient for mass data transfer, but do not replace backup to the cloud. Always create an additional copy of contacts in MI Cloud or Google Contacts in case of a crash.

6. Features of the transfer on different versions of MIUI

The algorithm for moving contacts may vary depending on the version of MIUI and the model of the smartphone, and the following are key differences to consider:

For devices with MIUI for China (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra), you may need to change the firmware region to Global, since Google services are disabled in the Chinese version, and MI Cloud works with restrictions.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to unlock additional settings).


2. Open Settings → Additional → Region and select “Russia” or “Global”.




3.Reboot your device and check the availability of Google services.

Android One models (such as the Mi A3) lack MI Cloud, so the only reliable way is to sync through a Google Account or export to a VCF file.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔴 Contacts are not synchronized with MI Cloud: Check if Auto Sync is enabled in your account settings. Make sure your device has enough free space (minimum 100MB). MI Cloud via Google Play.
• 🔴 When transferring over Bluetooth, contacts are duplicated: Before importing, delete existing contacts on the new device. Use the option to Combine duplicates in Contact settings.
• 🔴 Exports do not work SIM-map: Check that SIM-card inserted SIM 1 (some models block the recording on the SIM 2). Formatting SIM-Map through Settings → SIM-map → Format (the data will be deleted!).

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the Contacts app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. Restart the device and try to sync again.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the Contacts app data will delete all local contacts not stored in the cloud. Before resetting, make sure you have a backup in place. MI Cloud or Google Contacts.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions