How to transfer contacts from one Xiaomi smartphone to another: all ways of 2026

Moving to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, but moving contacts can be a real headache if you don’t know the proven ways. Many users lose important phone numbers due to incorrect actions or simply do not know about the built-in sync tools. This article will help avoid typical mistakes and choose the best method of data migration depending on your situation.

Modern Xiaomi smartphones (from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra) support several ways to transfer contacts: from classic export through the Internet. SIM-We'll take each method into account its speed, reliability and limitations, and pay special attention to the nuances that the manufacturer often does not mention in official instructions.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do in advance

Before you start migrating contacts, follow a few critical steps that will save you time and data loss:

• 🔋 Make sure both smartphones have at least 50% battery charge. interruption of the process due to discharge may result in the loss of some contacts.
• 📶 Connect both devices to stable Wi-Fi (if you plan to use the cloud) and mobile internet may be interrupted at the most inopportune moment.
• 🔐 Check that your old phone has enabled contact sync with your Mi Account (if you use Mi Cloud). → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Contacts.
• 📱 Update the firmware on both devices to the latest version. MIUI (below 12) some transfer functions may be missing.

Important nuance: If you use Google Contacts as your primary storage source, migrating over Mi Cloud can create duplicates, in which case it is better to use the sync method through Google Account (described in section 4).

⚠️ Note: If your old smartphone has two-factor authentication enabled for your Mi Account, prepare backup access codes. When you change your device, the system may require additional confirmation.

Method 2: Transfer contacts over Mi Cloud (the most reliable method)

The Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s official solution for synchronizing data between devices, and its main advantage is automatic synchronization in the background, which eliminates contact loss even when you drop your phone. MIUI 10 and newer.

Step-by-step action:

1. On an old smartphone: Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud. Turn on the slider opposite Contacts. Click Sync and wait until the process is complete (the cloud icon turns green).
2. On your new smartphone: Sign in to the same Mi Account when you first turn on or through Settings → Xiaomi Account. Activate Contact Sync in Mi Cloud. Wait 5-10 minutes – contacts will appear in the phone book automatically.

Critical detail: If the new phone already had contacts, they will merge with cloud data. Duplicates can be deleted later through the Contacts menu → Management → Combine and fix.

Sign in to one Mi Account on both phones|Enable contact synchronization|Wait for the green checkmark in the Mi Cloud|Check for contacts on the new device-->

⚠️ Note: Free Mi Cloud account only provides 5GB of storage.If your phone book takes up more (such as with contact photos), consider buying extra space or use an alternative method.

3. Method 2: Export of contacts to SIM-map (for older models)

method SIM-The card is suitable for devices without Internet access or for problems with the Mi Account:

• 🚫 SIM-The card stores only the name and number (without email, addresses, photos).
• 📏 Limit on number of contacts: usually 250-500 depending on the operator.
• ⏳ The process is manual and takes longer than cloud synchronization.

How to move:

1. On your old phone: Open the Contacts app. Press ⋮ (three-point) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-Select contacts for export (or click "Select all").
2. Move it. SIM-map.
3. On the new phone: Open "Contacts" → ⋮ → Management → Import with SIM-Confirm the import and wait until the completion.

Method 3: Sync through Google Account (universal method)

If you use Google Contacts as your primary storage source, this will be the fastest way to do it.It works on all Xiaomi smartphones, even if they don’t support Mi Cloud (e.g., devices for the global market).

Algorithm of action:

1. On your old phone: Open Settings → Accounts → Google. Select your account and enable Contact Sync. Click Sync Now.
2. On your new phone: Sign in to the same Google account when setting up or through Settings → Accounts. Enable Contact Sync. Open Contacts app and update the list (pull the screen down).

Advantages of the method:

• 🌍 It works on all Android devices, not just Xiaomi.
• 🔄 Automatically synchronizes changes (added/remote contacts).
• 📁 Stores all information: numbers, email, addresses, notes.

1. Internet connection (synchronization requires networking).

2. Google account settings: Sometimes contacts are hidden in the "Other Contacts" section.

3. Contacts version – update it via Google Play.-->

5. Method 4: Transfer over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

If you don't have access to the Internet, but you can use wireless technology, this is a lifeline, and it's a good way to move contacts between two Xiaomi smartphones without intermediaries, but it has downsides: slow speed and the risk of a connection breakdown.

Instructions:

1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
2. Connect devices (click "Device Search" and confirm the password).
3. On an old phone: Open Contacts. Select contacts to transfer (or click "Select All"). ⋮ → Send. → Bluetooth. Select a new smartphone from the list of associated devices.

.vcf

"Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Imports"

For Wi-Fi Direct, the algorithm is similar, but the connection is set through Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct. Transfer speeds will be higher, but stability depends on the surrounding networks.

⚠️ Note: When transferring via Bluetooth, contacts are sent as a.vcf file. If the file does not open on a new phone, download the Google Contacts app from the Play Market - it supports import from this format.

Method 5: Use the Mi Mover app (for full migration)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary tool for transferring all data (not just contacts, but also messages, photos, apps) from one smartphone to another, pre-installed on most Xiaomi devices and works without an internet connection.

How to use:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (if not, download from the App Store for Xiaomi).
2. On the new phone, select “I am a new user” and on the old phone, “I am sending data.”
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone on an old phone (or connect via Wi-Fi Direct).
4. Select "Contacts" in the data list for transfer.
5. Wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data).

Features of the Mi Mover:

• 📱 Supports a transfer between Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO.
• 🔄 Maintains the structure of contacts (groups, selected groups).
• 🚫 Does not work with other brands (such as Samsung or iPhone).

💡

The Mi Mover is the only way to transfer not only contacts, but also call history, SMS and even some system settings, but it must have at least 20 percent battery life on both phones to work.

7 Problem Solving: What to Do If Contacts Are Not Moved

Even if you follow the instructions, you may have a problem, and let's look at the typical situations and the ways you can handle them.

If none of the methods worked, try manually exporting to.vcf:

1. On an old phone: Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Export to file.
2. Copy the file to a new phone (via USB, Bluetooth or email).
3. Import it through Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Imports.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi