How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi: all working methods of 2026

Why is it difficult to transfer contacts from iOS to Android?

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi smartphone is not just a change of gadget, but a transition between two fundamentally different ecosystems: iOS and Android. The main problem is that Apple actively blocks direct data migration to competitors’ devices, especially when it comes to contacts, photos and notes. Unlike Samsung or Google Pixel, where there are built-in tools for porting from the iPhone, Xiaomi owners often have to use workarounds.

Another nuance is the format of the contacts’ storage. On the iPhone, they are locked to iCloud by default, whereas Xiaomi syncs them to Mi Account or Google account by default. If you don’t set up sync in advance, contacts can simply disappear after you reset or flash your phone. Fortunately, there are at least 5 reliable ways to transfer them, from classic exporting via vCard to automatically syncing through Google Contacts.

In this article, we will discuss each method in detail, taking into account the features of the latest versions of MIUI (14-15) and iOS (17-18).

Method 1: Transferring contacts via iCloud (the most reliable method)

This method is suitable for those who already use iCloud for contact backup, and its main advantage is to save all information (including contact photos, social media accounts, and additional fields), minus requiring a computer or laptop for intermediate export.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Open on iPhone Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is on.
• 💻 On your computer, go to iCloud.com, log in and select Contacts».
• 🔄 Click on the gear in the lower left corner and select “Export vCard” – the.vcf file will be saved to your PC.
• 📲 Connect Xiaomi to your computer, copy the.vcf file to your phone’s memory, then open it – the system will prompt you to import contacts.

⚠️ Note: If you have two-factor authentication enabled in iCloud, you will need to enter a code from a trusted device to log in to the site. If the iPhone is already sold or dropped, it will be difficult to restore access - untie your account in advance or save backup codes.

Contact synchronization is enabled in iCloud

On the computer installed a modern browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge)

File.vcf downloaded completely (check the size - it should not be 0 KB)

Xiaomi has enough memory to import (1 contact) ≈ 2-5 KB)-->

Once imported, check the contacts for duplicates. MIUI has a built-in tool for this: open the Contacts app, click on the three dots in the upper right corner, and select Contact Management → Combine Doubles. If the contacts are more than 500, the process can take 5-10 minutes.

Method 2: Sync through Google Account (automatically)

This is the easiest way to use Google services on Xiaomi, which works without a computer, but requires a stable Internet connection, and the main advantage is that contacts will automatically update when you add new ones on any device.

Step-by-step:

1. On iPhone, open Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
2. Enter your Google account details (if you don’t have one, create a new one).
3. Turn on the Contacts switch and wait until the sync is complete (it can take up to 30 minutes depending on the number of contacts).
4. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select the same Google account, or add it manually to Settings → Accounts and Sync.
5. Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi and make sure that sync with Google is enabled in the settings.

(1) Is mobile internet or Wi-Fi enabled?

(2) Does the antivirus (e.g. Avast or Kaspersky) block synchronization?

3) Is there enough space in the Google account (15 GB free, contacts take up little space, but if the account is crowded, sync may not work).-->

Importantly, if you've used iCloud before and now you've added a Google account, you might see duplicate contacts on your iPhone, so to avoid that, before syncing:

1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
2. Click Groups in the top left corner and uncheck all accounts except iCloud.
3. Then, you can sync with Google.

Method 3: Transfer through SIM-card if there are few contacts)

This method is suitable for carrying a small number of contacts (up to 250) and does not require Internet.

• 🚫 Contact photos and additional fields (email, addresses) are not transferred).
• 🐢 Manual process – each contact has to be copied separately.
• ⚠️ On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) imports from the SIM It may not work due to restrictions MIUI.

How to move:

1. On iPhone, open Contacts, select the contact you want, and click Share → Copy on SIM.
2. Repeat for all contacts (unfortunately, there is no batch copy).
3. Put it in. SIM-Map in Xiaomi, open "Contacts» → «Settings» → «Imports/Exports» → «Import with SIM-map».

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone 14/15 newer physical SIM-The card may not be available (there is only eSIM). In this case, the method will not work - use iCloud or Google.

Method 4: Using apps for migration (Move to iOS, SHAREit, Mi Mover)

You can use specialized applications to do this, but there are some nuances.

The most reliable option on this list is the Mi Mover, but it only works once: when Xiaomi first starts, if the phone is already set up, you will have to reset it to factory settings (which is not always convenient).

1. Install SHAREit on iPhone and Xiaomi from the App Store and Google Play.
2. On iPhone, select “Send” → “Contacts”, on Xiaomi – “Get”.
3. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create hotspot on your iPhone.
4. Wait until the transfer is complete (it can take up to 15 minutes for 1000+ contacts).

Through the Cloud (iCloud, Google)

With cable and PC

Apps like Shareit

SIM-map

I never did, I bought a phone from scratch"-->

Method 5: Manual export/import via vCard file (for advanced)

This is a method that works for those who prefer complete control of the process, allowing them to selectively transfer only the desired contacts by filtering out duplicates or outdated records, and you will need a computer and any file manager (for example, Total Commander or a standard Explorer).

Instructions:

1. On iPhone, open Settings → Contacts → Export contacts (if this option is not available, use iCloud as in Method 1).
2. Copy the contacts.vcf file to your computer.
3. Open the file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad++) and manually delete unnecessary contacts (each contact starts with BEGIN:VCARD and ends with END:VCARD).
4. Save the edited file and transfer it to Xiaomi via cable or cloud.
5. On Xiaomi, open the file and the system will prompt you to import contacts.

The advantage of this method is to completely clean the contact database of debris, for example, you can remove:

• 📇 Contacts without names (numbers only).
• 🔢 Duplicates with the same phones.
• 🗑️ Old records (for example, marked "Work, 2018»).

💡

If you edit a.vcf file manually, be sure to check the encoding – it must be UTF-8. Otherwise, Cyrillic characters will appear in Krakozabra.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right contacts transfer, users are faced with errors, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

If contacts are displayed incorrectly after transfer (for example, instead of names – phone numbers), check the display settings in the Contacts app on Xiaomi:

1. Open the "Contact» → «Settings” (three dots at the top).
2. Select “Name Format” and set “Family Name” (the default may be “Family Name”).
3. Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions