Transferring contacts to new Xiaomi phone via Google account: full guide

Why Google Account is the Best Way to Move Contacts to Xiaomi

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always accompanied by the question: how to save all important contacts without loss? Using a Google account for sync is the most reliable and versatile method that works on all Android devices, including the latest Redmi models, POCO and flagship Xiaomi 14. Unlike local backups or manual export, this method ensures that your phone book will be available on any device after authorization.

The main advantage of the method is automatic synchronization in the background, which means that even if you lose or break an old phone, contacts will remain safe on Google servers. In addition, the process takes only a few minutes and does not require connecting to a computer or using third-party applications. And with the release of MIUI 15, the transfer algorithm became even easier thanks to optimized account settings.

In this article, we will discuss in detail:

• 🔄 How to enable contact sync on your old phone before the perenosom
• 📱 Step-by-step instructions for the new Xiaomi (including HyperOS models)
• ⚠️ Common mistakes and how to avoid them (e.g., duplicate contacts)
• 🔍 Alternative ways if Google account is not suitable

Preparing the old phone: turn on contact synchronization

Before you transfer contacts, you need to make sure that they are saved in a Google account, not just in the memory of your phone or phone. SIM-You can check this in the sync settings, and if you've never set this setting, there's a high risk that the contacts are stored locally and won't be moved.

Android Instructions (relevant to all versions, including MIUI 14 and later):

1. Open the Settings app on your old phone.
2. Go to Accounts and Sync (or Google → Manage your Google Account on new versions).
3. Choose your Google account (if there are more than one, the one you’ll use on the new Xiaomi).
4. Click Account Sync and make sure that the slider opposite Contact is active (burns green).
5. If the synchronization is disabled, turn it on and wait for the process to be completed (it can take up to 5 minutes depending on the number of contacts).

Contact synchronization is included in Google account|Old phone connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data)|Xiaomi has the same Google account as the old one.|Contacts are not stored only on SIM-map-->

If you see SIM or Phone icons in your contact list, it means that some numbers are not synced with Google, and then you need to manually export them to your account:

• 📇 Open the Contacts app → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
• 📤 Select the source (SIM Or Device) and export to Google Account.

⚠️ Note: If you are using an old phone MIUI version below 12, the path to sync settings may be different. → Google → Synchronize contacts.

Transfer contacts to the new Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Once contacts are successfully synced with Google, you can start migrating them to a new smartphone, which takes no more than 10 minutes, but requires a stable Internet connection. Consider two scenarios: initial setup (when the phone has just been unpacked) and adding an account to an already configured device.

Scenario 1: The new Xiaomi just turned on (Initial setup)

If you’ve just purchased the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi Note 12, or other model, follow these steps during the initial setup:

• 📱 Turn on your phone and select a language, connect to Wi-Fi.
• 🔑 At the Data Copy stage, select Copy from Android → From the cloud.
• ☁️ Enter the same Google account used on the old phone.
• ✅ Confirm the synchronization of contacts (the tick must stand opposite the Contact).
• 🔄 Wait for the process to be completed (the screen will display a notification Ready!).

Scenario 2: Phone is already set up (add account)

If the new Xiaomi is already in use, but the contacts are not moved:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Click Add Add Account → Google and log in.
3. After adding an account, go back to the Accounts section, select your Google profile, and enable sync for Contacts.
4. Update the Contacts app (close and reopen it) – numbers will appear within 1-2 minutes.

Through Google Account | Through SIM-card | Using third-party applications (e.g. Mi Mover) | Manual input |Another way-->

A critical detail for Xiaomi owners with HyperOS: in the new firmware, the path to sync settings has changed. Now it is in Settings → Memory and Sync → Sync Management. If you don’t find this partition, contacts won’t move!

Problems in transferring contacts and their solutions

Even with proper synchronization, there are sometimes difficulties, and let's look at some of the most common errors and how to fix them.

If the contacts are still not displayed, try the following algorithm:

1. Delete your Google account from the new Xiaomi (Settings → Accounts → Delete account).
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Add the account again and enable synchronization.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X5) Once you reset, contacts may disappear if you don't have backup enabled in Mi Cloud!

Alternative ways to transfer contacts to Xiaomi

If you can’t use a Google account for some reason (like not having access to an old phone or having login issues), consider alternative methods.

• 📁 Exports/imports through VCF-File: On an old phone: Contacts → Management → Export to.vcf (save to memory card or cloud) on new Xiaomi: import file via Contacts → Management → Import. Con: not automatically synchronized, you need to repeat when you add new contacts.
• 📶 Mi Mover (official Xiaomi app): Install Mi Mover on both phones from Google Play. Connect to the same Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions in the app. Plus: transfers not only contacts, but also SMS, photos, applications.
• 📱 SIM-map: Export contacts to SIM On an old phone, then import on a new one.Cons: limit on the number of contacts (usually up to 250), no photos and additional fields.

For Xiaomi owners with HyperOS, there is another way – Mi Cloud. However, it requires pre-registration of a Xiaomi account and may not work on models for the global market (for example, Redmi Note 12 Global).

How to check if your contacts have been successfully transferred

Once you've done synchronization, it's important to make sure that all the data is in place and not lost.

1. Check through the Contacts app: Open the app and scroll through the list. Make sure the number of contacts matches the old phone. Check a few random records for all fields (numbers, email, addresses).
2. Check through the web version of Google Contacts: Go to contacts.google.com from a computer or a new phone. log in with the same account and check the number of contacts.

Checking groups and tags:

• If you have used groups (e.g. Work, Family), make sure they are transferred too.

If you find missing contacts:

• 🔍 Check the Archive folder or Other Contacts in Google Contacts – sometimes the records are automatically sent there.
• 🔄 Repeat synchronization, pre-disable and enable it in the account settings.

💡

Back up your contacts in VCF format even after successfully migrating. To do this, export them through Settings → System → Backup → Contacts and save the file to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Telegram).

Security and Privacy: What You Need to Know

Moving contacts through a Google account is convenient, but it is important to keep in mind the security of personal data.

• 🔒 Two-factor authentication (2FA): Enable it for your Google account to protect your contacts from unauthorized access. → Security → Two-step verification.
• 📊 Access Control: Check which apps have access to your contacts in the Settings section → Annexes → Permits → Contacts. Remove access to unnecessary programs.
• 🗑️ Remove old data: After a successful transfer, clear the contacts on your old phone (if you have it left) or reset it to factory settings before selling.

If you use Xiaomi with China ROM, please note that some Google services may be limited.

• Install Google Play Services manually (instructions are available on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums).
• Use Mi Cloud as your primary sync method, but duplicate your data to Google for reliability.

⚠️ Note: On phones with HyperOS in the Chinese version (CN ROM) Synchronization with Google may not work smoothly. Before buying such a device, check with the seller whether it supports Google Mobile Services (GMS).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

Moving contacts over a Google account is the most reliable way, but always duplicate data. Save a VCF backup on a cloud drive or send it to yourself by email. This will protect you from losing contacts when sync failures or a phone reset.