How to Transfer Contacts to Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide to 2026

Transfer contacts to the new smartphone Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO Even if you have carefully stored all the numbers for years, one wrong step in migration can lead to the loss of important data. In this article, we will examine all the current ways of transferring contacts - from classic exports to the traditional export of the Internet. SIM-maps before synchronization via Mi Account and cloud services.

The peculiarity of Xiaomi phones is that they work on a proprietary shell MIUI, It's a very nuanced contact experience, like the latest versions (MIUI 14+) The import/export menu has changed, and some old methods (like direct copying via Bluetooth) have stopped working. 2026 year and Android models 12-14.

It is important: if you switch from iPhone to Xiaomi, or vice versa – from the iPhone to Xiaomi. Samsung/Huawei In Redmi, you're going to need different approaches. There are separate sections for each script.

1. Transfer of contacts with SIM-maps on Xiaomi

The easiest, but also the most limited way is to copy the contacts directly from the SIM-It's a good one if you have a card:

• 📱 You have an old phone (not a smartphone) with only support SIM-booklet
• 🔄 You are temporarily switching to Xiaomi and don’t want to set up the cloud
• 📶 There is no internet connection on the new phone (for example, after purchase)

Limitations of the method:

• ⚠️ SIM-The card only stores the name and number – photos, email, addresses and notes will be lost.
• 🔢 Usually the restriction of 250-500 Contacts (depends on the operator)
• 📵 Not all modern Xiaomis support export SIM (for example, POCO F5 You may not be able to show this option)

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SIM-Map with old contacts in Xiaomi.
2. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
3. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right → Settings → Import/Export of contacts.
4. Select Import with SIM-Maps and indicate where to save contacts (we recommend Device or Google).
5. Confirm the import and wait until it is completed (may take until the end of the day). 2-3 minutes with a large number of records).

Make sure all numbers are displayed correctly|Check the duplicates (MIUI can create copies)|Compare the number of contacts with the original|Delete blank records (sometimes "broken" contacts are imported)

-->

⚠️ Note: If after importing part of the numbers is displayed as "+79XXXXXXXX" instead "8-9XX-XXX-XX-XX", This is normal — Xiaomi automatically brings the format to the international standard. To return the usual look, go to the phone Settings. → Additionally. → Regional settings → Number format.

2. synchronize contacts through Google account

The most reliable and versatile way is to use Google Contacts, which works on any Android device, including all Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO. Advantages:

• ☁️ Automatic backup (contacts won’t be lost even when you reset your phone)
• 🔄 Synchronization between all devices (phone, tablet, computer)
• 📎 All data is stored: photos, email, addresses, birthdays
• 🔍 Easy search and editing through the web version of contacts.google.com

How to transfer contacts via Google:

1. On your old phone: Open the settings → Accounts (or Users and Accounts) Choose your Google Account → Turn on Contact Sync. Wait for sync to complete (check Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization).

On the new Xiaomi:

• When you first turn on your phone, log in to the same Google account.
• If the phone is already set up: Settings → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
• Enable contact synchronization in your account settings.

If no contact is made:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and check your internet connection.
• 🕒 Wait. 5-10 Minutes – sometimes synchronization is delayed.
• 🔧 Manually update synchronization: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize now.

Through a Google account|S SIM-map|Through VCF-file|With the Mi Account|In other ways.-->

3. Export and import of contacts through VCF-file

Format VCF (or.vcf is a universal standard for storing contacts:

• 📱 You are switching from iPhone to Xiaomi (or vice versa)
• 💻 You have a backup of your contacts on your computer.
• 🔄 You need to transfer contacts without the Internet (via a flash drive or Bluetooth)

How to export contacts to VCF:

1. On your old phone, open your contacts. → Settings (⋮) → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export to File (or Export to Device).
3. Specify which contacts to export (e.g., only from a Google account or from a Google account) SIM-map).
4. Click Export and save the file (usually called contacts.vcf).

How to import VCF to Xiaomi:

1. Transfer the.vcf file to your new phone (via Bluetooth, email, USB cloud).
2. Open the file through Files (Mi File Manager app) or directly from the download notification.
3. Choose where to import contacts (we recommend Google or Device).
4. Confirm the import and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Note: When importing large VCF-Xiaomi can freeze the file (over 1000 contacts) during processing, in which case break the file into parts using the service. VCF Splitter (available online).

4. Transfer contacts via Mi Account (for Xiaomi devices)

If you already have a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, If you're using a branded Mi Account, it takes only a few minutes to move your contacts, and it only works between Xiaomi devices and requires you to move your contacts:

• ☁️ Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network)
• 🔑 The same Mi Account on both phones
• 📱 Enable contact synchronization in account settings

Step-by-step:

1. On an old Xiaomi phone, check that contacts are saved in Mi Account: Open Contacts → Settings (⋮) → Contact management. Make sure you have a Mi Account on your source list.

• When you first turn on, log in to the same Mi Account.
• If the phone is already configured: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Synchronization.
• Turn on the Contact slider and wait for the synchronization to be completed.

If no contact is made:

• 🔄 Reboot both phones.
• 🔧 Manually update synchronization: Settings → Mi Account → Synchronize now.
• 📡 Check that both devices have mobile internet or Wi-Fi enabled.
• 🔑 Make sure you are logged in to the same account (sometimes users confuse logins).

💡

If you lost access to an old Xiaomi phone, but remember the data from Mi Account, restore contacts via the web version: go to account.xiaomi.com, log in and check the Cloud section. → Contacts. From there, you can export data to VCF-file.

5.Moving contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi

Moving from iPhone to Xiaomi requires a special approach, as Apple uses a closed ecosystem. Here are 3 working ways to move contacts:

Method 1: Through iCloud (recommended)

1. On iPhone, check that contacts are synced with iCloud: Settings → [Your name] → iCloud → Contacts (slider should be included).

icloud.com

Apple ID

Contacts

Exports vCard

.vcf

Xiaomi

email

Google Drive

Xiaomi

section VCF

Method 2: Google Account (if iCloud is not used)

1. On iPhone, add a Google account: Settings → Passwords and accounts → Add an account → Google.

Google

Xiaomi

Google account

Method 3: Using the “Switch to Android” app (for new Xiaomi models)

• 📱 Suitable for Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12 newer.
• 🔗 Requires the installation of an official application from Google.

1. On the iPhone, install the application "Switch to Android".
2. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Copy Data from iPhone.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning will be required) QR-code).
4. Select Contacts to transfer and wait until it is completed.

💡

When migrating from your iPhone to Xiaomi, avoid using Bluetooth – it often crops data (for example, does not tolerate contact photos or additional fields like “Working email”).

6. Transfer of contacts from Android to Xiaomi (Samsung, Huawei, etc.)

If you are switching from another Android phone (e.g. Samsung, Huawei, Realme), you have a few options:

Method 1: Using a Google Account (the easiest one)

Just sign in on the new Xiaomi to the same Google account as the old phone and enable sync (see Google section).

Method 2: Through Mi Mover (Official App from Xiaomi)

• 📱 It only works between Android devices.
• 🔌 Requires cable. USB-C → USB-C or USB OTG.
• 📶 Not only does it carry contacts, but it also SMS, photos, applications.

1. On your old phone, install Mi Mover (available on Google Play).
2. The new Xiaomi app is already pre-installed (called Mi Mover or Data Transfer).
3. Connect your phones with a cable (or via Wi-Fi Direct if there is no cable).
4. On the old phone, select Send, on the new phone, Receive.
5. Select Contacts and confirm the transfer.

Method 3: via Bluetooth (if other methods are not available)

This method is outdated, but it can work in extreme cases:

1. On your old phone, open your contacts. → select the required records → Share. → Bluetooth.
2. On Xiaomi, turn on Bluetooth and accept the file.
3. After transfer, open the received.vcf file and import the contacts.

⚠️ Note: When you transfer your contacts via Mi Mover or Bluetooth, photos of your contacts may not be transmitted. To save avatars, pre-export the contacts to Google Contacts - there the photos will be saved in their original quality.

7. Backup of contacts on Xiaomi

To avoid losing contacts in the future, set up automatic backups. On Xiaomi, you can do this in three ways:

Method 1: Autosynchronization with Google

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
2. Turn on the Contact Slider.
3. Press More (⋮) → Synchronize now.

Method 2: Backup through Mi Cloud

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable Contacts and press Sync.
3. For manual backup: Settings → System system → Backup → Local backup.

Method 3: Export to VCF monthly

We recommend doing this manually if you have important contacts:

1. Open Contacts. → Settings (⋮) → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
2. Save the file to your internal memory or SD-map.
3. Copy the file to your computer or to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Drive).

💡

To remember the backup, set a reminder in your Calendar or Notes on the first day of each month, such as “Make a backup of your contacts on Xiaomi.”

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you migrate your contacts to Xiaomi, users experience common mistakes, and here’s how to fix them:

Problem 1: Contacts are duplicated

This happens if you have imported contacts from multiple sources (e.g., and from a SIM, from Google).

• 🔍 To remove duplicates: Open Contacts → Settings (⋮) → Contact management → Combine duplicates.
• 🧹 For mass removal: Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports → Delete all contacts (will be asked to select the source).

Problem 2: Contact photos are not displayed

Photos may not be transferred if:

• You've imported contacts from SIM-Cards (it doesn't store photos).
• Used Bluetooth or Mi Mover (sometimes compresses images).

Solution: Move your contacts through a Google account or VCF-file, first making sure that the photos are attached to the records.

Problem 3: Contacts are not synced with Google

Check it out.

• 🔌 Internet connection (synchronization does not work without a network).
• 🔄 In the account settings is synchronization of Contacts enabled.
• 📅 Date and time on the phone (if they are downed, sync may not work).
• 🔧 Updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.

Problem 4: After resetting the phone, contacts are gone

If you haven’t done a backup, try:

• ☁️ Sign in to Google or Mi Account – Contacts can be restored automatically.
• 🔍 Check the Mi folder. Cloud/Backup file manager – sometimes backup copies are saved there.
• 📞 Contact the operator – some operators (for example, MTS, Beeline) store copies of contacts with the operator. SIM-map.

💡

If you lost contacts and didn't backup, try using data recovery software like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver, which can find deleted records if the phone hasn't recorded new data after the loss.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions