How to Move Contacts on Xiaomi Phone with MIUI 12: The Complete Guide

Shifting contacts to Xiaomi’s new MIUI 12 smartphone may seem like a trivial task, until you encounter unexpected system limitations or lost data. Unlike current versions of MIUI 14+, where cloud sync is set up automatically, the twelfth version requires manual control of the process, a particularly pressing problem for users who switch from other brands’ Android devices or recover data after resetting.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to transfer contacts – from classic export through the Internet. SIM-map before syncing with Mi Account and Google, each method tested on Redmi Note 9 Pro, Mi devices 10T and POCO X3 NFC original-fixed MIUI 12.5 (Stable Version) You will learn how to avoid duplication of records, why some contacts may not be transferred, and what to do if the system gives an error Sync is stopped.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start the transfer, make sure your Xiaomi is ready for surgery.Missing these steps can lead to data loss or system failures.

First, check the MIUI version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have global firmware installed (e.g. MIUI Global 12.0.1), all of the methods described will work. The Chinese versions (China ROM) may require additional setup of the Google Services Framework.

Check the MIUI version in the settings

Make sure that there is enough free space on the phone (minimum 500 MB)

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network or mobile Internet

Charge your phone at least 50%

Turn off the energy saving modes (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime)-->

Second, disable battery optimization for Contacts and Google Contacts (if you use it).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Contacts app (or Google Contacts).
3. Select Battery Consumption → No restrictions.

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring contacts from iPhone, pre-disable iCloud sync in Apple settings ID. Otherwise, the contacts may be duplicated or blocked by Xiaomi as untrusted".

2. Method 1: Sync through Google account (recommended method)

The most reliable way to transfer is to use a Google account, which works even if you are switching from another Android device or recovering data after a reset, the main advantage is that contacts are automatically updated on all devices where you are logged in.

Instructions for MIUI 12:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Click Add Add Account → Google and log in.
3. Go back to Accounts and Sync and select your Google account.
4. Activate the switch next to Contacts.
5. Wait 5-10 minutes (synchronization can take longer with more contacts).

If no contact appears:

• 🔄 Check your internet connection (only sync works online).
• 📱 Make sure that your contacts are saved to Google instead of in the device’s memory.
• ⚙️ Reboot the phone and re-sync.

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If you are migrating contacts from your iPhone, export them to Google Contacts first via iCloud: go to contacts.google.com, click Import, and select vCard from iCloud.

3.Track 2: Export/import through SIM-Card (for small number of contacts)

This method is suitable if you have fewer than 250 contacts (limitation). SIM-- no internet access, but be careful: MIUI 12 may incorrectly process Cyrillic symbols when exported to SIM.

How to move:

1. On your old phone, open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ⋮ (three-point) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
3. Select contacts for export (or click Select All).
4. Put it in. SIM-map.
5. In the Contacts app on Xiaomi, select Import with SIM-map.

⚠️ Note: When exporting to SIM-Card lost: Contact photos; Additional fields (dates of birth, addresses); Notes and contact groups. Use this method only as a temporary solution.

4. Method 3: Using Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically syncs contacts if you’re logged in to Mi Account. However, in MIUI 12, this feature can be disabled by default.

How to turn on synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Make sure you are logged in (if not, log in to your account).
3. Activate the Contact Switch.
4. Click Sync (SMS confirmation may be required).

If the contacts are not synchronized:

• 🔧 Check if the traffic saving mode is included in the Settings → Connections → Use of data.
• 📶 Reconnect to the network (sometimes switching between Wi-Fi and mobile internet helps).
• 🔄 Update the Mi Cloud app to Google Play (even on Xiaomi, it may be outdated).

5. Method 4: Transfer via vCard (.vcf)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal way to export contacts that works on all platforms. MIUI 12 supports import/export.vcf without additional applications.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, export contacts to the.vcf file (in the Contacts app, select Export → Save as vCard).
2. Transfer the file to Xiaomi via: 📎 Bluetooth; 📂 Conductor (if the file is on the memory card); ☁️ The cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

Xiaomi

.vcf

⚠️ Note: When importing.vcf in MIUI 12 There may be an error Some contacts may not be imported, this is due to a limit on the number of fields in one contact Solution: break up a large.vcf file into several smaller ones (500 contacts each) using vcfsplitter.com.

Synchronization through Google

Exports to SIM-map

Mi Cloud

File vCard (.vcf)

Another way.-->

6. Method 5: Transfer from iPhone to Xiaomi (features) MIUI 12)

The transition from iPhone to Xiaomi requires additional steps because of the ecosystem difference. MIUI 12 does not have a built-in direct port tool from iOS, so you will have to use workarounds.

Step-by-step:

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and turn off contact sync.
2. Install Google Contacts from the App Store.
3. Export contacts from iCloud to Google Contacts: Go to contacts.google.com. Click Import → Select a file and download a backup from iCloud (.vcf file).

Xiaomi

Google account

Method 1

If contacts are not moved:

• 🔍 Check if it's blocking. MIUI 12 background activity of Google Contacts (in battery settings).
• 📵 Make sure your iPhone has Restrictions disabled. → Contacts.
• 🔄 Try repeating the export by selecting vCard 3.0 (in iCloud when exporting).

7. Problem Solving: Why Contacts Are Not Portable

Even if the instructions are followed correctly, contacts may not appear on Xiaomi.

A critical feature of MIUI 12 is that if you’ve previously used the Chinese version of the firmware (China ROM), you’ll need to manually install the Google Services Framework via Magisk or reflash your phone to the global version to sync with Google.

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Before resetting your settings on Xiaomi, always check where your contacts are stored: in your phone memory, on your phone. SIM-Map, Google or Mi Cloud, and once reset, the data from the device's memory will be deleted without recovery!

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi