Why Bluetooth is not always the best way to transfer contacts
Moving contacts between Huawei and Xiaomi smartphones over Bluetooth seems like a simple solution: there is no need for cables, the Internet or cloud services. However, in practice, users face the limitations of the OBEX (Object Exchange), which is responsible for transferring files over Bluetooth. The main problem is that Xiaomi and Huawei use different shells (MIUI and EMUI respectively), which sometimes leads to conflicts when sharing data.
In this article, we'll look at all the working ways to transfer contacts over Bluetooth, including workarounds for cases where standard transmission is not working, how to prepare both phones, what settings to check, and what to do if contacts are not fully or error-free, and alternative methods in case Bluetooth refuses to cooperate.
Note: If you have a Huawei model older than 2018 or Xiaomi model on MIUI 12 or lower, you may need to update the software in advance.
Preparation of telephones for the transfer of contacts
Before starting the transfer, make sure that both devices meet the minimum requirements:
- 📱 Bluetooth version: no lower than 4.0 (both phones) can be checked in Settings → The phone. → Bluetooth version.
- 🔋 Battery charge: at least 30% on both devices, and contact transfers can be interrupted if the phone runs out in the process.
- 📶 Free space: Xiaomi should have at least 50MB of memory – temporary contact files take up more space than it seems.
- 🔒 Permissions: On Huawei, enable access to contacts for the Bluetooth app in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
Pay special attention to device visibility. On Huawei, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the “Visibility for All” option for 2-5 minutes. On Xiaomi, in the same menu, turn on “Device Search.” If these items do not exist, update your firmware or use an alternative method (about them below).
Bluetooth activated on both phones |
Devices see each other on the list available |
Huawei has visibility enabled for everyone |
Xiaomi has power saving mode turned off |
Checked free space on Xiaomi-->
Standard method: Transfer of contacts via Bluetooth
If both phones support Bluetooth contact exchange, follow this instruction:
- On Huawei, open the Contacts app, click on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Import/Export" → "Send contacts".
- Select the contacts to transfer (you can mark everything) and click "Share." In the list of options, select Bluetooth.
- On Xiaomi, confirm the file. Contacts will come in.vcf. Open the file and the system will suggest importing the contacts into the phone book.
If there is no Bluetooth item in step 2, your Huawei model does not support direct contact transfer via this protocol, in which case use the file-export method (described below).
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If the contacts are not transmitted in their entirety, try sending them in portions of 50 to 100 pieces. Some Xiaomi models limit the size of the file received via Bluetooth.
Alternative method: Export contacts to file and transfer via Bluetooth
This is a universal approach that works even on older models, and the idea is to first save contacts to a.vcf file and then transfer them over Bluetooth as a normal document.
Instructions for Huawei:
- Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Exports to the vault.
- Select a save location (e.g., Internal Memory) and confirm export. The file will be called contacts.vcf.
- Open Files, search for contacts.vcf, click Share and select Bluetooth.
On Xiaomi after receiving the file:
- Open the received contacts.vcf.
- Select "Import All" (or selectively).
- Check that the contacts appear in the phone book (sometimes they end up in a Google account instead of a local storage).
What if the.vcf file doesn’t open on Xiaomi?
Solving problems in the transfer of contacts
Even with the right setup, errors can occur. Let's consider the most common and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth does not find the second device | Bluetooth version conflict or power saving mode enabled | Turn off power saving, reboot both phones, check visibility |
| Contacts are not fully transmitted | Limiting the file size on Xiaomi | Break contacts into 50-100 pieces or use the cloud |
| .vcf file is not imported | File damage or encoding incompatibility | Export contacts again, check the encoding (should be UTF-8) |
| Transmission interrupted | Weak Bluetooth signal or interference | Place your phones closer together, turn off Wi-Fi during transmission |
If neither of these methods worked, check the sync settings on both phones. On Huawei, go to Settings → Accounts → Huawei ID → Contact Sync and disable it. On Xiaomi, do the same in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account. Sometimes cloud sync blocks local data exchange.
Bluetooth|Cable OTG|Cloud Services (Google, Mi Cloud)|Apps like Shareit|Other-->
Fast alternatives: when Bluetooth doesn't work
If Bluetooth transmissions are constantly disrupted or devices can’t see each other, consider these methods:
- 📁 Through cable. OTG: Connect the flash drive to Huawei, export contacts to.vcf, then insert the flash drive into Xiaomi and import the file. OTG-adapter.
- ☁️ Cloud services: Sync contacts with Google Account on Huawei, then add the same account on Xiaomi and enable sync.
- 📲 Special apps: Install SHAREit, Xender or Send Anywhere on both phones, and they transmit data over Wi-Fi Direct, which is faster and more reliable than Bluetooth.
- 🔗 QR-Code: Some Xiaomi models (starting with the MIUI 13) support the import of contacts through scanning QR-Export your contacts to the code. QR on Huawei (via apps like this) QR Code Generator and scan on Xiaomi.
The most reliable alternative is a Google Account, but it requires an internet connection, and if you care about privacy, choose OTG or Wi-Fi Direct (via apps).
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When using cloud services (Google, Mi Cloud), contacts can be duplicated. Before syncing, back up old contacts on Xiaomi.
How to avoid data loss during transfer
The transfer of contacts always involves the risk of losing some information, so that you can minimize it by:
⚠️ Note: Before any transfer method, back up your contacts to Huawei. To do this, export them to a.vcf file and save them to your computer or the cloud.
A few more tips:
- 🔍 Check the format of the names in the contacts. If they contain special characters (such as emoticons or non-standard signs), Xiaomi may not import them correctly.
- 📞 Make sure that the phone numbers are recorded in an international format (e.g, +79123456789 instead of 89123456789) This will help to avoid problems with the number ID on Xiaomi.
- 🗂️ If the contacts are divided into groups (e.g., "Work", "Friends"), export them separately.
After the transfer, be sure to check duplicates. On Xiaomi, open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Combining duplicates will eliminate the repetitive records that often occur when imported from different sources.