How to Transfer Android Contacts to Xiaomi: From Google Account to MIUI Migration

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting: fresh MIUI firmware, an improved camera and a powerful processor. But there is one routine that poisons the joy of a new gadget – transferring contacts. Especially if you switch from another Android device (such as Samsung, Huawei or Realme) to Redmi Note 13, POCO X6 Pro or Xiaomi 14. Copying errors can lead to loss of important numbers, duplication of records or even synchronization failure.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to transfer contacts, from standard Google tools to MIUI chips, which method is the fastest, which is more reliable for large phone books (1000+ contacts), and how to avoid typical errors, and hidden features that are not written about in official instructions (for example, how to transfer contacts without the Internet or if an old phone is broken).

Whether you’re switching from Android 10 to MIUI 14 or Android 13 to HyperOS, the instructions are universal and work on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models of the last 5 years.

1. Transfer through Google Account: the most reliable way

If you’ve used Google Contacts on your old phone, it won’t take more than 5 minutes to migrate to Xiaomi, which ensures that all data (including photos of contacts, birthdays, and additional fields) is safe and works even if your screen on your old device breaks (provided that sync has been enabled earlier).

Here's how to do it:

• 📱 On your old phone: Open Settings → Accounts. → Google and make sure the switch next to Contacts is on. If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait until it is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes with a lot of contacts).
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, you'll prompt you to log in to your Google Account. Use the same account you used on your old phone. If the device is already set up, go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Add an account → Google.
• 📥 Download contacts: after logging into the account, go to the Contacts app (MIUI Google Contacts is the standard Google Contacts app, and you will automatically receive your contacts within 1-2 minutes.

Importantly, if the contacts on the old phone were stored in the device memory instead of Google, this method will not work, in which case export the contacts to Google first (instructions below in the section on export / import).

⚠️ Note: If you have two Google accounts with the same contacts, MIUI Before penos, check if there are any duplicate entries in contacts.google.com (via your browser on PC).

Contact sync enabled on old phone|The same Google Account is used.|Xiaomi has enough room for synchronization|Checked duplicates in contacts.google.com-->

2.Migration through MIUI Migration: Xiaomi's proprietary tool

Xiaomi has developed its own data porting solution, MIUI Migration (formerly Mi Mover), which replicates not only contacts, but also SMS, photos, apps and even system settings.

• ⚡ It only works between devices with MIUI/HyperOS (Not suitable for porting from Samsung, OnePlus, etc.).
• 🔌 Requires cable. OTG Wi-Fi Direct (Bluetooth is not supported).
• 📦 Transfers up to 1000 contacts at a time (with more can hang).

Step-by-step:

1. On both phones, install the MIUI Migration app (you can download from GetApps or the official Xiaomi store).
2. On the old phone, select I send, on the new phone, I receive.
3. Connect devices via Wi-Fi Direct (wireless method) or OTG cable (needs a USB-C to USB-C or Micro-USB to USB-C adapter, depending on the ports).
4. On the old phone, tick Contacts and click Send. On the new phone, confirm acceptance.

The transfer speed depends on the method of connection:

⚠️ Note: If the new Xiaomi is HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70), old — MIUI 12 and below may require an update MIUI Migration to the latest version, otherwise the application will give an error "Incompatible versions".

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If MIUI Migration doesn’t see the old device over Wi-Fi Direct, reboot both phones and try to connect manually via Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct.

3.Export/import via VCF file: universal method

A VCF file (or.vcf) is the standard contact storage format that all Android devices support, and its advantage is that you can back up your PC, manually edit contacts (like Excel), or migrate them to your iPhone in the future.

Instructions for export on the old phone:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Exports/imports → Export to file.
3. Choose where to save the file: Internal memory or SD-map.
4. Name the file (for example, contacts_backup.vcf) and press Save.

Now Import to Xiaomi:

1. Copy the.vcf file to your new phone (via Bluetooth, Telegram, Google Drive or cable).
2. Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
3. Go to Contact Management → Import / Export → Import from the device.
4. Select the.vcf file and confirm the import.

If you have more than 2,000 contacts, break the file into parts (e.g., via VCF Splitter) or MIUI may not process it completely.

4. Transfer through SIM-map: if there is no internet

It's a good solution for emergencies, where you don't have access to Wi-Fi, mobile Internet, or cable, but it has some serious limitations.

• 📵 Only name and number (without email, addresses, photos) are saved).
• 📏 Limit on the number of contacts (depending on the number of contacts) SIM-cards, usually 200-500).
• ⏳ Long process (transferring 300 contacts can take 15-20 minutes).

How to transfer contacts via SIM:

1. On your old phone, open your contacts. → Settings → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
2. Select contacts for export (or click Select All).
3. Wait for completion and retrieve SIM-map.
4. Insert the SIM into the new Xiaomi.
5. On the new phone go to Contacts → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 12 or X-ray) POCO M6 Pro) importation of c SIM-The card may not work if you use eSIM. In this case, use the.vcf method.

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SIM-The card is the only way to transfer contacts that works without the Internet, cables and third-party applications, but only for the basic phone book.

5. Bluetooth and third-party applications: when standard methods don't work

If none of the above methods works (for example, an old phone has a broken screen but Bluetooth is working), there are alternative solutions.

A. Bluetooth transmission (suitable for 50–100 contacts):

• 🔵 On your old phone, open Contacts, select the required records and click Share → Bluetooth.
• 📲 On Xiaomi, turn on Bluetooth and confirm the file acceptance (usually.vcf).
• 📥 After transfer, open the received file - contacts will be automatically added to the phone book.

B. Third-party applications (for large amounts of data):

Example of transfer via SHAREit:

1. Install SHAREit on both phones (you can download from the official website).
2. On your old phone, select Send → Contacts and mark the required entries.
3. On Xiaomi, click Get and Scan QR-screencode.
4. Confirm the transfer – contacts will appear in the phone book of the new smartphone.

⚠️ Note: Applications like SHAREit or Xender often request access to geolocation, files and other data. SMS. Before installing, check the permissions in Google Play and disable the unnecessary in the settings. MIUI (Settings → Annexes → Permits).

6.Moving contacts from broken Android to Xiaomi

Situation: The screen of the old phone doesn't work, but the device turns on and reacts to the connection to the PC, in which case you can extract contacts through the computer without access to the Android interface.

Method 1: Through ADB (for advanced users)

• 🖥️ Connect your old phone to your PC via USB (debugging USB should be included in advance!).
• 📂 Install. ADB Tools and execute the command: adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db This will copy the contact database on the PC.
• 🔧 Use the program. DB Browser for SQLite to open a file contacts2.db and export contacts to.vcf.

Method 2: Through Google Backup (if sync was enabled)

• 🌐 Go to contacts.google.com from PC.
• 📤 Press Export. → Select contacts → Exports as VCF.
• 📥 Copy the file you receive on Xiaomi and import it (instructions in Section 3).

Method 3: Through SIM-map (if the screen responds to touch)

• 📱 Put it on the phone. USB-mouse-wise OTG-adapter.
• 🖱️ With the help of the mouse, export contacts to SIM-map (as in section 4).

Comparison of all methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table on the speed, reliability and requirements of each method:

Selection recommendations:

• 🔹 If you have a stable Internet → Use a Google Account.
• 🔹 Switch from Xiaomi to Xiaomi → MIUI Migration.
• 🔹 You need to edit the contacts before the penos → export to.vcf.
• 🔹 No internet and no cable. → SIM-map.
• 🔹 Screen's broken → try ADB Google Contacts via PC.

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For 90% of users, the best choice is Google Account or MIUI Migration. The rest of the methods are needed only in unusual situations (no Internet, a broken screen, etc.).

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi