How to transfer contacts from Android to Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all the ways from synchronization to manual export

Transferring contacts between Android devices seems like a simple task — until you encounter the nuances of MIUI on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. Even in 2026, users lose data due to the wrong method or missed details in the settings. This article will not just list the ways, but will help you choose the best option depending on your situation: whether you have access to the old phone, whether it runs a Google account, how many contacts you need to move and how valuable they are.

Feature Redmi Note 7 - its firmware MIUI, which sometimes blocks standard Android features or requires additional confirmations, such as when importing through the SIM-The map system can request permission to access contacts twice, and sync with Google can freeze due to background restrictions. MIUI 12-14 and highlighted the ones that work stably, and you'll also learn how to restore contacts if something goes wrong, from backups to manually entering through Contacts.vcf.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before choosing a transfer method, follow 3 mandatory steps that will save time and prevent data loss:

• 📱 Check the MIUI version on Redmi Note 7: go to Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI. If the version is older than MIUI 12, update the system - older firmware may not have Bluetooth or QR-code import features.
• 🔄 Sync contacts with your old phone: open the Contacts app, click on three dots (menu) and select Contact Management → Import/Export. If the option is not available, then the contacts are already linked to a Google account or a SIM- card.
• 📡 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (if you plan to use cloud services). On Redmi Note 7, turn off the power saving mode for the Contacts app: Settings → Battery → Power saving mode → Applications.

Important: If the contacts are only stored on the SIM- card on the old phone, remove it and paste it into the Redmi Note 7 before the device is turned on. MIUI automatically prompts you to import data when you first start. If the phone is already activated, go to Contacts → Settings → Import with SIM- cards.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone has two-factor authentication enabled for your Google account, prepare backup codes. When you transfer through your account, the system may request confirmation on the previous device.

2. Method 1: Sync through Google account (most reliable)

This method works if your contacts are linked to your Google account on your old phone.

• 🔄 Automatic contact updates on all devices.
• 📱 No need to physically connect your phone.
• 🛡️ Data protected by Google backups.

Instructions for the old phone:

1. Open Settings → Accounts (or “Accounts”).
2. Select your Google account and make sure the Contacts switch is turned on.
3. Click on “Sync” (or “Sync Now”).

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi Note 7:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Add an account → Google.
2. Log in to the same account as on your old phone.
3. Enable contact synchronization in your account settings.
4. Open the Contacts app and wait for the data to come in (it can take up to 10 minutes).

If no contact is made:

• 🔄 Reboot the Redmi Note 7.
• 📶 Check your internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔧 In your Google account settings, click “Delete your account” and then add it again.

⚠️ Warning: If the contacts were stored in the device's memory on the old phone (not Google), this method won't work. Use Method 3 or 4.

3 Method 2: Transfer over the SIM- card (if contacts are few)

This method is suitable for transferring contacts to 250 (SIM- card restriction). It does not require Internet access, but has disadvantages:

• ❌ Contact photos and additional fields (e.g., dates of birth) are lost.
• ❌ Numbers are saved in international format (can be added +7 instead of 8).
• ✅ Works even on phones without access to Google.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → Settings (or Contact Management) → Export/Import.
2. Select "Export to" SIM-map and confirm the action.
3. Remove the SIM- card and paste it into the Redmi Note 7.
4. On Xiaomi go to Contacts → Settings → Import with SIM- cards.
5. Select contacts for import (all are possible) and click “Done”.

If there is no import/export option:

• 📌 Some firmwares have a different path: Contacts → Three dots (menu) → Settings → Contact Management → Import/Export.
• 📌 The MIUI 14 may require permission to access contacts for the SIM-map application.

💡

If the Redmi Note 7 doesn’t display an import menu with SIM, try inserting the card into the SIM 1 slot – some versions of MIUI ignore the second slot.

4 Method 3: Export/import via VCF file (for large databases)

.vcf (vCard) is a universal way to transfer contacts, including photos, email and additional fields.

• 📇 More than 250 contacts (not placed on SIM).
• 🖼️ You need to save photos of your contacts.
• 🔄 No access to the Google account.

Exports on old phone:

1. Open Contact → Settings → Export/Import.
2. Select “Export to Device” or “Export to File”.
3. Specify a folder to save (such as “Downloads”) and confirm.
4. The file will be called contacts.vcf or similar.

Transfer the file to Redmi Note 7:

• 📁 Through cable OTG: Connect a flash drive or other phone.

Imports on Redmi Note 7:

1. Download the contacts.vcf file to your phone (for example, in the Downloads folder).
2. Open Contact → Settings → Import/Export.
3. Select “Import from the device” and specify the downloaded file.
4. Confirm the import (you can choose where to save: to Google account or phone memory).

⚠️ Warning: If a.vcf file weighs more than 10MB, split it into pieces using apps like VCF Splitter (available in the Play Market). MIUI may not import large files.

5. Method 4: Using Mi Mover (official solution from Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi's proprietary tool for transferring data between devices, it runs on Wi-Fi Direct and doesn't require Internet.

• 🔄 It not only transfers contacts, but also SMS, photos, apps.
• 📱 Supports Redmi Note 7 and other models on MIUI.
• 🛡️ Stores data structure (e.g., contact groups).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On Redmi Note 7, go to Settings → Additional → Mi Mover.
2. Select “I am a new user” (if you transfer data to this phone).
3. On your old phone, install Mi Mover from Play Market (if it is not in the firmware).
4. Run the app on both phones and select “Send” on the old one and “Get” on Xiaomi.
5. Connect to one Wi-Fi Direct network (password will appear on the screen).
6. Select Contacts in the data list to transfer and start the process.

Limitations of Mi Mover:

• ❌ Doesn't work if you have custom firmware installed on your old phone.
• ❌ May not transfer contacts linked to social media accounts (VK, Facebook).
• ❌ Requires at least 20% battery life on both devices.

💡

Mi Mover is the fastest way to fully transfer data, but only works if both phones are on MIUI or an old phone supports the app.

Method 5: Third-party applications (for complex cases)

If the standard methods didn't work, use specialized applications. We tested 3 reliable options:

Instructions for My Contacts Backup:

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On an old phone, click “Backup” and save the file (for example, in Google Drive).
3. On Redmi Note 7, click “Restore” and select the saved file.

For Clonit:

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On the old phone, select Sender, on Xiaomi, Receiver.
3. Connect to a single Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions.

⚠️ Warning: When using third-party applications, turn off battery optimization for them in settings MIUI: Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode → Applications. Otherwise, the process may be interrupted.

7 What to do if contacts are not transferred or missing

If contacts are not displayed after the transfer or some data is lost, follow these steps:

• 🔍 Check Hidden Contacts: In the Contacts app on Redmi Note 7, click on three dots → Settings → Show Contacts → select all accounts.
• 🔄 Update the Contacts app: Go to Play Market, find Contacts, and click Update.
• 📥 Restore from backup: If you used Google, check contacts.google.com under the Recycle Bin (data is stored for 30 days).
• 📞 Manually import: Open the contacts.vcf file in a text editor and copy the data from one contact.

Critical information: If contacts are lost after resetting Redmi Note 7 to factory settings, check the /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder on internal memory. MIUI automatically backs up when reset, but they are only stored for 7 days.

If nothing helps:

• 📌 Contact Xiaomi Support via the Feedback app (Settings → Feedback).
• 📌 Use data recovery services (like Dr.Fone), but they require root rights.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer