How to transfer contacts from Android to Xiaomi: all methods with instructions

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting event, but the transfer of contacts can be a real headache if you do not know the proven methods. Many users lose important numbers when changing devices, especially when it comes to switching from Android to MIUI, the Xiaomi brand shell. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of transferring contacts, including hidden MIUI functions, which the manufacturer does not always advertise.

Xiaomi is a device that has its own devices (including Redmi and the Redmi). POCO) They use their own Mi Account sync system, which can conflict with standard Google tools. For example, when you first turn on a new Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13, the system will offer to restore data from the Mi Cloud, but will not always tell you how to integrate contacts from Google Account or the Internet. VCF-We'll look at solutions for all scenarios, from automatic synchronization to manual export.

1. Transfer contacts through Google Account (the most reliable way)

If your old Android device has a Google Account attached, 90% of the work is done, and this method works on all Xiaomi models, including the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi 12 and POCO X5, since MIUI is default synced with Google services.

To check this out, open the Contacts app on your old phone, click on three dots (menu) and select Settings → Accounts. If it displays your Google Account with a tick opposite Contacts, then the data is already synced to the cloud. If not, turn on manual sync:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Accounts and sync on your old phone.
• 🔄 Select your Google Account and activate the Contact Switch.
• ☁️ Wait until synchronization is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes with a large number of contacts).
• 📲 On the new Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Restore from Google or add the same account to Settings. → Accounts.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone only stores contacts in Device Memory, you must first export them to your Google Account. → Export to file VCF, Then import this file to Google Contacts via the web version of contacts.google.com.

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Synchronization through Google Account is the only way that guarantees the safety of contacts even when resetting the phone to factory settings.

2.Use of Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi owners)

If you are switching from one Xiaomi device to another (e.g., from Redmi Note 11 to Xiaomi 14 Pro), it is more convenient to use the branded Mi Cloud.This method is faster than Google, since data is transferred directly between MIUI devices. However, it has a limitation: Mi Cloud does not sync contacts with other brands (Samsung, Honor, etc.), only within the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On the old Xiaomi, open Settings → Mi Account and make sure you are logged in.
2. Go to Mi Cloud → Sync and enable Contacts.
3. On the new Xiaomi, when you first start, select Restore from Mi Cloud or manually add the same Mi Account in the settings.
4. Wait until the sync is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes depending on the internet speed).

⚠️ Note: If the old Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync disabled, contacts can be stored locally. → Annexes → Contacts → Memory. If necessary, export them to VCF before transfer.

3. Transfer of contacts through SIM-map (for older models)

This method is suitable if you don’t have internet access or are switching from a very old phone (like Nokia or Samsung Galaxy S3).

• 📵 SIM-The card stores only the name and number (without photo, email, addresses).
• 🔢 Limit the number of contacts (usually up to 250 per person) SIM).
• ⚠️ Risk of data loss in case of incorrect map extraction.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to SIM.
2. Select contacts for export (or click Allocate).
3. Extract. SIM-Map and paste it into the new Xiaomi.
4. On the new device, go to Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Import with SIM.

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Before exporting to SIM, check its format: modern Xiaomi supports only nano-SIM. If you have a micro-SIM or mini-SIM, use an adapter or trim the card (risky!).

4.Exports and imports through VCF-file (universal method)

VCF (or.vcf) is a standard format for storing contacts that all smartphones support, and its advantage is that the file can be transferred by any means: Bluetooth, email, Telegram or even USB-This is ideal if you don't have a stable Internet or you're afraid of cloud services.

Step-by-step:

Export contacts to VCF old-phone|Copy file to new Xiaomi (via cable, Bluetooth or cloud)|Import VCF In the application Contacts on Xiaomi|Check the correctness of the imported data-->

More on each step:

1. Export: Open Contacts → Settings → Export/Import → Export to the VCF file on your old phone. The file will be saved in internal memory (usually in the Downloads or Contacts folder).
2. File transfer: 📎 Through USB-cable: connect your old phone to your PC, copy.vcf to your computer, then transfer to the new Xiaomi. 📤 Bluetooth: Send files directly from phone to phone. ☁️ Through the cloud: download VCF Google Drive or Mi Cloud, then download to your new smartphone.

Import:

Xiaomi

Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Import from the VCF file

5. Transfer through third-party applications (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work (e.g., custom firmware or after a reset), you can use specialized applications. We tested the 3 most reliable ones:

Recommendations for use:

• 🛡️ Check reviews before using the apps – some may contain ads or ask for unnecessary permissions.
• 🔗 For CLONEit, both phones must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network (no internet connection required).
• 📥 After the transfer, uninstall the app so it doesn’t have access to your contacts.

Manual contacting (extreme case)

If the number of contacts does not exceed 20-30, And other methods are not available, you can type them manually, and this is long, but sometimes unavoidable (like when you switch from a button phone) to speed things up:

• 📋 Use Google Sheets or Excel to pre-enter data, then import it to Google Contacts.
• 🎤 Enable voice input in Contacts → Add contact → Microphone (operates on the MIUI 14+).
• 🔍 Check duplicates through Contacts → Settings → Combine duplicates.

⚠️ Warning: It is easy to make errors in numbers when manually entering. Always double-check important contacts (banks, delivery services) through a test call.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi