How to transfer contacts from a flash drive to a Xiaomi phone: all ways of 2026

Transferring contacts from a flash drive to a Xiaomi smartphone may seem like a trivial task, but in practice users face a lot of nuances: from incompatibility of file formats to read errors. USB-In this article, we'll look at all the current import methods, from standard tools. MIUI Up to workarounds for rare formats such as.xlsx or Samsung Kies backups.

Special attention will be paid to the problems typical of Xiaomi devices: why the phone does not see the flash drive through the device OTG-Adapter How to Get Around Restrictions MIUI 14/15 The instructions are adapted for the Redmi Note models, and what to do if the contacts are duplicated after import. 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 14 and other relevant devices 2023–2026 year-end.

1.Preparation: checking the flash drive and contact files

Before you plug in. USB-phone drive, make sure it meets two key requirements:

• 🔋 File system format: Xiaomi only works correctly with FAT32 or exFAT. If the flash drive is formatted in NTFS, The phone won't see it (even through the phone). OTG). You can check the format on PC: This computer → Properties of the storage device.
• 📄 Contact format:.vcf (vCard),.csv (Excel) files are supported, and archives with backups of Google Contacts..xlsx or.bak files from third-party programs (such as Outlook) will require conversion.

If you are transferring contacts from another phone (such as a Samsung or iPhone), make sure that the export is in a universal format. For example, Samsung Smart Switch (.spb) backups are not compatible with MIUI - they must first be converted to.vcf via PC.

2. Method 1: Import via the Contacts app (for VCF)

This is the easiest method if your contacts are saved in.vcf format. MIUI 14/15:

1. Connect the flash drive to the phone through OTG-Adapter (if your Xiaomi model does not have a connector) USB-C, Use the Micro-USB adapter → USB-A).
2. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
3. Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import with USB-storage.
4. Select the.vcf file on the flash drive and confirm the import. Contacts will automatically be saved to your Google account or local memory (depending on your settings).

An important caveat: if a.vcf file contains multiple contacts (e.g. a backup of the entire phone book), MIUI can import them as one large contact. To avoid this, pre-split the file into separate.vcf via VCF Splitter.

The flash drive is formatted in FAT32/exFAT|

The contact file has the extension.vcf|

OTG-The adapter is functional and compatible with Xiaomi|

The phone has enough free memory (minimum 50 MB)-->

3. Method 2: Transfer via Google Contacts (for the purpose of CSV/Excel)

If the contacts are saved in.csv or.xlsx format, they cannot be imported directly through MIUI.

1. Copy the file from the flash drive to your PC (or directly from your phone if the flash drive is connected).
2. Open contacts.google.com and log in under the same account as Xiaomi.
3. Click Import → Select a file and download.csv. Set up the matching fields (name, phone, email) and confirm the import.
4. On your phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google and enable contact synchronization.

Sync can take up to 10 minutes. If no contacts appear, check:

• 🔄 Is synchronization enabled in the settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account.
• 📶 Internet connection stability (better to use Wi-Fi).
• 📱 In the “Contacts” application, all accounts are selected (Settings) → Display contacts).

Method 3: Use of a file manager (for rare formats)

If you have a file with a non-standard extension (for example,.bak from Nokia PC Suite or.spb from Samsung), you must first convert it to.vcf.

After conversion:

1. Copy the resulting.vcf on the flash drive.
2. Connect the flash drive to Xiaomi and use Method 1 (import via the Contacts app).

💡

If you don’t have a PC, install a Contact Editor app on your Xiaomi phone that lets you open.csv and save it to.vcf right on your device.

5. Method 4: Transfer through SIM-map (alternative to older models)

If the flash drive is not readable and the contacts are stored in a SIM-export-enabled phone (for example, in the old Nokia or Samsung), you can use an intermediate transfer:

1. Insert the SIM into Xiaomi.

⚠️ Attention: SIM-The card stores a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and only basic information (name). + Photos, emails and additional fields will be lost.

6.The solution to the problems: why Xiaomi doesn't see the flash drive or contacts

If the phone doesn't recognize. USB-Driver or not importing contacts, check:

Critical error MIUI 15: if a notification appears when connecting the flash drive «USB-Device not supported, upgrade firmware to the latest version or roll back to the latest version MIUI 14 via Fastboot.This issue affects Xiaomi models. 13T Redmi Note 12 Pro+ firmware V15.0.4.0.

💡

If the flash drive is detected but the files are not opened, try connecting it through a file manager (for example, Solid Explorer). MIUI Blocks access to external media.

7. Additional tips: backup and optimization

After successful transfer of contacts:

• 🔄 Create a backup: Open Contacts → Settings → Export and save.vcf to a flash drive or to the cloud.
• 🧹 Clear duplicates: Use the Contact Clearing app** (e.g. Simpler Contacts).

If you often work with contacts, install an alternative application to manage them, such as:

• 📱 Truecaller – for spam call identification and backup.
• 📊 Contacts+ — to combine duplicates and sync with multiple accounts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi