How to transfer contacts with Xiaomi Mi A1: all ways with details

Xiaomi Mi A1 is a iconic smartphone with pure Android, which is still used by many users. However, over time, it becomes necessary to change the device, and here the question arises: how to safely transfer all contacts from the old Mi A1 to the new phone? In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods - from classic export through Google account to little-known tricks with local backups.

The Mi A1 runs on Android One without the MIUI shell, which makes it easier to sync with Google services, but also limits the capabilities of some of Xiaomi’s standard tools (for example, Mi Cloud is not available here), and we have taken into account all the nuances and prepared instructions that will work even if you do not have access to the Internet or a new phone on another platform (iOS, HarmonyOS).

Important: Before you start transferring, check how many contacts are saved on your Mi A1. Open the Contacts app, tap three dots in the upper right corner, and select Settings → Import/Export. Here you will see the total number of records and their sources (Google, SIM, phone).

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

If your Mi A1 contacts are linked to a Google account, they can take up to 5 minutes to move, which works even if you are switching to an iPhone or a phone from another manufacturer, and the main condition is a stable Internet connection on both devices.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

📱 Open up on Mi. A1 Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
🔄 Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Accounts.
☁️ Select your Google account and make sure the Contact Sync switch is active (slider is moved to the right).
🔄 If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait for the process to be completed (it can take up to 10 minutes with a large number of contacts).
📱 On your new phone, add the same Google account and enable contact sync in its settings.

⚠️ Note: If you haven't synced your contacts with Google in a long time, some of the records may have only been left in your phone's memory. → Settings → Contact management will indicate how many records are stored in the Device (they must be manually transferred).

Advantages of the method:

✅ Automatic contact updates on all devices.
✅ Recovery capability even after resetting the phone.
✅ Works between Android and iOS.

Connection to Wi-Fi or mobile internet|Enough free space in the Google account (1 contact ≈ 1-3 CBB)|Google account added to both devices|The new phone has enabled contact synchronization-->

Export of contacts to SIM-card (if there is no internet)

If you do not have access to the network or do not use a Google account, you can transfer contacts through the Internet. SIM-There are limitations to this method. SIM No more than 250 contacts are available (depending on the operator), and no fields for additional information (email, address) are saved.

How to export contacts to SIM:

Put it in. SIM-map A1 (If it is already there, skip this step).
Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to SIM-card.
Choose contacts for export (you can mark all or only the necessary ones).
Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
Extract. SIM-A card and insert it into a new phone.
On the new device, import contacts via a similar menu (Import with SIM).

Parameter	Xiaomi Mi A1	New Android phone	iPhone
Max. SIM contacts.	250	250	250 (but fields are limited)
Supported fields	Name, number.	Name, number.	Only name + main number
Export time	1-2 minutes	1-3 minutes	5 minutes
Internet is required	❌ No.	❌ No.	❌ No.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone contacts with SIM Imported only through the settings → Contacts → Imports SIM-And you don't have to move the "Additional Number" or "Email" fields, you have to add them manually.

If you have a two-sim Mi A1, Choose one SIM-map to which you want to export contacts, in the Settings menu SIM-The system may suggest that the data be saved to the wrong card before the process begins.

3. Bluetooth Transfer (for older phones)

Bluetooth is a versatile way that works even between devices of different brands. It's good if you don't have one. SIM-cards of the right size or you transfer contacts to a button phone, the disadvantage of the method is the slow transfer rate (about 10 contacts per minute) and possible errors with a large amount of data.

Step instructions:

🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both devices (Settings) → Connected devices → Bluetooth).
📱 On Mi. A1 Open Contacts, tap three points. → Imports/Exports → Send.
📲 Select contacts to transfer (you can mark everything) and click Ready.
🔄 In the list of methods of transfer, select Bluetooth.
📱 On the new phone, confirm the file acceptance (usually a file with the.vcf extension).
📄 After transfer, open the received file - contacts will be automatically added to the phone book.

1.Reboot both phones.

2. Remove old coupled devices in Bluetooth settings.

3. Enable visibility on the new phone (Option "Make visible to all").-->

Features of the method:

⚠️ Not all phones support.vcf transmission over Bluetooth (e.g., some iPhone models require mail or AirDrop).
✅ It works without the Internet and SIM-map.
❌ Can't move photos of contacts.

4. Use of the VCF file (for backup)

The.vcf (vCard) file is a universal contact storage format that all modern smartphones support, can be copied to a flash drive, sent by email or uploaded to the cloud, ideal if you want to back up before you dump your phone or sell it.

How to save contacts to a VCF file on Mi A1:

Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to file.
Select a storage location (internal memory or storage). SD-map).
Enter the file name (for example, contacts_backup.vcf) and confirm the export.
Copy the file to the new phone in any convenient way: 📁 Through cable. USB (file transfer mode). ☁️ Uploading to Google Drive/Yandex.Disk. 📧 Sending it to my own post office.

.vcf

What happens if the VCF file is not opened?

If the new phone doesn’t recognize the file, try: 1. Rename the file by removing the extra characters (e.g., from contacts (1).vcf to contacts.vcf). 2. Open the file through the Google Contacts app (available in the Play Market). 3. Import through the Gmail web version: open Google Contacts in the browser → Import → select the file.

Advantages of the VCF format:

🔄 Compatible with all OSes (Android, iOS, Windows Phone).
📁 Ability to keep multiple backup copies.
🖼️ Stores photos of contacts (if they were attached).

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

If the standard methods don't work, you can use specialized applications that offer additional features like combining duplicates, backing up to the cloud, or migrating between different accounts. We tested 3 popular tools:

Annex	Features	Pluses	Cons
My Contacts Backup	Creates a backup copy in.vcf format and sends it to email	Simple interface, works offline	Advertising, limiting the number of contacts in the free version
Super Backup & Restore	Copying contacts, SMS, call log	Supports cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox)	A complex interface for beginners
Copy My Data	Transfer data over Wi-Fi between devices	Works between Android and iOS	Requires installation on both phones

Selection recommendations:

📧 If you just need to save contacts to the mail, choose My Contacts Backup.
☁️ For backup in the cloud is suitable Super Backup & Restore.
🔄 To switch from Android to iPhone or vice versa – Copy My Data.

⚠️ Note: Before using third-party apps, check their permissions in the Play Market. SMS, Call logs or locations without obvious reason are a good reason to be wary.

Through a Google account|Exports to SIM-map|File. VCF|Bluetooth or cable|Party of annex-->

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following the instructions, users face problems, and we have collected TOP-5 errors when transferring contacts with the Mi A1 and how to solve them:

Contacts are not synced with Google Check: 🔌 Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data). ☁️ Contact sync is enabled in Google account settings (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization). 📱 There is enough free space on the phone for Google cache (clean it in Settings). → Annexes → Google Contacts → Memory).
Nana SIM-The map lacks space: 🧹 Remove old contacts with SIM pre-export. 📌 Export contacts in parts (for example, 50 pieces each). 🔄 Use a different method (such as a file) VCF).

The VCF file will not open on the new phone

Try it:

📥 Rename the file by removing special characters.
🌐 Open it through the web version of Google Contacts.
📲 Install the Google Contacts app from the Play Market.

The most reliable option is the first, as it guarantees automatic update of contacts on both devices.

Why, when exporting to SIM-The card is missing some fields (email, address)?

It's a format limitation. SIM-It supports only: Contact name, one or more phone numbers (usually up to 3) Fields like email, addresses, birthday or photos are not saved on the phone. SIM. To transfer them completely, use a.vcf file or sync with Google.

How to transfer contacts from Mi A1 to the new Xiaomi with MIUI?

On the new Xiaomi smartphones (with a shell) MIUI) There's a built-in data porting tool called Mi Mover. Here's how to use it: Set it on Mi. A1 Mi Mover app from Play Market. Open Settings on the new Xiaomi → Additionally. → Select Me a new user on a new phone and I am an old user on Mi A1. Scan it. QR-The new phone's old screen code, select the contacts in the data list to be transferred and confirm the transfer. SMS, Photos and even some settings.

What if the contacts are duplicated after the transfer?

Duplicates appear if contacts are saved in multiple sources (e.g., Google and Google). SIM-To combine them: Open Google Contacts in your browser on your computer. On the left menu, select Duplicates. Click Combine all or select duplicates manually. Sync changes with your phone. On Android, you can also use apps like Contacts Optimizer to automatically search and combine duplicates.

Can I transfer contacts from the broken Mi A1?

If the screen is Mi A1 not working, but the phone turns on, try these methods: Connect to your computer: Connect your phone to your PC via USB-Enable File Transfer Mode (MTP) (If the screen is not responding, try to guess the gestures blindly. Copy the contacts.vcf file from the internal memory folder (usually /storage/emulated/0/). Use of the OTG-cables and mice: Connect USB-mouse to Mi A1 through OTG-Blindly unlock your phone and export your contacts to a file.

Extraction SIM-map:

If the contacts are saved to SIM, remove it and paste it into another phone.

If the phone does not turn on, contact the service center - the masters can extract data through the EDL-Mode (special equipment required).