How to transfer contacts from one Xiaomi smartphone to another: all working ways

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to keeping important data safe. Contacts are the information you can't lose: your colleagues', loved ones', customers' numbers, dates of birth and attached notes. Fortunately, the MIUI ecosystem offers several reliable portability options, and Google's versatile solutions work on any Android device. But how do you choose the best method? It all depends on your preferences: whether you need real-time synchronization, whether you want to avoid cloud services or speed.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to transfer contacts between Xiaomi smartphones – from classic export through the Internet. SIM-map before automated migration through MIUI Cloud, where we're going to focus on the nuances of why contacts are duplicated, how to avoid losing linked photos, and what to do if the new phone doesn't see the old records. And for those who are afraid of cloud services, we have a section on local backup through the Internet. VCF-file.

Before you start, check two key points: the old phone should be the current version of MIUI (at least MIUI 12), and the new one – signed in to the same Mi or Google account as the old device, which will save you unnecessary compatibility problems.

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

Google Account Sync is a standard method that works on all Android smartphones, including Xiaomi. Its main advantage is that contacts are automatically updated on all devices associated with a single account. But here's the caveat: if you've never enabled sync before, data can only be stored locally.

To move your contacts through Google, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone, open Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google.
• ☁️ Make sure the switch opposite Contact is active. If not, turn it on and wait until the sync is complete (may take up to 5 minutes).
• 🔄 On the new Xiaomi smartphone, log in to the same Google account and enable contact sync in the same settings.
• 🔍 Open the Contacts app and check if the recordings are up. If not, update the data manually by pulling the screen down.

Important point: if the contacts on the old phone are stored not in Google Account, but in the device memory or on the phone SIM-map, you need to export them first. → Imports/Exports → Export to a file and save a.vcf file, which can then be imported into Google Contacts via the web version.

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If you have duplicate contacts after syncing, open contacts.google.com, select Find and combine duplicates in the menu on the left, which will save you time manually cleaning.

2.Using MIUI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If you’re a Xiaomi user, MIUI Cloud is the logical choice, not only to save contacts, but also to reserve SMS, photos, calendar entries, the main condition is that both phones must have the same Mi Account, and the MIUI version is not older than MIUI 10 (on older versions, the functionality of the cloud is limited).

Instructions for transfer:

1. 📱 On your old phone, go to Settings. → Mi Account → MIUI Cloud.
2. ☁️ Enable synchronization of Contacts (and other data if necessary).
3. 🔄 On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account and activate synchronization in the new device. MIUI Cloud.
4. ⏳ Wait until the process is complete (time depends on the number of contacts and the speed of the Internet).

MIUI Cloud stores contacts in their original format, including linked photos and additional fields (such as “Birthday” or “Office”), which distinguishes it from Google Contacts, where user tags are sometimes lost.

Sustainable Wi-Fi (mobile internet can interrupt download)

Both phones have the same MIUI version (or a difference of no more than 2 versions)

There is enough space in the Mi Account (contacts take up little, but with the photo you may need up to 100 MB)

Background restrictions for the application are disabled "MIUI Cloud in the battery settings-->

If contacts don’t appear on the new phone, check:

• 🔌 Internet connection (sync only works online).
• 🔄 Manually update the data in MIUI Cloud, pulling the screen down.
• 📵 Make sure the new phone doesn’t have power saving mode on, blocking background activity.

3. Contacts Transfer via Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a classic method that helps when you don’t have the Internet or you don’t want to use cloud services, and it takes longer to transfer, especially if you have more contacts (over 500), but it does not require accounts and works even on the oldest Xiaomi models.

Step-by-step:

• 📱 On your old phone, open the Contacts app.
• ⚙️ Click on three dots (menu) and select Import/Export → Send.
• 📲 Select the contacts to transfer (you can mark everything) and click Send via Bluetooth.
• 🔵 On your new phone, turn on Bluetooth and confirm the file is accepted (usually.vcf).
• 📥 Open the file after receiving the contacts are automatically imported into the device memory.

Important: if the new phone contacts are stored in memory SIM-Maps, you will have to manually transfer them to your Google or Mi Account. → Management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM.

Through Google Account

Through MIUI Cloud

Po Po Po Bluetooth/SIM-map

Local backup (VCF-file)

Another method-->

4.Exports and imports through VCF-file (local backup)

The.vcf file (vCard) is a universal contact storage format that all modern smartphones support, and it's convenient to use if you want to have a backup on your computer or flash drive, or when other methods for some reason don't work, such as if your old phone has a broken Bluetooth module or no access to accounts.

How to Create and Transfer VCF-file:

1. 📱 On the old Xiaomi, open your contacts. → Management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
2. 📄 Choose where to save the file: internal memory, SD-Map or cloud (e.g. Google Drive).
3. 📎 Move the file to a new phone (via the phone) USB-cable, Bluetooth, or download from the cloud).
4. 📥 Open the.vcf file on the new device and the system will prompt you to import contacts.

If the file is large (over 1,000 contacts), break it down into pieces.

1. Export contacts in groups (e.g. alphabetically: A-Y, B-Z, etc.).
2. Use your computer and Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird to split your VCF into multiple files.

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VCF-The file is the only method that gives you complete control over the data, and you can edit it manually (e.g., remove duplicates) before importing it to a new phone.

5. Transfer of contacts via SIM-card (obsolete, but working method)

SIM-The card is the oldest way to store contacts that Xiaomi still supports, with the main plus: no accounts or the Internet are needed. Cons: a limited number of records (usually up to 250), no support for photos, notes or additional fields (for example, email). Suitable only for basic number transfer.

How to transfer contacts via SIM-card:

• 📱 On your old phone, open your contacts. → Management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM.
• 📇 Select contacts for export (consider the memory limit) SIM).
• 🔄 Move it. SIM-card.
• 📥 On the new device, import contacts: Contacts → Management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM.

⚠️ Attention: If yours SIM-Nano-SIM card, and the old phone only supports micro-SIM, use an adapter. Don't try to crop the card yourself - it can damage the chip.

After importing, we recommend:

• 🧹 Remove duplicates (in Google Contacts or through the Contacts app on Xiaomi).
• ☁️ Export contacts from your phone’s memory to your Google Account or MIUI Cloud for Reliable Storage.

6. Problems in the transfer of contacts and their solutions

Even when you follow instructions, sometimes you get mistakes, and let's look at some of the most common problems and how to fix them.

Contacts are not synced with Google Account

If after the synchronization of the contacts do not appear:

• 🔄 Check that your Google account settings enable contact-only sync (sometimes other services, such as Google Drive, are disabled).
• 📵 Make sure that the phone does not have restrictions on the Contacts app in the Settings section. → Annexes → Permits.
• 🔧 Try to delete your Google account and add it again (and data will not be lost if it has already been synced before).

Duplicate contacts after transfer

Duplicates appear if contacts are stored simultaneously in multiple sources (e.g., Google account and phone memory) to clear the list:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer.
2. In the menu on the left, select Find and combine duplicates.
3. On the phone in the Contacts app, click on three points → Management → Combine contacts.

Contacts moved without photos

If you are transferring via Bluetooth or SIM-The map is missing contact photos:

• 🖼️ Use Google Contacts or MIUI Cloud – They save images.
• 📁 If you've been through VCF, Check if photos are included in the export file (the export settings must be checked to Enable photos).
• 🔄 After import, wait for full synchronization (sometimes photos are not uploaded immediately).

⚠️ Note: If you are migrating contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi, use Apple’s Move to iOS app or export data to Xiaomi. VCF Direct Bluetooth transmission between iOS and Android often crashes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi