How to transfer contacts to Xiaomi Redmi 9C: everything from synchronization to manual copying

Why Transferring Contacts to Redmi 9C Needs a Special Approach

The switch to a new smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to keeping the phone book safe. - Xiaomi Redmi 9C, Despite its budget position, it offers some unique tools for data migration that are not available in other brands, such as the proprietary utility Mi Mover or deep integration with the Internet. MIUI Account, which automatically backs up contacts in the cloud, but not everyone knows that standard methods like copying through the cloud are used. SIM-The card on this phone is limited by: Redmi 9C It only supports nano-SIM, and the card memory often does not exceed 250 contacts.

Another trap is to duplicate contacts when synced through Google Account. If your old phone has both your device and Gmail contacts stored, you run the risk of chaos from repetitive entries after you migrate to Redmi 9C. In this article, we will discuss the only reliable way to avoid duplicates: pre-cleaning the phone book through the Google Contacts web version, and alternative methods for those who do not use Google services.

Before you start, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge on both phones (minimum 50% – transfer can take up to 30 minutes).
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (for cloud methods) or Bluetooth (for local transmission).
• 📱 Version MIUI on the Redmi 9C (In Settings → On the phone. In older versions (below). MIUI 12) may be missing Mi Mover.

Method 1: Sync through Google Account (recommended)

This is the most versatile method that works regardless of the model of the old phone — whether it is an iPhone, Samsung or another Xiaomi. The main condition is that on the old device, the contacts must be linked to a Google Account. If they are stored only in the phone's memory, export first:

1. Open the Contacts app on your old phone.
2. Go to Settings → Import / Export → Export to the device (the path may be different).
3. Save the file in.vcf format to internal memory or to SD-map.
4. Import the file to Google Contacts via the web version of contacts.google.com.

Now move to Redmi 9C:

1. Turn on your new phone and connect to Wi-Fi.
2. During the setup process, select Restore from backup and log in to the same Google Account.
3. If your phone is already set up, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and activate the Contacts switch.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Automatic contact updates on all devices.
• ✅ There is no limit to the number of records (unlike the number of records). SIM-map).
• ✅ Ability to edit contacts via web interface.

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Before syncing, check the other contacts folder in Google Contacts, which often accumulates duplicates or outdated numbers, and can be deleted en masse through the Contact Management menu.

Method 2: Using the proprietary utility Mi Mover

Mi Mover is a point-to-point (no cloud) data migration application built into MIUI that supports not only contacts, but also messages, photos, apps.

• 📱 It only works between Xiaomi devices (or Redmi/Poco).
• 🔌 Requires cable. OTG Or direct connection via an adapter (if on an old microUSB phone, and on a Redmi phone). 9C — USB-C).
• ⚠️ Does not tolerate contacts saved on SIM-card – only from the memory of the phone or account.

Instructions:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (if it is not available, download it from Google Play).
2. On Redmi 9C, select I am a new user, on the old one, I am sending data.
3. Connect your phones with cable or via Wi-Fi Direct (less stable).
4. Select Contacts in the data list for transfer and confirm the transfer.

Install Mi Mover on both phones|Check the compatibility of the connectors (prepare) OTG-cable)|Close background applications on both devices|Connecting phones to charging (the process may take time) 10-20 minute)-->

Important: If your old phone has custom firmware or root rights, Mi Mover may not recognize contacts, in which case use.vcf-export (see Method 1).

Method 3: Transfer through SIM-Card (for a small number of contacts)

This method works if you have fewer than 200 contacts and no internet access. However, the Redmi 9C has a limitation: it only supports nano-SIM, and older phones often use micro-SIM or mini-SIM.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to SIM-card.
2. Choose your contacts for export (you can usually choose all or one).
3. Put it in. SIM-map 9C.
4. Go to Contacts. → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
5. Select your target account to save (e.g. Google or MIUI Account).

Limitations of the method:

Method 4: Transmission over Bluetooth (without the Internet)

Bluetooth is a universal protocol that works even between Android and iOS, but it has a significant disadvantage: it transfers contacts one at a time, but it does not require cables or the Internet.

How to move:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones.
2. Connect devices (on Redmi 9C, go to Settings → Bluetooth and select the old device).
3. On your old phone, open Contacts, select the contact you want → Share → Bluetooth.
4. Take the file to Redmi 9C and save it to Contacts.

To speed up the process:

• 📁 Export contacts in groups: In most phones, you can select multiple records and send them in a packet via Bluetooth (.vcf format).
• 🔄 Use Developer Mode on Redmi 9C To increase the transfer speed: activate it through Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times, then in Additional settings → Developer settings set the Bluetooth limit A2DP maximum.

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Bluetooth is the only way to transfer contacts from your iPhone to Redmi 9C without a computer, but iOS sends contacts in.vcf one at a time, so for 500+ entries, it is better to use iCloud and Google Account (see Method 1).

Method 5: Manual export/import via.vcf file

The.vcf (vCard) file is a universal contact storage format that all modern smartphones support, and its advantage is that you can edit the file before importing it (e.g., delete duplicates or unnecessary numbers).

Instructions:

1. Exports on old phone: Open Contacts → Settings → Export. Select the.vcf format and save the file to SD-card.
2. Transfer of the file to Redmi 9C: Connect your old phone to your PC and copy the file to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Drive). USB-cable (in file transfer mode).
3. Import to Redmi 9C: Open Contacts → Settings → Import. Select the.vcf file and specify the account to save (Google or MIUI Account).

Tips for working with.vcf:

• 🔍 Before importing, open the file in a text editor (for example, Notepad).++) Check for formatting errors.
• 📊 For mass editing, use services like VCF Editor.
• 🔄 If the file weighs more than 10 MB, break it into pieces using the 7-Zip or online tools.

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If you import.vcf on Redmi 9C, you get a "File corrupted" error, try renaming it contacts.vcf (without spaces and Cyrillic) and try again.

Method 6: Transfer through MIUI (for Xiaomi users)

If both phones are from Xiaomi, the fastest way is to use MIUI Account, a method similar to Google’s account, but synchronizes data only within the Xiaomi ecosystem.

How to set up:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
2. Turn on Contact Sync.
3. On Redmi 9C, log in to the same Mi Account and activate sync.
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

Advantages over Google:

• ⚡ It syncs faster in regions where Xiaomi servers are closer (e.g. China or India).
• 🔒 Additional protection: data is encrypted according to the standard MIUI.
• 📱 Supports the transfer of notes and reminders from branded applications.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Critical error: if the contacts are displayed as empty entries after the transfer (only names without numbers), this means that the.vcf file was saved in the wrong format.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to restore these contacts through backups, this will lead to duplication of the problem. Instead, export the contacts again on your old phone by selecting vCard 3.0 format (usually available in export settings).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions