How to Transfer Contacts from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Complete Picture Guide

Why moving contacts between Android devices isn’t always a trivial task

The switch from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi/POCO often comes with unexpected data migration challenges. Even though both manufacturers use Android, their shells (One UI and MIUI/HyperOS) store contacts in different formats, such as Samsung syncing data with Samsung Cloud by default, and Xiaomi with Mi Account or Google, which creates a gap in ecosystems.

The variety of Android versions makes additional confusion: older Samsung models (before Android 10) may not have a direct export function to.vcf, and new Xiaomi (starting with MIUI 14) block access to system folders without root rights. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer contacts in 2026, including bypassing manufacturer restrictions and saving additional fields (photos, notes, birthdays).

Method 1: Sync through Google Account (the most reliable method)

This method works on 100% of Android 5.0+ devices and does not require additional applications. The main condition is a stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile traffic), the algorithm is the same for all models of the Samsung Galaxy S/A/J-series and Xiaomi 11/12/13/14 series, including POCO and Redmi Note.

On Samsung's side:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Account Management.
2. Select Google (if you don’t have an account, add it through Add an account).
3. Activate the contact sync slider and wait for the process to be completed (the indicator is rotated in the upper right corner).
4. Check the sync on contacts.google.com – contacts should be displayed there in 1-5 minutes.

On Xiaomi's side:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google.
• 🔄 Enable contact sync (if no account is added, log in to the same Google as you do on Samsung).
• 📞 Open the Contacts app, click on three points (⋮) → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import from Google.

Data is displayed at contacts.google.com

Xiaomi has enabled contact synchronization in Google

Contacts App Selects Google Account as Main Account

Check duplicates through Settings → Combine contacts-->

⚠️ Note: If your contacts are saved in Samsung Cloud on Samsung, you must first export them to Google. → Accounts. → Samsung Cloud → Sync contacts, then export them manually through Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Export (select.vcf format and send the file to the mail).

Method 2: SIM-card transfer (for devices without Internet)

This method is relevant for offline transmission or if the Google account is disabled on Samsung. Suitable for Xiaomi with support for two SIMs (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro, etc.).

• 🚫 SIM-The card only keeps the name. + number (without photo, email, addresses).
• 📛 Maximum number of contacts – 250-500 (depending on the operator).
• 🔋 It takes 5-15 minutes to complete (more than Google).

Instructions:

1. On Samsung, open your contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
2. Select contacts (or click Allocate) and confirm the export.
3. Move it. SIM-map.
4. On Xiaomi go to Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.

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If SIM-The card is not readable on Xiaomi, try inserting it into the slot. SIM1 (Also check the map format: some Xiaomis don’t work with Micro-SIM without an adapter.

Method 3: Transmission via Bluetooth (without Internet and SIM)

Suitable for one-time transfer of a small number of contacts (up to 50-100 pieces), the advantage is that it does not require accounts or SIM-The flaws:

• 🐢 Slow speed (1–2 contacts per second).
• 🔋 High battery consumption (Bluetooth must be enabled on both devices).
• 📱 Some Xiaomis (such as Redmi) 10C) You must first allow files in the settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally.

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, open Contacts, highlight the right ones (or tap Allow them).
2. Click Share → Bluetooth and select your Xiaomi from the list.
3. On Xiaomi, confirm the file acceptance (usually.vcf format).
4. After transfer, open the file through Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → File-based import.

Method 4: Using third-party applications (for mass transfer)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on the Samsung Galaxy M12 with custom firmware or Xiaomi with a locked bootloader), one of the specialized applications will help.

Send Anywhere for Xiaomi on MIUI 14/HyperOS, as it bypasses folder access restrictions.

1. Install the app on both phones.
2. On Samsung, select Send → Contacts and generate 6-digit code.
3. On Xiaomi, enter this code in the Get section.
4. Confirm the.vcf file and import it through Contacts.

Google Account|SIM-map|Bluetooth|Party of the annex (specify which)|Another way.-->

Method 5: Transfer through SD-map USB-OTG (bulky)

This method is suitable for transferring thousands of contacts (for example, when migrating from Samsung to Xiaomi).

• 📁 SD-map (formatted in FAT32) or USB-OTG adapter.
• 📄 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager on Xiaomi).

Algorithm:

1. On Samsung, export contacts to.vcf: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Exports → The file will be saved in the Download or Contacts folder.
2. Copy the file to SD-card OTG.
3. Connect the drive to Xiaomi and import the file through: Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → File-based import

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ If you import more than 1,000 contacts from a.vcf file, you may have a "Too big file" error. Solution: break the file into parts via PC (use Notepad)++ or online service vcfsplitter.com).

Problem Solving: Frequent Errors and Corrections

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

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If the contacts are duplicated after the transfer, use the built-in merging function in the MIUI: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → For Samsung, a similar option is in Contacts → ⋮ → Settings → Connecting contacts.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions