Transferring contacts between smartphones of different brands is a task that most users face when changing devices, POCO Or Mi, Bluetooth might seem like the easiest solution: no cables, no cloud services, no third-party applications, but in practice, it's a pitfall from the limitations of the protocol. OBEX (used for data exchange over Bluetooth) before the features of the implementation of the function in the shells One UI (Samsung and MIUI (Xiaomi).
In this article, we will not only look at the standard Bluetooth contact transfer algorithm, but also at alternative methods if the basic method fails, explaining why some contacts may not be transferred, how to avoid duplication of records, and what to do if Xiaomi “cannot see” a file with contacts from Samsung, and compare the speed and reliability of Bluetooth communication with other methods of synchronization.
Why Bluetooth is not always the best choice for mobile
At first glance, Bluetooth contact transfer seems like the perfect solution: no wires, no dependence on the Internet, and the process takes a couple of minutes.
- 🔄 Contact limit: Many Samsung and Xiaomi models block the transfer of more than 100 to 200 records in one session.
- 📱 Incompatibility of formats: Samsung exports contacts in.vcf format (vCard 3.0) MIUI Sometimes it only reads.vcf 2.1 correctly, resulting in the loss of fields (e.g., additional phones or addresses).
- 🔒 Access rights issues: Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ You may need to have manual permission to import contacts from “unknown sources” (even if the file is received via Bluetooth).
- ⚡ Power consumption: continuous data transmission over Bluetooth drains the battery 15-20% faster than usual. 4A Galaxy J5) That could be a problem.
Bluetooth 4.0 and below does not support transferring files larger than 16MB — and the archive with contacts (especially photos) easily exceeds that limit. If your directory weighs more, you will have to use alternative methods.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 13 and later, the Bluetooth contact import feature is disabled by default for security purposes. To activate it, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Permits and enable the option "Storage».
Preparation of devices: what to do before transfer
Before you start the contact transfer, make sure that both smartphones are ready for the procedure, and skipping at least one of these steps can cause a crash or loss of data:
- Update the firmware on both devices. On Samsung, check the relevance of One UI In Settings → Software Update, on Xiaomi - Settings → The phone. → System Update: Older versions of software often contain bugs in the Bluetooth module.
- Clear the cache of the Contacts app on Xiaomi: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Clean the cache, and it'll prevent import conflicts.
- Turn off Bluetooth battery optimization on both phones. on Xiaomi, it's done in Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → Bluetooth (install "No Limitations»).
- Check the space available on Xiaomi. It takes at least 50MB of your system partition to import contacts (even if the.vcf file itself weighs a few kilobytes).
We also recommend that you temporarily disable duplicate contacts in your Google or Mi Account account if you use them. → Settings → Accounts and uncheck the sync options.
Step-by-step: transfer contacts from Samsung to Xiaomi via Bluetooth
If you are sure that Bluetooth is the best option for your case, follow this instruction.The process is broken down into two stages: exporting contacts to Samsung and importing to Xiaomi.
Stage 1: Exporting contacts to Samsung
☑️ Preparation for export to Samsung
1. Open the Contacts app** on Samsung and tap on the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
2. Select Contact Management → Imports/exports → If this option is not available, try the path: Settings → Contact management → Exports.
3.Indicate which contacts to export:
“Everything” if you need to move the entire book.
* "Selected"** - if you want to transfer only part of the records (check them with ticks).
4.Select vCard (.vcf) as the format, which is a universal standard supported by Xiaomi.
5. Press Export and select Bluetooth from the menu that appears. The system will prompt Bluetooth to be turned on if it is disabled.
6. Wait for Samsung to prepare the file (this can take up to 1-2 minutes if there are many contacts). then select your Xiaomi from the list of available devices and confirm the shipment.
Stage 2: Import contacts to Xiaomi
1. On Xiaomi, accept the incoming file via Bluetooth. Usually the notification appears in the curtain or pop-up window.
2. After downloading the file (usually called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf) tap on the notification “File is downloaded” or open it through Files → Bluetooth.
3. Select Import Contacts. If you do not have this option, open the file via the Contacts app**:
- Contact us. → Settings (⚙) → Imports/exports → Import from the device.
- Specify the path to the downloaded.vcf file.
4. Confirm import. The system will suggest selecting a save account (e.g. Mi Account or local storage) and recommend choosing Local Storage to avoid cloud conflicts.
5. Wait for the process to be completed. on Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ You may be asked to access your contacts – confirm it.
⚠️ Warning: If characters or cracosyabra appeared in contacts after import, it means Xiaomi misdecoded the file encoding.Solution: export contacts to Samsung in format UTF-8 (If you have such an option, or use alternative methods of transfer.
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If Xiaomi does not see the.vcf file after download, check the Bluetooth folder in the system explorer (Files) → Categories → Bluetooth. Sometimes files are saved to Download/Bluetooth internal Storage/Bluetooth.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even with the correct following of the instructions, users often encounter problems, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them:
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth doesn’t find Xiaomi (or vice versa) | Devices do not see each other due to different versions of Bluetooth (for example, Samsung with Bluetooth 5.0 and Redmi 7 with 4.2). | Update the firmware on both phones or use an intermediate device (like a laptop) to transfer the file |
| .vcf file does not open on Xiaomi | A corrupted file or incompatible version of vCard | Export your contacts to Samsung in small portions (50-100 pieces each) or convert the file through an online converter. |
| Contacts were partially imported | File size limit (especially on Xiaomi with 32GB of storage) | Break the directory into multiple files or use Google Contacts to sync. |
| Lost photos of contacts | Bluetooth does not transfer attachments (photos) in.vcf files | Move photos separately through Google Photos or Mi Cloud, then manually attach them to your contacts. |
| Contacts are duplicated | Automatic sync with Google or Mi Account has been enabled | Before importing, turn off synchronization in Settings → Accounts and delete duplicates through Contacts → Settings → Combining and correcting |
If none of the solutions worked, try alternative methods of transferring contacts, which we will discuss later.
Alternative ways to transfer contacts (if Bluetooth does not work)
Bluetooth isn't the only way to move contacts, but in some cases, other methods are more reliable and faster, and let's look at three proven alternatives.
1. Through a Google account
This is the most versatile method that works on any Android device:
- On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and archiving → Manage your accounts and add (or log in to) your Google Account.
- Enable Contact Synchronization: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization → Contacts.
- On Xiaomi, add the same Google Account and enable contact sync. In 5-10 minutes, all the entries will appear in the phone book.
Advantages: automatic update of contacts, there is no limit on the number of records.
Disadvantages: Internet is required, contacts are stored in the cloud (may be critical for sensitive data).
2. Through SIM-map
Suitable for small directories (up to 250 contacts):
- On Samsung, export your contacts to SIM: Contacts → Settings → Imports/exports → Exports to SIM.
- Move it. SIM-map.
- Import contacts: Contacts → Settings → Imports/exports → Import with SIM.
Limitations: SIM-The card stores only names and numbers (without email, addresses, photos), the maximum recording size is 140 bytes.
3. Through third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender)
Applications like SHAREit or Xender use Wi-Fi Direct to transfer data quickly.
- Install one of the applications on both devices.
- On Samsung, select "Send» → «Contacts" and provide the required records.
- On Xiaomi, click “Accept” and confirm the import.
Pros: high transfer speed, there are no limits on the size of the file.
Cons: requires the installation of third-party software, there may be problems with access rights to MIUI.
How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi?
Comparison of Contact Transfer Methods: What to Choose?
To determine the best way, compare the key parameters of each method:
| Method | Speed. | Limitations | Reliability | Confidentiality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Low (1-5 minutes per 100 contacts) | Up to 200 contacts, format errors are possible | Medium | High (data does not leave the device) |
| Google Account | High (instantly with good internet) | Internet, contacts in the cloud | Tall. | Low (data stored on Google servers) |
| SIM-map | Average (2-3 minutes per 100 contacts) | Names and numbers only, limit 250 records | Tall. | Tall. |
| SHAREit/Xender | Very high (seconds) | Requires software installation, possible bugs | Medium | Medium (data transmitted via Wi-Fi Direct) |
The choice of method depends on your priorities:
- If you have control over data and have few contacts → Bluetooth or SIM-map.
- If you want maximum comfort and privacy is not important → Google Account.
- If you need to transfer large amounts of data (including photos) → SHAREit or Xender.
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For most users, the best solution is a combination of methods: transfer the main contacts through Google Account, and confidential (for example, work) – via Bluetooth or other methods. SIM-map.
How to avoid data loss during transfer
Contact transfer is a responsible operation, and even a small mistake can lead to the loss of important records.
- 🔄 Backup before porting. On Samsung, you can do this through Settings. → Accounts and archiving → Backup data. On Xiaomi - Settings → The phone. → Backup.
- 📋 Check the number of contacts before and after the transfer. If the records are less, repeat the procedure or use an alternative method.
- 🔍 Use proven formats. For maximum compatibility, export contacts to vCard 3.0 (to Samsung) and import to the vCard. MIUI through the standard "Contact" application».
- 📵 Turn off battery optimization for Contacts and Bluetooth apps on both devices, and this will prevent connection breakdown during transmission.
If you are moving contacts from Samsung to Xiaomi for business purposes (for example, for work), we recommend that you conduct a test transfer with 5-10 records to ensure that the process is correct. CRM-systems.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after importing contacts via Bluetooth, the number binding to WhatsApp or Telegram accounts may be lost. To fix this, restart the device or manually update contacts in messengers.