How to Transfer Contacts with Xiaomi Redmi 4 to Another Phone: Full Guide

Shifting contacts from the old Xiaomi Redmi 4 to a new smartphone can seem like a trivial task — until you encounter lost numbers or broken methods. This model, released in 2016, runs on the MIUI 8/9 (depending on the firmware version), which imposes certain restrictions on standard export methods. For example, synchronization through Mi Account may not work if the device has not been updated for a long time, and the Export function in VCF is sometimes hidden in the depths of the menu.

In this article, we will analyze 5 current ways of transferring contacts - from classical copying to SIM-map to cloud services and manual export via computer, and we will focus on the problem of duplicate contacts when synchronizing with Google, which often occurs on older versions. MIUI. If your Redmi 4 is no longer up to date, you’ll find workarounds without losing data.

1.Preparation: checking the current contact repository

Before you move contacts, you need to know where they are stored. On Redmi 4, numbers can be linked to:

• 📱 Local memory of the phone (the most unreliable option - when resetting data will disappear);
• 📧 Google Account (Synced automatically if feature enabled);
• ☁️ Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud, requires authorization in Mi Account);
• 📶 SIM-map (limitation) ~250 contacts, names and numbers only).

To check the current storage:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management.
3. Choose Import/Export → Storage management.

If most contacts are marked as Phone (without cloud), they urgently need to be exported - if the device breaks or resets, you will lose them. Importantly, on Redmi 4 with MIUI 8, there is sometimes no export button in the menu - in this case, use the methods from the following sections.

2. Method 1: Sync with Google (the most reliable method)

This method is suitable if you plan to migrate contacts to an Android smartphone (including other Xiaomi models), the advantage of which is automatic synchronization on all devices where you sign in to a single Google account.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 4 to Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
2. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
3. Choose your account (or add a new one if you don’t have one).
4. Activate the Contact Slider.
5. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

To check if your contacts have been uploaded to Google:

1. Open on your computer contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in under the same account.
3. Make sure all numbers are displayed.

⚠️ Note: If Redmi 4 is running an outdated version MIUI (below 9.5), sync with Google may not work properly.In this case, use manual export in the VCF (3-way).

3. Method 2: Copying contacts on SIM-map

This method is useful if you transfer contacts to a simple phone (not a smartphone) or to a device without access to the Internet. SIM-The card stores only names and numbers – photos, mail and additional fields will be lost.

How to copy contacts to SIM:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
3. Choose your contacts for export (you can note everything).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

After export, extract SIM-A card from Redmi 4 and paste it into a new device to import contacts:

1. On the new phone, open contact → ⋮ → Management → Import with SIM.
2. Select a save location (such as Google or phone memory).

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Before exporting to SIM Check its free space: go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Memory. SIM-If your memory is less than 10%, delete old messages or contacts.

Method 3: Export contacts to a VCF file (for computer)

The.vcf file (vCard) is a universal format for storing contacts. It can be imported into any smartphone or service (Google, Outlook, iCloud), which is suitable if you have many contacts or want to make a backup.

Instructions for Redmi 4:

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export to File (or Export to Device).
3. Specify the location of the storage (for example, internal memory → Download).
4. The file will be saved as contacts.vcf.

To transfer the file to a new phone:

• 📎 Connect Redmi 4 to your computer via USB and copy the file.
• 📲 Send contacts.vcf to your mail or messenger.
• ☁️ Upload the file to Google Contacts (link) → Imports).

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 8 button Export to file may not be available, in which case use the app side (e.g. Contacts Backup from Google Play) or the Mi Cloud method (Section 5).

5. Method 4: Transfer over Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up contacts if synchronization is enabled, a method that is handy if you transfer data to another Xiaomi smartphone (like the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3).

How to turn on synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account (enter data if not authorized).
2. Select Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Contacts.
3. Activate the slider and wait until it is completed (the cloud icon will turn green).

To transfer contacts to the new device:

1. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account.
2. Enable contact synchronization in Mi Cloud.
3. Wait for the data to load (it can take up to 30 minutes).

Method 5: Use of Third-Party Applications

If standard methods don't work (for example, due to outdated firmware), you can use third-party utilities. We recommend two proven applications:

• 🔄 My Contacts Backup (free, export to the UK) VCF postal);
• 📤 Super Backup & Restore (supports contact backup, SMS and call logs).

Instructions for My Contacts Backup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and press Backup.
3. Select Email and send the.vcf file to your email.
4. On your new phone, open the letter and import contacts.

The advantage of this method is that it works even on non-rooted devices with any version of MIUI. However, be careful: some applications request access to SMS and call logs - read permissions before installing.

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The app side is the only reliable way to transfer contacts if sync with Google and Mi Cloud is disabled on Redmi 4.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you move contacts with Redmi 4, users often encounter common errors.

If after transferring some contacts are displayed incorrectly (for example, no photos or additional fields), check:

• 🔍 Export format (VCF Must be version 3.0 or 4.0);
• 📱 Display settings on a new phone (sometimes contacts are hidden in groups);
• ☁️ Sync with your account (on the iPhone you need to enable iCloud Contacts).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions