How to transfer contacts from Samsung phone to Xiaomi: all ways

Moving from Samsung to Xiaomi is not just about changing the interface, it’s also about transferring important data. Contacts are the most valuable information you can’t lose when you change your smartphone. Fortunately, there are at least 5 proven ways to transfer a phone book from a Galaxy S23, Note 20, or even an old J7 to any Redmi, POCO, or Mi.

In this article, you will learn how to avoid duplicate contacts, why some numbers may not move, and what to do if the new Xiaomi only displays names without phones, and in the end, the FAQ with solutions to typical problems that arise for 80% of users when data migrates.

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

Syncing with a Google account is a one-stop method that works on 99% of Samsung and Xiaomi devices, with the main benefit of the fact that contacts are automatically updated on both phones if you add a new number.

On Samsung (including Galaxy A54, S22 Ultra and older models):

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) → Contact management → Contact synchronization.
3. Select your Google account and activate the slider.
4. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes with a large number of contacts).

On Xiaomi (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11):

1. When you first turn on, sign in to the same Google account as you do on Samsung.
2. Open Contacts. → Settings (⚙️) → Import/Export of contacts.
3. Select Import from your Google account.

If your contacts don’t show up on Xiaomi, check:

• 🔹 Contact folder: Sometimes they are saved to Other Contacts instead of the main book.
• 🔹 Filters: The display of Google contacts can be disabled in the contact settings on Xiaomi.
• 🔹 Duplicates: If contacts have previously been transferred through the SIM- card, the system can combine them automatically.

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If your contacts are displayed without photos on Xiaomi, try updating the Contacts app via Google Play. Some MIUI firmware has a bug that downloads avatars.

Export of contacts to SIM-map (for older models)

This method is suitable if you have Samsung on Android 6.0-9.0 (for example, Galaxy J3 2017 or A7 2018) or Xiaomi without Internet access. Limitation: SIM- card is placed no more than 250 contacts, and only names + main numbers are stored (without mail, addresses, notes).

Instructions for Samsung:

1. Insert the SIM- card into the slot (if you use two SIMs, choose the one you will save to).
2. Open Contacts → Settings (⚙️) → Contact Management → Export/Import Contacts.
3. Select Export on SIM- card → tick the desired contacts (or click "Select all").
4. Confirm the export. It'll take 1-3 minutes.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Move it. SIM-card.
2. Open Contacts. → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
3. Choose where to save your contacts (we recommend “Google Account” or “Device”).

⚠️ Warning: If you use a nano-SIM with an adapter, make sure that the adapter contacts are not oxidized. Bad contact can interrupt the export/import process, and some numbers will be lost.

3. Contacts Transfer via Bluetooth

The method is suitable for fast transfer of 10-50 contacts if there is no Internet or SIM- card at hand. Minus: Xiaomi with MIUI 12+ may not work due to firmware limitations.

Step-by-step:

1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth and make them visible (in Bluetooth settings, activate Detectable).
2. On Samsung, open Contacts, select the right ones (or click "Select All").
3. Tap on "Share" → Choose Bluetooth → Find your Xiaomi listing.
4. On Xiaomi, confirm the file acceptance (usually.vcf is a business card).
5. After transfer, open the received file - the contacts will be automatically added to the phone book.

Challenges and solutions:

• 📵 Bluetooth doesn't find the device: reboot both phones and try again. On Xiaomi, the Hide Device feature in visibility settings may interfere.
• ❌ File won't open: download the VCF Reader app from Google Play (free).
• 🔄 Not all contacts are moved: Bluetooth packets over 5-10 contacts. Repeat the process for those who are left.

4.Use of the "Mi Mover" app (official tool of Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for porting data from Android and iOS. The app copies not only contacts, but also SMS, photos, videos and even some settings. It only works when you first turn on the new Xiaomi –Later, if the phone is already set up, you’ll need to reset it to use Mi Mover.

How to transfer contacts via Mi Mover:

1. On Samsung, download Mi Mover from Google Play (or scan the QR- code from the Xiaomi screen when you set up).
2. On Xiaomi, when you first turn on, select Data Transfer → With Android.
3. Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network (or create a hotspot on Samsung).
4. On Samsung in Mi Mover, select Send, on Xiaomi – Receive.
5. Check Contacts and wait until it is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: If Samsung has Android 10 or older and Xiaomi has MIUI 13/14 installed, turn off the MIUI Optimization function in the developer settings before the perenosom.

5. Transfer through the VCF file (universal method)

The.vcf (vCard) file is the standard format for storing contacts that all smartphones support, and it’s suitable if you want to back up before a perenosom or transfer contacts to your computer.

Steps for Samsung:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Export / Import → Export to the device.
2. Select the.vcf format and confirm the export. The file will be saved in the Download or Contacts folder.
3. Transfer the file to Xiaomi via Bluetooth, Email, or the cloud (like Google Drive).

Steps for Xiaomi:

1. Download the.vcf file to your phone.
2. Open it through Files or Contacts → Import/Export → Import from the file.
3. Choose where to save your contacts (we recommend a Google Account).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 All data is stored: telephones, email, addresses, birthdays, photos.
• 🔹 The file can be edited on a PC (e.g., delete duplicates or correct numbers).
• 🔹 Suitable for porting to iPhones or other devices.

💡

A VCF file is the only way to migrate contacts with a complete history of changes (for example, if you kept a call log in Samsung Contacts).

6 Third-party applications: SHAREit, CLONEit, Smart Switch

If standard methods don't work (for example, on Samsung with custom firmware or Xiaomi without Google services), you can use specialized applications.

Recommendations for use:

• 🔹 SHAREit: Best choice for big data (for example, if you want to transfer photos too), download to both phones, connect to the same Wi-Fi network, and follow the instructions.
• 🔹 CLONEit: Suitable if you want to move SMS and settings along with contacts. Check permissions carefully - the application requests access to SMS and Call Log.
• 🔹 Smart Switch: Works only with Samsung on Xiaomi, but can even transfer notes to Samsung Notes (converts them to text files).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with proper transfer, problems can occur. Here are the TOP-5 problems and how to fix them:

1.Contacts have been moved but are not displayed on Xiaomi

• 🔹 Check the filters in Contacts: tap on three dots (⋮) → Display contacts → select "All contacts."
• 🔹 Update the Contacts app via Google Play.
• 🔹 Reboot the phone — sometimes MIUI doesn't immediately index new data.

2.Duplicate contacts

• 🔹 Use the built-in merge function: Open Contacts → Settings → Combine duplicates.
• 🔹 Install the Simpler Merge app (free) to automatically search for duplicates.

3 Not all numbers moved

• 🔹 Check if the contacts were saved to a Samsung (not Google) account. Export them separately.
• 🔹 If you used a SIM- card, repeat the export with the division into parts (for example, 100 contacts).

4 There are no photos of contacts on Xiaomi

• 🔹 Move contacts through the VCF- file — it saves avatars.
• 🔹 If the photos were in a Samsung account, download them separately through Samsung Cloud (15GB is available for free).

5. Contacts are displayed in hieroglyphics

• 🔹 This is an encoding problem when exporting to a SIM- card. Repeat the transfer via Google account or VCF.
• 🔹 If you have used CLONEit, update the app to the latest version.

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If none of these things worked, try resetting the Contacts app on Xiaomi: Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Clear the data. After that, import the contacts again.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions