How to Transfer Contacts from Xiaomi to Xiaomi with MIUI 11: 5 Verified Ways

Why Moving Contacts to MIUI 11 Needs a Special Approach

Shifting contacts between Xiaomi’s MIUI 11-based smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but this firmware version has a number of nuances that complicate the process.First, MIUI 11 does not support automatic data migration via Mi Mover for older models (released before 2019), which forces users to look for alternative solutions. Second, the sync restrictions with Google Account in Chinese versions of firmware require additional actions to export correctly.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for transferring contacts, taking into account the specifics of MIUI 11: from classic export via.vcf file to the little-known features of Mi Cloud for Chinese ROM. Particular attention will be paid to the problems faced by owners of devices with a locked bootloader or without access to Google services. All instructions are tested on Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9T and Poco F1 models with global and Chinese firmware.

Method 1: Transfer over Mi Cloud (official method)

The most reliable way for devices running MIUI 11 is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, which works even on Chinese firmware versions that do not support Google Contacts, the main condition is that both smartphones must be linked to the same Xiaomi account (or you must know the username / password from the old device).

Instructions:

• 📱 On an old smartphone: go to Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud and enable contact synchronization. Wait for the process to be completed (the indicator will appear in the status bar).
• ☁️ On a new device: log in to the same Mi Account and enable contact sync in Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud. Contacts will appear during the 5-10 minute.
• ⚙️ If contacts are not displayed: check if Show contacts from Mi Cloud is enabled in the Contacts app (three dots in the upper right corner) → Contact management).

⚠️ Attention: On Chinese firmware MIUI 11 sync via Mi Cloud can be blocked if the device is not tied to a Chinese phone number.In this case, use method 3 (export to file).

Method 2: Export/import via VCF file

A universal method that works on all versions of MIUI 11, including Chinese firmware without Google services, suitable for transferring contacts to devices of other brands or in the absence of access to cloud services.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Contacts app on your old smartphone.
2. Click on three dots in the top right corner → Contact management → Export/Import → Export to file.
3. Select Device Memory and confirm export. Contacts.vcf file will be saved in the Download folder.
4. Transfer the file to a new smartphone (via Bluetooth, USB-cable).
5. On the new device, repeat steps 1-2, but select Import from the file and specify the path to contacts.vcf.

⚠️ Note: When exporting to.vcf, photos and notes tied to the contacts are lost. To save them, use method 4 (local backup).

Make sure there is enough memory on the device|Disable battery optimization for the "Contact" application"|Check that the contacts.vcf file is not damaged|Synchronize contacts with SIM-card (optional)-->

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

This method is suitable if you have fewer than 200 contacts and no Internet access: SIM-The card stores only names and phone numbers (no email, addresses, or photos) and is limited in scope (usually up to 250 records).

How to move:

• 📇 On an old smartphone: Contacts → Contact management → Exports/imports → Exports to SIM-Select the right contacts or click Allocate.
• 🔄 Replace it. SIM-map.
• 📱 On a new device: Contacts → Contact management → Exports/imports → Import with SIM-map.

The advantage of this method is that it's simple and it doesn't depend on the Internet.

• ❌ Loss of additional data (email, addresses, birthdays).
• ❌ Limitation on the number of contacts (depending on the number of contacts) SIM-map).
• ❌ On Chinese firmware. MIUI 11 may not be available for importation from SIM.

Method 4: Local backup via Mi Mover (for global firmware)

Mi Mover is a standard MIUI 11 application on global firmware and allows you to transfer data wirelessly, but it is unstable: connection errors or transmission interruptions often occur, but it is the only way to transfer all contact data (including photos and notes) without loss.

Algorithm of action:

1. Install Mi Mover on both devices (if it is not available, download it from Google Play or APKMirror).
2. On the old smartphone, choose I am the sender, on the new one, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-screen code from the new device old.
4. In the data list for transfer, mark only Contacts (to speed up the process) and click Transfer.

The transfer time depends on the number of contacts: 500 Photo recordings will be required ~10-15 If the process is suspended 0% or 100%:

• 🔌 Reconnect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network (do not use mobile internet).
• 📵 Turn it off. VPN firewalls.
• 🔄 Reboot the Mi Mover on both phones.

💡

If Mi Mover can't see the device, try turning on Access Point on your old smartphone and plugging a new one in, sometimes solving detection problems.

Method 5: Transfer over Bluetooth (alternative to older models)

If you have a Xiaomi Redmi 4X, Mi A1 or another 2017-2018 model on MIUI 11 and the other ways don't work, you have Bluetooth, which is slow and uncomfortable, but it's reliable -- it doesn't require Internet access, and it works even on custom firmware.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and pair them.
2. On an old smartphone, open Contacts, click on three points → Contact Management → Send.
3. Select contacts (you can mark everything) and press Bluetooth. Confirm the transfer on the new device.
4. On your new smartphone, accept the incoming contact.vcf file and import it through Contacts.

Limitations:

• 🐢 Transmission speed: ~5 contacts per minute.
• 📵 Interrupting communications at a distance of more than 5 meters.
• ❌ No contact photos are transmitted.

💡

Bluetooth is the only way to transfer contacts between Xiaomi on MIUI 11 and other brands (such as Samsung or iPhone) without using cloud services.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you migrate contacts to MIUI 11, users face typical problems that can be solved without resetting, and here is a table of the most common errors and how to fix them.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Updates for the app Contacts in Google Play or Mi App Store.
• 📡 Internet connection stability (for cloud-based methods).
• 🔋 Battery level (below 20% some functions may be blocked).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions