How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi Redmi to iPhone: all the ways of 2026

Moving from Xiaomi Redmi to iPhone is not only about changing the ecosystem, it’s also about moving important data, and contact is often a major headache, with loss of data taking hours to recover. Fortunately, there are at least 5 reliable ways to transfer a phone book without loss – from classic export through the Internet. SIM-map prior to synchronization via cloud services.

In this article, we will discuss each method with the MIUI and iOS in mind, and also warn against common errors, such as why you can’t just copy a VCF file directly to your iPhone via AirDrop, or how to avoid duplication of contacts when synchronizing through Google Account. If you’ve tried to migrate data and have problems, here are the solutions.

⚠️ Critical warning: Before starting the transfer, disable two-factor authentication in Mi Account if it is tied to the phone number from contacts. Otherwise, after synchronization, you may lose access to your Xiaomi account due to a change in device.

1.Preparation: What to do on Xiaomi Redmi before transfer

The transfer of contacts does not start with the iPhone, but with the correct preparation of your Redmi. If you miss this stage, you risk getting incomplete data or encountering synchronization errors.

• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version. In older versions (below) MIUI 12) there may be no options for exporting contacts in modern formats. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
• 🔄 Sync contacts with Mi Account. Even if you plan to use another method, backup in the Xiaomi cloud will save data if you crash. → ☰ → Settings → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📊 Check the format of the contact storage. MIUI You can save them in your Google account, SIM-map or locally on the device, make sure all contacts are collected in one place.

Pay special attention to duplicates. MIUI often has repetitive contacts due to synchronization with multiple accounts (e.g. Google + Mi Account) to clear the list:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ☰ → Contact management → Combining and correcting.
3. Select Find duplicates and follow the system prompts.

💡

If you have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 or newer, use the built-in App Cloning feature (Settings → Special Features → App Cloning) to temporarily duplicate Google Contacts and export data without risk of loss.

2. Method 1: Transfer through Google Account (most universal)

This method works on any Xiaomi Redmi or iPhone, as it uses Google Contacts, a cross-platform service, with the main advantage being automatic synchronization: once set up, contacts will be updated on both devices.

Algorithm of action:

1. On Xiaomi Redmi: Open Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Select your account (or add a new one). Activate the Contacts switch. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Contacts). → ☰ → Settings → Accounts).

⚠️ Warning: If your iPhone already has contacts, they can merge with Google downloads to avoid chaos:

Remove duplicates on Xiaomi Redmi|Export current iPhone contacts to file VCF|Turn off sync with iCloud during the transfer|Check that there is no old data on Google Contacts-->

Through Google Account|Through SIM-map|Through iCloud|Through third-party applications|Never put up with it.-->

3. Method 2: Export via VCF file (for advanced users)

The.vcf (vCard) format is the standard contact storage file that all modern smartphones support, a method that doesn’t require internet access and is suitable if you want to make a one-time transfer without being tied to cloud services.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ☰ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
3. Choose where to save the file (e.g., Internal Memory → Download).
4. Confirm the export. The file will have a type name. contacts_YYYYMMDD.vcf.

Now transfer the file to your iPhone. There are 3 options:

• 📎 By mail: send yourself.vcf by email, open the letter on your iPhone and click on the attachment → Add all contacts.
• ☁️ Through the Cloud: Upload the file to Google Drive/Dropbox, Open on your iPhone and import.
• 🔌 Through PC: Connect both phones to your computer, copy.vcf to your iPhone folder, then open the file on your device.

⚠️ Note: If a.vcf file weighs more than 50MB, break it down using services like this. VCF Splitter. iPhone may not import large files.

Method 3: Transfer through SIM-map (for older models)

This is a good idea if you have Xiaomi Redmi. 4X, Redmi 5A or other models up to 2018 where there is no stable cloud sync, also suitable if you want to migrate only the basic contacts (SIM-The card holds a limited number of records).

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi Redmi, insert SIM-- card to phone. → ☰ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM. Select your export contacts (or click Select All). Confirm action. Contacts will be saved on SIM-map.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Nana SIM-The card only stores the name and number (without email, addresses, photos).
• 📏 Maximum number of contacts: 250-500 (depending on operator).
• 🔠 Names are preserved only in Latin (Cyrillic can be displayed by Krakozabras).

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Use it. SIM-For full data migration, choose methods that support all contact fields (Google, VCF, iCloud).

5. Method 4: Sync through iCloud (for Apple users)

If you’re already using the Apple ecosystem (like you have a MacBook or iPad), migrating through iCloud will be the most organic, a method that allows you to not only migrate contacts, but also automatically update them on all Apple devices.

Instructions:

1. Export your contacts with Xiaomi Redmi to the.vcf file (see Method 2).
2. On iPhone, check that Settings → [Your name] → iCloud has enabled contact synchronization.

⚠️ Note: If you have two-factor authentication on Apple ID, Before importing, make sure you have access to a trusted sign-in device, otherwise you won’t be able to log in to iCloud from a new phone.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Automatic sync with Mac, iPad and other Apple devices.
• 📎 All contact fields are saved (photos, emails, addresses, notes).
• 🔒 Data is encrypted and stored in Apple’s secure cloud.

6. Method 5: Applications for portability (Move to iOS and analogues)

For those who don’t want to mess with manual settings, there are specialized apps, most famously Apple’s Move to iOS, which is designed specifically for migrating from Android to iPhone.

How to use Move to iOS:

1. On iPhone, during the initial setup, select Move Data from Android.
2. On Xiaomi Redmi, download Move to iOS from Google Play.
3. Open the app on Redmi and follow the instructions (enter the code from your iPhone).
4. Select data for transfer (be sure to mark Contacts).
5. Wait until the process is completed (it can take 5-15 minutes).

Alternative annexes:

⚠️ Note: Apps like CLONEit or Shareit may request access to the app. SMS, Check reviews on Google Play before installing - some programs contain malicious code.

7. Checking and cleaning of contacts after transfer

After transferring the data, be sure to check the integrity of the contacts on the iPhone.

• 📇 Missed fields: for example, no email or address.
• 👥 Duplicates: one contact can be displayed 2-3 times.
• 🔠 Krakozabra: hieroglyphs instead of Cyrillic (relevant for transfer through the SIM).

How to fix it:

1. Combine duplicates: Open Contacts on iPhone. Click Groups in the top left corner. Select All Contacts and scroll down to Duplicates. Click Combine next to each take.
2. Recover missing data: If fields are lost during the transfer, check the backup on Xiaomi Redmi or Google Contacts. Export contacts again by selecting another method (e.g..vcf instead of SIM).

For mass cleaning of contacts, use the service Google Contacts:

1. Sign in with the same account as you do on your iPhone.
2. Select Others → Export and save a backup.
3. Use the option to find and combine duplicates.
4. After cleaning, sync the changes with your iPhone.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. Contacts are not synced with Google/iCloud: Check your Internet connection (only Wi-Fi/mobile data syncs work). Make sure your account settings include Contact Sync. Reboot both devices.
2. VCF file won't open on iPhone: Check the file extension (should be.vcf, not.txt or.csv). Open the file through the Files app, not through mail. If the file is corrupt, export the contacts again.
3. Contacts are duplicated when synchronized: Before transferring, turn off sync with iCloud and Google on iPhone. Use the option to Combine Contacts in your iPhone settings.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative approach:

⚠️ Note: if you use a Google corporate account (e.g., through Google Workspace), the administrator may restrict the export of contacts. IT-service of your company for permission.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions