How to Transfer Contacts from the Old Xiaomi to the New: All Working Ways in 2026

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to the safety of important data. Contacts accumulated over the years of use can contain not only phone numbers, but also addresses, birthdays, work notes, and losing such information can cause a lot of inconvenience, from the inability to contact a colleague to missed business opportunities.

Fortunately, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers several reliable ways to transfer contacts, each with its own nuances. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from automatic synchronization via Mi Account to manual export in.vcf format. You will learn what method is suitable for your model (be it Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 14 Ultra), how to avoid typical errors and what to do if contacts are not transferred, and also a unique life hack for owners of devices with different versions of MIUI, which saves up to 30 minutes of time.

1.Preparation for transfer: what to do before the beginning

Before you start the transfer, make sure that both devices are ready for the procedure, neglecting this stage is the main cause of failures and data loss.

On your old smartphone, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge at least 50%, transfer over the cloud or cable can take up to 20 minutes, and a sudden shutdown will interrupt the process.
• 📶 Stable Internet connection (for cloud methods) Use Wi-Fi if your contacts exceed 500 records.
• 🔄 Up-to-date version MIUI. On older devices MIUI 12 may not have some synchronization features. Update the software to Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

On the new smartphone:

• 📱 Complete the initial setup (select language, connect to Wi-Fi, sign in to Mi Account if you plan to use the cloud).
• 🚫 Don't install it. SIM-map before the transfer is completed - this can cause a conflict of contacts with the card.
• 🛠️ Disable battery optimization for the Contacts app (in Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Battery) to avoid interruption of the process.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone has two-factor authentication enabled for Mi Account, prepare a backup code or confirmation device.

Method 2: Synchronize with Mi Account (the fastest method)

This method is suitable for owners who already use the Xiaomi ecosystem and have a registered Mi Account. The main advantage is automation: contacts, notes, photos and even settings of some applications are transferred in a few minutes.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone: open Settings → Mi Account and make sure that the contacts sync is enabled (Sync → Contacts). If not, turn it on and wait until the process is complete (the indicator in the upper right corner turns green).
2. On your new phone: When you first turn on, select Restore from Mi Account and log in to the same account. If your phone is already configured, go to Settings → Mi Account → Sync and activate the contact option.
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete. The time depends on the number of contacts (up to 1000 records - ~ 5 minutes, more - up to 15 minutes).

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Speed – Contacts appear on a new device almost instantly.
• 🔄 Automatic Update – Any changes on one phone are synced with another.
• 📱 Support for all models – works even on Xiaomi 2018 release.

⚠️ Note: If you used Google Account to sync contacts on your old phone, Mi Account may not move them.In this case, first disable Google sync in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.

Method 2: Export/import via.vcf (for advanced users)

If you prefer manual control or don’t trust cloud services, exporting contacts to a.vcf (vCard) file is the perfect solution. This method is universal: the file can be transferred not only to another Xiaomi, but also to smartphones of other brands.

Instructions for export:

1. Open the Contacts app on your old phone.
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
3. Choose which contacts to export (all or only with) SIM-map/phone).
4. Specify the save path (recommended Internal Memory → Download for easy access).
5. Confirm export. The file will be created with the name contacts.vcf.

Instructions for importing on a new phone:

1. Transfer the contacts.vcf file to your new smartphone (via Bluetooth, USB-cable).
2. Open the Contacts app on your new phone.
3. Go to Contact Management → Import / Export → Import from the file and select transferred.vcf.
4. Confirm the import. Contacts will be on the list in 1-2 minutes.

Features of the method:

• 📁 Backup –.vcf file can be saved to a PC or flash drive as an archive.
• 🔧 Flexibility – you can edit the file in a text editor (e.g., delete unnecessary contacts before importing).
• ⚠️ Limitation – If your contacts are over 3,000, break them up into multiple files (some versions) MIUI Do not support import of large.vcf).

4. Method 3: Transfer through Google Account (for Android users)

If you’re actively using Google services (Gmail, Drive, Calendar), this is the most convenient method. It’s not tied to the Xiaomi ecosystem, so it’s suitable for transferring contacts to other brands’ devices.

How to transfer contacts:

1. On your old phone, go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and make sure that the Contact Sync option is enabled. If not, activate it and wait until it is completed (the indicator at the top of the screen).
3. On the new phone, add the same Google Account to Settings → Accounts.
4. Turn on contact sync. In 2-5 minutes, all records will appear in the Contacts app.

Pros of the method:

• ☁️ Cross-platform – works on any Android device and even iPhone (via iCloud).
• 🔒 Security – Data is stored in encrypted form on Google servers.
• 📊 Dubbing Management – Google automatically combines duplicate contacts.

Cons:

• 🚫 Number limit: Free Google account allows you to store up to 25,000 contacts.
• 📵 Internet dependency – synchronization is impossible without connection.

5. Method 4: Using the Mi Mover app (official solution from Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is a Xiaomi app designed to transfer data between the brand’s devices, and it supports not only contacts, but also messages, photos, apps, but also nuances: the app doesn’t work on all models and requires the phones to be physically connected to each other.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. Download the Mi Mover app from Google Play on both phones (unless it’s installed by default).
2. On the old phone, select I am the old phone, on the new phone, I am the new phone.
3. Connect devices to each other with the help of USB-Cable (use Xiaomi’s original cable for stability).
4. On the old phone, tick Contacts and click Send.
5. Wait until the process is complete (don't turn off the cable!) and the new phone will be notified of a successful transfer.

Important points:

• 🔌 Type of cable - use USB Type-C — USB Type-C for modern models (Redmi Note 11 and newer). 4X) You may need an adapter.
• 📴 Compatibility – Mi Mover does not work with devices on the MIUI 14+, If they are released after 2023, use the Mi Account.
• 🔋 Battery charge – both phones must have at least 40% charge, otherwise the app will block the transfer.

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone already has contacts, Mi Mover will suggest combining them with the ones you're carrying. Check the result manually - automatic merging sometimes creates duplicates.

💡

Before using Mi Mover, turn off the developer mode on both phones. In some versions of MIUI, it blocks data transfer through the application.

Method 5: Transfer through SIM-map (for older models)

This method is a thing of the past, but it is still relevant for owners of Xiaomi releases before 2019 (for example, Redmi 5A or Mi A1).

How to transfer contacts:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to SIM-card.
2. Choose your export contacts (be aware that you are in contact with them). SIM-The card can hold a limited number of records, usually up to 250).
3. Confirm the export. Contacts will remain on SIM-map.
4. Move it. SIM-card.
5. On the new device, go to Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.

Limitations of the method:

• 📵 Little information on SIM-The card is only transferred names and numbers (without photos, addresses, notes).
• 🔢 Limit the number of contacts: 250-500 contacts (depending on the operator).
• 📱 Not supported on newer models (Xiaomi 13 and newer) due to lack of slots SIM-standard-size.

💡

SIM-transfer is the only way that works without the Internet and additional applications, but it is only suitable for basic phone number transfer.

7 Problem Solving: What to Do If Contacts Are Not Moved

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have a problem, and let's look at the typical problems and their solutions.

Problem 1: Contacts are not synced through Mi Account.

• 🔄 Solution: Sign out on both phones, reboot them and log in again. Check if sync is enabled in Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization.
• 📡 Reason: Low Internet speed or blocking synchronization with antivirus (turn it off for a while).

Problem 2: The.vcf file is not imported to the new phone.

• 📁 Solution: Check if the file is corrupted. Try opening it on your PC with Outlook or Thunderbird. If the file is broken, export the contacts again.
• 📱 Reason: Incompatibility of versions MIUI. Update the software on your new phone.

Problem 3: Mi Mover can't see the old phone.

• 🔌 Solution: Use the original Xiaomi cable and check if file transfer mode is enabled (USB for transmitting files in the notification curtain).
• 🔄 Reason: Different versions MIUI. Install the last firmware on both phones.

Problem 4: Contacts are duplicated after the transfer.

• 🧹 Solution: Use the built-in merger function in Contacts: Contact Management → Combine the takes.
• ☁️ Reason: Simultaneous sync via Mi Account and Google.

8. Additional tips and life hacks

To make the transfer go smoothly, use these recommendations:

• 🔄 Check backup: Before transferring, back up contacts in Settings → System and device → Backup. It'll save the data if something goes wrong.
• 📱 Use two methods: For example, transfer contacts through Mi Account, and then verify their integrity by importing a.vcf file.
• 🔍 Check the hidden contacts: In MIUI Some contacts may be hidden (e.g., duplicates or entries without numbers). To see them, click on three dots in the Contacts app (⋮) and select Settings → Show all contacts.
• 📡 Turn off traffic restrictions: If you use mobile internet for sync, disable background traffic restriction for the Contacts app in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Traffic restriction.

Unique lifehack for Xiaomi owners with different versions of MIUI: if the new phone has a newer version of the firmware installed and the old phone does not support it, use an intermediate device. Export contacts from the old Xiaomi to the.vcf file, import them to a third device (for example, a Redmi friend), and then sync with the new phone through Mi Account. This bypasses the compatibility limitations of Mi Mover.

💡

If you change phones frequently, set up automatic sync with your Google Account contacts, so they will always be available on any device, even if you temporarily lost your smartphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi