How to transfer contacts from one Xiaomi phone to another: all ways

Shifting contacts between Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or changing a gadget. Even if both phones run on Android and belong to the MiUI ecosystem, the process can raise questions about what methods are the fastest, how to avoid data loss, and what to do if synchronization does not work. In this article, we will analyze 7 proven ways to transfer contacts, including cloud services, local backups and even manual methods for emergency cases.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have a strong integration with branded services like Mi Account and Mi Cloud, which makes it easier to move data, but requires a pre-setting process. If you've never used cloud services or prefer offline methods, we'll explain in detail how to operate without being tied to the Internet. And for those who are afraid of losing important numbers, we'll give you a unique double-check algorithm to make sure that all contacts are transferred correctly.

1. Transfer contacts via Mi Account (Mi Cloud)

The most reliable way for Xiaomi owners to use the branded cloud service Mi Cloud, which automatically synchronizes contacts, photos and other data between all devices associated with the same account, the main advantage is that you do not need to connect phones to each other or use third-party applications.

To transfer contacts through Mi Account, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone, open Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account.
• ☁️ Make sure the contact sync switch is on (if not, activate it and wait until the process is complete).
• 🆕 On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account when you first turn on or through settings.
• 🔄 Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 5 minutes).

If no contact appears, check:

• 🔌 Internet connection stability (better to use Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Updates to Mi Cloud (sometimes you need to restart the application).
• 📵 No restrictions on background activity in Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.

⚠️ Note: If you used Mi Account to back up on your old phone but haven’t logged in on your new device for 30 days, the data may be deleted from Xiaomi’s servers.

2. synchronization through Google Account

The universal method for all Android devices is synchronization through Google Account, which works even if you switch from Xiaomi to a smartphone of another brand (for example, Samsung or Realme), the main condition: on an old phone, contacts must be stored in a Google account, not in the device’s memory.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and make sure that the Contact Sync option is active.
3. Click Sync Now and wait until it is completed.
4. On the new phone, add the same Google Account in the settings and enable contact sync.

If the contacts are not displayed:

• 🔍 Check if they are hidden in the Contacts app (open the menu and select Display all contacts).
• 📲 Make sure that the new phone has Google source in its contact settings, not the Device.
• 🔄 Restart both devices – sometimes it speeds up sync.

Check the Internet connection on both phones | Make sure your old phone has your contacts saved to Google, not SIM| Update the Contacts app on Google Play | Turn off battery optimization for Google-->

3. Transfer of contacts through SIM-map

If you do not have access to the Internet or prefer offline methods, you can use it. SIM-This method is suitable for carrying a small number of contacts (usually) SIM It can hold up to 250 records, and you'll notice that only phone numbers and names will be transferred, and photos, emails and other data will be lost.

Step-by-step:

1. On your old phone, open the Contacts app.
2. Press three dots (menu) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
3. Select contacts for export (or click Allocate) and confirm.
4. Move it. SIM-card.
5. In the Contacts app of the new device select Import with SIM-map.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or X-ray) POCO X5) export option SIM In this case, use an alternative method: open Settings. → Memory. → Import/Export of contacts.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Doesn't require the Internet.
• 🔒 Data is not transmitted through third-party servers.
• 📱 It works even on older models (e.g. Redmi). 4A or Mi A1).

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 Limitation on the number of contacts (depending on the number of contacts) SIM-map).
• 📌 Loss of additional fields (email, addresses, notes).
• ⏳ Long process with a large number of records.

4. Transfer of contacts over Bluetooth

Another way offline is to send contacts over Bluetooth, which is good if you don't have one. SIM-It's a map that's the right format, or you want to migrate contacts selectively, and the downside is that it's a single contact, which takes a long time with a lot of data.

How to transfer contacts over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones.
2. Connect devices (on one phone, select Add Device, on the other, confirm connection).
3. On your old phone, open the Contacts app, select the contact you want → Share → Bluetooth.
4. Select a new phone from the list of devices and confirm the transfer.
5. On the new phone, accept the incoming file (contact will be saved automatically).

Tips for speeding up the process:

• 📋 Use Multiple Choice in the Contacts app to send multiple entries at a time (available on MiUI 12 and later).
• 🔄 If the transfer is interrupted, restart Bluetooth on both devices.
• 📶 Make sure the distance between the phones is less than 10 meters.

💡

If Bluetooth doesn’t find the device, try turning off the power saving mode on both phones. In MiUI, this is done in Settings → Battery → Power saving mode.

5. Use of the VCF file (export/import)

Format VCF (or.vcf) is a universal standard for storing contacts, and the advantage of this is that you can transfer a file in any way you want, like messenger, email, USB-cable QR-The method is suitable for transferring all data (including photos, email and notes) without loss.

Instructions for export and import:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → Menu → Contact Management → Import / Export → Export to File.
2. Select the VCF format and confirm the export. The file will be saved in internal memory (usually in the Downloads or Miui folder).
3. Transfer the.vcf file to a new phone (e.g., via Xiaomi File Manager, Google Drive, or USB).
4. Open the file on the new device and the system will prompt you to import contacts.

Alternative modes of transmission VCF-file:

6. Transfer via the application "Transfer Files" (Mi Mover)

Xiaomi offers its own data migration solution, the Mi Mover app (or Transfer Files in Russian), which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, apps and even system settings, the main condition is that both phones must run on MiUI (or HyperOS in new models).

How to use Mi Mover:

1. Install the Transfer Files app on both phones (usually pre-installed).
2. On the old phone, choose I am the sender, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new phone or connect via Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Select Contacts in the data list to transfer and start the process.

Features of the Mi Mover:

• 🚀 The transmission is over Wi-Fi Direct, so it does not require Internet access.
• 📦 You can transfer up to 10 GB of data in one session.
• ⚠️ In some models (for example, POCO F5) You may need to disable Developer Mode for proper operation.

⚠️ Warning: If you see an error during transmission "Did not connect", check if the MiUI Firewall is blocking the transmission (open Settings). → Annexes → Permits → Auto-Start and Enable Mi Mover).

7. Manual transfer via computer (for experienced users)

If none of the above methods work (e.g., you have a broken screen on your old phone, but it's determined by your computer), you can export contacts via ADB or file system, which requires technical skills but guarantees 100% control over the process.

Instructions for transfer via computer:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC via USB and enable File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Copy the contact database file (usually located along the way) /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db). This will require root rights or access through ADB.
3. Use a utility like SQLite Browser to export data to VCF.
4. Transfer the file to a new phone and import it.

Alternative method (without root):

• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and open Xiaomi PC Suite (official software for device management).
• 📥 In the Contacts section, export data to the file CSV or VCF.
• 📤 Import the file to a new phone using the same software.

💡

Manual transfer via computer is the only way to restore contacts if the phone is not turned on, but is defined as a drive, but it requires ADB or root access skills.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi