How to transfer contacts from Samsung to Xiaomi: all ways with nuances

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not only about changing the ecosystem, but also about moving important data, and contacts tend to be a top priority, with losing them taking hours to reconnect. Fortunately, modern smartphones offer several ways to migrate, from cloud services to classic methods like the one in the cloud. SIM-But not all of them are equally convenient: somewhere you need a stable Internet, and somewhere you need additional applications.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to transfer contacts, compare them in speed, reliability and complexity, and point out common errors that can lead to data loss. We will focus on the nuances of working with MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) and One UI (Samsung), because the interfaces of these brands have key differences. If you have tried to move contacts but encountered problems, at the end of this article there is an FAQ with solutions to the most common errors.

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

Syncing with a Google account is a one-stop method that works on any Android device, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Its main advantage is automatic backup and the ability to restore to a new phone at any time. However, there is a caveat: if you have never set up sync on Samsung, contacts can only be stored in the phone’s local memory.

To move your contacts through Google:

• 📱 On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and archiving → Account management.
• ☁️ Select your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is turned on.
• 🔄 Click Sync (if no button, wait for automatic sync).
• 🆕 On Xiaomi, when you first enable, log in to the same Google account or add it to Settings. → Accounts. → Add an account.
• ✅ Contacts will appear in the Contacts app automatically (may take up to 10 minutes).

Contact sync enabled on Samsung|Xiaomi uses the same Google account|Both devices have a stable internet connection.|Contacts are not duplicated in the cloud-->

Important: If your contacts are saved in your Samsung Account (not Google) on Samsung, they must be exported first.

1. Open the Contacts app on Samsung.
2. Press. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports.
3. Select “In.vcf” and save to a memory card or internal memory.
4. Transfer the file to Xiaomi and import it through the same menu.

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If not all contacts are displayed on Xiaomi after synchronization, check the filter in the Contacts app: click on three points. → «Show contacts» → Select “All Contacts” instead of “Only with” SIM-map».

2.Use of Mi Mover (official solution from Xiaomi)

Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi designed to transfer data from other Android devices, including Samsung.The app copies not only contacts, but also messages, photos, videos and even some settings.

• ⚠️ It only works when Xiaomi is first enabled (after system setup).
• ⚠️ Requires cable. OTG Direct Wi-Fi transmission (on some models).
• ⚠️ Does not support data transfer from iPhone.

Instructions for using Mi Mover:

1. On Xiaomi, when you first start, select Data Transfer (if the phone is already configured, reset it to factory settings or use another method).
2. On Samsung, install the Mi Mover app from Google Play.
3. Run Mi Mover on both devices and select the role: Xiaomi – New Device, Samsung – Old Phone.
4. Connect your phones via Wi-Fi Direct (follow the on-screen prompts).
5. Select Contacts and wait for the transfer to be completed.

Through a Google account|Mi Mover|Bluetooth/SIM-map|Third-party applications (e.g. SHAREit)|Another way.-->

Critical: If Samsung has data encryption enabled, Mi Mover may not see the contacts. In this case, temporarily disable encryption in Settings → Biometrics and Security → Encryption (reboot will be required).

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

Method SIM-It is suitable if you have few contacts (up to 250) and do not have access to the Internet:

• 📵 SIM-The card stores only names and numbers (without photos, email, or other fields).
• 🐢 Manual and slow process (every contact must be confirmed).
• 🔄 Not all Xiaomis support importing from SIM (For example, on the Redmi Note 12, this feature can be hidden).

How to transfer contacts via SIM:

1. On Samsung, open "Contacts» → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
2. Select contacts for export (or click “Secret All”) and confirm.
3. Extract. SIM-Map and paste it into Xiaomi.
4. On Xiaomi go to “Contacts» → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
5. Select an account to save (Google or local memory is recommended).

⚠️ Note: If you use nano-SIM and Xiaomi has a micro-SIM slot, you will need an adapter.

4. Bluetooth transmission (without internet but with restrictions)

Bluetooth is a universal protocol that is available on any smartphone, but it is not always suitable for transferring contacts.

• 🐢 Very slow transmission (100 contacts can be sent 5-10 minutes).
• 📱 On some Xiaomis, for example, POCO X5) Contacts via Bluetooth are blocked by default.
• 🔄 Contacts are transmitted one by one (you will have to confirm each one).

If you want to use Bluetooth,

1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth and make them visible in the settings.
2. On Samsung, open Contacts, select the right ones (or click Allow).
3. Click Share → Bluetooth and select Xiaomi from the list of devices.
4. On Xiaomi, confirm the file acceptance (usually a.vcf file).
5. After transfer, open the file – the contacts will be automatically added to the phone book.

Alternative: If Bluetooth doesn’t work, you can send contacts via Wi-Fi Direct:

• 📶 On Samsung, open "Contacts» → «Share» → «Wi-Fi Direct».
• 🔗 On Xiaomi, enable Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Connections and sharing → Wi-Fi Direct.
• 📲 Confirm the connection and wait for the transfer of the.vcf file.

5 Third-party applications: SHAREit, Xender and others

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party data applications, the most popular ones being:

• 📲 SHAREit – fast forwarding contacts, photos and videos without loss (but requires installation on both phones).
• ⚡ Xender is similar to SHAREit, but with a simpler interface.
• 🔗 Send Anywhere – generates 6-digit code for transmission without connecting to a single network.

Instructions for SHAREit:

1. Install Sharet on both phones from Google Play.
2. On Samsung, open the app, select “Send” → “Contacts” and mark the right ones.
3. On Xiaomi, click “Get” and scan. QR-Samsung screen code (or connect via Wi-Fi Direct).
4. Wait for the transfer to be completed and import the contacts into the phone book.

⚠️ Note: Applications like SHAREit often request access to contacts, messages, and files. → Annexes → SHAREit → Permissions and disable unnecessary (e.g. access to the SMS geolocation).

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Third-party apps are convenient for mass data transfer, but can collect your personal information. After use, delete them and clear the cache in the phone settings.

Comparison of methods of transferring contacts

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If your problem isn’t on the list, try resetting the Contacts app settings on Xiaomi (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Reset) and repeat the import.