How to sync contacts on Xiaomi Redmi 9T: all the ways from Google to Bluetooth

Transferring contacts from one smartphone to another is a task that every user faces when changing devices. - Xiaomi Redmi 9T, Despite the budget price tag, it supports all modern synchronization methods, from cloud services to direct transmission over Bluetooth. VCF-File can lead to loss of photos of contacts, and sync through Mi Account sometimes works with delays.In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods, including hidden settings Redmi. 9T, This will help you avoid typical mistakes.

The Redmi 9T (M2010J19SG) feature is a hybrid firmware based on MIUI, where the contact settings may vary depending on the software version. If your device is running MIUI 12.5 or later, some menu items will be hidden under additional tabs. We took these nuances into account and provided current path screensheets for the latest updates. You will also learn how to restore contacts if sync suddenly flew off - this is a common problem when resetting the phone to factory settings.

1. synchronize contacts through Google Account (the most reliable way)

The Google Account method is the de facto standard for Android devices. It not only transfers contacts, but also automatically updates them when you add new numbers. On Redmi 9T, this method works consistently, but there's one caveat: if you've used Mi Account for backup, contacts can be duplicated. To avoid chaos, check before syncing which accounts are already linked to the phone.

How to check your linked accounts:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Memory β†’ Accounts.
  2. See the list in the Account Management section.
  3. If both Google and Mi Account are available, turn off the synchronization of contacts in Mi Account (more on this below).

Now we move on to synchronization:

  1. On your old phone: Open Settings β†’ Google β†’ Manage your Google account.
  2. Select the Data and Personalization tab β†’ Synchronization.
  3. Turn on the slider opposite Contact (if it is turned off).
  4. On Redmi 9T: When you first turn on your phone, log in to the same Google Account. If your phone is already set up, add an account through Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Add an account.
  5. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes with a large number of contacts).

β˜‘οΈ What to check before syncing with Google

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Note: If contacts do not appear after synchronization, check if they are hidden in the Contacts app. β†’ Display contacts and select All contacts instead of just with SIM-map.

2. Transfer contacts via Mi Account (alternative to Google)

Mi Account is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud service that automatically backs up contacts, SMS and notes, a method that is convenient if you only use Xiaomi devices, but has a limitation: when you change your phone brand (for example, to Samsung), contacts will not be transferred, and Mi Account does not synchronize photos of contacts β€” only names, numbers and email.

How to enable synchronization with Mi Account:

  1. On an old phone (if it’s also Xiaomi): Open Settings β†’ Mi Account.
  2. Sign in to your account or register if you don’t have one.
  3. Go to the Cloud β†’ Data Sync and enable Contacts slider.
  4. On Redmi 9T, you can do the same thing using the same Mi Account.
  5. Wait until the sync is complete (the last update will appear in the cloud menu).

ParameterGoogle AccountMI Account
Synchronization of Contact Photosβœ… Yes.❌ No.
Work for other brands (Samsung, Honor)βœ… Yes.❌ Only Xiaomi.
Automatic backupβœ… Yes (via Google Contacts)βœ… Yes. MI Cloud)
Limitation on the number of contacts❌ No (free up to 25,000)❌ No, but the cloud MI 5GB limit)
πŸ“Š What account do you use to sync your contacts?
Only Google.
Only Mi Account.
Both accounts.
Don't use the cloud.
Another method

If the contacts are not synced through Mi Account:

  • πŸ”„ Check whether mobile internet or Wi-Fi is enabled on both devices.
  • πŸ“± Make sure the latest version of the app is installed on the phone. MI Cloud (update to Google Play).
  • πŸ”’ Sign out of Mi Account and log in again – sometimes it resets sync errors.
  • ⏳ Wait 1-2 hours: Xiaomi servers sometimes process data with a delay.

3. Export and import of contacts through VCF-file

The.vcf (vCard) method is a universal method that works even without the Internet, and it is suitable if you transfer contacts from an iPhone, Nokia or other Android device. The main disadvantage is that photos of contacts will not be saved, and if there are special characters (for example, internal extras), they may not display correctly.

Instructions for export on the old phone:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. Click on three dots (menu) β†’ Contact management β†’ Import/Export.
  3. Select Export to file and specify which contacts to export (e.g. All or SIM-only).
  4. Save the file to your internal memory or SD-map.
  5. Transfer the contacts.vcf file to Redmi 9T via Bluetooth, email or USB-cable.

Imports to Xiaomi Redmi 9T:

  1. Copy the.vcf file into your phone’s memory.
  2. Open Contacts β†’ Menu β†’ Contact Management β†’ Import / Export.
  3. Select Import from the device and specify the path to the file.
  4. Confirm the import (you can choose which account to keep contacts: Google, MI or phone).

πŸ’‘

If the.vcf file does not open on Redmi 9T, rename it to contacts.vcf (without spaces and Cyrillic) and repeat the import.

⚠️ Note: When importing VCF-file 9T firmware MIUI 12.5+ You may see a file corrupted error, in which case open the file on your computer through Outlook or Google Contacts, then export it again.

4. Contacts over Bluetooth (without the Internet)

Bluetooth is a simple but outdated method that is suitable for transferring a small number of contacts (up to 100-200 pieces). 9T It works consistently but has limitations:

  • πŸ“ž Only names and numbers are transmitted (without email, addresses, photos).
  • 🐒 Transmission speed is low: ~5 contacts per minute.
  • πŸ”‹ Battery consumption is higher than with other methods.

How to transfer contacts via Bluetooth:

  1. On both phones, turn on Bluetooth: Settings β†’ Connections β†’ Bluetooth.
  2. Conjugate the devices (on Redmi) 9T may require input PIN-code 0000 or 1234).
  3. On your old phone, open Contacts, select the right ones (or tap All).
  4. Click Share β†’ Bluetooth and select Redmi 9T from the list.
  5. On Redmi 9T, confirm the file and wait for the transfer to be completed.

What if Bluetooth doesn’t find the device?
1.Reboot both phones. 2. Make sure the distance between the devices is no more than 10 meters. 3. In Bluetooth settings on Redmi 9T, turn on Visibility for All (by 2 minutes). 4. If you use MIUI 13+, try turning off Energy Saving for Bluetooth in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Power Saving Mode.

Once transferred, the contacts will be stored in the phone’s memory (not in the cloud!) and must be manually exported to Google or Mi Account:

  1. Open Contacts. β†’ Menus. β†’ Contact management.
  2. Select Move Contacts and specify your target account (Google or MI).

5. Copying of contacts with SIM-Cards (for basic phones)

If you are transferring contacts from a button phone or an old smartphone, the easiest way is to use the phone. SIM-map. Redmi. 9T Supports import/export contacts SIM, but with limitations:

  • πŸ“Œ Nana SIM-The card can accommodate no more than 250 contacts (depending on the operator).
  • πŸ“‡ Only name and number are saved (extra fields are lost).
  • πŸ”  Names longer than 15 characters can be cut off.

How to copy contacts to SIM-map (on old phone):

  1. Open Contacts β†’ Settings β†’ Import / Export.
  2. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
  3. Specify which contacts to copy (e.g. All or only from your phone).
  4. Wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

Imports to Xiaomi Redmi 9T:

  1. Put it in. SIM-map 9T.
  2. Open Contacts β†’ Menu β†’ Contact Management β†’ Import / Export.
  3. Select Import with SIM-map.
  4. Specify where to save contacts (for example, in Google Account or Phone Memory).

πŸ’‘

Import with SIM-maps 9T Does not support Cyrillic names in encoding UTF-8. If the names are displayed by Krakozabra, export contacts through VCF-file.

6.Restore contacts after resetting the phone

If you reset Redmi 9T to factory settings or the Suddenly contacts are gone, they can be restored from backup. Xiaomi automatically creates backup contacts in MI Cloud, but only if synchronization is enabled.

How to Recover Contacts from MI Cloud:

  1. Open the Settings. β†’ Mi Account β†’ MI Cloud.
  2. Check if the contacts sync is enabled (the slider must be active).
  3. If no contacts appear, click Sync Now.
  4. If synchronization does not help, log out of your account and log in again.

Recovery from Google Contacts:

  1. Go to contacts.google.com from your computer or phone.
  2. Log in to the same account that was used on the old phone.
  3. Check if your contacts are displayed there. If so, on Redmi 9T, just turn on sync (see section 1).
  4. If no contacts are available, check the Recycle Bin in Google Contacts – it is stored there for 30 days.

⚠️ Note: If you have used third-party backup applications (such as Super Backup), you can only restore contacts through them. /sdcard/Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact synchronization on Redmi 9T

Why do contacts duplicate after synchronization?
Doubles occur if you use both Google Account and Mi Account at the same time. To fix the problem: Open Contacts β†’ Menu β†’ Contact Management β†’ Convert Doubles. Choose Automatic Unification or do it manually. Turn off Contact Sync in one of the accounts (e.g., Mi Account).
Can I transfer contacts from the iPhone to the Redmi 9T?
Yes, for that: On iPhone, export contacts to iCloud (Settings β†’ [Your name] β†’ iCloud β†’ Contacts. On your computer, go to icloud.com, select Contacts and export them to.vcf. Move the file to Redmi 9T and import through Contacts β†’ Import/Export. Alternative: Use the Move to iOS app (but it only works when you first set up Redmi 9T).
How to transfer contacts from Redmi 9T to your computer?
Ways: πŸ–₯️ Export to.vcf and send the file to yourself by email. ☁️ Sync with Google Contacts and open them on your PC via your browser. πŸ”Œ Connect your phone to the PC by USB, Enable File Transfer and copy the contacts.vcf file from the Download folder.
Why are your contacts not synced with Google?
Causes and solutions: πŸ“Ά No internet: check your Wi-Fi or mobile network connection. βš™οΈ Sync is disabled: go to Settings β†’ Accounts. β†’ Google β†’ Synchronize and enable Contacts. πŸ”„ Account Conflict: If you have multiple Google accounts, contacts may be saved to the wrong one. β†’ Settings β†’ Default account. πŸ› οΈ Server Error: Try to delete your account and add it again.
Can I transfer contacts without the Internet?
Yes, there are three ways: via Bluetooth (see section 4). VCF-file copied to a flash drive or sent by SMS. Through SIM-map (see section 5) The most reliable offline method β€” VCF-file, as it stores more data than Bluetooth or SIM.