How to Download Contacts with Samsung on Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Guide to Comparing All Ways

Moving contacts from an old Samsung smartphone to a new Xiaomi is a challenge that every second user faces when changing their brand.Although both companies are based on Android, the differences in firmware (One) UI Samsung and MIUI Xiaomi can make it more complicated. In this article, we will look at all the current methods of transfer, from standard solutions through a Google account to alternative methods using the Internet. SIM-Maps, Bluetooth and third-party applications.

Xiaomi does not support direct import of contacts from Samsung backups (.spb format) by default, so some methods will require additional actions, such as file conversion or cloud synchronization, and we analyzed each method according to three criteria: speed, reliability and data security (including contact photos and additional fields).

If you’re upgrading from the Galaxy S23 Ultra to the Xiaomi 14 Pro or from the Samsung A52 to the Redmi Note 12, the instructions below will be suitable for any models released after 2018.The only exception is that Android Go phones (like the Samsung Galaxy J2 Core) may not support some features due to a stripped-down version of the OS.

1. Transfer contacts through a Google account (recommended method)

This method is considered the most reliable, because it uses built-in sync Android, the main advantage is that contacts automatically update on both devices if you add or change the record, but there is a caveat: if on Samsung contacts are stored only in the memory of the phone (not in Google), they must first be exported.

To check if your contacts are synced with Google:

1. Open the Contacts app on Samsung.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Contact management → Settings.
3. Choose Import/Export Contacts → Export.
4. If there's a Google item on the list, then the contacts are already synced. If not, select Device or SIM-Map and export to Google.

Next on Xiaomi:

1. When you first turn on, sign in to the same Google account as you do on Samsung.
2. If your phone is already set up, go to Settings → Google Accounts → Sync and enable Contacts.
3. Open the Contacts app and wait until the sync is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).

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If contacts don’t appear on Xiaomi, check to see if the traffic savings for the Contacts app are turned off in the battery settings, and make sure both devices are connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

2. Export of contacts through SIM-Card (for small telephone books)

This method is suitable if you have fewer than 200 contacts and are not tied to photos or additional fields (for example, date of birth). SIM-The card only stores the basic data: name and number, and the advantage of the method is that there is no Internet connection, and the disadvantage is a limited amount of memory (on one side). SIM fit ~250 contacts).

Instructions for Samsung:

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
3. Mark the contacts you need (or click Select All) and confirm the export.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Put it in. SIM-card.
2. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Import with SIM-map.
3. Choose where to save your contacts (Device or Google) and confirm the import.

Make sure that SIM-map formatted in standard GSM (not USIM)

Check the vacant space on SIM (Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks)

Use it. SIM-Adapter if Xiaomi has a different slot size (nano-SIM)

Save a backup of your contacts on Samsung before exporting-->

⚠️ Note: Some operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) block the recording of contacts on the Internet. SIM-If there is an error in the export, try using the card. SIM Or move to another method or move to another method.

3. Contacts over Bluetooth (without the Internet)

Bluetooth devices are suitable for contact transfer if you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or mobile Internet. The method works on all Samsung and Xiaomi models, but there is a limitation: in one session you can send only one contact or a packet of 10 to 50 records (depending on the Android version).

How to transfer contacts:

1. On Samsung: Open Contacts, select the entries you want (holding your finger on your first contact) → Share → Bluetooth.
2. On Xiaomi: Turn Bluetooth on in the control panel and confirm the file reception (.vcf format).
3. After transfer, open the received file - the contacts will be automatically added to the phone book.

Alternatively, send the entire contact list in one file:

1. On Samsung: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to the device (contact.vcf file is saved).
2. Send this file via Bluetooth or any other application (e.g. Xender).
3. On Xiaomi, open the file – contacts are automatically imported.

4. Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work (for example, you need to move contacts with photos or notes), use specialized applications. We tested 5 popular services and selected the two most reliable ones:

We recommend CLONEit for full data portability (including SMS and call history) and Copy My Data - if only contact photos are needed.

• 🔹 Make sure that both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
• 🔹 Allow access to contacts in the application settings.
• 🔹 Do not interrupt the process – when the communication breaks, the data may be damaged.

Copy My Data|CLONEit|Xender|Other |Not using third-party apps-->

5. Transfer via Samsung backup (for power users)

Samsung backs up contacts in.spb format, which is not readable on Xiaomi, and to get around this restriction, you need to convert the file to a universal.vcf format.

1. On Samsung, back up: Settings → Accounts and archiving → Backup and restoration → Backup Data Select Contacts and save the file to internal memory or SD-map.
2. Copy the contacts.spb file to your computer.
3. Use an online converter (such as SPB to VCF) or Samsung Kies to convert to.vcf.
4. Flip the resulting contacts.vcf to Xiaomi and open it.

⚠️ Note:.spb files may contain personal information (such as call history) and do not upload them to questionable online services, use official Samsung Kies software or local programs such as: SPB Backup Tool.

The only time this method is required is if the contacts on Samsung are saved in a proprietary format and are not synced with Google. SIM-map.

6. Solving typical problems when transferring contacts

Even when you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and we've collected the most common problems and ways to fix them:

• 📵 Contacts are not synced with Google: Check if sync is disabled in your account settings. delete your Google account on Xiaomi and add again. Update the Contacts app on Google Play.
• 🔄 Duplicate contacts: In Contacts on Xiaomi, select ⋮ → Contact management → Use the Contacts Optimizer app to clean automatically.
• 📱 Contacts are displayed without names (numbers only): Check the encoding of the.vcf file - it should be UTF-8. Import contacts not on SIM-card, and directly in the memory of the phone.

1. whether synchronization of media files in Google Photos is enabled.

2. Is the Traffic Saving mode for the Contacts app disabled?

3. whether the photos are stored in the cloud (on Samsung they could be linked to a Samsung account, not Google).-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts with Samsung to Xiaomi