How to make contacts from Android to Android via Bluetooth: instructions for Xiaomi

Transferring contacts between Xiaomi smartphones via Bluetooth seems like a simple task — until you encounter typical problems: devices do not see each other, transfer is cut off in half or contacts are duplicated. MIUI (12 to 14), explore why Bluetooth might not be up to the task, and consider alternative methods, from cloud backup to use. QR-code.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi limits Bluetooth functionality to connect with other brands. For example, on Samsung or Google Pixel smartphones, this process is often automated, whereas on Redmi or POCO you need manual adjustment. We tested the instructions on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T and POCO X5 Pro models — in all cases, the method worked, but with nuances, which will be discussed below.

Preparing smartphones for the transfer of contacts

Before you start transferring, make sure that both devices meet the following key requirements:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Both smartphones should be installed. MIUI 12 or later, on older versions (e.g, MIUI 11) the Bluetooth contact function may not be available or may not work properly.
• 🔋 Battery charge: at least 30 percent on both devices. Contact transfer is energy-intensive, and if the charge is critically low, the system can interrupt the operation.
• 📶 Flight mode: disabled on both phones, otherwise Bluetooth will not be available.
• 🔒 Permissions: Contacts must have access rights to Warehouse and Bluetooth. → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Permits.

Pay special attention to synchronization of contacts. If your contacts are linked to a Google or Mi Account, their transfer via Bluetooth can duplicate records. To avoid chaos, we recommend temporarily disabling sync:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Choose a Google account or a Mi Account.
3. Turn off the slider near the contact point.

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If one of the smartphones has custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), Bluetooth contact transfer may not work, in which case use alternative methods in the last section of the article.

Step-by-step: Transfer of contacts via Bluetooth

Now, let's get to the process itself. It's important to follow the instructions precisely, because skipping even one step can cause a failure.

1. Activate Bluetooth on both devices: On the original smartphone (from which you send contacts), go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth and turn it on. On the target smartphone (where you receive contacts), do the same.
2. Pair devices: On the original smartphone, click Device Search and select the target phone from the list. Confirm pairing on both devices (you may need to enter) PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234).
3. Export contacts: Open the Contacts app on the original smartphone. tap three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Export to the device. Select the.vcf format and confirm the export. The file will be saved in the Download folder or MIUI/Backup.
4. Transfer the file via Bluetooth: Open File Manager and find the exported contact.vcf. Click on the file, select Share → Bluetooth and send it to the target smartphone. Confirm the file's acceptance on the target device.
5. Import contacts: On your target smartphone, open a notification about the received file or find it in Files → Downloads. Click on the contacts.vcf file and select Import to Contacts.

Bluetooth is enabled on both devices

- Devices are paired (confirmed on both phones)

Contacts.vcf file successfully exported

- The target smartphone has enough memory to import-->

If the error “Cannot import contacts” occurs during the import phase, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot both smartphones and try again.
• 📁 Delete the old contacts.vcf file and export the contacts again.
• 🛠️ Update the Contacts app via Google Play (if available).

Typical errors and their solutions

Even with the correct instructions, Xiaomi users often encounter problems, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them.

⚠️ Note: If the target smartphone is installed MIUI Global, and on the original — MIUI China may have problems encoding Chinese characters in contacts, in which case use alternative transmission methods (see section below).

On Xiaomi smartphones with a Qualcomm processor (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the transfer of large.vcf files over Bluetooth is more stable than on devices with MediaTek (such as the POCO M5). If you have a model on MediaTek, we recommend using Wi-Fi Direct or the cloud.

Alternative methods of communication

If Bluetooth is failing or the process is too long, consider alternative methods, some of which are even faster and more reliable.

1. Through a Google account

The most universal way, independent of the smartphone model:

1. On the original smartphone, open Settings → Accounts and sync → Google.
2. Turn on Contact Sync.
3. On your target smartphone, add the same Google account and enable sync.

Contacts will appear automatically within 5-10 minutes.

2.Use of QR-code

Suitable for transferring a small number of contacts:

1. Open the contact in the Contacts app.
2. Press Share. → QR-code.
3. Scan the code with the target smartphone’s camera.

3. Transmission through messengers

Quick method for single contacts:

• 📲 Export the contact to the.vcf file (as described above).
• 💬 Send the file via Telegram, WhatsApp or Mi Drop (the built-in Xiaomi application for file transfer).
• 📥 On your target smartphone, save the file and import it.

How to avoid data loss in transfer

Contact transfers are always a risk of data loss or damage, and to minimize problems, follow these tips:

• 🔄 Create a backup before transfer. To do this, export the contacts to a.vcf file and save it to Google Drive or to Google Drive. MIUI/Backup.
• 📊 Check the number of contacts. If there are more. 1000, Break it apart 200-300 It'll reduce the chance of failure.
• 🛡️ Turn off battery optimization for Contacts and Bluetooth applications.This will prevent transmission interruption due to energy saving.

If you find that some contacts are missing or damaged after the transfer, try to restore them from a backup:

1. Open Contacts → Contact Management → Import / Export → Import from the device.
2. Select the backup.vcf file and confirm the import.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) After importing contacts via Bluetooth, your Mi Account anchor settings may be lost. After transfer, check that contacts are not duplicated in the cloud, and if necessary, sync manually.

Comparison of Contact Transfer Methods on Xiaomi

To choose the best way, compare all available options on key parameters:

And you can see from the table that Bluetooth is not the most reliable way, especially when you have a lot of contacts, but it is still relevant in situations where you don't have access to the Internet or you need to transfer data without being tied to cloud services.

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For most Xiaomi users, the best solution is a combination: synchronize the main database of contacts through Google Account, and transfer single contacts via Bluetooth or other devices. QR-code.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring contacts to Xiaomi