How to get off the contacts with Xiaomi: all the ways with instructions and nuances

Why moving your contacts to Xiaomi requires a special approach

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones store contacts differently than most Android devices, because the manufacturer has integrated its own sync system through a Mi Account, which often conflicts with standard Google mechanisms. For example, when you try to export through Settings → Google → Backup, you may find that some contacts are missing — they are only saved in the Mi Cloud cloud, not in a Google account.

Another feature — MIUI Automatically duplicate the contacts between SIM-If you don't prioritize your sources correctly, you get multiple copies of the same contact with different data when you move to a new phone. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of exporting contacts, taking into account these nuances, and also tell you how to avoid duplication and data loss.

Method 1: Export via MIUI (built-in function)

The most reliable method for owners of Xiaomi, as it works even without an Internet connection and does not depend on third-party services. MIUI 12–14 (including HyperOS):

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner → select Contact Management.
3. Go to Import/Export Contacts → Export to Device.
4. Choose where to export from: 📱 Device – Local contacts (save only on the phone). ☁️ Mi Cloud – Contacts from Xiaomi account. 🔗 Google – Contacts synchronized with Google Account.

.vcf

.vcf (all)

Exports

Downloads.

The finished contacts.vcf file can be copied to another phone via Bluetooth, messenger or cloud storage, and the advantage of this method is that all fields (including notes, additional numbers and addresses) are saved, which other methods do not guarantee.

Mi Cloud sync is disabled (if you export local contacts)|The memory is enough to create a.vcf file.|The file is saved in an accessible folder (not in system partitions)|File access rights checked (write permission)-->

⚠️ Note: If you export contacts from Mi Cloud, make sure your phone is synced to that account. Otherwise, the list will be empty. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Contacts.

Method 2: Sync with Google (for porting to Android)

This method is suitable if you plan to transfer contacts to another Android smartphone (not necessarily Xiaomi), the main condition is the presence of an active Google account and a stable Internet connection.

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select your Google account (if not, add it through Add Account).
3. Activate the switch opposite Contact.
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (a notification will appear in the top panel).
5. On the new phone, log in to the same Google account – contacts will be automatically downloaded.

If the contacts are not synchronized, check:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization is included in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account.
• 🌐 Internet connection stable (better to use Wi-Fi).
• 📱 Contacts are not duplicated between Mi Cloud and Google (see the section on cleaning up takes below).

💡

If your contacts aren’t updated on Google, try manually running sync: open the Contacts app → three points → Sync now.

The downside of this method is that not all fields can be transferred correctly, for example, sometimes contact photos or user tags (for example, "Work", "Home") are lost, and MIUI sometimes blocks synchronization if informal firmware is installed in the phone.

Method 3: Transfer to SIM-Card (for old phones)

This method is useful if the new phone does not support modern formats (such as push-button devices) or you do not have access to the Internet.

• 📞 Only the name and main number are saved (additional phones, email, addresses will be lost).
• 🔢 Limit on the number of contacts: 250-500 (depending on the number of contacts) SIM-map).
• 📱 It does not work on eSIM and virtual SIM.

Export instructions:

1. Open Contacts → Three Points → Contact Management → Import/Export.
2. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
3. Mark the contacts you want (or click Select All).
4. Confirm the export and wait until it is completed (may take a few minutes).

⚠️ Note: Before exporting to SIM Check that there is enough free space on the map. If the limit is exceeded, old contacts will be automatically deleted without warning. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [yours SIM] → Memory. SIM-map.

Through Google-account |Export file.vcf|Sync with Mi Cloud|Transfer to SIM-card |Another way-->

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, you can use specialized applications, and we tested some popular solutions and we made a comparison table:

Selection recommendations:

• 📊 If you need to clear the doubles before the perenosom, use Contacts Optimizer.
• ☁️ Super Backup is suitable for backup in the cloud.
• 📧 To send contacts by email - My Contacts Backup.

Important: Before using third-party apps, disable battery optimization for them in Settings → Annexes → Application management → [name] → Battery → Without restrictions, otherwise background synchronization may be interrupted.

Method 5: Manual transfer via computer (for advanced)

This method is suitable if you not only need to transfer contacts, but also edit them before exporting (for example, delete unnecessary or correct the format of numbers). Windows/macOS and USB-cable.

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy the contacts.vcf file (if exported via MIUI) or find it in the Internal Storage → MIUI → backup → AllBackup folder (if you used backup).
3. Open the file in a text editor (like Notepad++) or a special program like VCF Editor.
4. Edit the data if necessary (e.g. add prefixes to numbers: +7 instead of 8).
5. Copy the edited file to a new phone and import it through the Contacts app.

Excel can be used for mass editing of numbers:

1. Convert.vcf to.csv via an online service (e.g. vcf-to-csv.com).
2. Open the file in Excel and apply the formulas to correct the numbers (e.g. =CONCATENATE("+7", MID(A2, 2, 10)) to replace 8 with +7).
3. Save it back to.csv, then convert it to.vcf.

How to avoid duplication of contacts during transfer

The main problem with moving contacts with Xiaomi is the appearance of duplicates, which is due to the fact that MIUI by default saves contacts in several sources at the same time: on the device, in Mi Cloud and in Google.

1. Check contact sources: Open Contacts → Three Points → Contact Management → Contacts Display. Make sure only one source (like Device or Google) is active.
2. Combine takes: In the same menu, select Join Contacts. MIUI will automatically find possible duplicates and suggest combining them.
3. Turn off unnecessary sync: If you use Google, turn off sync with Mi Cloud in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud. And vice versa: if your primary account is Mi, deactivate sync with Google.

If you have already seen duplicates on your new phone, use the Contacts Optimizer app (Cleanup Doubles section) or Google Contacts service (Dubley menu).

💡

Before perenosom contacts, always check which source is the main one in Contact Display. If both Mi Cloud and Google are active, duplication is inevitable.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you move your contacts to Xiaomi, users face typical problems, and we've collected the most common ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the settings of the Contacts app:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. Restart the phone and repeat the export.

⚠️ Attention: Clearing the Contacts app data will delete all local contacts (not synced to the cloud)!Be sure to back up through Settings before doing so → System system → Backup.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions