How to Move Contacts to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with 5 Verified Ways

Shifting contacts to a new Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone is often a headache for users, especially if you’re talking about hundreds of records accumulated over the years using an old device. Copying errors can lead to loss of important numbers, duplicate records, or even phone book failures, and this article will help you avoid typical problems and choose the best method of transfer depending on your situation.

We will look at all the relevant ways - from the classical import of the SIM-We will focus on nuances that the manufacturer rarely mentions in official instructions, for example, why some contacts may not be copied in standard export or how to avoid losing avatars and additional fields. If you are switching from iPhone to Xiaomi or vice versa, you will find working solutions here too.

1. Transfer of contacts with SIM-maps on Xiaomi

The easiest but limited way is to copy the contacts directly from the SIM-It is suitable if you have few records (up to 250 pieces) and they are already saved on the map. SIM. Please note that this method does not carry contact photos, notes, or additional fields (e.g. email addresses).

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

1. Put it in. SIM-A card with old contacts in the Xiaomi slot (Nano-SIM and micro-SIM with adapter are supported).
2. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
3. Slip on the three points in the top right corner → Contact management → Import / Export contacts.
4. Select Import with SIM-maps and indicate where to save data: on the device or in the account Google/Mi.
5. Confirm the import and wait until the completion (can take up to 2 minutes with 200+ contacts).

⚠️ Attention: If SIM-card from another operator (for example, MTS, and the smartphone is configured for Tele2), some contacts can be displayed without names - only with numbers. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 No need for internet or additional devices.
• 🔹 It works even on a discharged smartphone (if there is enough charge to turn on).
• 🔹 Suitable for older push-button phones (like the Nokia 3310).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Limit the number of contacts (depending on the model) SIM-map).
• ⚠️ No Unicode-symbols support (Cyrillic names can be displayed by cracose squirrels).
• ⚠️ Contact groups are not retained (e.g., "Work", "Family").

2. synchronize contacts through a Google account

This is the most reliable way if you used Android on your previous device, and all contacts linked to your Google account will automatically be uploaded to Xiaomi when you first switch on, and the main condition is that the old smartphone had to sync with the same account.

How to check and enable synchronization:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and make sure the Contacts switch is active (blue slider).
3. On Xiaomi, when you first start, enter the same Google account or add it to Settings → Accounts.
4. Wait for automatic synchronization (can take up to 10 minutes).

If no contact is made:

• 📌 Check your internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 📌 Update Google Contacts app in Play Market.
• 📌 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Contacts and clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: If you used multiple Google accounts on an old phone, contacts could be split between them. On Xiaomi, they won’t automatically merge – you’ll have to manually export/import through Google Contacts on the web version (contacts.google.com).

3.Moving contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi

The transition from iOS to Android requires additional steps, as Apple uses a closed ecosystem, and the most reliable way is to export through iCloud or the Move to iOS app (yes, it works the other way around!).

Method 1: Through iCloud

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable Contact Sync.
2. On your computer, go to icloud.com, log in and export contacts to the.vcf file.
3. Send this file to Xiaomi (by mail, via Telegram or Mi Drop).
4. Open the file on Xiaomi and the system will prompt you to import contacts.

Method 2: Through SIM-Card (for iPhone with physical SIM)

• 📱 On iPhone: Settings → Contacts → Imports SIM-Contacts (transfer to the SIM).
• 📱 Put it in. SIM Install your contacts in Xiaomi and import them (see section 1).

Method 3: “Move to Android” (officially from Google)

This solution works even without a computer:

1. Install the Google One app on your iPhone.
2. Select Backup → Contacts and wait until completed.
3. On Xiaomi, add the same Google account – contacts are synced automatically.

4. Copy contacts via Bluetooth or Mi Drop

If you don’t have access to the internet or a computer, you can transfer contacts directly between devices via Bluetooth or through Mi Drop, a technique that is suitable for transferring between two Android devices (for example, from the old Samsung to the new Redmi Note 12).

Through Bluetooth:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → select Export/Import → Send Contacts.
2. Select the required records (or click "Select All").
3. Select Bluetooth and send the file to Xiaomi.
4. On Xiaomi, accept the file and confirm the import.

Mi Drop (for Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO devices):

1. Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi Direct and Mi Drop enabled (included in standard MIUI applications).
2. On your old phone, select contacts for export and tap Share → Mi Drop.
3. On Xiaomi, accept the incoming file and import contacts.

Limitations of methods:

• 🚫 Bluetooth transmits contacts without photos (numbers and names only).
• 🚫 Mi Drop may not work between devices of different brands (e.g. Xiaomi and Huawei).
• 🚫 With a large number of contacts (500)+) transmission may be interrupted.

💡

If Bluetooth doesn’t see Xiaomi, try turning on Visibility for All in the Bluetooth settings on both devices, and check if the power saving mode is blocking the transmission (turn it off in Settings → Battery).

5.Export/import via VCF file (for power users)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal standard for storing contacts, supported by all modern smartphones, including Xiaomi, and useful if you need to back up or move contacts from a device that is not directly synced (for example, with Windows Phone).

How to export contacts to VCF:

• 📄 On an old phone: Contacts → Settings → Exports → File. VCF.
• 📄 Save the file to the device memory or SD-map.

How to import to Xiaomi:

• 📱 Transfer the.vcf file to Xiaomi (by cable, via cloud or messenger).
• 📱 Open the file – the system will suggest importing contacts into the phone book.
• 📱 Select your target account (device, Google or Mi Account).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Keeps all contact fields: photos, addresses, birthdays.
• 🔧 Works between any device (including iPhone and Xiaomi).
• 🔧 You can edit a.vcf file in a text editor (e.g., delete unnecessary entries).

💡

The VCF file is the only method that is guaranteed to store all contact data (including photos and notes) when transferred between any devices. Use it if other methods do not fit or fail.

6. Transfer of contacts via computer (for backup)

If you prefer to work with a PC, you can copy contacts via Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi) or manually through a.vcf file. This method is useful if you need to make a full backup before resetting your phone to factory settings.

Method 1: Mi PC Suite

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite on your computer.
2. Connect Xiaomi via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → tap 7 times according to version).
3. In the program, select Contacts → Backup.
4. After copying to the PC, you can transfer contacts to another device through Recovery.

Method 2: Manual export through ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods do not work (for example, on custom firmware), you can extract contacts through ADB:

adb backup -f contacts.ab -apk com.android.contacts


adb restore contacts.ab

This command backs up the contact database to the contacts.ab file, which can then be restored to another device.

⚠️ Attention: When using Mi PC Suite do not interrupt the backup process – this can damage the contact database. If the program is “hang” during the copying stage, wait 10 minutes before forced closure.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the correct transfer of contacts, there can be problems, and here are typical situations and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Contacts are duplicated

This happens if you imported the same records from multiple sources (like SIM and Google).

• 🔄 Open Contacts. → Settings → Combine duplicates.
• 🔄 Manually check records with the same names (sometimes automatic unification misses duplicates).

Problem 2: Contact photos are missing

Photos may not be copied when imported from SIM or via Bluetooth.

• 🖼️ Use a.vcf file or sync through Google Contacts.
• 🖼️ If the photos were in iCloud, export them separately through the web version.

Problem 3: Contacts are displayed without names (numbers only)

This is a mistake when importing with SIM-some operators' cards:

• 📇 Try importing contacts to another account (e.g. Mi Account instead of Google).
• 📇 Edit the records manually or import through.vcf.

Problem 4: Contacts with Google are not synced

If changes to Google Contacts do not apply to Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Check if synchronization is included in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Contacts.
• 🔄 Delete your account and add it again.
• 🔄 Clear the cache of the Contacts app in the settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions