How to copy contacts from Android to Android via Bluetooth: instructions for Xiaomi Redmi

Transferring contacts between Xiaomi Redmi smartphones via Bluetooth seems like a simple task, but in practice users face the limitations of the protocol and the features of the MIUI shell. Unlike cloud services or NFC, transferring via Bluetooth requires manual adjustment and has nuances, from limiting the number of transmitted records to problems with encoding Cyrillic characters. This instruction covers all stages from preparing devices to solving typical errors, taking into account the specifics of the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other lines based on MIUI 12-14.

Many users mistakenly believe that Bluetooth is for mass data transfer, but in fact the protocol is optimized for the exchange of small files (for example, business cards.vcf). When trying to send an entire phone book at once, the system can give an error "File too large" or "Not supported." We will discuss how to circumvent these restrictions using built-in MIUI tools and third-party applications, and explain why some contacts may not be transferred correctly (for example, with multiple numbers or special characters).

In this article you will find:

• 🔹 Step-by-step contact transfer algorithm via Bluetooth for Xiaomi Redmi (including hidden settings) MIUI)
• 🔹 Bluetooth vs. Mi Account vs. Google Account – Which is Faster and More Reliable
• 🔹 5 Common Errors (from Device Not Detected to File Damaged")
• 🔹 Methods of transferring contacts with duplicates and attached photos

Preparation of devices: what to do before transfer

Before you start transferring, make sure that both Xiaomi Redmi smartphones meet the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: 12.0 or less (older versions may not support.vcf transmission)
• 🔄 Bluetooth: version 4.2 or later (checked in Settings) → The phone. → Bluetooth version)
• 📂 Free space: minimum 50MB on the receiving device (even for 1000 contacts)
• 🔋 Battery charge: at least 30% (process can take up to 15 minutes with a large amount of data)

On the receiving device, turn off automatic sync with Google Contacts or Mi Account via Settings → Accounts → Sync. Otherwise, new contacts may duplicate or conflict with existing records.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Contacts (or Contacts on global firmware).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: If data encryption is enabled on the sending device (Settings option) → Additionally. → Encryption, contacts can be transmitted in an unreadable format. Before transfer, disable encryption or use alternative methods (see the section on Mi Mover).

Method 1: Transfer via built-in export of contacts (without third-party applications)

This method works on all Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 12-14 and does not require additional software installation. Instructions are relevant for models Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9T, Redmi K50 and others:

1. Export contacts on the sending device: Open the Contacts app. Click on three dots (⋮) top-right → Contact management → Import/Export. Select Export to File → tick the desired contacts (or click Select All). Click Export and save the file in.vcf format (for example, in the Download folder).
2. File transfer via Bluetooth: Open Files (or File Manager) and find the saved.vcf. Hold the file → Press Share → Select Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth on the receiving device and confirm the file's acceptance.
3. Import on the receiving device: Once you receive the file, open it (the system will prompt the import automatically). Select an account to save (for example, Local Contacts or Google).

Make sure that.vcf files are less than 10MB|Turn off the power saving mode on both devices|Make sure there is enough space on the receiving phone.|Remove old.vcf files from memory (to avoid conflicts)-->

A critical feature for Xiaomi Redmi is that if a.vcf file weighs more than 5MB, the system can split it into parts, which will lead to the loss of some contacts. To avoid this, export contacts in portions of 300-400 entries.

Method 2: Using Mi Mover (official solution from Xiaomi)

Mi Mover was designed specifically to transfer data between Xiaomi devices, including contacts, messages and photos. It supports Wi-Fi Direct (which is faster than Bluetooth), but when the network is absent, it can work over a Bluetooth connection.

1. Install Mi Mover from the Mi App Store on both devices (if it is not in the standard set).
2. On the sending phone, select I send, on the receiving phone, I receive.
3. Connect devices via Bluetooth (the application will request to confirm the code).
4. Select Contacts in the data list for transmission and confirm the operation.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, 13.0.4 for Redmi Note 9) Mi Mover may not see contacts associated with a Google account. Before using the application, copy contacts to local storage via Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts → Shut down.

Solving the problem: why contacts are not transmitted via Bluetooth

If the transfer process has stalled or ended with an error, check the following points:

• 📵 Devices can't see each other: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in Detection Mode (click Device Search in Bluetooth Settings). on some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 8A) You must allow access to contacts for the Bluetooth application in Settings → Permits.
• ❌ File Not Supported Error: Check the file extension – it should be.vcf, not.vcf.vcf.zip. If the file is corrupted, try exporting the contacts again by selecting vCard format. 3.0 (export-setting).
• 🔄 Contacts duplicated: Before importing, delete old records via Contacts → Management → Use import to a new account (e.g. local) rather than an existing Google account.

Redmi models with MIUI 14 (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) may have an “Insufficient Rights” error when attempting to export, due to new security restrictions, to circumvent it:

1. Go to Settings → Special Options → Simplified Mode and turn it on.
2. Repeat the export of contacts - in a simplified mode, restrictions are softened.
3. After the operation is completed, return to normal.

Transfer of contacts with photos and additional fields

Standard Bluetooth export does not store photo contacts and additional fields (such as birthday or address) to transfer them in full, use one of the following methods:

• 📎 Through Mi Account: On the sending device: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Synchronization of contacts → Enable. On the receiving device, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for sync. Advantage: All fields are saved, including photos and notes. Disadvantage: requires Internet and binding to the Xiaomi account.
• 🔗 Through third-party apps (like My Contacts Backup): Install the app from Google Play. back up contacts in.vcf or.xml. Transfer the file via Bluetooth and restore to the new device.

Advantage: All fields are supported, including custom tags.

💡

If you need to transfer your contacts from Redmi to a device of another brand (such as Samsung), use Send Anywhere, which allows you to transfer.vcf files of any size over Wi-Fi Direct without the limitations of Bluetooth.

Comparison of methods: what to choose for Xiaomi Redmi

The choice of transfer method depends on the amount of data, the availability of the Internet and the device model. Below is a comparison table with recommendations:

For most users of Xiaomi Redmi, the best solution is a combination of methods:

1. Transfer the main contacts via Bluetooth (if there are few and no photos).
2. Add data via Mi Account or Google Contacts (for photos and notes).

💡

If you need to transfer contacts once and without binding to accounts, the best choice is Mi Mover over Wi-Fi Direct. It is faster than Bluetooth and saves all data.

Frequent questions and answers