How to copy contacts from Android to Xiaomi: all the ways of 2026

Why moving contacts to Xiaomi requires a special approach

The switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to keeping a phone book safe. Unlike devices from a single manufacturer (such as Samsung to Samsung), the transfer of contacts between different Android brands can be nuanced. Xiaomi uses its own MIUI ecosystem, which sometimes conflicts with standard Android tools. For example, the Mi Cloud feature can automatically duplicate contacts if you do not turn off sync in advance.

Another trap is different versions of Android. If your old smartphone runs Android 10 and the new Xiaomi 14 runs Android 14, some methods (such as Bluetooth transmission) may not work well. In addition, many users forget that contacts can be stored in three places at the same time. SIM-And if you don't pick the right source, some of the numbers just won't move.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 current ways to migrate contacts to Xiaomi in 2026, including hidden MIUI features that the manufacturer doesn’t advertise, which method is the fastest, which method is more reliable for large phone books (1000+ contacts), and how to avoid duplication of records.

Method 1: Sync through a Google account (most universal)

This method works on any Android device, including Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO, if they're connected to the Internet, and the main advantage is that you automatically update your contacts when you add new numbers to any device, but here's the caveat: if you haven't used Google contacts before, you'll have to export your data from your old phone first.

Instructions for the old phone:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
3. Select Export to File VCF (if the contacts are stored on the phone) or Export to SIM (if SIM-map).
4. If you export to VCF, send the file to your email or Google Drive.

Instructions for the new Xiaomi:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Google accounts → Synchronize and enable Contacts.
• 🔄 If the contacts were in the file VCF, Open it through Contacts. → Imports/Exports → File-based import.
• 🔍 Check out takes: Contacts → ⋮ → Combining and correcting.

⚠️ Note: If your old phone has contacts linked to another Google account (such as a work account), they will only be displayed when you log in to the same Xiaomi account. VCF pre-existingly.

Method 2: Move over Mi Cloud (only for Xiaomi owners)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that automatically backs up contacts, messages and photos, a method that works if both devices are from Xiaomi (for example, with the Redmi Note 11 on the Xiaomi 13T).

How to move:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Contact Synchronization (enable).
2. Wait until the synchronization is complete (the cloud icon will turn green).
3. On the new Xiaomi, log in to the same Mi Account and enable contact sync.

If the contact does not appear on the new phone:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📶 Check the connection to Wi-Fi/mobile data.
• 🔧 In Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts click Clear cache.

Sign in to one Mi Account on both phones

Enable contact synchronization on the old device

Connect the new Xiaomi to Wi-Fi

Check the free space in Mi Cloud (Settings) → Mi Cloud → Warehouse)-->

Method 3: Copying through SIM-Card (for small telephone books)

This method is suitable if you have fewer than 250 contacts (limitation). SIM-maps) and no Internet access, but there are critical downsides:

• 🚫 Contact photos and additional fields (email, address) are not transferred).
• 🚫 Names can be displayed in Ivanovi.P. format (without spaces).
• 🚫 On some Xiaomis, for example, POCO F5) importation option SIM hidden in the bottom of the menu.

Step-by-step:

1. On an old phone: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM.
2. Select contacts (or highlight all) and confirm exports.
3. Move it. SIM-map to the new Xiaomi.
4. On the new phone: Contacts → ⋮ → Import with SIM (If you do not have an option, see spoiler below).

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi with two SIM-Cards (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ Import of contacts works only with the main SIM (If you insert the card into slot 2, the option will be inactive.

Method 4: Export/import via VCF file (for large bases)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal standard for storing contacts that all smartphones support.

• 📇 More than 500 contacts (SIM-card).
• 🖼️ You need to save profile photos and additional fields.
• 🔄 Requires a backup in case of a phone reset.

How to move:

1. On an old phone, export contacts to VCF (see Method 1).
2. Transfer the file to the new Xiaomi via: 📎 Bluetooth (slowly but without internet). 💾 USB-cable (the fastest way). ☁️ Cloud (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk).

Contacts → Import / Export → Import from the file

💡

If the VCF file does not open on Xiaomi, rename the extension from.vcf to.vcff (sometimes MIUI blocks standard formats).

Advantages of the method:

Method 5: Transfer via Bluetooth (if nothing works)

This method is the last chance when there is no Internet, cable or SIM-It is suitable for a small number of contacts (up to 100), as the transfer goes one at a time. MIUI 14 and newer Bluetooth-transfer contacts work stable, but on older versions (for example, MIUI (12) there may be failures.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones and pair them.
2. On an old phone: Open Contacts, select the contact you want → Share → Bluetooth.
3. Select a new Xiaomi from the list of devices.
4. On the new phone, confirm the file acceptance and keep the contact.

💡

Bluetooth porting is only for emergencies. For large phone books, use VCF or Google sync, which is faster and more reliable.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with proper follow-up, users face problems.-5 mistakes and their solutions:

1. Contacts are duplicated: Reason: Google and Mi Cloud sync are enabled simultaneously. Solution: Disable one of the syncs in Settings → Accounts.
2. Not all contacts were transferred: Reason: some contacts were tied to SIM-Solution: Check the contact sources on your old phone (Contacts) → ⋮ → Settings → Sources).
3. Names are displayed in hieroglyphics: Reason: mismatch of encodings when exporting/importing VCF. Solution: Open the VCF file on your PC via Notepad++ and save it to UTF-8 encoding.

If photos of contacts are missing after the transfer:

• 🖼️ Check if the option to show photos in Contacts is enabled → ⋮ → Settings → Display.
• ☁️ If the photos were in Google Contacts, wait for full sync (may take up to an hour).
• 🔄 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Do not update the cache of photos immediately.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions