How to copy contacts from Xiaomi phone to your computer: all working ways

Transferring your Xiaomi contacts to your computer may seem like a trivial task – as long as you don’t face the limitations of your experience. MIUI, lack of slot SD-Unlike the iPhone, where everything is tied to iCloud, the Xiaomi ecosystem offers several alternative paths, each with its own nuances, from exporting through vCard to using hidden features. ADB.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to copy contacts, from the simplest (via Google Account) to the most advanced (using Fastboot for damaged devices), and focus on 3.5mm models without a connector and USB-Type C, where standard methods may not work. If you need to copy, edit contacts on a PC or transfer them to another system (for example, Outlook), here you will find a solution.

1. Method: Export contacts via MIUI (without computer)

The fastest method is to simply back up your contacts to a.vcf (business card) file, suitable for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on MIUI 12–14, including the Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Redmi Note 12 Pro+.

Algorithm:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select Contact Management.
• 📤 Tap Import/Export Contacts → Export to file.
• 📁 Choose where to save the file (such as Downloads or Mi Cloud).
• ✅ Confirm Exports – Contacts.vcf file will be created.

Now you just have to transfer this file to your computer, and you can do this.

• 📎 Through Mi Cloud (upload the file to the cloud, then download to PC).
• 🔌 Cable. USB (file transfer mode).
• 📲 Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct (if the PC supports).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI Only contacts saved in the phone book of the device are exported, but not those synced with Google or Mi Account. Before exporting, check where your contacts are stored: open any contact. → Check out the Account field.

2. Method: Sync with Google Account

If your contacts are already linked to Google, they can be easily downloaded to your computer via a web interface, which is suitable for users who use Gmail or other Google services, with the advantage of automatic synchronization: changes to the phone will immediately affect your account.

Instructions:

1. 📱 On Xiaomi phone go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google.
2. 🔄 Make sure the Contact switch is on (if not, turn on and wait for synchronization).
3. 💻 On your computer, open your browser and go to the Google Contacts website.
4. 📥 Sign in with the same account as your phone, and you'll see all your contacts here.
5. 📄 To export: click on the icon ⚙️ Settings → Exports → Select the format (Google) CSV vCard) → Export.

If contacts are not displayed in Google Contacts, check:

• 🔗 Is the account correctly selected in the phone settings (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Account).
• 📶 Is there internet access (synchronization requires connection).
• 🔄 Is the synchronization manually disabled (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account).

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If you plan to transfer contacts to the new Xiaomi phone, just log in under the same Google Account – contacts will be automatically pulled up.

Method: Transmission by USB-cable (for models with connector)

The classic method, which works on all devices with a USB-Type C or Micro-USB port, is suitable for Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi 10, POCO X3 and other models, the main condition is that the phone must be defined by the computer as a Media Device (MTP).

Step-by-step:

1. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC using the original cable (faulty cables may not transmit data).
2. 📱 The phone will be notified by charging through USB — tap him.
3. 🔄 Select File Transfer Mode (FTP) or MTP.
4. 💻 Open This Computer (My Windows Computer) – There Will Be a Xiaomi Device.
5. 📁 Go to the Internal Storage folder → MIUI → backup → AllBackup (if you have previously made a backup) or find the contacts.vcf file in Download.
6. 📥 Copy the necessary files on the PC.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI AllBackup folder is hidden. To see it, on your PC, turn on the hidden file display: on Windows, go to View → Hidden elements, on macOS in Finder → Settings → Additionally. → Show hidden files.

If the computer can't see the phone:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 🔌 Try another cable or port. USB.
• 🛠️ Install Mi drivers PC Suite (you can download it on the official website of Xiaomi).
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press the version → return to additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).

4. Method: Using Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up contacts if the feature is enabled, a method that is convenient if you often lose your phone or switch to new Xiaomi devices, minus the volume limit (5 GB free) and binding to your Mi Account.

How to copy contacts via Mi Cloud:

1. 📱 On the phone go to Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud.
2. 🔄 Make sure that the contacts sync is enabled (the Contact Slider must be active).
3. 💻 On your computer, open your browser and go to i.mi.com.
4. 🔐 Sign in to your Mi Account.
5. 📱 Select Contacts section – all saved numbers will be displayed here.
6. 📥 To export: click ⚙️ Settings → Exports of contacts → Choose the.vcf format.

If the contacts are not displayed in the Mi Cloud:

• 🔄 Forced to update sync: in the Mi Cloud settings on your phone tap Sync.
• 📶 Check your internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 📱 Make sure that the contacts are saved to your Xiaomi account, not to Google or Google. SIM-map (check in the Contacts app) → Settings → Accounts).

5. Method: Advanced method with ADB (for damaged devices)

If Xiaomi’s phone is not turned on, locked or detected by a computer, you can extract contacts using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a technique that requires technical skills and is suitable for models with unlocked bootloader or enabled debugging over USB.

Tools required:

• 💻 Computer with Windows, MacOS or Linux.
• 🛠️ Installed drivers ADB Fastboot (you can download it in Android) SDK).
• 🔌 Correct. USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. 📱 Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (If the phone is working).
2. 💻 Open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal on the Mac/Linux) and go to the adb folder.
3. 📋 Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, go further.
4. 📤 Export contacts to contacts.vcf: adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db Then convert the database to.vcf using tools like SQLite Browser or online converters.

⚠️ Attention: Method C ADB It may not work on the phones with MIUI 14+ If the adb pull command gives you a Permission denied error, try rooting or using an alternative method through the TWRP Recovery.

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ADB is the only way to extract contacts from Xiaomi’s broken phone, but requires debugging pre-setting.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your situation, and below is a comparative table with the pros and cons of each method.

For most users, sync with Google or export via MIUI is the best option. If your phone is damaged, try ADB or contact Xiaomi’s service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions