How to copy contacts from one Xiaomi phone to another: all ways of 2026

Introduction: Why Transferring Contacts to Xiaomi Needs a Special Approach

The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always an exciting moment, especially when it comes to saving important data. Contacts accumulated over the years of use often become the main headache: their loss can result in hours of recovery or even the irretrievable loss of valuable connections. Unlike other brands, Xiaomi phones offer unique tools for data transfer, but their effectiveness depends on the right method.

The main problem lies in the variety of synchronization methods: from classical export to export. SIM-Each method has its own nuances – for example, transferring over Bluetooth can crop some data (for example, photos of contacts or additional fields), and synchronizing through a Xiaomi account requires pre-setting. This article will help you avoid common mistakes and choose the best way to do it depending on your situation.

We will look at all the current methods of 2026, including hidden MIUI features that are rarely mentioned in standard instructions, and will focus on the problems that users face when switching between different versions of MIUI (for example, from 12 to 14) or when using devices with different regional firmware.

Method 1: Transfer contacts via Mi Account (the fastest method)

The Mi Account cloud account is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution that allows you to synchronize contacts, notes, photos and other data between your brand’s devices, and the main advantage of this method is automatic update: once you set up your contacts, they will sync in the background, so you won’t have to repeat the procedure when you change your phone.

To transfer contacts through Mi Account, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone: go to Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud and enable contact sync. Wait until the process is complete (notification will appear in the top panel).
• 🔄 On a new phone: log in under the same Mi Account and enable contact synchronization in Settings → Xiaomi account → MI Cloud.
• ⏳ Wait 5-10 minutes, contacts will appear in the phone book automatically. If this does not happen, check your Internet connection or restart your device.

This method works even if you have different Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra), but there is an important nuance: contacts saved on the phone. SIM-The map is not synchronized through MI Cloud, they'll have to be moved separately.

⚠️ Note: If you use a Mi Account with Chinese firmware (China) ROM), Synchronization may not work well, in which case it is recommended to use Google Account or manual export.

Method 2: Export and import via VCF file (Universal Method)

The VCF (Virtual Contact File) format is the standard way to store contacts that all modern smartphones, including Xiaomi, support, and the advantage of this method is that you get a backup of contacts as a file that you can save to your computer or flash drive, which is especially useful if you plan to reset your phone to factory settings or sell it.

Instructions for export and import:

1. On your old phone, open the Contacts app, click on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
2. Choose which contacts to export (all or only with) SIM-map/Google/Phone) and save the file in the device memory or on SD-map.
3. Transfer the.vcf file to your new phone (via Bluetooth, USB-cable).
4. On your new phone, open the.vcf file, and the system will automatically prompt you to import contacts. Confirm the action.

If you have a large number of contacts (over 1000), the VCF file may split into several parts, in which case import them alternately, and note that some special characters in the names (for example, characters or emoji) may not display correctly after import.

Make sure your phone has enough free memory (a VCF file can weigh up to 5MB)

Check the correct spelling of names and numbers (errors will be transferred to the new file)

Turn off battery optimization for the Contacts app (Settings → Applications → Contacts → Battery)

Save the file to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) in case of data loss-->

Method 3: Sync with Google Account (Reliable but with limitations)

If you use Google services, moving contacts through Google Account may be the most convenient option, a method that is not only suitable for Xiaomi devices, but also for any Android smartphone, making it a universal solution. Google only syncs contacts that are saved in your account, not on your phone or phone. SIM-map.

How to transfer contacts via Google:

• 🔗 On your old phone: go to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Sync your account and enable contact sync.
• 📲 On your new phone: add the same Google account and enable contact sync. They'll appear in the phone book in a matter of minutes.
• 🔍 Check that contacts are saved in Google: open contacts.google.com on your computer.

This is ideal if you change phones frequently or use multiple devices at the same time (like a smartphone and tablet), but if your contacts are stored locally on your phone, they should first be transferred to Google Account:

1. Open the Contacts app on your old phone.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Contact management → Move your contacts.
3. Select a source (e.g., phone) and a target (Google).

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI with Google services disabled (e.g. China) ROM), This method won't work. In that case, use Mi Account or export to the VCF.

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Before you move your contacts through Google, clear the duplicates: open contacts.google.com, select Duplicates from the menu on the left, and combine the duplicates.

Method 4: Transfer through SIM-Card (for a small number of contacts)

Method by which SIM-The card is one of the oldest, but still relevant for users who want to transfer only basic phone numbers (without photos, email or other additional data), the main advantage of this method is simplicity: no Internet connection or cloud accounts. However, there are serious disadvantages:

• ❌ Limitation on the number of contacts (usually up to 250-300 per person) SIM).
• ❌ Only phone numbers and names are transferred (without photos, addresses, notes).
• ❌ On some Xiaomi models, for example, POCO F5) exportation SIM may be hidden.

Instructions for transfer:

1. On your old phone, open your contacts. → press three points (⋮) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
2. Select contacts for export (or click "Select All").
3. Extract. SIM-A card and insert it into a new phone.
4. On your new phone, go to Contacts. → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.

If you have a dual-SIM phone, make sure you export contacts to the same phone. SIM-A card that you then insert into the new device. Also remember that some operators (e.g., a card, Tele2 Or Yota, block the recording of contacts on their own SIM-maps – this method will not work.

Method 5: Contacts over Bluetooth (unless there are other options)

Bluetooth-based contact transfer is a backup method that can help if you don’t have access to the Internet or cloud services, but it has serious drawbacks: low speeds (especially with a lot of contacts) and limited data transfers (for example, photos of contacts are not portable).

How to transfer contacts over Bluetooth:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones and pair.
2. On your old phone, open Contacts, press three dots (⋮) → Contact management → Send.
3. Select contacts to transfer and confirm sending via Bluetooth.
4. On the new phone, accept the incoming file and confirm the import of contacts.

If you have more than 200 contacts, the transfer can take up to 10-15 minutes. Also note that some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 10A) limit the number of contacts that can be sent at a time (usually up to 100), in which case you will have to break the transfer into several stages.

Problem Solving: What to Do When Contacts Are Not Moved

Even if you follow instructions correctly, there are sometimes failures, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

• 🔴 Contacts do not appear on the new phone after sync: Check if sync is enabled in account settings (Settings) → Accounts. → MI/Google → If yes, try manually updating the data by pulling down the contact list.
• 🔴 File. VCF Do not open on a new phone: Make sure the file is not corrupted (try opening it on your computer).If the problem persists, import contacts via Google Contacts on the web version.
• 🔴 Contacts are duplicated after import: B MIUI There's a built-in tool to combine duplicates. → Contact management → Combining and correcting.
• 🔴 Exports do not work SIM-Card: Check if yours supports SIM-Contact record card (some operators block this feature) Also make sure that the SIM free-flow.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative method:

1. Install the Mi Mover app on both phones (available from the App Store for Xiaomi).
2. Connect your phones to a single Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions in the app.
3. Select "Contacts" in the data list for transfer.

Mi Mover is an official app from Xiaomi that often helps in difficult cases, such as when switching from iPhone to Xiaomi or between devices with different versions of MIUI.

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If contacts are not transferred through Mi Account, check your account region. China ROM accounts may not sync with global versions of MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi