How to copy contacts from your phone to your phone Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways of 2026

Transferring contacts to the new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is a challenge that every user faces when changing devices. Even if you are an experienced owner of Xiaomi gadgets, the process can be difficult: some require authorization in accounts, some require proper synchronization settings, and sometimes even have to use workarounds. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of copying contacts, from standard MIUI functions to little-known life hacks.

The Redmi series is very much about its own services, like MI Cloud, but it's not always convenient: some people prefer Google Contacts, some people want Bluetooth without the Internet, and some people want to move only a fraction of the numbers, and we'll look at each method with its pros and cons in mind, so you can choose the best option for your situation.

⚠️ Note: If you are transferring contacts from the old Xiaomi to the new one, check if the Mi Account is linked to the region of China – in this case synchronization through the new Xiaomi account. MI Cloud can work with limitations, as more in the section on cloud services.

1.Move contacts over MI Cloud (official way for Xiaomi)

MI Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically synchronizes contacts, notes, photos and other data between devices on MIUI. This method is ideal if both phones are from Xiaomi (or at least one of them), the main advantage: you do not need to connect cables or use third-party programs.

To copy contacts through MI Cloud, follow the following steps:

• 📱 On your old phone: Open the settings → Mi Account. → MI Cloud and turn on the slider opposite Contact. Wait for sync to complete (the cloud icon should turn green).
• 📱 On the new Redmi: Log in to the same Mi Account (if you haven't already done so when setting up). → Mi Account. → MI Cloud and enable contact synchronization.
• ⏳ Wait 5-10 minutes – contacts will appear in the phone book of the new device.

⚠️ Warning: If your old phone had power saving on, the sync might not work. → Battery and productivity.

Synchronization speed depends on the number of contacts and Internet speed. If contacts do not appear, try manually updating the data: open the Contacts app, swipe down to update the list.

Sign in to one Mi Account on both phones

Enable mobile internet or Wi-Fi

Turn off the power saving mode

Check the free space in MI Cloud (free 5 GB)

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2. Synchronization through Google Account (universal method)

If you’ve used Google Contacts on an old phone (even if it wasn’t Xiaomi, but Samsung or iPhone), it’s only a matter of minutes, and it’s a good way to move from iOS to Redmi.

Step instructions:

• 🔄 On your old phone: Open the settings → Accounts. → Google, select your account and make sure that your Contact Sync is enabled. If not, turn it on and wait until it's done.
• 📲 On the new Redmi: When you first set up your system, you will be asked to log in to Google Account. If you missed this step, do it later in Settings → Accounts. → Add an account → Google.
• 🔍 Open the Contacts app on your new phone and swipe down to update the data.

Important: If your old phone has your contacts stored in your device memory instead of Google, you should export them first. Open Contacts → Settings → Export / Import → Export to.vcf, then import this file to Google Contacts via the web version of contacts.google.com.

The advantage of this method is cross-platform, for example, if you are switching from an iPhone to a Redmi Note 13, just export your contacts from iCloud in.vcf format and upload them to Google Contacts.

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Before transferring, check if your contacts are duplicated in your Google Account. Go to contacts.google.com and click on “More → Find and Combine Duplicates”.

3. Contacts over Bluetooth (without the Internet)

If you don't have Wi-Fi or mobile internet, you can move your contacts over Bluetooth, which works between any phone, including Xiaomi Redmi and other brands, and the downside is that it can take a long time if the contacts are more than 500.

Step-by-step:

• 📶 Turn on Bluetooth on both phones. On Redmi, this is done via the Quick Settings Panel or in Settings. → Connections → Bluetooth.
• 🤝 Connect devices: on the new Redmi, click "Device Search", select an old phone and confirm pairing (type in if necessary). PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234).
• 📥 On your old phone, open your contacts. → Settings → Exports/imports → Send via Bluetooth. Select contacts (all or selective) and confirm the shipment.
• 📲 On the new Redmi, accept the incoming file (usually.vcf) and save the contacts.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi) 10C or Redmi A2) The Bluetooth contact function can be hidden, and in this case, use an alternative method: export the contacts to a.vcf file (as described in the Google Account section), and then send the file over Bluetooth.

4. Copying contacts through SIM-map (for basic numbers)

The old but proven way is to transfer contacts through the SIM-It's good if you just need to copy phone numbers (no email, no addresses, no photos). SIM-Cards have a limit on the number of records (usually 200-250 contacts).

How to do this:

• 📱 On your old phone: Open your contacts → Settings → Exports/imports → Exports to SIM-Select your contacts (or all) and confirm.
• 🔄 Replace it. SIM-map.
• 📲 On the new phone: Open Contacts → Settings → Exports/imports → Import with SIM-Select where to save the card (in memory of your phone or Google Account).

🔍 Nuance: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) SIM-The card can be installed in the slot SIM2, If you don't import contacts, use a nano-SIM adapter and plug the card in through the phone. SIM1.

⚠️ Note: When exporting to SIM-If you lose additional contact fields (e.g., dates of birth, notes, second numbers) if it is critical, choose another method.

5. Use of third-party applications (SHAREit, Xender, Mi Mover)

If standard methods do not work, you can use specialized applications for data transmission, for example:

• Mi Mover – the official application from Xiaomi for data transfer between devices Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO.
• SHAREit or Xender are universal programs for transferring files and contacts over Wi-Fi Direct.

Consider the process using the example of Mi Mover (the most reliable option for Redmi):

• 📥 Install Mi Mover on both phones from Google Play (or via the App Store on iPhone).
• 📱 On the old phone, select “I am the sender” and on the new one, “I am the receiver".
• 🔗 Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point on one of your devices.
• 📋 In the data list for transfer, mark Contacts and start transferring.

💡 The advantage of Mi Mover: the application transfers not only contacts, but also SMS, Photos, videos, even some system settings, but it requires a stable Wi-Fi connection to work, and if you lose communications, you'll have to start over.

If you use SHAREit or Xender, export the contacts to a.vcf file on your old phone and then send it to the new Redmi through those apps.

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Applications like SHAREit transmit data over Wi-Fi Direct, which is 10 to 20 times faster than Bluetooth, but for larger volumes (1000+ contacts), cloud services are better.

6. Transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi (features)

Switching from iPhone to Xiaomi Redmi requires a separate approach, since iOS and Android use different formats for storing contacts.

• 🌐 Through iCloud: Export your iCloud.com contacts to a.vcf file, then import it to Google Contacts or directly to Redmi.
• 📱 Using the “Switch to Android” app: Install the official Google app on your iPhone, connect to the new Redmi cable (needs a Lightning adapter). → USB-C) and move the data.
• 📧 Send yourself a.vcf file with contacts by mail, then open the email to Redmi and save contacts.

⚠️ Note: When transferring from your iPhone, you often lose attached photos of your contacts. To save them, pre-sync your contacts with iCloud, then manually download the photos through the web version of iCloud.com.

If you have a large contact base (1000+), you should use Google Account as a stash of intermediate storage.

1. On iPhone, add Google Account to Settings → Passwords and accounts.
2. Enable synchronization of contacts with Google.
3. On Redmi, log in to the same account – contacts will be automatically connected.

7. Frequent errors and their solution

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems.

• 🚫 Contacts are not synchronized through MI Cloud: Check if sync is enabled in Settings → Mi Account. → MI Cloud → Contacts. Make sure you have enough space (free 5GB) to restart both phones and try again.
• 🔄 Contacts are duplicated: In Google Contacts, click "More" → Find and combine duplicates. Open Contacts on Redmi → Settings → Connecting contacts.
• 📵 Bluetooth does not find the device: Turn off and re-enable Bluetooth on both phones. make sure the devices are no more than 10 meters away.

🔧 If none of the methods work:

1. Export contacts to the.vcf file on your old phone.
2. Send the file to an email or messenger (for example, Telegram).
3. Open the file on Redmi and import contacts.

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If contacts were only stored in the memory of an old phone (not in Google or MI Cloud), they can only be restored through a backup.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions