How to Transfer Contacts from Google to Xiaomi: 5 Ways to Move Your Contacts

Moving contacts from a Google account to a Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or after resetting. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process can cause complications from lack of synchronization to duplication of records. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to unload contacts, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing typical errors and optimization for Android 12+ models.

Xiaomi’s Mi Account ecosystem is a feature that sometimes conflicts with Google’s services, such as Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 devices, when you first turn on, the system offers you to choose your main account for contacts, and the wrong choice can lead to data loss, and we will show you how to avoid such situations and guarantee to transfer all numbers, including those associated with Gmail or Google Workspace.

1. Automatic synchronization through Google account

The fastest way is to use Google Contacts’ built-in sync, which is suitable for most Xiaomi models (from Redmi 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require additional applications. However, there are nuances: on some MIUI firmware (for example, MIUI 14 Global), the option is hidden in the depth of the menu.

To enable synchronization:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Google Accounts (or Passwords and Accounts) → Google on older versions).
• 🔄 Find the account sync section and activate the switch next to Contacts.
• ⏳ Wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes with a large number of records).
• 🔍 Check the contacts in the Phone app – they should appear in the Google group.

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If contacts aren’t displayed, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts and clear the cache.This often solves the problem of hung sync.

Important: on devices with MIUI for China (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro China ROM), the sync option with Google may not be available due to manufacturer restrictions.

2.Export contacts to VCF file and import to Xiaomi

If automatic sync doesn’t work or you need to back up, export the contacts to a.vcf (vCard) file.This method is universal and works even on devices without Google Play (for example, on Black Shark 5 Pro with custom firmware).

Instructions for export from Google Contacts:

1. Open your browser on your PC and go to contacts.google.com.
2. On the left menu, select Export.
3. Enter the vCard format (for iOS Contacts) and click Export.
4. Save the contacts.vcf file to your computer or to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

For import on Xiaomi:

• 📎 Copy the contacts.vcf file to your smartphone (for example, via Mi File Manager or Telegram).
• 📱 Open the Contacts app → ⋮ (Menus) → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
• 📄 Select the contacts.vcf file and confirm the import.

Backup of current Xiaomi | contacts created

Contacts.vcf file is not corrupted (check size >1 KB)|

There is enough memory on the smartphone (at least 50 MB free) |

Synchronization with Mi Account is disabled to avoid duplicates

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Critical detail: If you import contacts into your Mi Account, they will only be available on Xiaomi devices. For cross-platform access, choose Local Storage or Google.

3. Transfer contacts via Mi Mover (for new devices)

When you first switch on, Xiaomi offers Mi Mover, a proprietary tool for transferring data from another smartphone, which is convenient if you are switching from an Android device (including Samsung or Huawei), but has limitations:

• ✅ Supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos and applications.
• ❌ It doesn’t work with iPhone without additional manipulation.
• ⚠️ Requires both charge devices >50% and stable Wi-Fi.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On the new Xiaomi, when setting up, select Data Transfer → Mi Mover.
2. On an old phone, install Mi Mover from Google Play (or use the built-in feature on Xiaomi).
3. Scan it. QR-code from the new device and select data to transfer (required to check Contacts).

Automatic sync with Google|

Exports/imports through VCF-file|

Mi Mover when setting up your phone |

Manual entry of important numbers |

Another method-->

Warning: if the old phone is stored in the SIM-In this case, export them to the device memory first through the Contact menu. → Imports/Exports.

4. synchronize via Mi Account (an alternative to Google)

If you prefer the Xiaomi ecosystem, you can sync contacts through Mi Account. This is true for users who use several devices of the brand (for example, Xiaomi Pad 6 + Redmi Watch 3).

To enable synchronization:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
2. In the Synchronization section, activate the switch for Contact.
3. Wait until the process is complete (progress is displayed in the same menu).

⚠️ Note: If you previously synced contacts with Google, you may experience duplicates when you activate Mi Account:

⚠️ Warning: Clear contacts in Mi Cloud via the web version (i.mi.com) or export them to the Internet. VCF, to keep a backup copy.

Manual transfer through SIM-map (for older models)

On devices without access to the Internet (or with MIUI Google Play, for example, on some of the POCO M3 Pro for India can be used SIM-The method is suitable for transferring a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250 records).

Instructions:

• 📇 On your old phone, open your contacts. → ⋮ (Menus) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM.
• 🔄 Select contacts for export (or click Allocate).
• 📱 Put it in. SIM-Map in Xiaomi and Repeat the Way: Contacts → Import with SIM.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Contact photos and additional fields (email, address) are not transferred).
• 📏 Volume limitation: on one SIM-The card usually contains no more than 250 records.
• ⚠️ Risk of data loss during retrieval SIM-cards during the process.

6. Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don’t work, use specialized applications. We tested 5 popular tools and selected the best ones for Xiaomi:

To use Copy My Data:

1. Install the app on both devices.
2. On your old phone, select Send Data → Contacts.
3. On Xiaomi, click Receive Data and scan QR-code.
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Note: Before using third-party apps, check their permissions in Settings → Annexes → Permissions: Some utilities (such as Super Backup) request access to the SMS and call log, which may be redundant for transferring contacts.

7. Problem Solving: Contacts are not synchronized

If after all the manipulations, the contacts do not appear on Xiaomi, check the following points:

• 🔌 Internet connection: synchronization requires stable Wi-Fi or mobile network (3G/4G/5G).
• ⏳ Synchronization time: on Android 13 devices+ The first synchronization can take up to 30 minutes.
• 🔄 Account Conflict: If you have synced with both Google and Mi Account, disable one of them.
• 📱 Firmware error: on some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 14.0.3 for Redmi Note 11) there is a bug with the display of contacts. → The phone. → Updating the system.

If the problem persists, reset the cache for the Contacts app:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts → Storage → Clear cache

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Before resetting the cache, export your current contacts to the VCF – this will prevent them from being accidentally lost.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer