How to copy contacts from phone to phone Android Xiaomi: all working ways

Transferring contacts between Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you encounter nuances. Some users lose some numbers when synchronizing through Mi Account, others can not find the export function in the new one. MIUI 14/15, And some people have Bluetooth errors, and this article covers all the actual ways to copy contacts between Redmi devices, POCO Mi – from classical methods to little-known life hacks.

We tested each method on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro models+ and POCO F5 Particular attention was paid to the problems that arise when transferring more than 500 contacts or when switching from an old model (for example, Mi 9) to a new one (for example, Xiaomi 14). If you need to save not only numbers, but also photos of contacts, notes or groups – there are solutions for this.

We warn you in advance: some ways (for example, through the SIM-The map limits the number of fields you save — phone numbers are moved, but email, addresses or birthdays may be lost.

1. Transfer contacts via Mi Account (the most reliable way)

Synchronization through Xiaomi account is the best option for owners of devices on the Internet MIUI. This method saves all contact fields (including photos and groups), works even when changing phones and does not require additional programs.

How it works:

1. On an old Xiaomi phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronize contacts and switch on the switch.
2. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (a notification will appear in the top panel).
3. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and enable cloud-based contact sync.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone already has contacts, they will merge with the cloud. In conflicts (same names), priority is given to data from the device. To avoid duplicates, export existing contacts to.vcf before synchronization (for this, see the next section).

Check that both phones have the same MIUI version (or no more than 1 version)

Make sure your old phone has mobile internet or Wi-Fi on.

Free up space in the Mi Cloud (if contacts are available) > 3000, may require a premium account)

Disable battery optimization for the Contact app (Settings) → Annexes → Battery management)-->

The synchronization speed depends on the number of contacts:

If the synchronization is down:

• 🔄 Reboot both phones and try again.
• 📶 Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi (or vice versa).
• 🔧 In Mi Cloud settings, turn off and enable contact synchronization again.
• 📱 Remove the cache of the "Contacts" application (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Clear the cache).

💡

Mi Account is the only way to guarantee the preservation of contact groups and profile photos.

2.Export and import via VCF file (for backup)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal standard for storing contacts, a method that is suitable if you want to back up your penos or transfer contacts to a device of another brand (e.g. Xiaomi on Samsung), the main plus is that the file can be edited manually (e.g. delete unnecessary numbers) before importing.

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
3. Choose where to save the file (e.g., Internal Memory → Download).
4. Transfer the.vcf file to your new phone (via Bluetooth, Telegram, or cable).
5. On the new phone, repeat steps 1–2, but select Import from the file.

⚠️ Note: When importing large files (.vcf size) > 10 MB) The Contacts app might freeze, in which case break the file into pieces using services like VCF Splitter.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔐 The file can be encrypted (for example, through 7-Zip password-wise).
• 📄 All fields are supported: numbers, email, addresses, photos, groups.
• 🔄 You can edit contacts in a file before importing (e.g., via Excel or Google Contacts).

If during importation part of the contacts is not displayed:

• Check the file encoding (should be UTF-8).
• Make sure the file is not corrupted (try opening it on your PC).
• Import the file in parts (for example, 500 contacts).

3. Bluetooth Contact Transfer (Fast but limited)

Bluetooth is the easiest way to move a small number of contacts (up to 200-300), it does not require Internet and works even on older Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi). 4X or Mi A1). However, the method has serious limitations:

• ❌ No contact photos are transmitted.
• ❌ Can "eat" formatting (e.g., pluses before numbers).
• ❌ On some firmware MIUI Only one number is sent to the contact (even if there are several).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones.
2. On your old phone, open Contacts, select the right ones (or click "Select All").
3. Press "Share" → Choose Bluetooth → Select a new phone from the list.
4. On the new phone, confirm the file acceptance.

⚠️ Note: If there are more than 100 contacts, MIUI You can break them up into multiple packets, take the files one by one and wait for each to be completed, or some of the data will be lost.

How to speed up the process:

• 📌 Transmit contacts in packs of 50–100 (not all at once).
• 🔋 Make sure that both phones have a battery charge. > 30% (otherwise the connection may be interrupted).
• 📡 If Bluetooth is permanently terminated, go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally, and disable Adaptive Bluetooth.

💡

If contacts were transferred without pluses before numbers, correct it en masse: export them to the VCF, Open the file in Excel (via Data Import) and add "+7" to all numbers and save back to the VCF.

4. Copying contacts through SIM-map (obsolete but working method)

Transfer of contacts through SIM-The card is a "old-fashioned" way that still works, but has many limitations, it only works for basic phone numbers (no email, no addresses, no photos), the main plus is that you don't need the Internet or additional software.

How to do this:

1. On your old phone, open your contacts. → press ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-map.
2. Select contacts for export (or "Select all").
3. Move it. SIM-card.
4. On the new phone, repeat step 1, but select Import with SIM-map.

Limitations of the method:

⚠️ Note: On new Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Redmi Note 12 Slot for the SIM-The cards can be hybrid (SIM + If you use a memory card, you have to temporarily remove it.

If contacts are not imported with SIM:

• 🔧 Check that SIM-Slot 1 card inserted (on some models, slot 2 does not support reading contacts).
• 📱 Reboot the phone after insertion SIM.
• 🔄 Try exporting your contacts to another SIM-The map (sometimes the problem is in the map itself).

5. Sync through Google Account (for Gmail users)

If you use Google Contacts, the transfer takes only a few minutes, which is convenient if you change your phones frequently (not just Xiaomi) or use Google services (eg Gmail or Google Meet), the main condition is that on your old phone, the contacts must already be synced with your Google account.

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, check sync: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Contact synchronization (should be included).
2. Wait until sync is complete (check the time of the last update in Google Contacts).
3. On the new phone, add the same Google Account and enable contact sync.

Advantages of the method:

• 🌐 It works on all Android phones (not just Xiaomi).
• 🔍 Supports search and editing of contacts through the web version.
• 📱 Automatically removes duplicates (if the merge function is enabled in Google settings).

⚠️ Warning: If a new phone already has contacts, Google can create duplicates when it first syncs:

1. Before syncing, export existing contacts to.vcf.
2. Remove all contacts from your new phone (or transfer them to another group).
3. Enable sync with Google.

If the contacts are not synchronized:

• 🔄 Delete your Google account and add it again.
• 📶 Check that synchronization over the mobile network is enabled (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize also on the mobile network).
• 🔧 Clear the cache of the “Contacts” and “Google Play Services” apps".

💡

Google Contacts is the best choice if you use multiple devices (like a smartphone). + tablet) or switch between Android and iOS frequently.

6. Alternative methods: applications and cloud services

If standard methods don’t work (for example, you have a broken screen on your old phone or no access to your phone) SIM-We tested 5 popular ways and selected the most reliable ones.

1. "Copy My Data" application (for transfer without cloud)

• 📱 Install the app on both phones (link).
• 🔗 Connect your phones to a single Wi-Fi network.
• 📤 On your old phone, select Send Data Over Wi-Fi" → "Contacts".
• 📥 On your new phone, select Receive Data and follow the instructions.

Pros: works without the Internet, also transfers calendar and photos.

Cons: Limit to 500 contacts in the free version.

2. cloud service "My Contacts Backup" (backup)

• 📲 Install the application (link).
• 🔼 Press "Backup" → Send backup copy to email.
• 📬 On your new phone, open the letter, download the.vcf file and import it.

Pros: You can save a copy to Gmail or Dropbox.

Cons: in the free version of advertising.

3. Computer Transmission (for large databases)

• 🖥 Connect your old phone to your PC via USB (file transfer).
• 📁 Copy the contacts.vcf file from the folder /storage/emulated/0/Download/ (Or export it manually).
• 📤 Transfer the file to a new phone and import it.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, turn off battery optimization for them (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Battery optimization, otherwise the transmission may be interrupted.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you can have problems.-5 Mistakes in transferring contacts to Xiaomi and how to fix them.

1. Contacts are duplicated after synchronization

🔹 Reason: The phone is synced through Mi Account and Google.

🔹 Decision:

• Turn off sync in one of the accounts (Settings) → Accounts. → MI/Google → Synchronization of contacts).
• Use the Duplicate Contacts app to clean up the doubles.

2. Contact photos are not moved

🔹 Reason: Transfer method (e.g. Bluetooth or Bluetooth) SIM-map does not support the transmission of images.

🔹 Decision:

• Use Mi Account or Google Contacts.
• Export contacts to.vcf via Contacts app+ (photo).

3 Contacts moved, but no names (numbers only)

🔹 Reason:.vcf file is damaged or encoding is incorrect.

🔹 Decision:

• Open the.vcf file in the text editor and check that there is a line before each contact. FN: (name).
• Repeat export by selecting the encoding UTF-8.

4. it is not possible to import contacts with SIM-map

🔹 Reason: SIM-map of the old model (not USIM) damaged.

🔹 Decision:

• Try another one. SIM-map (preferably nano-SIM format).
• Transfer the contacts to the computer through SIM-reader.

5. sync through Mi Account hung 99%

🔹 Reason: Too much data or an unstable Internet connection.

🔹 Decision:

• Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (or vice versa).
• Break contacts into groups and synchronize them in parts.
• Clear the Mi Cloud cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions