Shifting contacts from the old Xiaomi Redmi 4X to a new smartphone is a task that seems simple only at first glance. Many users face problems: numbers are duplicated, photos of contacts are lost or some data is lost during transfer. This is especially relevant for owners of Redmi 4X, Released in 2017, devices no longer support the latest versions of MIUI, and standard synchronization methods may not work correctly.
In this article, we will discuss 5 reliable ways to transfer contacts, including hidden functions. MIUI, Workarounds for older versions of Android and tips for recovering lost data.You will learn how to avoid typical errors (for example, losing contact links to messenger accounts when transferring via the Internet). SIM-map) and what tools to use for backup.
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1. Transfer contacts through a Google account (recommended method)
Syncing with a Google account is the most versatile and secure method that works even on older versions of MIUI 8/9 (current for Redmi 4X), the main advantage: contacts are automatically updated on all devices associated with a single account, and are restored even after a phone reset.
To move contacts:
- π± Open the Contacts app on Redmi 4X.
- π Click on three dots in the upper right corner β Contact management β Imports/Exports.
- βοΈ Select Export to Google (if contacts are not synced yet).
- π Make sure that in the account settings (Settings) β Accounts. β Google has enabled contact synchronization.
On the new phone, just log in to the same Google account and the contacts will be automatically uploaded.
- π Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
- βοΈ Synchronization enabled in account settings.
- β³ You may need to wait up to 10 minutes β synchronization is not always instantaneous.
β οΈ Note: If you have previously used a local contact store (not linked to Google), you will first have to export them manually. To do this, select Export to a memory card (.vcf file) from the Import/Export menu, and then import it to Google contacts via the web version of contacts.google.com.
Export of contacts to SIM-map: pros and cons
SIM-transfer is a classic method that works even without the Internet, but it has serious limitations:
- π Only phone numbers and names are saved (photos, emails, addresses and notes are lost).
- π± Memory volume SIM-card is limited (usually up to 250 contacts).
- π When importing to a new phone, there may be encoding errors (for example, Cyrillic characters will be displayed as "???").
If these deficiencies are not critical, follow the instructions:
- Put it in. SIM-map 4X.
- Open Contacts. β Contact management β Imports/Exports.
- Select Export on Export SIM-map and confirm the action.
- Once completed, insert the SIM into the new phone and import contacts through a similar menu.
| Parameter | Google account | SIM-map |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer speed | Instantly (in synchronization) | 1-5 minutes |
| Preservation of additional data | Yes (email, addresses, photos) | No. |
| Limitation on quantity | No. | Up to 250 contacts. |
| Internet is required | Yes. | No. |
β οΈ Attention: If yours SIM-Nano-SIM card, and the new phone supports only eSIM, transfer via SIM In this case, use alternative methods from the following sections.
3. Bluetooth Contact Transfer: When Justified
Bluetooth devices are suitable for contact transfer if:
- π² You do not have access to the Internet or computer.
- π You need to transfer contacts to a phone of another brand (for example, with Redmi). 4X iPhone).
- π The volume of data is small (up to 100 contacts β otherwise the transfer will take too long).
Step-by-step:
- Turn on Bluetooth on both phones (Settings β Connections β Bluetooth).
- On Redmi 4X, open Contacts, click on three points β Import/Export β Send Contacts.
- Select contacts to transfer (or click Allocate).
- Click Share β Bluetooth and select the target device.
- On the second phone, confirm the file acceptance (usually a.vcf file).
Once the file is transferred, it will open automatically and the system will prompt you to import contacts. If this does not happen, find the file in the Download folder and open it manually.
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Before transferring over Bluetooth, make sure that both phones have enough battery power, which can take up to 15 minutes, and interrupting the transmission will result in the loss of some data.
4.Use of the VCF file: backup and recovery
The.vcf file (vCard) is a universal contact storage format that all modern smartphones support, which can be created on Redmi 4X, copied to a computer or flash drive, and then imported to a new device.
How to export contacts to VCF:
- Open Contacts. β Contact management β Imports/Exports.
- Select Export to memory card (or Export to file).
- Specify a folder to save (for example, Download) and confirm.
- Connect the phone to your computer or copy the file to a flash drive.
For import on the new phone:
- π Place the.vcf file in the device memory.
- π± Open Contacts. β Imports/Exports β Imports from memory card.
- π Select the desired file and confirm the import.
Contacts are not duplicated | File saved in an accessible folder | File name in Latin (without Cyrillic) | Data integrity verified after copying-->
The advantage of this method is the ability to edit contacts on a computer (for example, in Excel or Google Contacts) before importing.
- Open the.vcf file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad++).
- Copy the data into an Excel table for easy editing.
- After editing, save back to.vcf (use online converters if needed).
5 Third-Party Applications: MI Mover and Alternatives
Xiaomi owners have a proprietary solution, the MI Mover app, which is installed by default on most of the brandβs devices, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, applications. However, on Redmi 4X with outdated firmware, MI Mover can work unstable.
How to use MI Mover:
- π² Install the app on both phones (if not, download from AppGallery or APKPure).
- π On the Redmi. 4X Select I am the sender, on the new phone I am the receiver.
- π‘ Connect to a single Wi-Fi network or create an access point.
- π Select Contacts in the Data List to Transfer and Start the Process.
If MI Mover is not working, try alternatives:
| Annex | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| CLONEit | Transfer contacts, SMS, photos without root | Advertising requires installation on both devices |
| Send Anywhere | It works via Wi-Fi Direct, without internet. | Limitation on the amount of data in the free version |
| Samsung Smart Switch | Suitable for porting to Samsung | Not all features work with Xiaomi |
β οΈ Note: When using third-party apps, disable battery optimization for them in settings MIUI (Settings β Annexes β Permits β Auto-start, otherwise the transmission may be interrupted due to the background closure of the program.
What to do if the app does not see the contacts?
6.Contact transfer from broken or broken Redmi 4X
If the Redmi 4X screen crashes, the phone doesnβt turn on or hangs on the logo, you can restore contacts in several ways, depending on the nature of the breakdown.
Method 1: Connecting to a computer
If the phone is recognized by the computer (charging indicator or connection sound is lit):
- π₯οΈ Get Redmi on board. 4X PC-only USB-cable.
- π In Windows Explorer, check if the phone is displayed as a removable drive.
- π If yes, copy the contact file (contacts.vcf or folder) MIUI/backup/AllBackup).
- π§ If not, try to turn on the debugging mode. USB (If the screen is partially working).
Method 2: Extract SIM-map
If the contacts are retained on SIM-map:
- π± Extract. SIM redmi 4X And put it in the work phone.
- π Import contacts through the Contact Menu β Import with SIM.
- βοΈ Export them to your Google account for security.
Method 3: Recovery with Mi Account
If the phone has Mi Account and backup enabled:
- π Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- π In the Devices section, find a Redmi backup 4X.
- π₯ Download the archive with contacts (if they were included in the backup).
β οΈ Note: If the phone does not respond to the connection to the PC and does not have a backup in the Mi Account, you can restore contacts only through specialized services (for example, chip-off in the service center.
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Even if the phone is completely out of order, there are chances to restore contacts β the main thing is that they are synchronized with Google, SIM-card or Mi Account before breakdown.
7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
When moving contacts, Redmi 4X users often face typical problems.
- π Contacts are duplicated: This happens if they are saved to both Google and phone memory. To fix, open contacts.google.com, find duplicates and manually merge them.
- π΅ Not all contacts moved: Check if sync is enabled for all contact groups (Settings) β Accounts. β Google β Synchronization of contacts).
- π Character curves instead of letters: This is an encoding error when translating through SIM-The solution is to use the map. VCF-file.
- π± Contacts are not displayed on the new phone: Make sure they are not hidden in the display settings (Contacts) β Settings β Display contacts).
If you lose your WhatsApp or Telegram connection after the transfer, update your apps or reinstall them. Messengers sometimes cache old data.