The shift from Apple’s ecosystem to Android, particularly Xiaomi’s, is often a question for users who fear losing sensitive data. The most critical information to keep intact is phone book entries. Fortunately, modern technology and built-in tools allow data migration to be done as quickly and without loss, whether you’re using a wired connection or cloud services.
There are several proven methods, each with its own advantages depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet connection. You can use the official Mi Mover application, which automatically transfers not only numbers but also media files, or resort to classic synchronization through a Google account.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the algorithms for each method, paying special attention to the nuances that are often overlooked. We will look at manual unloading via VCard, working with iCloud and automatic migration, so you can guarantee that you keep all connections. Proper preparation of devices before starting the process will help avoid errors and reduce the time of setting up a new gadget.
Preparation of devices before the migration
Before you start directly copying data, you need to make sure that both smartphones are in working order and ready to interact. Charge your iPhone and your new Xiaomi to at least 50-60%, as active data transfer can significantly consume battery power. Also check the availability of free space on the receiving device, although the contacts take up a minimum of space, buffering the process requires resources.
Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi enabled. Even if you plan to use a wired connection or mobile Internet, a stable wireless link is preferable for cloud services and account sync. On iPhone, go to Settings → Wi-Fi and select your network, and on Xiaomi, do the same in the notification curtain or settings menu.
An important step is to clean the phone book from debris on an old device, remove duplicates, old numbers and unnamed records so as not to bring chaos to the new smartphone, which will take time, but will make it much easier to continue using contacts on Android.
⚠️ Note: If you have two-factor authentication enabled in your Apple account ID, Make sure you remember your password and have access to a trusted number to receive a confirmation code if the system requires it when you sign in from a new device.
Check operating system versions. While current cross-platform methods are generally compatible, having current iOS and MIUI (or HyperOS) updates minimizes the risk of software conflicts. Update the apps that will be involved through the App Store and Google Play, respectively.
☑️ Ready for transfer
Method 1: Use the Mi Mover application
The most effective and native way for Xiaomi owners is to use the Mi Mover utility, which is designed specifically for data migration and supports the transfer of contacts, messages, photos and even system settings. The main advantage of the method is that it does not require the presence of Internet after the connection between devices is established, since a direct local network is created.
To get started, you need to install the Mi Mover app on both smartphones. On Xiaomi, it's often pre-installed in the Tools folder, if it's not available, download it from GetApps or Google Play. On iPhone, the app is available on the App Store. Once installed, run the program on both devices.
- 📱 On the new Xiaomi, select the Receiver role in the main menu of the app.
- 🍎 On your iPhone, click Sender and allow access to contacts and media when you request the system.
- 🔗 Recipient Smartphone will create a Wi-Fi hotspot; select this network in your iPhone Wi-Fi settings to connect.
- 📂 After successful pairing, select the Contacts category and click the Send button».
The copying process will take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the number of entries in your phone book. Mi Mover automatically converts the data format so that it correctly displays in the MIUI interface. Upon completion, you will see a report on the number of entries transferred.
What to do if the connection breaks?
Method 2: Sync through your Google account
Google’s ecosystem is the foundation of Android, and using it to store contacts is the most reliable way to keep them safe in the future.This method is ideal if you plan to change your phone again in the future, since your numbers will always be tied to your mailbox, not to your mailbox. SIM-card.
On iPhone, you need to add your Google account to your system settings. Go to Settings → Contacts → Accounts (the path may vary slightly depending on the iOS version). Add a Gmail account if it hasn't already been added, and be sure to turn on the Contacts toggler. This will trigger background sync.
Once you’ve made sure that your iPhone sync is successful (you can check through your browser on your computer by going to contacts.google.com), go to the Xiaomi setting. When you first turn on or in the Settings menu → Accounts and sync, add the same Google account.
Android automatically pulls all your records from the cloud, so you can control your contacts through the Contacts app on Xiaomi by filtering them by source, so you can keep your personal and work numbers separate if they are linked to different accounts.
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Use the “Joint Duplicates” feature in the Google Contacts app on your computer before syncing so that multiple copies of the same person don’t appear on the new phone.
Method 3: Export via iCloud and VCard file
If you don’t have fast Wi-Fi for Mi Mover or prefer manual file control, the VCard (.vcf) export method is a great solution. This format is the universal standard for e-business cards and is supported by almost any device in the world.
To implement this method, you will need a computer with Internet access. Go to the official iCloud.com website from your computer and log in to your Apple ID. In the main menu, select the Contacts icon. Select all entries (click Ctrl+A on Windows or Cmd+A on Mac) or select the desired group.
At the bottom of the screen (or in the settings menu indicated by the gear), find the export function. Select Export vCard. A file containing your entire phone book will be downloaded to your computer.
The transfer of the file can be carried out in several ways:
- 📧 Send the file to yourself by email and open the letter on your phone.
- 💾 Upload the file to the cloud storage (Yandex.Disk, Dropbox, Google Drive) and download it to Xiaomi.
- 🔌 Connect the phone to the computer through USB-Cable and copy the file to internal memory.
Once the file is on a Xiaomi smartphone, just click on it. The system will prompt you to select an app to open and automatically prompt you to import contacts into your phone book or Google account. Confirm the action and all entries will be added.
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The.vcf file is universal and contains not only numbers, but also email, addresses and photos if they were saved in the contact card.
Method 4: Transfer of c SIM-map
The oldest, but still relevant method is the use of SIM-It's a physical medium, and it's good if you don't have access to the Internet or a computer, and the phone book is small, but it has some serious limitations on the number of characters in your name and number.
First, you need to copy contacts from the iPhone to the SIM-In iOS, this feature is hidden deeper than in Android. → Contacts. Find the item "Import contacts with SIM» (If it’s in your version, or more likely to port it to the SIM, you’ll need a third-party app from the App Store, as Apple restricts direct exports to the app. SIM security considerations.
An easier way for an iPhone user to copy contacts to SIM-You can temporarily insert it into any other Android phone where you've previously exported your iCloud contacts (via VCard -> SIM -> Xiaomi, the process looks like this:
- Export contacts from iCloud to the VCard file (as described in the previous section).
- Put it in. SIM-card in any Android smartphone (you can borrow from a friend or use an old one).
- Import the VCard file to your Android phone and then export the contacts from your phone’s memory. SIM-map.
- Replace it. SIM-Map to Xiaomi and select “Import with” SIM-map».
On Xiaomi itself, the import process is trivial. In the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or stripes), select Import/Export Contacts» → «Import with SIM-Select the account where to save the data (Google account or phone memory is recommended).
⚠️ Attention: SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and often crops long names, leaving only the first ones. 10-15 You may also lose additional numbers and email addresses because of the standard. SIM-The card does not support such fields.
Comparison of methods and problem solving
Each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses, and to make it easier for you to choose the best option, we have compiled a comparative table that will help you estimate the time and resources involved.
| Method | Speed. | We need the Internet. | Saves a photo. | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover | Tall. | No (locally) | Yes. | Low. |
| Google Sync | Medium | Yes. | Yes. | Low. |
| VCard file | Medium | Yes (for transmission) | Yes. | Medium |
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | No. | Tall. |
Often users are faced with the problem of “encoding” or the appearance of strange characters instead of letters, this usually occurs when using old methods of transfer or incorrect encoding of the VCard file (UTF-8 versus other encoding), in which case, try to save the VCard file on the computer in UTF-8 format before importing it to the phone.
Another common problem is duplicates. Once you transfer, you may find that one person has two or three numbers with the same name. Xiaomi has a built-in cleaning function. Go to Contacts, select a menu and click Clear Duplicates (or Combine Repeated) and the system will suggest combining the cards by finding matches by name or number.
If contacts don't show up after Google syncs, check the display settings. In the Contacts app, click on the menu and make sure that the checkmark is in front of your Google account and the All Contacts display is selected. Sometimes the filter only displays contacts from your phone or only SIM.