How to quickly and safely transfer contacts from Honor to Xiaomi

The transition to a new smartphone is always a pleasant thrill, but the process of migrating data often turns into a challenge, especially for owners of Honor devices who have decided to change the ecosystem to more affordable or functional gadgets from Xiaomi. The main pain of users is traditionally the phone book: losing important numbers when changing the device – a scenario that cannot be allowed.

Fortunately, today’s Android-based operating systems provide many tools for seamless data transfer. Whether you have the old Honor 7A or the newest Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, the algorithms of action remain similar. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the proven methods, from cloud services to local file copying.

You will learn how to use the built-in MIUI and Magic UI tools, and why syncing through a Google account is the most reliable way, we will explore the nuances that are not covered in official instructions, and help avoid common errors when migrating data.

Syncing with a Google account: the most reliable method

The foundation of the Android ecosystem is a Google account. If your old Honor has been synced, all contacts are already saved to the cloud. It's a one-stop solution that works regardless of the brand of the new phone. First, make sure that your Honor device is logged in to your Google account.

Go to your phone settings and find Accounts or Users and Accounts. Select your Gmail email address and click Account Sync. Make sure the slider opposite Contacts is active. The system automatically uploads all records to the corporation's servers.

⚠️ Please note that your contacts are stored in your Google profile, not in memory. SIM-card or locally on the phone, otherwise synchronization will not work.

Now pick up the new Xiaomi. When you first set up, type in the same Google login and password. It automatically pulls up all the data you saved. If the phone is already set up, just add an account to the Settings menu. → Accounts and synchronization.

Once you add an account, open the Contacts app on Xiaomi. Click on three dots or menus, select Settings, and make sure that the Contacts Sync checkbox is ticked. In a few minutes, the list of numbers will be replenished.

The advantage of this method is that the backup is created automatically in the background. Even if you lose your phone, the numbers will remain accessible through the web interface contacts.google.com. This is a critical aspect of digital hygiene.

Using the Mi Mover app for migration

Xiaomi has developed its own Mi Mover app, which is perfect for moving from any Android device, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, music and even system settings. The app is pre-installed on all Xiaomi phones, but on Honor it must be downloaded from Google Play.

Run the program on both devices. In the new Xiaomi, select "I am the recipient" and in the old Honor, "I am the sender." QR-The connection is fast and does not require Internet access.

In the data transfer list, make sure to tick the "Contacts" box, you can choose to transfer all or only a select few of the records, the copying process depends on the amount of data, but usually takes less than a minute.

It is important to note that when transferring via Mi Mover, there may be duplicated records if the new phone already has any numbers, so before starting the procedure, it is better to clean the phone book of the new device or be ready to manually clean the duplicates.

Once the transfer is complete, the application is still reporting the number of files transferred. Do not interrupt the process by holding the phones nearby. Breaking the connection at 90% can damage the contact database.

Transfer through VCF-file (local copying)

If the Internet is unstable or you prefer to keep your data under full control, use exporting to a VCF file (vCard) format, which is the industry standard and can be read by any smartphone.

In the management menu (usually three dots or the "More" button), find "Import/Export contacts" option, select "Export to storage" or "Export to file" option, and the system will suggest you choose an account - specify Google or "Phone" to unload all available records.

Created file (usually called 00001.vcf Or similarly, it's stored in internal memory, and now you have to transfer it to Xiaomi, and you can do it via Bluetooth, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), or just by flipping the file through the file. USB-cable to the computer and then to the new phone.

Once you have a file on Xiaomi, just click on it. The system automatically prompts you to import the contacts it contains. You can choose which account to save them to, and it is recommended to choose Google for future sync.

Import from SIM-card: the classic method

Many users still keep numbers on the SIM-And the safest place to be, though, is the container. SIM-The card is limited (usually 250 contacts) and does not allow you to keep long names or additional numbers, this method is still relevant.

Insert yours. SIM-card from Honor to the new Xiaomi. After you download your phone, open the Contact app. Go to the settings and select Import/Export Contacts «SIM-map».

The system will suggest you choose your destination, and it's best to specify your Google account or your phone's memory, but not the destination itself. SIM-You can click on "Import" and wait until the process is complete.

⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Long names can be cut off to the 10-12 The second phone number may be lost because the format SIM-The map doesn't support it.

This method is good for its simplicity, but it doesn't transmit contact photos, email addresses, or other advanced data. Use it as a backup if other methods don't work.

Solving Duplicate Contact Problems

After transferring data from Honor to Xiaomi, users often face the problem of duplication.The same contact can be displayed twice or three times, especially if you have used multiple migration methods at the same time.

There's a built-in cleaning tool in the MIUI shell. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu, and select Contact Organization or Contact Management. Find the "Combine Repetitives" option.

The system will analyze the database, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining them into one card, which is a secure operation that stores all the data from different cards into one final one.

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Before combining the duplicates, make sure you have a fresh backup in case the system makes a mistake and deletes the necessary information when the cards merge.

It’s also worth checking where contacts are loaded, so you can choose to show contacts only from a particular account in the display menu (filter), which will help you understand where the extra copies are lost — in your phone’s memory, on SIM or in the cloud.

Setting up display and sorting on Xiaomi

Once the transfer is successful, it is important to adjust the listing correctly so that the phone is convenient to use. In Xiaomi, as in Honor, you can change the order of sorting by name or last name.

Go to the contact settings and find "Preferred names" or "Name Format" and select "Family Name" if you're more likely to search for people by name, as is often the case in the CIS countries, or "Family Name" for a more formal approach.

Remember to check the display of the photos. If the avatars are missing during the transfer, they can be restored if they were tied to a Google account, otherwise you will have to assign the images again manually, opening the card of each contact.

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Properly configuring sorting and filtering contacts immediately after the transfer will save you hours of time in the future when searching for the right numbers.

And look at Smart Dial, which lets you search for contacts not just by name, but also by the numbers that match the letters on the keyboard, and make sure that this feature is active in dialing settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)