How to Move Contacts from Phone to New Xiaomi: Full Guide

Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by a mild stress associated with the fear of losing important data, and the key element here is the phone book. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco devices often wonder how quickly and error-free to throw records from an old gadget, whether it is Samsung, iPhone or other Android. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem offers many built-in tools that make this process as simple as possible even for inexperienced users.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at all available synchronization methods, from cloud services to local transmission through the Internet. QR-You'll learn how to avoid duplicates and why some numbers may not appear on the call list. The right method depends on the status of your old device and whether you have access to the Internet.

Before you start active, you need to make sure that both devices are charged at least 50-60%.Sharp surges of voltage or discharge at a critical moment can interrupt the process, which sometimes leads to damage to the files of the contact database.We will consider both automated and manual ways so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.

Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration

The most efficient and modern way to transfer data is to use the proprietary Mi Mover app (Mi Move), which is pre-installed on all new Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications and system settings. To start working, open the application on the new device and select the Recipient role, and on the old phone install a similar program from Google Play or GetApps and select "Sender".

After the scan. QR-If you're going to use Wi-Fi Direct to pair devices, you'll see a list of data types, and it's not just about clicking "Start," but about settings, and in the contact section, make sure that you're going to be able to transfer your phone records, not just your accounts. Local connection provides high transfer speed and does not consume mobile traffic, which is especially important with a large amount of data.

⚠️ Note: If the old phone has the contacts stored in memory SIM-The Mi Mover app may not see the cards, so export them to the device's memory first through the phone book settings of the old gadget.

The copying process takes from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records. During the transfer, the screens of the devices may go out — this is normal for energy saving functions, but it is not recommended to interrupt the connection. Once completed, you will receive a notification of successful import, and all numbers will appear in the standard Contacts app.

Syncing through Google Account: Cloud Method

The most reliable way, which works regardless of the brand of the old smartphone, is sync through a Google account. This method ensures that your contacts will be safe even if the device is lost or broken. To implement, you need to go to Settings → Accounts → Google and make sure that the switch opposite to Contacts is active.

On the new Xiaomi, just enter the same email address when you initially set up or add an account later via the Settings menu. → Accounts and syncs: The system automatically pulls up all saved numbers from the cloud, and the advantage of this method is that any changes made from a computer or tablet will instantly affect the smartphone.

It's important to understand the difference between saving on SIM and Google. Cloud entries have a lot more fields: you can add a photo, a few numbers, an email, an address and notes. When you migrate from an iPhone to Android, this is the main method, since it only requires you to install the Google Contacts app on iOS and enable sync.

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Google sync is the only way to ensure that your contacts are safe if your physical device is lost or stolen.

Transfer of contacts with SIM-maps on Xiaomi

Although this method is considered obsolete due to storage format limitations, it remains the only working option if the old phone is broken, does not turn on or it is a push-button "caller". SIM-The card is capable of storing a limited set of data: usually only a name and one number, and the length of the name is often limited by characters. SIM-Map to the new Xiaomi, open the Contacts app and click on three dots in the corner of the screen.

In the drop-down menu, select "Import and Export" and then "Import with" SIM-The system will prompt you to select a destination, a place to save. It is strongly recommended to choose a Google Account or a Phone, but do not save them back to the site. SIM, So you don't lose any extra fields of information, and it takes seconds for even a few hundred records.

After importing it is worth checking the list carefully, because due to restrictions. SIM-Some long names may have been cut off, and numbers with country code may require manual editing of the format, and duplicates may also appear if some contacts have already been synchronized.

Import and export via VCF (Bluetooth or File Manager)

The universal format for transferring a phone book is a file with the.vcf (vCard) extension. This method is ideal when you need to transfer contacts to a device without the Internet or when Google accounts differ. On an old smartphone, log in to contacts, select Export and save the file to internal memory. The resulting file can be transferred via Bluetooth, messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), or simply copy to a computer and transfer to a new Xiaomi.

When the file is on the new device, just open it. Android automatically recognizes the format and prompts you to import the data. You can choose which account or phone to store the information on. The VCF file stores the entire data structure, including photos if they were embedded in the contact card, and grouping.

If you use Bluetooth for transmission, make sure that both devices are visible to others. The pairing code is usually not a problem, but when transferring large files (for example, thousands of contacts with photos), the process can take time, in which case it is more reliable to use a USB cable and a computer as an intermediary.

Solving Duplicate Contact Problems

A common problem when changing phones or using multiple synchronization methods is the appearance of duplicates — when the same person is listed two or three times. Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful tool built in to solve this problem. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Contact Management, and then Combine Duplicates.

The system will automatically analyze and suggest a list of pairs or groups of contacts that are likely to be related to the same person. The algorithm compares phone numbers and names. Automated merging allows you to quickly restore order, but before confirming it, you should quickly run your eyes through the list so that you do not accidentally combine different people with the same names.

⚠️ Note: When combining contacts from different sources (e.g, SIM and Google) the priority is often given to fields from the cloud account, make sure that the merger does not lose an important number, written only in the local copy.

There is also a "Clear Contacts" feature that allows you to delete entries without numbers or with incorrect data, which is useful after migrating from old button phones that could save empty cells or service records of operators.

Display and sorting in MIUI

After transferring data, users often notice that the list looks unusual: it can be sorted by name or surname, and contacts can be displayed in the format "Company - Name." To change this, go to the contact settings and find the "Display" section. Here you can flexibly adjust the order of sorting by name or last name, which is especially important for Russian-speaking users who are accustomed to a certain standard.

Another important aspect is filtering your contacts, so if you see any extra social media posts (Facebook, Viber, Telegram) that you don't need on your main call, you can hide them. From the settings menu, select Contacts to Display and only tick your phone or Google, removing any extra sources, which will make the list cleaner and more convenient.

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Use the Favorites feature for frequently dialed numbers. Open the contact and click on the asterisk, which will appear on a separate tab in the phone app for quick access.

Remember to back up your phone book regularly. Contact settings have a "Backup" option that allows you to create a current copy to the Xiaomi cloud or local storage. Regular backup VCF-File to flash drive or cloud storage (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) will save you from data loss in the event of a sudden reset or breakage.

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