How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi’s phone to Xiaomi’s phone

Changing a smartphone is always about keeping the digital lifestyle alive, and the most critical element is the phonebook. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to migrate data quickly when buying a new model or after a system reset. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem provides many tools for this task, making the process as automated as possible.

There are several proven methods that avoid manual dialing of hundreds of numbers, and the specific method depends on the condition of the old device, the availability of an Internet connection, and the user’s personal preferences for the speed and volume of data transmitted, and we will look at both cloud technologies and local methods of transmission, so you can choose the best option.

Whether you migrate data to the new Xiaomi 14 or recover information after flashing, the integrity of records will remain a priority. It is important to understand that modern smartphones store not just numbers, but also complex profiles with photos, addresses and messenger anchors, so the approach must be comprehensive and secure.

Synchronization with Mi Account and Cloud

The most reliable and modern way is to use the branded cloud storage Mi Cloud, which requires a Mi Account account and a stable Wi-Fi connection on both devices, the essence of the method is that the phone book is downloaded to the manufacturer's servers and then automatically downloaded to the new gadget when you log in to the account.

To activate the function, you need to go to the Settings menu and select the top item with the name of your account. Next, you need to find the Sync section and make sure that the switch opposite the Contacts point is activated. Once enabled, the system will suggest combining local data with cloud data, which will start the backup process.

On the new device, just log in to the same Mi Account so that contacts appear automatically. If this does not happen, you can force the update to run by going to Settings → Mi Account → Sync → Contacts → Sync. This method is ideal because it preserves the structure of records and allows you to manage them even through the web interface.

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Use the Recover from the Cloud function in the Contacts app if numbers do not appear immediately after logging in to your account – this often solves the problem of synchronization delay.

It’s important to note that free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5GB, but for text data, a phone book of this volume is more than enough for many years to come. Unlike other methods, cloud sync works in the background and updates the book whenever you change the number on any of your devices.

Use of the Mi Mover app

For those who prefer to transfer data locally without using the Internet, Xiaomi has developed Mi Mover, an application pre-installed on most modern models that allows you to transfer contacts, photos, apps and settings in one click.

The process starts with running the app on both smartphones, and on the old device, you have to select the role of "Sender" and on the new device, "Receiver." QR-When you have a code or manual connection to a Wi-Fi network, the data selection process begins".

• 📱 Supports contact transfer with attached images and additional fields.
• 🚀 Transfer speeds are significantly higher than those over Bluetooth or cloud with traffic limit.
• 🔒 Data is transferred directly between devices without being delayed on third-party servers.

Note that when using Mi Mover, the screens of both devices must be active, if one of the phones goes into sleep mode or closes the application, the transmission will be interrupted and you will have to start again, and the method requires that the receiving device does not have active locking of the screen during the process.

Export and import via VCF file

The classic method, which works on any Android-smartphones, including Redmi and POCO, involves creating a business card file in the format of.vcf. This file contains all information about contacts and can be transferred in any convenient way: via messengers, mail or Bluetooth.

To create a backup, open the standard Contacts app, click on the three dots in the corner or menu button and select Import/Export Contacts. Next, select Export to Storage. The system will create a file, commonly called contacts.vcf, at the root of internal memory or the MIUI/backup folder.

⚠️ Attention: File VCF Do not send it to public chats or store it in public clouds without a password to avoid leakage of information.

Once you transfer a file to a new phone (e.g., via Telegram or Bluetooth), just click on it, the system automatically recognizes the format and suggests importing the entries found into the phone book, one of the most versatile ways, without requiring complex network settings.

Comparison of data transfer methods

The way you migrate data often depends on the specific conditions, such as Internet speed, number of contacts, and whether you have a computer on hand, and to help you decide, we have compiled a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method.

As the table shows, the Mi Mover is the leader in speed and functionality for local transmission, while the Mi Cloud wins in the convenience of constant background synchronization. VCF It's good as an emergency, but SIM-The card should be used only in extreme cases.

Transfer through Google Account

Because the Android operating system is deeply integrated with Google services, syncing through Google Contacts is a native feature, a method that is especially handy if you plan to switch to a smartphone of a different brand in the future, as data will be available everywhere.

To activate, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the checkmark opposite Contact is on. On the new phone, when you first set up the system, just type in the same Gmail address, and all the entries will automatically appear in the address book.

The advantage of this method is the availability of the function "Cancel changes" in the web interface of Google Contacts, which allows you to restore remote contacts in the past 30 days.

Frequent mistakes and their solution

Even with automated systems, there can be failures, and one common problem is duplicate recordings, where the same contact appears multiple times from different sources, and this can be solved through the Contacts app, selecting the Contact Management menu and the Repetitive Combine function.

Another problem is that the users don't have photos after the transfer, which often happens if the contacts were not stored in the memory of the phone or account, but on the phone. SIM-In this case, the photos will have to be added again manually, because the format SIM-The card does not support graphic files.

• 🔄 Check if there is enough space in the cloud storage if sync is interrupted.
• 📶 Make sure both devices have Bluetooth and Geolocation enabled for Mi Mover to work.
• 🔋 Do not allow devices to discharge below 15% during long-term data transfers.

⚠️ Note: If the contacts are not displayed correctly after transfer (crackers instead of letters), change the encoding when importing or use only the Latin alphabet in names, although modern systems usually cope with the problem. UTF-8 automatically.

In case neither of these methods works, you can try to clear the Contacts app cache and Contact Store through the app menu, which will reset temporary sync errors without deleting the numbers themselves.

Concluding recommendations

Regular backup of a phone book is a habit that can save you from losing important data at the most inopportune time. Xiaomi owner has the advantage of a developed ecosystem that allows you to store data in multiple copies at the same time.

The best strategy is to keep your background synced with Mi Cloud or Google for daily protection and to periodically back up your phone with Mi Mover or your computer before major system updates.

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The ideal security strategy is to simultaneously activate sync with Mi Cloud and Google, which creates a double backup of your data in different locations.

Remember that the software is constantly updated and the interfaces may change slightly, but the basic principles of contact management have remained unchanged over the years of the development of the Android platform.