Changing a smartphone, even within a single brand, often causes users to panic a bit about privacy. Mobile phone book transfers are a particularly critical issue, as losing numbers can disrupt business and personal communications. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s ecosystem offers several proven and reliable ways to migrate data that save all records without loss.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current methods, from automatic tools to manual export, and provide video instructions for clarity. You will learn how to use the built-in Mi Mover app, how to properly configure sync through the cloud and what to do if standard methods do not work. The fastest way is to use the Mi Mover application over Wi-Fi Direct, which does not require an Internet connection.
Before you start the action, you need to make sure that both devices are ready for the procedure. The old and new phone should have a battery charge, preferably at least 50-60%, so that the process does not stop in the middle. It is also worth checking the availability of free space on the new device, although the contacts take up a minimum of space, the system should have a buffer for temporary files.
Preparation of devices and backup
Start with a basic check of the settings of both smartphones, make sure that both devices are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, as they are often used to discover devices and transmit data. SIM-map, these modules may be required for system services.
An important step is to clear the phone book of duplicates and empty entries on the old device, which will avoid chaos in contacts on the new phone, where one person can be recorded three times with different numbers. Go to the Contacts app, select the filter menu and find the function of combining duplicates.
☑️ Ready for transfer
If you plan to use cloud services, check your Mi Account or Google account status. Signing into the same account on both devices will make it much easier, especially if you want to not only transfer but also permanently sync your data in the future.
⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of data is initiated, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup to an external medium or to the cloud, so that in case of failure, important information is not lost.
Using the Mi Mover app for quick migration
The most efficient and modern way to transfer data is using the Mi Mover application, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones running current versions of MIUI or HyperOS. It allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications, system settings and messages.
The process starts with running the application on both devices. On the old smartphone, select the role of "Sender" (Old phone), and on the new one - "Receiver" (New phone), the application will create a local Wi-Fi network to which you will need to connect. Once you establish the connection, you will see a list of data types available for transmission.
In the list, select the Contacts category and make sure the tick is opposite the desired source, such as Phone Memory or «SIM-Click send and wait until the process is complete. The speed depends on the number of records, but usually takes no more than a couple of minutes.
What if the Mi Mover doesn’t see the second phone?
The advantage of this method is to preserve the entire data structure: if photos, email addresses or (notes) were attached to contacts, they will also move to a new device, making Mi Mover the preferred choice for a full migration.
Sync with Google account and Xiaomi cloud
An alternative and very reliable method is to use cloud sync. If your contacts were previously saved in a Google account, they will automatically download when you sign in to the same account on a new Xiaomi smartphone. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure that the Contacts switch is active.
Similarly, syncing through Mi Cloud works, which is especially useful if you're moving from a very old device that doesn't have a Google account but has a MIUI. Sign in to your Mi Account on your old phone, enable contact sync and wait for the data to be uploaded to the cloud.
| Parameter | Google Contacts | Mi Cloud | Local exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (automatically) | High (automatically) | Medium (manual) |
| Demands the Internet. | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
| Saves a photo. | Yes. | Yes. | Depends on the format. |
| Difficulty | Low. | Low. | Medium |
It is important to understand the difference between these methods. Google Contacts are universal and available from any Android device or through a browser on a PC. Mi Cloud is better integrated into the interface of Xiaomi phones, allowing you to recover data even when you reset your settings without re-configuring.
💡
If you change your phone number but leave your old smartphone as a backup, don't delete your Google account right away. Give the system time to final sync in the background.
Manual export and import via VCF file
In situations where automated methods don't work or there's no Internet access, you can use the manual method of exporting to a VCF file (vCard), which is an industry standard and is supported by almost all phone books. The file contains a text description of the contact that is easy to read by any system.
To create a backup, open the Contacts app on the old Xiaomi. Click on three dots in the corner or menu button, select Import/Export Contacts and click Export to Storage. The system will prompt you to choose a format, leave.vcf, and specify a save location, such as internal memory or SD-map.
The resulting file must be transferred to a new device, MI Drop (if available), messengers or simply copying the file through USB-You can get a cable to your computer, and then you can get it to your new phone.
The system automatically determines the format and suggests importing the records, so you can choose where to save the contacts: in memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-It is recommended to choose a phone memory or account, because SIM-The card has restrictions on the length of the number and the number of characters in the name.
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A VCF file is a universal key to your data that can be stored for years and opened on any device, not even Xiaomi.
Transfer of contacts through SIM-map
The most conservative, but still relevant method is the use of SIM-It's ideal for carrying base numbers when other methods are not available, but it has significant limitations that you need to know about in advance.
On the old device, go to Contact Management and select "Import/Export". Click "Export on" SIM-The system will warn you about possible loss of data (photos, additional numbers), as memory SIM-The card is limited to numbers and a short name.
⚠️ Attention: SIM-The card can hold a limited number of contacts (usually up to the current date). 250-500). If your phone book is larger, only the first records are exported or the process will be interrupted.
After the export is completed, re-export SIM-card to the new Xiaomi smartphone. Go to the same Import/Export menu and select Import with SIM-Select the target folder (usually a Phone or Google account) and start the process. All numbers will appear in the contact list.
This method is good for its independence from software and the Internet, but it doesn't save pictures of subscribers and often crops long names. Use it only as a temporary solution or to back up the most important numbers.
Solving problems in transfer
Users can face a variety of challenges in migrating data, and one of the common problems is that you get duplicates where the same contact is displayed multiple times, which happens if you import data from SIM, then sync Google, and then add it from Mi Cloud, and this is solved by the "Combine Duplicates" feature in the Contacts app.
Another problem is broken encoding, where Krakozabras are displayed instead of Russian letters, which happens when you manually import.csv or.vcf files with incorrect encoding, in which case you try opening the file on your computer through a notebook, saving it with UTF-8 encoding, and repeating the import.
If the transfer is interrupted in the middle, check if one of the devices is power-saving. It can aggressively restrict Wi-Fi in the background, breaking the connection between the phones. Turn off the energy savings for data transfer time.
Why don’t you send SMS codes after transfer?
Also worth mentioning is the problem with contact photos: If the avatars are missing after transferring via VCF or SIM, they can be restored if they were saved to a Google account. Just enable image sync in the Google account settings on the new device.