How to Transfer Contacts from Xiaomi to Google Account: All Ways 2026

Moving contacts from a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone to a Google account is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device, resetting settings or switching to an iPhone. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process is often accompanied by errors: contacts are duplicated, photos are lost or groups are not synchronized. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods of transfer (including hidden MIUI functions), explain why some methods do not work on new versions of Android, and show how to avoid data loss.

Xiaomi phones have their own MIUI shell, which sometimes conflicts with standard Android tools. For example, MIUI 14/15 changed the location of the contact export menu, and some regional firmware turned off automatic synchronization with Google. We took all these nuances into account and prepared current instructions for 2026, including bypassing restrictions for the Chinese versions of Xiaomi (with firmware without Google Mobile Services).

1. Automatic synchronization of contacts with Google (the easiest way)

If your Xiaomi supports Google services (not the Chinese version), this method will take no more than 2 minutes, the main condition is that the phone must be added and active Google account (the same as the new device).

How to check if synchronization is enabled:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync (in MIUI 14/15, the path may differ: Settings → Memory and Sync → Accounts).
2. Select your Google account (if not, add it through Add Account).
3. Make sure the switch opposite Contact is on (green).
4. Click Sync Now (or Update in new versions).

⚠️ Note: If your contacts have not appeared in Google after sync, check:

• 📱 Where contacts are saved: Open the Contacts app, click on three dots → Contact management → The default source is if the device or SIM-Maps, contacts are not synced with Google.
• 🔄 Account conflict: B MIUI Sometimes settings are lost and contacts are saved to Xiaomi account instead of Google. → Accounts. → Mi Account and disable contact sync there.

2. Export contacts to the VCF file and import to Google (universal method)

This method works even without an internet connection and is suitable for the Chinese versions of Xiaomi (without GMS).The bottom line is that you export contacts to a.vcf file and then upload it to Google Contacts via your browser.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14/15:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Contact management → Import/Export contacts.
3. Select Export to the file → tick contacts (or click Select All).
4. Click Export and save the file to Internal Memory or SD-map (for example, in the Download folder).
5. Connect your phone to your computer or send the file to your mail.

How to import.vcf to Google:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer and log in.
2. In the left menu, click Import → Select a file and download.vcf.
3. Wait until the import is completed (it can take up to 5 minutes if the contacts are more than 1000).

Check that all contacts are displayed in the Contacts app.

Make sure your phone has enough memory to create a VCF file.

Turn off battery optimization for the Contacts app (Settings → Applications → Contacts → Battery)

Make a backup of your contacts on SIM-card (in case of error)-->

⚠️ Note: Contact photos and notes may be lost when imported into Google to avoid this:

• 🖼️ Before exporting, open each contact and check that the photo is saved (in the form of a photo). MIUI Sometimes photos are linked to your Mi Account, not the contact itself).
• 📝 For notes, use the field Additional information - it is exported to.vcf.

3. Transfer of contacts through SIM-Map (for older Xiaomi models)

This method is useful if you don’t have Internet access or a phone with MIUI doesn’t support Google services (e.g. Xiaomi for the Chinese market).

• 🚫 Nana SIM-The card can be placed no more than 250 contacts (depending on the operator).
• 📞 Only name and number are saved – photos, email and addresses will be lost.
• 🔢 Numbers longer than 20 characters can be cut.

How to transfer contacts to SIM:

1. Open Contacts → Three Points → Contact Management → Import/Export.
2. Select Export on Export SIM-map → mark the necessary contacts.
3. Confirm the export (may take 1-2 minutes).
4. Insert SIM into your new phone and import contacts via Import with SIM.

💡 Tip: If you have many contacts, break them into groups of 200 and export them in parts. → three-point → Sorting).

4. sync through Xiaomi account (if Google is not working)

If your Xiaomi doesn’t support Google services (like the Redmi Note 12 for China), you can temporarily use your Xiaomi account as a stash, which works for backups as well.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
3. Turn on the synchronization of Contacts (switch in the position Incl.).
4. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (notification will appear in the curtain).
5. On the new phone, add the same Mi Account and enable contact sync.

⚠️ Attention: This method has risks:

• 🔒 Contacts are stored on Xiaomi servers and are difficult to export to other services (e.g. iCloud).
• 📵 If you forget your Mi Account, your contact details will be lost.
• 🌐 On phones without. GMS (For example, Chinese contacts from Mi Account are not synced with Google.

5. Transfer of contacts using third-party applications

If standard methods don't work (for example, due to a MIUI failure or lack of Google services), you can use third-party applications.

🔹 How to use My Contacts Backup:

1. Install the app from Google Play (or download the APK from APKPure if you don't have access to the Play Market).
2. Open the app and click Backup → select VCF File.
3. The file will be stored in the phone's memory. Send it to a new phone by email or Telegram.
4. On your new phone, open the.vcf file and import contacts.

💡

If you have a Chinese version of Xiaomi without Google Play, download it. APK-Application files only from trusted sources (such as APKPure or APKMirror). → Security → Unknown sources.

6. Solving Mistakes When Shifting Contacts with Xiaomi to Google

Even with the right actions, Xiaomi users often face problems, and we have collected the TOP-5 errors and ways to fix them:

• ❌ Error: "Synchronization stopped" Reason: MIUI Background activity for Contacts or Google Play Services is disabled.Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Battery and select No Limits. Repeat for Google Play Services.
• ❌ Contacts are duplicated after sync Reason: Contacts are saved in both Google and Xiaomi account.Solution: Open contacts.google.com, click Duplicates on the left menu and combine them.
• ❌ Contact photos are not transferred Reason: MIUI Photos are linked to Mi Account, not the contact itself. Solution: Open each contact before exporting, click on the photo → Edit → Save it to the gallery. Then manually add it to Google Contacts.
• ❌ Not all contacts are exported to VCF Reason: B MIUI Default: hidden contacts with empty fields (e.g., no phone number) Solution: Click on Contacts before exporting → three-point → Settings → Show contacts without numbers.
• ❌ Mistake: Failed to import VCF Google's "Cause: File corrupted or too large (Google limits file import to more than 25MB) Solution: Break file into pieces using the VCF Splitter or archivist 7-Zip.

💡

If you don’t show up on your new phone after you move your contacts to Google, check your account settings: Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and enable Contacts. Sometimes deleting and re-addition of your Google account helps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts with Xiaomi