The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a welcome experience, with access to a more powerful processor, a better screen, and an improved camera. However, the euphoria of unpacking often gives way to a mild panic when you realize you need to refill your phone book. Fortunately, the Android ecosystem and the proprietary shell of MIUI (or HyperOS) offer a variety of tools to automate this process.
You don't have to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers if you choose the right method of data migration. A modern mobile platform allows you to save not only names and numbers, but also attached avatars, mailing addresses and even correspondence history in some cases. The main thing is to take your time and choose the method that suits your current situation and the state of the old device.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from cloud synchronization to local copying via Bluetooth or cable. We will look at the nuances of working with different data sources, whether it is an iPhone, an old Android smartphone or a simple one. SIM-The right approach will save you hours of time and eliminate the risk of losing important information.
Preparing the old and new device for migration
Before you run any port tool, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to go. On a new Xiaomi or Redmi phone, it is advisable to perform the initial setup, connect to the Wi-Fi network and log into your Google account, which will create the necessary database for data synchronization.
On the old device, it is also worth checking the battery power - it is recommended to have at least 50-60% charge so that the process does not stop halfway. If you plan to use cloud services, make sure that both phones have a stable Internet connection. For local data transfer via cable or Wi-Fi Direct, the Internet speed is not so critical, but the stability of communication modules is important.
⚠️ Note: Before any manipulation of contacts is initiated, we strongly advise you to back them up, which will take a couple of minutes, but will save the situation if there is a failure or data mixing during the transfer.
It's also worth cleaning up the phone book from "junk": remove duplicate entries, misformed numbers and contacts that you no longer need. It makes no sense to transfer the junk to a new phone, it will only make navigation more difficult in the future. Check whether your numbers are stored on a SIM card, in your phone's memory or in your account.
Synchronization through Google account
The most reliable and versatile way for Android users is to sync through the Google cloud, which is ideal because your contacts are linked to an account, not a particular device.
To start with, on your old phone, open your settings and find the Accounts or Users and Accounts section. Select your Google account and make sure the switch next to Contacts is active. Click on the menu (three dots or a hamburger) and select Sync Now, which will force all local changes to the cloud.
- 📲 Open "Settings» → «Accounts and synchronization».
- 📲 Select your Google account from the list.
- 📲 Make sure you check the “Contacts” box».
- 📲 Click on Sync or wait for automatic update.
Then, take a new Xiaomi phone. When you first set up your system, you'll be asked to enter your Google account details. Use the same email address as your old device. During the setup process, the system will ask you what to restore -- be sure to tick the box against Contacts. Within minutes of connecting to Wi-Fi, the phone book will be full.
If the phone is already set up and you just want to add data, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Choose the right account and enable contact sync. The system will pull all the records from the cloud itself. This method is especially convenient because it does not depend on the model of the old phone — as long as there is a Google service installed there.
Use of the Mi Mover app
The proprietary utility Mi Mover (or "Mi Transfer") is the best choice for those who switch from another Android smartphone to Xiaomi.The app works locally, creating a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which ensures high transfer speeds and does not consume mobile traffic.
On the new Xiaomi phone, the app is often preinstalled and located in the Tools folder or available immediately when you first launch. On the old device, it needs to be downloaded from Google Play or scanned. QR-code that will appear on the screen of the new phone. Run the program on both devices.
On the receiving device (new Xiaomi), select the role "I am the recipient" (Receiver). On the old phone, click "I am the sender" (Sender). QR-The code is displayed on the screen of the new one. The devices will connect, and you will see a list of data to transfer.
From the data category list, select Contacts. You can deselect from photos, apps or music if you only need numbers. Click Send. The speed depends on the number of contacts and the media, but it usually takes less than a minute.
⚠️ Warning: Do not turn off your phone screens or leave the Mi Mover app during transmission. Breaking the connection may cause partial data transfer or damage.
Once the process is complete, the new phone will have a report of the data successfully transferred, the contacts will be stored in the device memory or in the account you select when you import, and the advantage of this method is that it copies the data structure as accurately as possible, saving additional fields if they are supported by both systems.
Import and export through SIM-map
Method by using SIM-The cards are considered classic and still relevant, especially if you need to move contacts from a button phone or device without the support of cloud services.
On your old phone, open the Contacts app, go to the settings and select Import/Export Contacts. SIM-The system will warn you that some data (e.g. multiple numbers for a single contact or long names) may be cropped.
| Parameter | Exports on SIM | Imports from Google | Mi Mover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Low. | Tall. | Very high. |
| Photo preservation | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Several rooms. | Often not. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Network dependency | No. | We need the Internet. | No (locally) |
Once the contacts are copied to the SIM card, paste it into the new Xiaomi phone» → «Import/Export. This time, select "Import with". SIM-The system will suggest selecting a place to save: it is recommended to choose a Google account or phone memory, but not the phone itself. SIM-map to avoid repeated volume problems.
The main disadvantage of this method is that there is a 255 character limit for the contact name and no support for additional fields. If you have contacts with long names in your notebook, they can be cropped. SIM-The card goes slowly, one contact at a time.
Transfer contacts from iPhone (iOS) to Xiaomi
iPhone owners who choose to switch to Xiaomi don't have to worry about losing data. Apple's ecosystem is pretty closed, but the tools for migration do exist. The easiest way is to use the Mobile to iOS app, which is available on Android, or use sync via iCloud.
To use the method through iCloud, you first need to go to Settings → [Your name] → iCloud on your iPhone and turn on the Contacts switch. Wait for the sync to complete. Then, on your computer or directly on your new Android phone, through the Safari or Chrome browser, go to iCloud.com, log in to your Apple ID and export contacts in vCard (.vcf) format.
The resulting file.vcf should be transferred to the new Xiaomi phone in any convenient way (via Telegram, mail or Bluetooth). Open this file on the phone - the system will automatically prompt you to import the contacts contained in it. Select a Google account to save so that data is not lost in the future.
- 🍎 On iPhone, enable contact sync in iCloud.
- 🍎 Export contacts to vCard via iCloud.com.
- 🍎 Transfer the file.vcf to the new Xiaomi.
- 🍎 Open the file and confirm the import to the phone book.
The alternative is the Mi Mover app, which now has an iOS version, which is installed on an iPhone from the App Store, launch it and follow the on-screen instructions to connect to an Android device, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, making it more preferable for a comprehensive transition.
Work with vCard files and local copying
The vCard (.vcf) format is a universal standard for e-business cards, supported by almost all operating systems and email clients, and if you have a contact export file from a previous operator or from another system, you can easily embed it in Xiaomi.
To import a vCard file, place it in your phone’s memory (like the Downloads or Downloads pack). Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi, go to settings and select Import/Export Contacts. Click Import from storage. The phone will find the file and suggest you select contacts to add or add everything at once.
This method is also convenient for creating local backups. Periodically export contacts to a file and save it to your computer or flash drive. In case of problems with your Google account or blocking the service, you will always have an emergency file with all the numbers.
When working with large vCard files (for example, containing several thousand contacts), the import process can take some time. Do not interrupt it and wait for the notification of successful completion. If the file is damaged or has an incorrect format, the system will give an error, in which case try to open it on the computer through Notepad and check the integrity of the data structure.
Solution: duplicates and missing numbers
After transferring contacts to a new Xiaomi phone, users often face the problem of duplicates, which occurs when the same contact is stored in both the phone’s memory and on the phone’s memory. SIM-It sees them as different records, creating confusion.
There's a built-in tool for combining MIUI and HyperOS. Go to Contacts, click on the three dots in the top corner, and select Merge duplicates or Contact Management, and the system automatically finds the duplicates and suggests combining them into one card.
If your contacts are gone, don't panic. Go to contacts.google.com from your computer, log in to your account and check for the records. There's a Restore contacts menu on the left that allows you to roll back the status of your phone book up to 30 days, which helps if you accidentally deleted important numbers during the cleaning.
⚠️ Note: When combining duplicates, the system usually chooses the most complete contact card, but always check the result manually.
It's also worth checking the display filters. In the contact display settings, make sure that all sources are turned on: phone, SIM and accounts. Sometimes contacts are still there, just hidden by a filter that shows only the phone records.