How to copy contacts with Xiaomi in Google account: 3 proven ways

Moving contacts from a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone to a Google account is a challenge that every user faces when buying a new phone, resetting settings or switching to another platform. Despite its apparent simplicity, the process can be complicated due to the features of the MIUI shell, duplicate contacts or lack of synchronization. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of transfer, from automatic synchronization to manual export through the.vcf file.

It is important to understand that storing contacts in a Google account not only makes it easier to restore them on a new device, but also protects against loss when your phone breaks or resets to factory settings. However, many Xiaomi users are faced with the problem when contacts are saved only in the local memory of the phone or Mi Account, and not in Google. SIM-map.

Why are your contacts not automatically synced to Google?

The main reason is the incorrect account settings or the conflict between MIUI and Google services, and the most common scenarios are:

• 📱 Contacts are saved to your phone’s local memory, not your Google account (checked in your contact settings).
• 🔄 Sync is disabled in the settings of Google account or for the application Contacts».
• 🆔 Duplicate contacts between Mi Account and Google, which makes it impossible for the system to prioritize the data.
• 📶 Limitations MIUI: Some firmware versions block background synchronization to save battery power.

To check where your contacts are saved by default, open the Contacts app, click on ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Contact management. You'll see all the accounts you can access here (including Mi Account, Google, and local storage). If there's no checkmark next to Google, the contacts are saved in the wrong place.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously used Mi Account for backup, contacts may be duplicated. Before transferring to Google, it is recommended to combine duplicates through the Settings menu → Combine contacts in the appendix “Contacts».

Method 1: Automatic synchronization through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to enable synchronization of contacts with the Google account through the MIUI menu, which is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI 12/13/14 and later.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your Google account (if not, add it through Add Account).
3. Activate the slider opposite Contact.
4. Return to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
5. Click Permissions → More → Change your sync settings and make sure that Google is ticking.
6. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes depending on the number of contacts).

To check the results, go to contacts.google.com from a computer or other device. All contacts should be displayed there.

Google account added to Xiaomi settings

Contact sync enabled for Google

In the “Contact” application, a Google account is selected by default

No duplicates in the contact list-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro after updating to MIUI 14 may lose the priority of saving contacts. If after synchronization the numbers are still saved in Mi Account, reset the settings of the Contacts application via Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Method 2: Manually export contacts to file.vcf and import to Google

If automatic synchronization fails (e.g. due to MIUI errors or corporate policy constraints), you can export contacts to a.vcf file and upload it to your Google account manually, a method that is universal and works even on older versions of MIUI.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Contacts app on your Xiaomi.
2. Press. ⋮ (three-point) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to the vault.
3. Select the account from which you want to export your contacts (such as Mi Account or local storage).
4. Specify a save path (e.g., Internal Memory → Download) and confirm the export.
5. A file with the.vcf extension will appear in the folder you select, and move it to your computer or other device.
6. Go to contacts.google.com, click Import → Select a file and download.vcf.

The advantage of this method is complete control over data, and you can edit the.vcf file before importing it (e.g., delete unwanted contacts through a text editor) or send it to multiple accounts.

Method 3: Transfer contacts over Mi Cloud (if they are saved in Mi Account)

If your contacts are linked to your Mi Account (for example, because of backup to Mi Cloud), they can be exported from there and then imported to Google, a method that is relevant for users who have previously used MIUI Backup.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Go to the Mi Cloud section → Contacts.
3. Click Export (or Backup if there is no export) and save the.vcf file to your computer.
4. Import the file to Google Contacts as described in Method 2.

Important: Mi Cloud only stores contacts 30 days after the last backup, and if you haven’t synced the data in a long time, they could have been deleted from Xiaomi’s servers.

On Google account

In Mi Account.

In the memory of the phone

Nana SIM-map

Another option-->

How to avoid duplication of contacts during transfer?

One of the most common synchronization problems is the appearance of duplicates, which happens when the same contact is stored in Mi Account, Google, and local memory, to avoid this:

• 🔍 Check your current storage: Open any contact and see which account it is linked to (displays under the name).
• 🔄 Combine duplicates through the Settings menu → Combine contacts in the appendix “Contacts».
• 🚫 Disable unnecessary sources: in the settings of the “Contacts” application, leave only the Google account active.
• 📱 Reset the Contact App cache through Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

If duplicates have already appeared in Google Contacts, use the Find and combine duplicates tool on contacts.google.com. It will automatically find similar entries and prompt them to combine.

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Before mass amalgamation of duplicates, back up your contacts via Export v.vcf. This will help to recover data if something goes wrong.

What to do if contacts are not transferred?

If none of these methods worked, check the following points:

• 🔌 Internet connection: synchronization requires a stable connection (Wi-Fi or mobile Internet).
• 🔒 Google Permissions: In your phone settings, check that the Contacts app has access to your Google account (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Permits).
• 📅 Date and time: Incorrect date/time settings can block sync. Make sure they are set automatically.
• 🔄 Update MIUI: on some older versions of the firmware (MIUI 11 and below) Google sync is not working correctly. Update the system via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

If the problem persists, try an alternative method:

1. Install a third-party contact management app (such as Contacts+ or Simpler Contacts).
2. In the application settings, select Google Account as your primary storage.
3. Import contacts from local memory or Mi Account to Google through the app menu.

How to check that the contacts have been successfully transferred?

To make sure that the transfer has been successful, follow the following steps:

1. Remove one test contact from your phone’s memory (for example, through the Contacts app).
2. Check if it's still on contacts.google.com. If so, sync works.
3. Add a new contact through the web version of Google Contacts and make sure it shows up on your phone.

You can also use a second device (like a tablet or another phone) with the same Google account, and if the contacts are displayed there, the transfer is successful.

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If your contacts are missing from your phone after the transfer, check the display settings in the Contacts app. You may have an account filter turned on (for example, only the contacts from the contact are shown). SIM-map).

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts with Xiaomi to Google