Changing your smartphone or accidentally resetting your settings is always stressful, especially if you don’t know how to save contacts on Xiaomi. SIM-The map, modern Android devices use cloud technology and local databases, and if you don't set up sync in time, the number list can disappear forever after flashing or breaking the screen.
In this article, we will break down all the current backup methods that the ecosystem offers. MIUI And HyperOS. You'll learn to migrate records from SIM-You can back up your maps, back up your Google account and Mi Cloud, and understand how to export your data to your computer’s storage files, and this knowledge will make you feel confident when working with any Xiaomi, Redmi or other device. POCO.
Before we get into the technical details, it's important to understand the difference between on-premises storage and cloud sync. Local copy stays on your phone, and cloud copy is available from any device in the world with the Internet, and we'll look at both options, as they complement each other and ensure that your data is as secure as possible.
Syncing with Google Account: Basic Level of Protection
The easiest and most reliable way to save contacts on Xiaomi is by linking to a Google account. This is a standard feature for all Android smartphones that works out of the box, but often users ignore the sync settings, relying on automatic processes that can be disabled. To make sure that your numbers are saved, you need to check the sync status in the system settings.
Open the Settings menu and find Accounts and Sync. Here you will see a list of all the services associated. Select your Google account (usually marked with the "G" logo) Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If the slider is turned off, the system will not send new records to the cloud, and if you lose your phone, you will lose data.
⚠️ Note: If you just bought a phone and entered Google login, wait for the full initial sync to the Wi-Fi network before adding new numbers manually.
Once synced, all the new contacts you create will be saved by default to your Google account, not your phone's memory. You can check this by creating a test record. When you create a new contact at the top of the screen, you'll tell you where it's going. If there's a Phone on there, click on this line and select your Google account.
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Set the automatic synchronization interval to “Every 15 minutes” or “Every hour” so that the data is updated more often than the standard 24 hours.
To force current data to be saved right now, when you're in your account menu, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Sync." The system will contact the server and update the information, which is especially useful if you've just made a lot of changes to your phone book and are planning to reset.
Using Mi Cloud for Xiaomi ecosystem owners
Xiaomi device owners have a unique advantage: their own Mi Cloud service, which is integrated deeper than Google services, and allows you to save not only numbers, but also call history, SMS, notes and location of the device on the map.
Go to Settings → Mi Account. If you are not already logged in, enter your details or sign up. After you log in, go to the Cloud section. Here you will see a list of data available for backup. Find Contacts and activate it. Unlike Google, Mi Cloud often offers more free storage space for system data.
- 📱 Automatic redundancy: With Wi-Fi enabled, the system itself uploads changes to the cloud without wasting mobile traffic.
- 🔄 Two-way sync: Changes made from the computer on i.mi.com will instantly appear on the phone.
- 🗑️ Remote contacts do not disappear immediately, but fall into the basket for 30 days, from where they can be restored.
One of the key features of the Mi Cloud is that it can manage contacts via a web interface, so you can edit numbers, combine duplicates, and even send messages directly from your browser, making it much easier to manage a phone book than from a small smartphone screen.
If you plan to make full backups of your system with photos and videos, there may not be enough space, but for text-only phone book records, that's enough for decades of active correspondence.
Export to a VCF file: Creating a local copy
Sometimes cloud services are not available, or you want to have a physical file backed up on a flash drive or computer, and that's what VCF (vCard) is for. It's a universal file that you can open on any smartphone (Android, iOS, tablet, or computer, and it's the best way to make sure you're safe.
Open the standard Contacts app on your Xiaomi. Click on the three dots or menu icon in the corner of the screen and select "Import/Export Contacts." In the menu that appears, select "Export to Storage" or "Export to File.vcf." The system will suggest you choose a save path. By default, the file is saved in the root folder of internal memory.
The path to the file usually looks like this: /internal_storage/contacts.vcfOnce the process is complete, you will have a file containing your entire phone book, which can be renamed by adding a date (e.g., a date, contacts_backup_2026.vcf), and send yourself an email, upload to the cloud storage (Yandex.Disk, Dropbox) or copy to your computer via USB-cable.
⚠️ Attention: File VCF It doesn't contain any contact photos, only text information and numbers.
To recover data from the file, perform the reverse operation: select "Import from storage" in the same menu and specify the path to your.vcf file. The system automatically recognizes the format and prompts you to add all the entries found to your selected account or phone memory. This is the fastest way to transfer contacts from your old phone to the new Xiaomi.
Transfer of contacts with SIM-phone-card
Many users still keep numbers on the SIM-It's a card, especially if you're going from a button phone. SIM-The card has serious limitations: it does not support long names, additional numbers for a single contact, email addresses and photos. So the first step when setting up a new Xiaomi is to transfer data from the SIM to the device memory or cloud.
To do this, go to the Contacts app, open the menu and select Import/Export. Click Import with SIM-The system will scan the map and show you a list of the records found. You can select individual numbers or mark all at once. Once confirmed, the contacts will be copied to the selected storage location (you should select a Google Account).
☑️ Check after importation from SIM
It is worth noting that after the transfer of the number will not go anywhere with SIM-If you want to make room on the SIM or avoid confusion in the future, after successful import, you can select the option "Remove from the phone". SIM-"Cards" in the same import/export menu.
Reverse export process (from phone to phone) SIM) It is also possible, but is not recommended for permanent use. SIM-The card may not hold all contacts due to memory limitations, and name formatting may suffer. Use this method only as a temporary solution when changing carriers.
Restore contacts after reset or on a new device
So, you can do things like buy a new Redmi, drop your phone off to factory settings, or just lose your device, and if you follow the instructions above, it takes a couple of minutes to recover, depending on where you saved your data.
When you first turn on a new phone, the system will suggest you restore data from a Google backup or Mi Cloud. Just enter the login and password from the account that was used on the old device. During the initial setup (Setup Wizard), be sure to select the option to restore from the cloud.
If your phone is already set up and you just want to return the numbers:
- 🌐 For Google: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Add an account → Google. Enter the data, and the contacts will be automatically connected.
- ☁️ For Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Mi Akka-unt → Cloud. → Contacts → Enable synchronization.
- 📂 For the file VCF: Copy the file to your phone, open the Contacts app → Imports/exports → Imports from storage.