Switching to a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is always an exciting moment, associated with the expectation of new features and improved performance. However, the euphoria of buying is often replaced by mild stress when you need to move the entire accumulated database of phone numbers. Users wonder how to establish contacts on Xiaomi quickly and without losing important data so as not to interrupt the workflow and communication with loved ones.
Fortunately, the ecosystem MIUI And modern versions of Android offer a lot of built-in tools for data migration, so you don't have to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers or search for complex third-party programs. SIM-And the right approach to doing this is to keep all the information safe.
In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of synchronizing and installing the phone book. You will learn about the intricacies of working with a Mi Account, the features of porting from iOS and Android, and how to avoid common mistakes when importing. Competent setting of contacts is the foundation of convenient use of your new smartphone.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google account
The most modern and reliable way to save and transfer a phone book is through cloud services. Xiaomi smartphones have two powerful tools integrated by default: its own Mi Cloud service and the standard Google Contacts. If you have previously used an Android device, chances are your numbers are already saved in a Google profile.
To check sync status, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Here you will see a list of all the services connected. Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is active. The system automatically downloads all the records associated with your inbox and distributes them to the appropriate fields in the phone book. This method is especially convenient because any changes made from a computer or other gadget will instantly appear on the smartphone.
Xiaomi device owners can also use Mi Cloud to create backups, especially if you are switching from another Xiaomi smartphone. Sign in to your Mi Account, select Contacts and enable synchronization. It is important to understand that when two services are running simultaneously, you can get duplicates, so you better choose one main source of truth.
⚠️ Note: When switching between Google accounts, make sure you select the exact email address to which you previously saved numbers. Log in to a new or empty account will result in an empty contact list being displayed.
Using cloud technology eliminates the need for physical media and cables. A stable Internet connection is enough, and your phone book will be restored in full in minutes.
💡
Check the Recycle Bin section of Google Contacts or Mi Cloud regularly, and you can recover deleted entries within 30 days.
Transfer of contacts from SIM-card
Despite the development of cloud technologies, many users still store numbers directly on the Internet. SIM-It's an old but proven method that allows you to quickly move a basic set of numbers when you change your device. POCO Import procedure is simplified as much as possible and is built into the standard application "Contacts".
To start the work, insert yours. SIM-You can check the map to your smartphone and wait for the network to be identified. Open the Contacts app and find the menu button, which is usually represented by three dots or stripes in the corner of the screen. Select "Import/Export Contacts." In the list of sources that appears, specify "Import from the screen." SIM-The system will suggest selecting a destination where the numbers will be saved: in memory of the phone, to Google account or Mi Cloud.
It is recommended to choose to save to a cloud account, not to the memory of the device, this will ensure the security of data in the event of loss or breakage of the smartphone, after selecting the target, the system will request confirmation of the operation, the copying process takes a few seconds, after which you will see a notification of successful completion.
☑️ Import verification with SIM
Consider the format limitations SIM-They often do not support long names, extra numbers or pictures of subscribers, so after importation, manual editing of records may be required to add missing information.
Import from a VCF (vCard) file
The vCard format (.vcf extension) is a universal standard for exchanging contact information, ideal for transferring a database of numbers from a computer or transferring a contact archive from another user. The vCard file can contain not only a name and number, but also an address, email, company logo and photo.
To make contacts from a file, you first need to put the.vcf file itself into the memory of the smartphone. USB-You can use a cable, Bluetooth, or email attachment to download it. Then open the file manager (like Explorer or Files) and find the file you want. When you try to open it, the system will automatically prompt you to select the application to process it, select Contacts".
The alternative is to set up the phonebook app itself, select "Import from storage" from the import/export menu, scan the memory and suggest the available vCard files, and then start unpacking and writing the data to the phone book.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .vcf (vCard) | Universal standard |
| Coding | UTF-8 | For the correct selection of Cyrillic |
| Source | Memory, Email, Messengers | Check the file for viruses |
| Limit | Depends on memory. | Break it down into 1,000 pieces. |
When working with large archives (several thousand contacts), the process can take some time.
What to do if the names are displayed by "Krakozyabr"?
Use of the Mi Mover app
For users who are switching to Xiaomi from another Android smartphone or even an iPhone, the developers have created a specialized application Mi Mover. This tool allows you to transfer data over Wi-Fi Direct, which provides high speed transfer and does not consume mobile traffic. The application is preinstalled in the system, but it can also be downloaded from GetApps or Google Play.
The Mi Mover contact process starts with the app running on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old phone, "I'm the sender." The new smartphone's camera scans. QR-code that appears on the screen of the old device, after which a secure connection will be established between the gadgets.
In the data transfer list, tick the "Contacts" box, and you can choose to transfer all or only a select few of the records, and the key advantage of this method is that it can transfer not only numbers, but also call history, messages, installed applications, and even desktop layout.
When transferring data from iOS, you will need to install the Mi Mover app on your iPhone and provide all requested permissions to access contacts. Transfer speeds can vary depending on the amount of data and the iOS version.
Solving doubles and sorting problems
A common problem with multiple synchronization sources (SIM, Google, Mi Cloud, WhatsApp) is the appearance of duplicates. The same person can appear in the list twice or three times with different numbers. To solve this problem, MIUI has a powerful integration tool built in.
Open the Contacts app, click on the menu, and select Clear Duplicates or Combine Repeated Contacts. The system will analyze the database, find the records with the same names or phone numbers, and suggest combining them into one card, which is safe and reversible within the session.
You should also pay attention to the display settings. There's a "Performance Contacts" item in the contact menu, and you can set up filtering to only see certain groups or accounts, which helps to clear out visual noise if you don't want to delete old posts, but you don't plan to see them on the main list.
⚠️ Note: Before mass merge or deletion of contacts, it is strongly recommended to make a backup copy (export to.vcf file.
Cleaning your phone book regularly not only improves visual perception, but also speeds up your contact search, and removing unnecessary entries with the prefix "(2)" or "(3)" makes the interface tidy.
💡
Automatic combination of doubles in MIUI works quite correctly, but manual check of important contacts after the procedure will never be superfluous.
Display and sorting setting
Once you have successfully established contacts on Xiaomi, it is important to adjust their display to your own habits. Standard settings may not always suit users who are accustomed to a certain logic of sorting names (for example, first last name, then first name, or vice versa).
In the contact settings menu (three dots → Settings), you can find the "Contact Sort" section, where you can find the options "Name, Surname" or "Family, Name" and the choices affect the order of the entries in the shared list and in the search results, and you can also customize the format of the name in the contact card.
Another useful feature is tweaking font size and theme, which for people with visual impairments, increasing the font in the phone book can be critical, and these changes apply globally to the entire application and do not affect the system fonts.
Remember that contacts saved in different accounts may have different display priorities. You can set your preferences to "Preferred account for new contacts." All new numbers that you will save manually will go to the selected service by default, which will simplify future sync.