How to Install and Set Up a Phone Book on Xiaomi Smartphones: A Complete Guide to 2026

The phone book on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a list of contacts, but a powerful tool for managing connections, integrated with the ecosystem. MIUI. Many users face difficulties in the first setup: then contacts are not synchronized with Google, then duplicated after transferring from another phone, then completely disappear after updating the firmware. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to install and configure a phone book on Xiaomi devices – from basic synchronization to solving rare errors.

It is important to understand that MIUI It uses its own Contacts app, which can conflict with Google services or third-party apps like Truecaller. → Accounts), alternatives (export/import.vcf files), and ways to recover lost contacts.+ Xiaomi 14 Ultra, this guide will help you avoid the typical errors when transferring data from your old phone.

Particular attention will be paid to problems that arise after resetting settings or updating to MIUI 15: Why contacts can be displayed incorrectly, how to combine duplicates, and what to do if the phone book doesn't open at all. FAQ Answer frequent questions and checklist for quick settings check.

1. Ways to install a phone book on Xiaomi: an overview of options

On Xiaomi smartphones, the phone book is installed automatically as part of the firmware MIUI, But you have to set it up right, and depending on your situation, you can choose one of four main ways:

• 🔄 Syncing with a Google account is the most reliable method for those who use Google services.
• 📱 Transfer from another phone – suitable when switching from an iPhone, Samsung or another Xiaomi. You can use a.vcf file or specialized applications.
• 📂 Import from a file – if you have a backup of contacts in.vcf or.csv format, it can be downloaded manually.
• 🔧 Manual input – relevant if contacts are few and you prefer to make them yourself.

Each method has its own nuances, such as syncing with Google may not work if the phone is disabled Google Play Services (relevant to Chinese firmware), porting from the iPhone often requires additional actions due to the difference in the formats of storing contacts, and we will discuss each method in detail.

2.Sync the phone book with a Google account

This is the most universal and recommended way, because contacts will be automatically backed up and available on any device, to configure sync:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select Google and log in to your account (if you are not already logged in).
3. Activate the switch next to Contacts.
4. Click Sync Now to start the process manually.

If no contacts appear, check:

• 🔌 Internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 📱 Google account in the Settings section → Accounts.
• 🔄 Contacts selects the correct account to display (click on three dots in the upper right corner) → Display contacts from).

💡

If duplicates appear after synchronization, use the unification function in the Contacts app: open the menu (three points) → Contact management → Connecting contacts.

Attention, some firmware. MIUI (Google services can be disabled by default, especially in China:

⚠️ If in Settings → Annexes → Application management is not option Google Play Services, so you have firmware installed without GMS (Google Mobile Services. To sync contacts, you will need to flash the global version MIUI or use alternative methods of transfer.

3. Transfer contacts from another phone (Android, iPhone, Xiaomi)

If you are switching to Xiaomi from a different smartphone, there are several ways to transfer the phone book without loss.

3.1. port from Android (Samsung, Huawei, other Xiaomi)

• 📲 Mi Mover (Official Xiaomi App):

.vcf

1. On an old phone, export contacts to a file (usually in Settings). → Contacts → Exports).
2. Transfer the file to the new Xiaomi (via Bluetooth, email or cloud).
3. Import the file in the Contacts app (Menu) → Contact management → Imports/Exports).

3.2.Move from iPhone

Due to the different contact formats (Apple uses iCloud), additional steps will be required:

1. On iPhone, open Settings → [Your name] → iCloud and enable Contacts.
2. Export your contacts via iCloud.com (select all contacts) → Settings → Exports vCard).
3. Transfer the resulting.vcf file to Xiaomi and import it through the Contacts app.

Attention! When you transfer from your iPhone, some fields (such as those associated with Social Media accounts) may not be saved. Also check the encoding in the.vcf file - if you display characters instead of Cyrillic, open the file on your PC in Notepad.++ and save it in code. UTF-8.

4. Import and export contacts via.vcf file

The.vcf (vCard) format is a standard for storing contacts supported by all modern smartphones. On Xiaomi, imports and exports are made through the built-in Contacts app. Here is a step-by-step instruction:

Export of contacts to file

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Contact management → Import/Export.
3. Select Export to the file and specify an account (e.g. Google or Phone).
4. Select a storage location (internal memory or storage). SD-map) and confirm.

Import of contacts from the file

1. Place the.vcf file in the phone’s memory (for example, in the Download folder).
2. In the Contacts app, go to Contact Management → Imports/Exports → File-based import.
3. Select a file and specify an account to save (Google recommends backup).
4. Confirm the import and wait until it is completed.

If the file is large (over 1,000 contacts), the process can take several minutes.Do not interrupt the import, even if the screen is gone - this can lead to the loss of some data. After completion, check if all contacts are correctly displayed, especially Cyrillic names and numbers in an international format (e.g., in the same format, +7 XXX XXX-XX-XX).

5 Manual setting and contact management in MIUI

If you prefer to enter contacts manually or need to edit existing ones, the Contacts app on Xiaomi offers flexible tools.

Addition of a new contact

1. Open the Contacts app and click on the icon + lower-right.
2. Select an account to save (Google, Xiaomi or Phone).
3. Fill in the fields: name, phone number, email and other data.
4. Press Save.

5.2. Editing and merging contacts

• 📝 To edit the contact, click on it. → Edit (pencil icon).
• 🔗 To combine duplicates, open the menu (three dots) → Contact management → Connecting contacts.
• 🗑️ To remove the contact, hold your finger on it and select Delete.

V MIUI 14/15 And we have this Intelligent Grouping feature that automatically sorts contacts into categories (e.g., Family, Work) to enable it:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Contacts → Intellectual functions.
2. Activate the Contact Grouping option.

6. Solving Common Phone Book Problems

Even after setting up the phone book correctly, Xiaomi may not work properly, and we will discuss common errors and ways to fix them:

Contacts are not displayed

If the contact list is empty, check:

• 🔍 In the Contacts app, the correct account is selected to display (three dots). → Display contacts from).
• 🔄 Is synchronization enabled in the settings → Accounts. → Google → Contacts.
• 📵 Are there any restrictions on background activity for the Contacts app (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime).

6.2.Duplicate contacts

Duplicates appear if contacts are saved in multiple accounts (e.g. Google and Google). SIM-To correct the problem:

1. Open the "Contact" app» → Contact management → Connecting contacts.
2. Select duplicates and click Combine.
3. To avoid duplicates, disable the display of unnecessary accounts (display contacts from).

6.3 Contacts are not synced with Google

If the synchronization is suspended or not working:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and check your internet connection.
• 🔧 Delete your Google account and add it again (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Delete the account).
• 📲 Update the Google Play Services app in the Google Play Store.
• 🛠️ Reset the settings of the Contacts app (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Drop it).

Attention! On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro with Chinese firmware), Google services may be blocked at the system level.

⚠️ If after all the manipulations synchronization with Google does not work, check the firmware version in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If there are letters at the end of the title CN (for example, V14.0.5.0.TMOCNXM), You have Chinese firmware without GMS. Solutions: Get a global version MIUI (Use alternative methods of transfer (.vcf file, Mi Mover) Install a third-party contact application (e.g. Simple Contacts).

7. Alternative applications for contact management

If the standard Contacts app on Xiaomi doesn't suit you, you can use third-party solutions, which offer additional features such as cloud backup, advanced search and social media integration.-3 applications:

To install an alternative application:

1. Download it from the Google Play Store.
2. At the first start, give access to contacts.
3. Import existing contacts (usually offered automatically).
4. Set up synchronization (if supported).

Attention! When using third-party applications:

• 🔒 Check the permissions the application requests (e.g. access to the app) SMS call-book).
• 📱 Turn off duplicate contacts in the standard Contacts app (Settings) → Display contacts from).
• 🔄 Backups regularly, as not all applications save data in the cloud.

💡

If you use Truecaller or similar services, turn off automatic sync in the standard Contacts app to avoid data duplication.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi phone book