How to save contacts on Xiaomi before resetting: all working ways

Why Contacts Disappear After Resetting and How to Avoid It

Resetting to factory settings on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a radical but sometimes necessary step, helping to eliminate system errors, prepare the device for sale or simply “clean” it of accumulated digital debris, but along with unnecessary data, important photos, messages, and most importantly contacts are erased.

Many users face a nasty situation: after a reset, the phone becomes a blank slate, and you can't always recover lost numbers. The reason is simple: by default, contacts are stored in the device's internal memory, which is completely cleared when reset. But the good news is that Xiaomi offers several reliable ways to save them in advance. Even if you've never backed up, it takes no more than 10 minutes to follow our instructions.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods, including synchronization with Mi Account and Google, exporting to.vcf, using third-party apps and cloud services, and what hidden nuances each method has — for example, why synchronization with Google may not work on some Xiaomi models with custom firmware.

Method 1: Synchronization with Mi Account is the easiest option for Xiaomi owners

If you use a branded Mi Account, contacts can already be automatically saved to the cloud, a method that works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with the original MIUI firmware, the main advantage is that data is restored in one click after reset if you log in again to the same account.

To check if synchronization is enabled:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Contact Management → Contact Synchronization.
4. Make sure the slider opposite the Mi Account is active (blue).

If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait for the process to be completed (it can take up to a few minutes depending on the number of contacts). After reset, simply log in to Mi Account on a clean device - the contacts will be downloaded automatically.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 with global firmware) sync via Mi Account may conflict with Google Contacts. Before reset, make sure contacts are not duplicated in both services - this is fraught with chaos after recovery.

Contact synchronization enabled in Mi Account| Verified that contacts are not duplicated in Google| Screenshot of the contact list (just in case)| Memorized password from Mi Account to log in after reset-->

Method 2: Exporting contacts to a VCF file is a universal method for any phone

The.vcf (vCard) file is the standard contact storage format that all modern smartphones support, and its key advantage is that you can save the file to a memory card, to the cloud, or even send it to your own mail. Once reset, just import the.vcf back and all the numbers will return to their place.

Export instructions:

1. Open Contacts. → Settings (⋮).
2. Select Import/Export Contacts → Export to File.
3. Specify which contacts to export (e.g. only with the SIM-card).
4. Choose the location of the storage: internal memory or microSD (preferably).
5. Name the file (for example, contacts_backup_2026.vcf) and confirm the export.

Once reset, import the file in the same way: Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Import from the file. If.vcf is on the memory card, the phone will find it automatically.

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Before exporting, sort contacts alphabetically and remove duplicates, so the.vcf file will be smaller and more neat. To do this, select Contact Management → Combine and fix in your contact settings.

Method 3: Sync with Google Contacts – Reliable, but there are pitfalls

If you use Google services, syncing your contacts with your Gmail account is one of the most reliable ways, and it works even after you reset completely if you log in to the same Google account again, but it has nuances that many people don't know about.

How to turn on synchronization:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select your Google account.
3. Activate the slider opposite Contact.
4. Wait for the sync to be completed (you can check in the web version of Google Contacts).

Once you reset, just add the same Google account to your phone, and your contacts will be automatically downloaded.

• 🔄 On some firmware MIUI (Google sync is unstable. Before reset, check that contacts are actually displayed on contacts.google.com.
• 📱 If you have used two Google accounts, your contacts may be split between them.
• 🚫 Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A flat-fixed MIUI Go) does not support full synchronization, in which case export to.vcf is more reliable.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously synced contacts with Google but haven’t checked them in a long time, there is a risk that some numbers are outdated. Before reset, go to contacts.google.com and delete unnecessary or duplicate entries.

Method 4: Backup through MIUI Backup – a full copy of the system

MIUI Backup allows you to create a full system snapshot, including contacts, messages, photos and even app settings. It's the most comprehensive method, but it requires more time and space on the drive, suitable if you're planning to reset your phone but want to return it to exactly the same state.

How to make a backup:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Backup and select the data to save (be sure to tick Contacts).
3. Specify the location of the storage: internal memory or microSD (recommended).
4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take 10–30 minutes).

After discharge:

1. Log in to the same Mi Account.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
3. Select the last backup and click Restore.

Important: Do not interrupt the recovery process – this can lead to loss of some data. Also note that the backup takes up a lot of space (from 1 to 5 GB), so there should be enough free space on the memory card.

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MIUI Backup is the only way to save not only contacts, but also SMS, call history and app settings, but it doesn’t work if you plan to switch to another Xiaomi model or firmware (eg global to Chinese).

Method 5: Third-party applications – when standard methods don’t work

If for some reason the standard methods don't work for you (for example, the phone is buggy and prevents you from exporting contacts), third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we recommend two proven options:

• 📱 Super Backup & Restore (free, no ads) – exports contacts to.vcf, and SMS It can send backup to Google Drive or Gmail.
• ☁️ Contacts+ (There's a premium version, not only does it reserve contacts, it also clears them of duplicates, adds photos from social networks, supports synchronization with iCloud (relevant if you switch from Xiaomi to iPhone).

Instructions for Super Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select Contacts.
3. Click Backup and specify the save location (e.g. Google Drive).
4. After reset, install the application again and restore contacts from the backup.

Third-party apps often offer additional features, such as schedule backups or backup encryption. However, be careful: some programs request unnecessary permissions (such as geolocation access).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes lose contacts after a reset due to minor errors, and we collected the TOP-5 misses and told how to prevent them:

• 🔌 Synchronization is not checked. Many people think that contacts are automatically saved to the cloud, but forget to enable synchronization. → Accounts.
• 📱 Contacts are only kept on SIM-map. SIM-The card is limited (usually 250 contacts) and does not store additional fields (email, address.
• ☁️ Multiple cloud accounts. If you've used both Mi Account and Google, your contacts can split.
• 🗃️ The.vcf file is stored only in internal memory. When reset, it is cleared! Always copy the backup to a MicroSD, PC or cloud.
• 🔑 Forgot your account password. Without access to Mi Account or Google, you can't restore synchronized contacts.

Another common problem is the duplication of contacts after recovery, so to avoid this:

1. Before reset, delete the repetitive recordings manually or using apps like Contacts+.
2. If the duplicates have already appeared, use the “Connect” function in the standard Contacts app.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi) K60 Pro) after the reset, proof of ownership may be required through Mi Account. If you forget your password, restore it in advance on account.xiaomi.com, otherwise you risk being left without access to your phone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions