Transfer contacts via Bluetooth from phone to phone Xiaomi Redmi: full instruction

Introduction: Why Transfer Contacts Over Bluetooth and When It Matters

Bluetooth is one of the most versatile ways to communicate between smartphones, especially when you don’t have internet or cable at hand. When you buy a new phone of the same brand, when you need to quickly transfer the phone book, or when you help a friend with a similar device. Unlike cloud services (for example, Mi Cloud), Bluetooth does not require authorization and even works on devices without a phone. SIM-map.

However, the method has nuances: not all Redmi models support Bluetooth “out of the box” – sometimes you need to enable hidden settings or use third-party applications. In addition, the process may vary depending on the version of MIUI (the shell of Xiaomi) and the phone model. In this article, we will discuss step-by-step instructions for different scenarios, errors and alternative ways if Bluetooth refuses to work.

It’s important to understand that since MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has restricted the Bluetooth contact feature for some regions due to privacy policies, which means that new firmware may require additional customization or workaround. If your Redmi is released after 2021, pay special attention to the section on alternative methods.

Preparation of Xiaomi Redmi phones for the transfer of contacts

Before transferring, make sure that both devices meet the minimum requirements:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Both phones should be installed firmware not lower MIUI 10. on older versions (e.g., on older versions, MIUI (9) the function may be unstable or absent.
• 🔄 Model compatibility: Optimal if both phones are Xiaomi Redmi (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi) 9A). Transfer between Redmi and other brands is possible, but requires additional steps.
• 🔋 Battery charge: Make sure both devices have enough charge (minimum 30%). interruption of the process due to discharge may result in the loss of some contacts.
• 📡 Bluetooth connection: Both phones must have Bluetooth enabled and Invisible for All mode disabled.

Also check if your phones are power-saving or ultra-mode-enabled – they can limit Bluetooth. To turn them off, go to Settings → Battery & Performance → Power-saving mode and select High Performance.

⚠️ Note: If one of the phones has custom firmware installed (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the standard Bluetooth contact function may not work.

Step-by-step: Transfer contacts with Redmi to Redmi via Bluetooth

Consider the classic scenario where both phones are Xiaomi Redmi with the original MIUI firmware. Instructions are suitable for most models, including the Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi 10C, Redmi 9T and others.

Step 1: Turning on Bluetooth and pairing devices

1. On the original phone (from which you transmit contacts), open Settings → Bluetooth and activate the switch.

2. On the target phone (where you transmit) do the same.

3.On the source phone, click Device Search and select from the list of target Redmi. Confirm pairing on both devices (you may need to enter) PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234).

Step 2: Transfer of contacts

1. Open the Contacts app on the original phone.

2.Push three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Send contacts.

3. Select Bluetooth from the list of available methods.

4. tick the contacts you want to transfer (or click Select All) and confirm the shipment.

5. The target phone will receive a notification of the incoming file, receive it and wait for the transfer to be completed.

If the contacts are not displayed immediately on the target phone, check the Bluetooth folder in the file manager (Files → Categories → Bluetooth). Contacts can be saved in.vcf format - they must be opened manually and imported.

Step 3: Checking and maintaining contacts

After transmission:

• 🔍 Check that all contacts appear in the phone book of the target device.
• 📁 If the contacts are saved as a.vcf file, open it and click Import.
• ☁️ For backup, sync contacts with Mi Cloud or Google Contacts.

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If the transmission is stuck in the sending phase, try turning off and re-enable Bluetooth on both phones, and check if an antivirus or optimizer (such as Security or Clean Master) is blocking the transmission.

Table: Compatibility of Xiaomi Redmi models for Bluetooth contact transfer

If your model is not listed in the table, check the MIUI version in settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version). For firmware older than MIUI 10, it is recommended to use Google Contacts or third-party apps.

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi Redmi users often encounter problems when transferring contacts. Let’s consider the typical errors and how to fix them.

Error 1: Bluetooth does not find the second device

Reason: One of the devices is hidden for search or an outdated version of Bluetooth is used.

Decision:

• 🔍 On both phones, go to Settings. → Bluetooth → Plus, and include visibility for everyone.
• 🔄 Reboot both devices and re-pair the pairing.
• 📱 If one of the phones is Redmi Note 8 Pro or older, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware.

Mistake 2: Contacts are stuck at 0% or 100%

Reason: A conflict with a system optimizer or a lack of memory on the target device.

Decision:

• 🚫 Turn off Security or Clean Master in Settings (Settings) → Annexes → Application management).
• 🗑️ Free up space on the target phone (minimum 100 MB of free memory).
• 🔋 Connect both phones to charge - sometimes energy saving blocks the transmission.

Error 3: Contacts are transmitted but not displayed

Reason: The.vcf file was not automatically imported or stored in an incorrect encoding.

Decision:

• 📂 Open the files. → Bluetooth and find a file with the.vcf extension.
• 📥 Click on the file and select Import to Contacts.
• 🔄 If you can’t import, try opening the file through Google Contacts.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with MIUI 13+ Bluetooth contact function is disabled by default due to privacy policy. To activate it, go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Contact and enable access for Bluetooth Share.

Alternative ways to transfer contacts for Xiaomi Redmi

If Bluetooth transmission is not working or available, use one of the alternative methods. They are suitable for all Redmi models, including outdated ones.

Method 1: Through Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

1. On the original phone, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.

2. Enable the synchronization of Contacts and wait until the completion.

3.On the target phone, log in to the same Xiaomi account and enable contact sync.

✅ Pros: Quick, no cables required, contacts automatically updated.

❌ Cons: You need an Internet connection and Mi Account.

Method 2: Through Google Contacts

1. On the source phone, open Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Export to File (select Google).

2.On the target phone, log in to the same Google account and sync contacts.

✅ Pros: Works on all Android devices, backup is stored in the cloud.

❌ Cons: Google account and Internet are required.

Method 3: Through Third Party Applications

If standard methods do not work, install one of the applications:

• 📲 Send Anywhere: Transfer contacts via Wi-Fi Direct or via QR-code.
• 📲 Cloning all data, including contacts, over Wi-Fi.
• 📲 Bluetooth File Transfer: Advanced File Sharing Features.

Security in Transferring Contacts over Bluetooth

Data transfers over Bluetooth are considered relatively secure, but there are risks to keep in mind:

• 🔒 Traffic eavesdropping: In theory, an attacker can intercept data transmitted if within Bluetooth range (up to 10 meters.
• 📱 Unauthorized pairing: Always check the device name before confirming the connection. Fraudsters may use devices with similar names (e.g, Redmi_Note_11 instead Redmi_Note_11_Pro).
• 📂 Data Leakage: If you share all contacts, make sure that the phone book does not contain sensitive information (such as passwords in contact notes).

For additional protection:

• 🔐 Use Stealth Mode in Bluetooth Settings After Transfer.
• 🗑️ Delete the history of the associated devices if they are no longer needed (Settings) → Bluetooth → Stored devices).
• 🔄 Update your firmware regularly MIUI — New versions fix Bluetooth vulnerabilities.

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Never accept Bluetooth files from unknown devices – it could be a virus or spyware. Xiaomi Redmi automatically blocks APK installation from unknown sources, but the risk remains for other file types.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring contacts to Xiaomi Redmi