How to transfer contacts from Bluetooth to phone Xiaomi: 3 working ways

Why to Transfer Contacts via Bluetooth and When It’s Easy

Transferring contacts between Xiaomi smartphones via Bluetooth remains one of the most versatile ways to exchange data – despite the proliferation of cloud services like Mi Cloud or Google Contacts, which does not require Internet, works even on older models (such as Redmi 4A or Mi A1), and preserves privacy: files are transferred directly between devices without intermediate servers.

When should you choose Bluetooth? First, if you have limited traffic or no Wi-Fi access; second, when you need to send contacts to a device with another operating system (for example, Xiaomi on an iPhone or Samsung), where synchronization through accounts may not work; and finally, Bluetooth is indispensable for transferring data to phones without the support of modern protocols (for example, on button machines with Bluetooth 2.0).

In this article, we will discuss three proven ways to transfer contacts via Bluetooth to Xiaomi, including nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), as well as solve typical problems – from the error “Device does not support sharing” to missing contacts after transfer.

Method 1: Standard transmission via contact menu (MIUI 12–14)

This is the simplest method that works on most modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13.The algorithm is the same for all devices with MIUI 12 and newer, but there are nuances for older versions (more on this in the next section).

To pass on the contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Contact Management → Import/Export.
3. Tap to send contacts → Choose Bluetooth.
4. Tick the desired contacts (or click Select All) and confirm the action.
5. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones and connect them to each other (if you haven’t paired them before).
6. On the receiving device, confirm the file reception (usually a file with the.vcf extension).

Once the contacts are transferred, they will automatically be stored in the phone’s memory. If this does not happen, open the.vcf file manually and the system will prompt you to import the data.

Bluetooth enabled on both phones|Devices are paired (see in the list of connected devices)|There is enough memory on the receiving phone|Contacts are not duplicated (check before sending)-->

⚠️ Note: If the receiving Xiaomi phone does not appear a request to receive a file, check the Bluetooth settings: go to Settings → Bluetooth and disable the Auto Deflection option (if it is active).

Method 2: Transfer via Files (for MIUI 11 and older)

On smartphones with MIUI 11 and earlier (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro or Mi 9T), standard Bluetooth contact exports may not be available, and the File Manager application will help.

Instructions:

1. Export contacts to.vcf: Open Contacts → Three Points → Contact Management → Import/Export. Select Export to Device → Tick Contacts → Tap Export. The file will be saved in the Download or Miui folder.

"Files"

contacts.vcf

00001.vcf

Share.

Bluetooth

Select the target device from the list and confirm the shipment.

On the receiving phone, the file will open automatically, and the system will prompt you to import contacts. If this does not happen, find the file in the Bluetooth or Download folder and tap it.

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If the.vcf file doesn’t open, install a third-party contact application, such as Contacts+ or Truecaller.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (for any version of MIUI)

If built-in methods don't work (for example, due to firmware errors or device incompatibility), third-party applications will come to the rescue.

• 📱 Send Anywhere - Transfers contacts over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct without limit on volume. Supports data encryption.
• 🔄 SuperBeam – specializes in fast file transfer, including.vcf. Works even on stripped-down firmware.

How to use Send Anywhere:

1. Install the app on both phones (link for Android).
2. On the sending device, select Send → Contacts → tick the right ones.
3. Press Bluetooth and select the target device.
4. On the receiving phone, confirm reception and save contacts.

Important: When using third-party applications, disable battery optimization for them in the MIUI settings (Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autostart), otherwise the connection may be interrupted.

Via Bluetooth| Through Google Account| Through Mi Cloud| Using third-party apps |In another way-->

Typical errors and their solutions

Even if the instructions are followed correctly, Xiaomi users often face problems.

• 🚫 "The device does not support contact sharing, which occurs when you try to send contacts to a phone with an outdated version of Bluetooth (e.g. 2.0 or 3.0). Solution: export contacts to a.vcf file and send it as a regular document.
• 🔄 "Contacts are transmitted but not saved" - check permissions for the "Contact" application in Settings → Annexes → Permits → If the permits are off, the import won't work.
• 📵 "Bluetooth is constantly shut down. MIUI There's an energy saving feature that can break the connection. → Battery → Energy saving regime.

Another common problem is that you lose contact photos when you transmit them, because the standard.vcf format doesn't always save images.

1. Use apps like My Contacts Backup that export contacts along with photos.
2. Send photos separately via Bluetooth or messenger.

Features of transfer to different models Xiaomi

Not all Xiaomi smartphones work the same with Bluetooth, and here are the key differences for the popular series:

On devices with MIUI for POCO (e.g., POCO X3 Pro), there may be no direct Bluetooth contact option.

1. Use the method with the Files app (Section 2).
2. Or install Mi Mover (available in the Mi App Store), which can transfer contacts over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.

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On the new flagships Xiaomi (series 13/14) to speed up the transfer, turn off the function of Adaptive Bluetooth in the developer settings (Settings → About phone → MIUI version → 7 times tap to unlock).

Security: How to protect data during transmission

Contacts are considered secure via Bluetooth, but there are risks if the device is connected to a public network or if malicious users are nearby.

• 🔒 Turn off Bluetooth visibility after transfer: go to Settings → Bluetooth and deactivate Visibility for All.
• 📱 Use mating confirmation: Always check the connection codes on both devices (they should match).
• 🚫 Do not pass contacts in public places if there are many unknown devices nearby – attackers can intercept traffic.
• 🔄 Delete temporary files: After importing contacts, delete the.vcf file from your phone’s memory to avoid leaks.

If you are transferring contacts to a device with MIUI, check your privacy settings:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Special permissions.
2. Make sure that the Contacts app includes permissions to Read Contacts and Change Contacts.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi firmware (especially Chinese ones), the built-in Bluetooth module may block contact transfers due to security policies. In this case, use third-party encryption apps, such as Send Anywhere.

FAQ: Frequent questions about transferring contacts to Xiaomi