The switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone is often accompanied by a desire to transfer all the important data as quickly as possible, and the phone book is the first place here. Many users, out of habit or lack of Internet, are looking for a way to transfer contacts with Xiaomi to Xiaomi via Bluetooth, considering this method the easiest and most understandable. However, in modern shells MIUI and HyperOS, the data transfer process has undergone significant changes, and the classic “blue tooth” is no longer the main tool for this task.
It’s worth noting that direct transmission of the contact list exclusively via Bluetooth, as it was on older Android devices, is now often hidden or replaced by more advanced exchange protocols. Data synchronization now requires either built-in system functions or third-party applications that use the Bluetooth channel to detect, but transmit data over Wi-Fi Direct. However, understanding the principles of wireless transmission will help you choose the best method for your situation.
In this article, we will explore in detail whether Bluetooth can be used to transfer numbers, why the system can block direct sending, and what alternative ways within the Xiaomi ecosystem work faster and more reliably. You will learn about the nuances of Mi Mover, cloud services and manual file export that ensure the safety of your phone book without losing Formatting or duplication of records.
The Reality of Using Bluetooth to Transfer Contacts to MIUI
Many users mistakenly believe that the Bluetooth feature in the Share menu will instantly send the entire phonebook to another Xiaomi phone.In practice, if you try to highlight all contacts and choose a standard Bluetooth shipment, the system may give an error or simply not find the device, despite the fact that both smartphones are nearby and visible.This is because modern versions of Android and the MIUI shell limit the direct transfer of large amounts of data through this protocol for security and speed reasons.
Bluetooth is technically low bandwidth, and transferring thousands of records with photos and additional fields can take an unreasonable amount of time. The exchange protocol in modern smartphones is sharpened for fast transfer of large files, so the system often redirects a request for Wi-Fi Direct or proprietary solutions from the manufacturer. If you see only Bluetooth in the list of available methods, but the transfer is not going, then you need to use a special intermediary application.
⚠️ Attention: Direct contact transfer via the standard Bluetooth menu often works unstable on Android 10 and higher.If the process hangs in the “Pair” or “Send” stage, do not try to repeat it endlessly - this can lead to a hangover of the contact service.
However, for one or two contacts, the method can still work if you select a particular record and send it as a vCard file (.vcf). In this case, Bluetooth acts as a transport channel for a small file.
Preparation of devices for wireless data transmission
Before you start any manipulation of data transmission, you need to configure both devices correctly. Regardless of the chosen method, whether it is a proprietary utility or manual export, the basic settings of wireless modules must be activated correctly. Connection stability directly affects the speed and success of the operation, so you should not ignore the preparatory stage.
First of all, make sure that both smartphones have communication modules on. Even if you plan to use applications that work over a local network, Bluetooth is often used to first “shake hands” and detect devices with each other. Make sure that the screens of both phones are on and the devices themselves are no more than 1-2 meters away from each other.
☑️ Checking the readiness of devices
It is also important to check your visibility settings. In some versions of MIUI, the smartphone ceases to be visible to other devices after a few minutes of downtime in the Bluetooth menu. You need to go to the settings and make sure that your device is detectable. Also, it is worth freeing up some free space on the receiving device, although the contacts take up little space, temporary files during transfer may require a buffer zone.
- 📱 Make sure that both devices have the same Mi Account installed or that you are ready to sign in during the setup process.
- 🔒 Turn off the power saving mode for the transfer time so that the system does not “kill” the background data exchange process.
- 📶 If you use third-party apps, give them all the requested permissions to access contacts and storage.
Using the Mi Mover app to migrate contacts
The most effective and official way to transfer contacts from Xiaomi to Xiaomi is using the built-in Mi Mover application. This tool is designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem and allows you to transfer not only the phone book, but also messages, call history, photos and system settings. Unlike classic Bluetooth, Mi Mover uses a Wi-Fi Direct channel, which provides high transfer speed and stability of the connection.
To get started, run the app on both devices. On the old phone, select the role of Sender and on the new one, Receiver. QR-Here, Bluetooth can only be used for the initial exchange of encryption keys, after which the main data stream will go over a faster channel.
Once connected, the device interfaces sync up, and you'll see a list of data categories to transfer. Find the "Contacts" item and make sure it's marked. You can also select specific contact groups if you don't want to carry the entire phone book, which takes anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the amount of data.
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The Mi Mover app works faster if both devices temporarily turn off mobile internet so that traffic goes exclusively through the local Wi-Fi Direct channel.
It is important not to interrupt the process or switch to other applications during the migration. Mi Mover creates a full copy of the data, even saving the name structure and associated images. Once completed, a backup file will be created on the new device, which the system will automatically deploy to the phone book.
Manual export and import via vCard file
If automated systems are not possible for some reason, there is a time-tested method of manually exporting contacts to a file, which is universal and works on all versions of Android, allowing you to save the phone book in vCard (.vcf) format. The resulting file can then be transferred in any convenient way, including Bluetooth, instant messengers or USB-cable.
To do this, open the standard Contacts app on the old Xiaomi. Click on the three dots in the corner of the screen or the menu button and select “Import and export.” In the menu that appears, select “Export to Device Memory” or “Export to File.vcf.” The system will offer you to choose which contacts to export – all or only with a certain one. SIM-map.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .vcf (vCard) | The universal standard is read by all OS |
| Preservation site | Internal memory / root | Remember the path to the file for a quick search |
| Coding | UTF-8 | Ensures correct display of Cyrillic |
| File size | Depends on the number of contacts. | Usually a few megabytes, even for thousands of numbers. |
Once you create a file, find it through the file manager (usually in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder or in the root of the internal memory). Now you can send it to a new phone. If you still want to use Bluetooth to transfer that particular file, find it in the file manager, click Send and select Bluetooth. Unlike direct contact transfer, the finished file transfer works stably.
On the receiving device, after receiving the file, you must open it. The system automatically prompts you to import the contacts found into the phone book or on the phone. SIM-Select import to your device memory or Google account so that data is stored in the cloud.
Sync with Google and Mi Cloud
The most modern and reliable method, which eliminates the need to search for devices and transfer files, is cloud sync. If on the old Xiaomi contacts are saved in a Google or Mi Cloud account, then on the new device it is enough to simply log into the same account, and the phone book will recover automatically.
To check Google sync settings, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If it has been turned off, turn it on and press the sync button. Similar actions can be performed for a Xiaomi account in Settings → Mi Account → Sync.
What is the difference between Google and Mi Cloud sync?
On a new smartphone, add the same account when you first turn on or in settings, and the system will prompt you to restore data from the backup, which ensures that your contacts are safe even if the physical device is lost or broken, and any changes made to the new phone will automatically be reflected in the cloud.
Using cloud technology eliminates the need for direct device contact. You can set up a new phone from another room, the main thing is the Internet connection. This is especially true for users with a large amount of data, where wireless transmission “over the air” between phones could take too long.
Solving and eliminating transmission errors
Users can experience difficulties in moving contacts, from being unable to find a device to misrepresenting names when importing, and understanding the causes of these errors can help solve problems quickly without going to a service center, most often with security settings or overcrowded storage.
One of the common problems is that contacts are imported, but instead of names, they display incomprehensible characters or blank fields, which indicates a problem with file encoding when exporting / importing, in which case you can change the encoding settings in the Contacts app or use synchronization through Google, which automatically processes UTF-8 correctly.
⚠️ Note: If you are importing duplicate contacts from a vCard file, use the “Combine Duplicates” function in the Contacts app. Don’t manually delete duplicates if there are hundreds of them – it will take too long.
Another common situation is that the phone doesn't see the other device via Bluetooth or in the Mi Mover app. Make sure both devices have geolocation enabled (GPS). In modern versions of Android without GPS enabled, finding devices over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct is often blocked by security.
- 🔄 If the transmission is interrupted in the middle, remove partially imported contacts and start the process anew to avoid porridge in the phone book.
- 📵 Make sure that none of the devices are in Invisible or For Yourself mode in Bluetooth settings.
- 🔋 Check if the phone is not a strict restriction of background activity for the application through which the transfer is going.
If nothing works, reset the network settings on both devices, which will return Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings to factory values, which often solves problems with incorrect pairing, and after reset, you will need to re-enter passwords from Wi-Fi networks, but the communication channels will work cleanly.
Comparison of methods and final recommendations
To sum up, while the “how to move contacts over Bluetooth” query is a popular one, the technically direct Bluetooth protocol for this task in 2026-2026 is rarely used and is not optimal. It has given way to faster and more reliable technologies built into the MIUI shell. The choice of method depends on your specific conditions: the availability of the Internet, the number of contacts and technical literacy.
For most users, the best choice is Mi Mover, which combines ease of use and speed without requiring internet. For those who value data security and change devices frequently, synchronization through Google Contacts is the ideal option. This method ensures that your phone book is always at hand, regardless of the state of the smartphone itself.
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Using Google or Mi Cloud cloud sync is the most reliable way to save contacts, protecting against data loss when a device breaks down.
Manually exporting to and transferring to a.vcf file via Bluetooth is a workable but “emergency” method, good for situations where there is no Internet access, the migratory applications are down, and the contacts need to be saved right now, but it is too time-consuming and prone to encoding errors to use or transfer large amounts of data regularly.
Keep in mind that regular backup is a nerve-saving habit. Set up automatic contact sync immediately after you buy a new Xiaomi, and in the future, the question of transferring contacts will never again arise before you. Modern technology allows you to forget about wires and complex settings, making the process of updating your gadget pleasant and fast.