Changing a smartphone always causes a slight panic associated with the risk of losing important information, especially the phone book. Despite the fact that modern cloud services have significantly simplified synchronization, there are situations when the Internet is unavailable or the user fundamentally wants to use a local connection. Owners of brand devices Google Contacts have significantly simplified synchronization; there are situations when the Internet is unavailable or the user fundamentally wants to use a local connection. Brand device owners Xiaomi (including sub-brands Redmi and POCO) are often faced with the need to quickly transfer data to a new gadget without using third-party applications.
Technology Bluetooth remains one of the most reliable ways to transfer small amounts of data, such as a contact list, even if the connection speed is slow. In the MIUI ecosystem, this process has its own nuances related to shell features and privacy settings. If you plan to transfer entries manually or automate this process, it is important to understand how to properly configure the device visibility and select the correct export format.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm for transferring a phone book between two Android smartphones, paying special attention to the specifics of the interface MIUI. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes when pairing, why sometimes the phone does not see files, and what alternative methods exist if the classic method does not work for some reason.
Preparing devices for pairing via Bluetooth
Before starting the data transfer procedure, you need to make sure that both devices are ready for use. On both smartphones, both old and new, the wireless module should be activated. To do this, lower the notification shade and find the icon Bluetooth, making sure that it is highlighted in the active color. In the system settings Xiaomi it is also worth checking whether the “Visibility for all devices” option is enabled, since by default the smartphone may be hidden from prying eyes for security reasons.
The process of searching for devices can take from several seconds to a minute. If your new phone does not appear in the list of available ones on your old device, try restarting the communication module or temporarily disabling power saving. Sometimes the system MIUI aggressively limits background processes, which can interfere with the detection of nearby gadgets.
⚠️ Attention: When pairing devices, be sure to check the verification codes that appear on the screens of both smartphones. This will protect you from connecting to someone else's device in crowded places.
After successful detection, click on the name of the target device in the list. A request to confirm pairing will appear on the screen of the second phone. By agreeing, you will establish a trusted connection that will allow you to transfer not only contacts, but also other files in the future without re-entering the PIN code.
☑️ Check before transfer
Export contacts to vCard format on Xiaomi
The most reliable way to transfer entries is to first save them to a special file format vCard (.vcf)and then send this file. In the standard Contacts application on the shell MIUI this function is implemented quite conveniently. Go to the application, click on the three dots or the menu button in the upper corner and select “Import/Export contacts.”
In the menu that opens, select the option “Export to storage” or “Export to .vcf file”. The system will prompt you to choose which records you want to save: all contacts, only favorites or a specific group. For a complete database migration, it is recommended to select All contacts. The file will be saved in the internal memory of the device, usually in the root directory or folder MIUI/Backup/Contacts.
Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the system offers to send contacts directly via Bluetooth without creating an intermediate file. Although this method is faster, it is less reliable when transferring large lists (more than 500 entries), since the protocol may close the connection if it times out. Creating a file .vcf guarantees the integrity of the data.
If you have more than 1000 contacts, split the export into several files of 500 records. This will speed up the transfer and reduce the risk of errors when transferring via Bluetooth.
After creating the file, the system will automatically prompt you to select a sending method. In the list of available applications, find the icon Bluetooth. If you exported the file manually through Explorer, find it in the downloads folder, pinch with your finger and select “Send” -> “Bluetooth”.
The process of transferring the file and receiving data
When the file is selected and the sending method is specified, the process of searching for a previously paired device will begin. Select your new smartphone Xiaomi or any other Android gadget from the list. A notification about the incoming file will appear on the receiving side. It is critical that you do not ignore this notification, as the transfer will not begin until you click the Accept button.
Transfer speed via Bluetooth relatively low, especially for large files. One file with a thousand contacts can be transferred from 30 seconds to several minutes depending on the protocol version (4.0, 5.0 or higher). It is strongly not recommended to interrupt the process, as the file may be damaged and become unreadable for the phone book.
| Bluetooth version | Theoretical speed | Actual transfer speed | Power consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth 4.0 | up to 25 Mbit/s | ~1-2 Mbit/s | Low |
| Bluetooth 4.2 | up to 25 Mbit/s | ~2-3 Mbit/s | Low |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | up to 50 Mbit/s | ~3-5 Mbit/s | Optimized |
| Bluetooth 5.2/5.3 | up to 50+ Mbit/s | ~4-6 Mbit/s | Minimum |
After the transfer is complete, a notification will appear on the receiving device that the file has been received. However, the contacts themselves will not appear in the phone book yet. A file .vcf is just a container with data that needs to be unpacked (imported).
What to do if the transfer is frozen?
If the progress bar is frozen at 99%, do not cancel the transfer immediately. Wait 2-3 minutes. Often the system simply processes the last block of data. If it doesn’t help, delete the file from both devices and try again, having first cleared the Bluetooth application cache in the settings.
Importing received contacts into the phone book
For entries to appear in the call list, you need to perform the import procedure. Click on the received notification about the file or find it through the Explorer application in the folder Bluetooth. When you try to open a file, the system will ask which application to use. Select the standard application Contact or “Import contacts.”
Next, the system will prompt you to select a save location. You can save recordings to your phone memory, SIM card or account Google. A Google Account is a better choice, as this will ensure automatic syncing in the future and protection against loss when changing devices. If there is no Internet, select “Phone.”
During the import process, duplicate entries may occur if some numbers have already been saved on the new device. The shell MIUI usually offers to merge duplicates or skip them. Carefully read the system offer before confirming so as not to clutter your phone book with double entries.
⚠️ Attention: When importing from a SIM card, additional fields such as email, address and contact photo are often lost. Bluetooth transfer of the .vcf file saves all this information completely.
After the import is complete, it is recommended to go to the contacts application and check for all entries. Pay special attention to contacts with Cyrillic names to make sure that the encoding has not been broken (although this happens extremely rarely when transferring via vCard).
Solving problems with visibility and connection
Quite often, users are faced with a situation where the old phone simply does not see the new one, despite Bluetooth being turned on. First of all, check if the “Invisible” mode is enabled on one of the devices. In your Bluetooth settings, this option may be called "Visibility" or "Discoverable". Without enabling this feature, the device will be hidden for new connections. Xiaomi this option may be called "Visibility" or "Discoverable". Without enabling this feature, the device will be hidden for new connections.
Another common reason is a protocol version conflict or the presence of connected accessories. If your phone, smartwatch, or car system is connected, try temporarily disabling them. Sometimes the communication channel is busy transferring media content to the headset, which blocks the ability to establish a new connection to transfer files. headphones, smartwatch or car system, try turning it off temporarily. Sometimes the communication channel is busy transferring media content to the headset, which blocks the ability to establish a new connection to transfer files.
- 🔋 Make sure that GPS (geolocation) is turned on on both devices. On modern versions of Android, this is a requirement for nearby device detection features to work.
- 🔄 Clear the list of paired devices. If there are too many old gadgets stored in your phone's memory, delete unnecessary profiles through the Bluetooth settings.
- 📶 Check if the power saving mode is turned on. It may limit the operation of wireless modules to save battery power.
If all else fails, try restarting both smartphones. This clears temporary network stack errors and often solves the "invisibility" problem instantly.
Alternative ways to quickly migrate data
Although Bluetooth is a universal method, it is not always the fastest. For smartphone owners Xiaomi there is a proprietary application Mi Moverthat allows you to transfer contacts, photos, applications and settings via Wi-Fi Direct. The transmission speed in this case is tens of times higher than that of classic Bluetooth.
You can also use the function QR code. The Contacts app on a new phone often has an "Import from QR Code" option, while on an old phone there is often a "Share Contacts" via QR option. This method is convenient if you need to transfer only a few important numbers, but is inconvenient for the entire database due to the limitation on the code size.
For those who prefer cloud solutions, synchronization through a Google account remains the gold standard. Just enter your login and password on your new device, and all entries will appear automatically. However, this method requires a stable Internet connection, which may not be available when roaming or outside the city.
⚠️ Attention: The Mi Mover application interface and settings menu may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS). If you do not find the button you need, use the search in the settings for the word “Transfer.”
Using specialized applications like Mi Mover or Google Sync is much faster and more reliable for large amounts of data than manual transfer via Bluetooth.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer contacts via Bluetooth if one of the phones has an iPhone?
No, direct transfer of contacts via the standard Bluetooth file sharing profile between Android and iOS is not possible due to Apple security restrictions. For this case, it is better to use the Moving to iOS application or synchronization through a Google account.
Why are all contact names displayed as numbers after import?
This can happen if the vCard file was damaged during transfer or if the file encoding does not match the system one. Try opening the file on your computer using Notepad and checking if the names are readable. If not, repeat the export on your old phone.
How long does it take to transfer 1000 contacts via Bluetooth?
The file itself with 1000 contacts usually weighs no more than 200-300 KB. With a stable Bluetooth 5.0 connection, the transfer will take less than 10-15 seconds. Most of the time is spent on pairing devices and the process of importing/processing data by the system.
Are contact photos saved when transferred via Bluetooth?
Yes, if you export contacts to vCard (.vcf) format. This format also includes a contact photo (Base64 encoded). When transferring via a SIM card or some legacy formats (.csv), photos are most often lost.
Where can I find the received contacts file if I accidentally closed the notification?
Open the File Manager application. Go to the “Internal storage” section and find the folder Bluetooth. Inside it will be a file with the .vcf extension, usually named contact.vcf or with the date of creation.