Changing a smartphone is There is always stress associated not so much with getting used to a new gadget, but with the risk of losing important data. The most valuable information for most users is the phone book, which contains the numbers of colleagues, relatives and delivery services. Modern devices based on Android, and in particular brand smartphones Xiaomi, offer many built-in migration tools that make this process as simple and fast as possible. You do not need to be a technical specialist to successfully complete the procedure, you just need to follow the steps described in this manual one by one.
Before you begin active actions, you need to decide on the method that will be most convenient in your situation. If you have access to the Internet, the most reliable option is cloud synchronization, which does not require physical contact between devices. In cases where the network is unavailable or you need to transfer data from an old push-button phone, classic methods via SIM card or Bluetooth will come in handy. It is important to understand that each method has its own characteristics, which we will discuss in detail below, so that you can choose the best option for your model.
Device owners Redmi i Poco are often faced with the question of compatibility of file formats when importing. The good news is that the ecosystem MIUI and new HyperOS Fully support standard vCard (.vcf), CSV and even direct transfer via proprietary protocols. This means that you can transfer contacts from almost any device, be it an old Samsung, Huawei or even an iPhone, using the right tools. Let's look at step-by-step guide for each of the available methods.
Synchronization via Google account
The most universal and reliable method, which works on all versions Android, is to use Google cloud storage. This method is ideal because your contacts are not just transferred, but also stored in the cloud, ensuring they are restored even if your new phone is lost or broken. To get started, make sure that synchronization is enabled on your old device and that all numbers are saved in your Google account, and not in the device memory or on the SIM card.
On the new smartphone Xiaomi you will need to log in to the same Google account. The system will automatically offer to restore data from a backup copy, but if this does not happen, the process can be started manually through the settings. Open the menu Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google and make sure that the slider next to the "Contacts" item is activated. After turning on, the device will contact the server and load all saved entries into the phone book.
⚠️ Attention: If you use two-factor authentication, to log in on some older devices you may need to create a special application password, since the standard email password may not work on older devices synchronization interfaces.
The advantage of this method is that duplicates are often eliminated automatically by the Google Contacts service itself when merging data. In addition, you get the opportunity to edit numbers from any computer through a browser, which is extremely convenient for maintaining a business directory. The process takes from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the speed of the Internet connection and the number of records in your database.
☑️ Check before synchronization
Using the Mi application Mover
For users switching to Xiaomi from another Android smartphone, the company has developed its own application called Mi Mover. This tool allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, music, installed applications and even system settings. The application is usually pre-installed on all new devices of the brand and is located in the "Tools" folder, but it can also be downloaded from Google Play to an old phone if the Android 8.0 or higher operating system is installed there.
The data transfer process is carried out over a local Wi-Fi network, which is created by one of the devices, which ensures high copying speed without the use of mobile traffic. You need to launch the application on both smartphones, select the "Sender" and "Recipient" roles, and then scan the QR code displayed on the screen of the new phone. After connecting, be sure to check the "Contacts" box in the list of transferred data so that they are transferred first.
A feature Mi Mover is the ability to select specific categories of data, which saves time if you do not need to copy heavy files like video archives. The application interface is simplified as much as possible and translated into Russian, so navigation difficulties arise extremely rarely. During the transfer process, device screens may go dark, but interrupting the connection or closing the application is not recommended to avoid file writing errors.
What to do if Mi Mover freezes?
If the transfer process has stopped at 99%, try disabling the lock screen on both devices (set to "No") and try again. Rebooting the Wi-Fi module on the receiving device before starting a new session also helps.
Transfer via Bluetooth and vCard exchange
The classic method, which does not require installing additional software or having accounts, is transfer via Bluetooth. This method is relevant if you need to transfer contacts from a phone that does not have access to the Internet or the ability to log into a Google account. The method is based on exporting the phone book to a file in the .vcf (vCard) format, which is a universal standard for storing contact information.
To implement this method on an old device, open the "Contacts" application, find the "Import/export" or "Share contacts" option in the settings menu. Select "Export to device memory" or "All contacts", after which the system will create a file, usually called contacts.vcf. Next, turn on Bluetooth on both smartphones, pair and send the created file to the new one Xiaomi.
After receiving the file on the new device, the system will automatically prompt you to import the data it contains. You will be asked to choose a save location: it is recommended to save contacts to your Google account or phone memory, but not to your SIM card, to avoid cutting off long names and numbers. This method is good for its autonomy, but can be slow when transferring very large files with thousands of records.
| Method | Speed | Internet required | Saves photos of contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Synchronization | High | Yes | Yes |
| Mi Mover | Very high | No (local) | Yes |
| Bluetooth (vCard) | Low | No | Yes |
| SIM card | Medium | No | No |
Import data from SIM cards
Despite the development of cloud technologies, many users still store numbers on SIM card, especially if they are switching from a touch phone or an old smartphone. This method has significant limitations: usually only a number and a name can be written to a SIM card, while the length of the name is often limited to 10-15 characters, and additional fields (addresses, mail) are not supported.
To transfer contacts, insert the SIM card into a new smartphone Xiaomi or insert old SIM card, if the numbers are still there. Go to the Contacts application, click on the three dots in the corner or the menu button and select Import/Export. In the list that appears, select the "Import from SIM card" option. The system will prompt you to choose a destination where to save the data - choose a Google account or device memory.
⚠️ Attention: Before importing, be sure to make a backup copy of your current contacts if they are already on your phone to avoid creating duplicates or overwriting data when merging lists.
After completing the process, it is recommended to carefully check the list, as names may not be displayed correctly (for example, be cut off or written in capital letters). If you have a dual-SIM phone and the numbers are scattered on both cards, you will have to repeat the procedure twice, selecting the corresponding SIM card as the source. This is the simplest, but least functional way to migrate data.
Use of third-party applications
If standard tools MIUI for some reason do not work or the interface seems too complicated, you can use specialized applications from the store Play Market. One of the most popular solutions is the app Copy My Data or Send Anywhere, which allows you to transfer data between different platforms, for example, from iPhone to Android or between different brands of Android smartphones.
The principle of operation of such apps is similar: you install the application on both devices, connect them to the same Wi-Fi network and select the type of data transferred. Unlike system tools, third-party software often has more flexible filtering settings, allowing you to select specific groups of contacts or exclude numbers with certain codes. This is useful if you need to clear your phone book of spam contacts before transferring.
However, you should be careful when granting permissions to third-party applications. Some apps may require access to your messages or location, which is not necessary to copy contacts. Choose only trusted applications with high ratings and a large number of reviews to prevent leakage of personal information.
Use contact cleaner applications after the transfer to automatically find and merge duplicates that often arise when using several synchronization methods at the same time.
Solving problems during transfer
During the process of data migration, users often encounter with typical errors such as duplicates, missing subscriber photos or synchronization failure. If you see duplicate entries after the transfer, use the built-in "Merge Duplicates" feature in the Google Contacts app or in your phone book settings Xiaomi. The system will analyze the list, find matches by number or name and offer to combine them into one card.
A frequent problem is the lack of contact images, even if the old phone had them. This is because photos are often not saved when exporting to a vCard file or transferring via SIM card. The only way to save avatars is to use synchronization through Google Account or application Mi Mover, which transmit the full contact profile with all attachments.
If synchronization freezes or gives an error, try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services and Contacts application through the menu Settings → Applications → All applications. Also make sure that the date and time on your device is up to date, as clock desynchronization may block the secure connection to the server.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface and item names may vary slightly depending on the MIUI shell version (12, 13, 14) or the new HyperOS. If you do not find the specified item, use the search in the settings by entering the keyword "Import" or "Synchronization".
The cleanest result without duplicates and data loss is given by the following combination: complete reset of the old phone after synchronization with Google + initial setup of the new Xiaomi with logging into the same account.
Is it possible to transfer contacts, if the screen of your old phone is broken?
Yes, this is possible if USB debugging is enabled on the device and you can connect it to your computer. Using tools like Android Debug Bridge (ADB) you can pull out your contacts database file. It will also help to connect a USB mouse via an OTG cable to control the smartphone without a touch screen, if the image is at least partially visible.
What to do if the contacts are in Chinese after transfer?
This happens when transferring from devices purchased on the Chinese market, where the character encoding may be different. Try changing the system language on your old phone to English or Russian before exporting. If this does not help, use Google Contacts in the web version on your PC to manually rename or use a transliteration script.
How many contacts can be stored on a SIM card?
The capacity of a SIM card depends on its generation and operator, but is usually limited to 250 entries. However, there is often a limit on the length of the name (up to 15 characters) and the impossibility of saving several numbers for one contact. For large phone books, this method is categorically not recommended.
How to transfer contacts if there is no access to the old phone (it is lost)?
If the old phone was linked to a Google account, just log into this account on the new Xiaomi. All data that was synchronized before the loss will be restored. You can check the availability of a backup copy through your browser on the website contacts.google.com, logging in with your username.