Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, especially when it comes to moving between ecosystems from different manufacturers. Users who transfer from Xiaomi to Samsungare often faced with the issue of saving their phone book. Despite the abundance of cloud services, the classic method of transferring data via Bluetooth remains one of the most reliable and does not require the Internet methods.
In this article we will look in detail at how to organize a seamless transfer of contacts via a wireless communication channel. You will learn about the nuances of setting visibility in the MIUI and One UI shells, and will also understand why file transfers are sometimes interrupted and how to avoid this. The instructions are suitable for most modern models of both brands.
Preparing devices for pairing
Before starting the procedure, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready for interaction. On the device Xiaomi ensure that the wireless module is active and in discovery mode. Go to the settings and turn on the switch if it is deactivated.
Similar actions are required from the receiving side. The blue tooth icon should also be lit. It is important to understand that for successful transfer, the file must not only be sent, but also received by the user on the other end. Samsung The blue tooth icon should also be lit. It is important to understand that for successful transfer, the file must not only be sent, but also received by the user on the other end.
Pay attention to the battery charge. The process of searching for devices and then sending a large amount of data (if you have hundreds of numbers) can waste a lot of energy. It is advisable that the charge level on both devices is at least 30-40%.
⚠️ Attention: If you use the energy saving mode on one of the smartphones, the system may automatically turn off Bluetooth to save resources. Temporarily disable this mode before starting the procedure.
Setting visibility and searching for a device
Simply turning on the communication module is not enough - the device must become visible to surrounding gadgets. In modern versions of Android, including skins MIUI and One UI, privacy settings sometimes hide the phone from prying eyes by default.
On the phone Xiaomi go to the Bluetooth settings menu. Usually there is an item "Visibility for other devices" or similar. Make sure the slider is active. The device name should be displayed clearly, without special characters that can cause encoding errors during pairing.
Now pick it up Samsung. Open the list of available devices and click on the name of your Xiaomi. A confirmation request with a digital code will appear on the screens of both phones. Check the numbers and click "Connect" or "OK".
- 📱 Make sure that the screens of both smartphones are unlocked during the search.
- 🔒 When asked for a PIN code, simply confirm that the numbers on both displays match.
- 📶 Keep the devices at a distance no more than 1-2 meters apart for a stable signal.
After successful pairing, the connection status will change to "Connected". Now the communication channel is ready to transfer files of any type, including contact files of format .vcf.
Exporting contacts on Xiaomi to a VCF file
The most critical stage is the correct packaging of the data. Direct transfer of "raw" entries through the contacts menu sometimes works inconsistently between different brands. The safest way is to first export the entire database into a single file.
Open the standard Contacts application on your Xiaomi. In the upper or lower right corner, find the menu button (three dots or three stripes). Select "Settings" or immediately "Import/Export contacts".
In the menu that opens, click on the button Export to storage. The system will prompt you to select the account from which you want to save the data. If numbers are stored locally on your phone, select the appropriate option. If they are synchronized with Google, the system will offer to create a file from a cloud copy.
Menu path: Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Export to storageAfter confirmation, the system will create a file with the extension .vcf (for example, 00001.vcf or contacts.vcf) in the internal memory of the device. Usually it is saved in the root of the folder or in the directory MIUI/backup/. Remember or write down the name of this file.
Before exporting, check if any contacts are hidden in the display settings of the Contacts application so as not to lose important numbers.
Transferring a file via Bluetooth to Samsung
Now that the contacts file has been generated, you need to send it. To do this, we will use any file manager on the device Xiaomi. The standard Explorer or third-party solutions will do.
Find the previously created file .vcf. Tap and hold on it to select it. In the lower menu that appears or through the “More” button, select the “Submit” option. In the list of available transfer methods, find the icon Bluetooth.
The system will prompt you to select a device from the list of paired ones. Choose yours Samsung. A notification about the incoming file will instantly pop up on the receiving device. You must click "Accept".
⚠️ Attention: Bluetooth transmission speed is low. If the file contains several thousand contacts, the process may take 1 to 5 minutes. Do not move far from the phones and do not minimize the transfer window.
After the progress bar is completed, the file will be saved to a folder Bluetooth on the internal drive Samsung. Now the most important thing is to import this data into the phone book of the new device.
Importing data into the Samsung phone book
The resulting file itself will not add numbers to the call list. It needs to be processed. Open the Contacts application on Samsung. Go to the settings menu (three horizontal bars).
Select item Manage contacts, and then press Import contacts. The system will ask where to get the data from. Select the option “From storage” or “Internal memory”.
You will be asked to select a file. Usually the system itself finds the last received .vcf file. If there are several files, select the one you just transferred. Next you need to specify the save location: Google account, Samsung account or phone memory.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Save location | Google Account | Provides synchronization and protection against loss |
| File format | .vcf (vCard) | Universal standard for all Android |
| Source | Internal memory | Bluetooth folder or Downloads |
| Duplicates | Merge | If numbers already exist, the system will offer to delete them |
Click the "Import" button. The process will take a few seconds. Once completed, you will see a notification indicating the number of entries added. Now your phone book on Samsung is completely identical to the one that was on Xiaomi.
What to do if the import has not started?
If nothing happens after selecting a file, check the access rights of the Contacts application to the device memory in the phone settings. Sometimes the system blocks reading files from the downloads folder.
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the simplicity of the method, users sometimes encounter technical failures. The most common problem is a pairing error or transmission interruption in the middle of the process. This is often due to the way power-saving algorithms work.
If the transfer freezes, try turning Bluetooth off and on again on both devices. It is also worth deleting the old pairing from the memory of both phones and searching again. This resets possible protocol conflicts.
Another common situation is that the file is transferred, but when imported to Samsung contacts are not displayed or look like a set of hieroglyphs. This is an encoding problem. In such cases, try opening the file through a third-party application for reading vCard or changing the text encoding if the file opens as a regular document.
- 🔄 Rebooting both smartphones often solves the problem of "invisibility" of the devices.
- 📂 Check whether the phone's memory where the recording is being made is not full.
- 🛡️ Antiviruses or privacy protectors may block file transfer between devices.
⚠️ Attention: The Contacts menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the specific Samsung model (A, S or M series). If you do not find the menu item, use the search in settings.
The most reliable way to avoid data loss when Bluetooth fails is to first copy the .vcf file to your computer or send it to yourself via messenger as a backup.
Alternative methods and results
Although Bluetooth is a universal solution, it is not always the fastest. For owners of both brands, there are more modern methods, such as the application Samsung Smart Switch. It allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, settings and applications directly from Xiaomi to Samsung via cable or Wi-Fi.
However, if you need to quickly transfer only a couple of dozen numbers without installing unnecessary software and registering accounts, the Bluetooth method remains unrivaled in its simplicity and accessibility. It does not require the Internet and works even when there is no network.
Regularly create backup copies of your contacts. Technologies change, brands leave the market, but your data should stay with you. Syncing with Google Cloud is the best long-term option, and Bluetooth is a great tool for one-off transactions.
☑️ Successful Transfer Checklist
Why is Bluetooth transmission so slow?
Bluetooth protocol, especially versions 4.0 and below, which may be found on older devices, have limited bandwidth. It's optimized for transferring audio and small files, not gigabytes of data. The speed is usually from 1 to 3 Mbit/s, which is significantly lower than the capabilities of Wi-Fi Direct.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the screen of one of the phones goes dark?
No, in most cases the transfer will be interrupted. When the screen goes dark, the Android system goes into sleep mode to save power, which can turn off the radio or pause background file transfers. Keep the screens on until confirmation of receipt.
What to do if Samsung does not see the .vcf file?
Make sure that the file actually has a .vcf or .vcard extension. Sometimes when downloading from messengers, the extension changes to .txt. In this case, rename the file manually through the file manager, changing the ending to .vcf, and try importing again.
Is it safe to transfer contacts via Bluetooth in a crowded place?
Data transfer occurs only between paired devices. Until you confirm pairing with someone else's phone, no one will be able to intercept your files. However, once the transfer is complete, it is recommended to turn off the device's visibility or turn off Bluetooth to avoid unwanted connection attempts.
Will contact photos be retained during this transfer?
Yes, the standard vCard format (.vcf) supports embedding images. However, the file size will increase significantly and the transfer time will increase. In some cases, older versions of the software may ignore pictures when importing, leaving only text data.