How to transfer contacts from Android to Xiaomi and Samsung: a complete guide

Changing a smartphone is always an exciting process, which is often overshadowed by the fear of losing important data, especially the phone book. Owners of Android devices are in an advantageous position, since the Google ecosystem allows flexible management of synchronization, but the transition between brands, for example, from Lenovo to Xiaomi or from Honor to Samsungmay have its own nuances. Modern operating systems offer many tools for migration, but not all of them are equally convenient or available depending on the software version.

In this article we will analyze in detail all the current methods for transferring phone numbers, from cloud synchronization to using specialized applications from manufacturers. You'll learn how to avoid duplicates, save additional contact fields, and what to do if standard methods don't work. Digital migration It's become easier, but requires attention to detail.

Whether you're replacing a budget device with a flagship or simply upgrading a device, proper preparation of the original phone will save you hours of manually retyping numbers. We will look at solutions for popular brands such as Redmi, Poco, Galaxy and others, ensuring compatibility of data storage formats.

Preparing devices and checking storage formats

Before taking active steps, you need to make sure that both smartphones are ready to exchange data. First of all, check the battery charge: to successfully transfer a large amount of information, it is recommended to have at least 50-60% charge on both devices. Also make sure that both phones have Bluetooth i Wi-Fienabled, even if you plan to use a cable, as some system services depend on network protocols.

A critical step is to check exactly where your contacts are saved on your old phone. Often, users store numbers in the memory of their device (“Phone” or “Device”) for years, which makes them invisible to cloud services. To check this, open the Contacts application, go to the display settings and see which account is selected by default for saving new entries.

⚠️ Attention: If your contacts are saved only in the SIM card memory or internal phone memory without being linked to a Google account, the risk of losing them when resetting the settings is 100%. Be sure to export or synchronize before any manipulations.

For owners of Xiaomi i Samsung it is also important to update system applications to the latest versions through the store Play Market or Galaxy Store. Outdated versions of porting apps may not work correctly with new versions of Android, causing encoding errors or missing entries with long names.

Synchronization via Google Account: universal method

The most reliable and time-tested method is to use the capabilities itself Android. Since both Xiaomi, and Samsung run on this OS, your Google account serves as an ideal bridge. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works even if you change your telecom operator or region.

On your old device, open “Settings”, find the “Accounts” or “Users and Accounts” section. Select your Gmail address and make sure the switch next to Contacts is turned on. Click on the menu (three dots or the “Synchronize” button) to forcefully start the data update process in the cloud.

After successful synchronization, take a new smartphone. When you turn it on for the first time, simply enter your login and password from the same Google account. The system will automatically offer to restore data from a backup copy. If your phone is already set up, just add an account in the settings section and turn on contact synchronization.

This method is especially good because it saves the entire structure of the records: photos, email addresses, positions and notes. However, it is worth remembering about limit of 25,000 contacts per account, although for an ordinary user this is a practically unattainable threshold.

Using Mi Mover to switch to Xiaomi

If your new smartphone is manufactured by Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco, it is most logical to use a proprietary utility Mi Mover. This application is pre-installed on all new devices of the brand and is optimized for working with the shell MIUI i HyperOS.

The process begins by installing the application on the old phone (if it does not have a built-in transfer function) and launching the app on the new one. A QR code will appear on the screen that you need to scan with your old device. After connecting via Wi-Fi Direct, you can select the “Contacts” category for transfer.

Main advantage Mi Mover The difference between standard Android tools is the ability to transfer not only numbers, but also call history, SMS messages and even the location of icons on the desktop. The application automatically converts the data into a format understandable to the system Xiaomi.

Characteristics	Google Synchronization	Mi Mover	Bluetooth
Transfer speed	Depends on the Internet	High (local)	Low
Internet required	Yes	No	No
Transfer call history	No	Yes	No
Setting complexity	Low	Average	Low

It is important to note that when In use Mi Mover both phones must be nearby as the connection is created directly. Interrupting the transfer process at the 90% stage may lead to partial data loss, so do not switch to other applications during migration.

Samsung Smart Switch: migration to Galaxy

For device owners Samsung the company offers a powerful tool called Smart Switch. This application is available both as a pre-installed system on the new Galaxy, and as a separate apk file for installation on any Android smartphone version 4.3 and higher.

To get started, launch the application on both devices. On the old phone, select “Send data”, and on the new Samsung - “Receive data”. The application will offer several connection methods: wireless (via Wi-Fi Direct), cable (USB-OTG) or via backup. For contacts, a wireless method or cable is best as they provide the most stability.

Smart Switch is notable for its ability to “pull” contacts even from non-standard sources, such as phone memory or old backup files from other brands. After scanning, the system will prompt you to select specific categories of data. You can transfer only the phone book, leaving the media files in place.

⚠️ Attention: When connecting wirelessly via Smart Switch, make sure that the power saving mode is turned off on both devices. Aggressive energy saving can break the connection at the most inopportune moment.

If you are moving to Samsung from another Android device, the system may prompt you to create a backup copy in the cloud Samsung Cloud after the transfer is complete. This is a good practice for creating an additional restore point, although the main synchronization will still be handled by Google.

What to do if Smart Switch does not see the old phone?

Make sure GPS and Bluetooth are turned on on both devices. Sometimes you need to manually allow location access for the device discovery protocol to work. Also try restarting the Wi-Fi router if you are using a home network, although a direct connection is preferable.

Transfer via Bluetooth and VCF files

In situations where there is no access to the Internet and proprietary utilities are not installed, the classic method of exporting to a file comes to the rescue. This method is universal and works on any device, from ancient push-button devices to modern flagships.

Open the Contacts application on your old phone. In the settings menu, find the “Import/Export contacts” or “Manage contacts” item. Select the Export to .vcf (or vCard) file option. The system will create a file containing all your entries and save it in the device’s memory.

Next transfer this file to the new smartphone. This can be done via Bluetooth, instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or by copying the file to your computer and then to your phone. Having received the file on a new device (Xiaomi or Samsung), just click on it - the system will automatically offer to import the data it contains.

This method is ideal for transferring contacts between phones of different users or when you need to “clean up” the phone book, leaving the old device in its factory state. The file .vcf weighs very little, so its transfer even via Bluetooth takes seconds.

Solution: duplicates and synchronization errors

A common problem after data transfer is the appearance of duplicates: the same number may appear twice or thrice if you have used several migration methods or have previously synchronized with this account. Phones Xiaomi and Samsung have built-in tools to solve this problem.

In the Contacts application, go to the management menu and select "Manage contacts" → "Merge duplicate contacts." The system will automatically put on pairs with the same numbers or names and offer to combine them into one entry. A similar function in Samsung Go to the management menu and select Manage Contacts → Merge Duplicate Contacts. The system will automatically put on pairs with the same numbers or names and offer to combine them into one entry. Similar function in MIUI is located along the path “Settings” → “Clearing duplicates.”

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where contacts are in their Google account, but are not displayed in the phone book of the new device. In this case, you need to check the list display settings. Tap the three dots in the corner of the Contacts app, select Settings → Contacts to Display, and make sure All Contacts is checked.

If none of the methods helped, you can use the web version of Google Contacts (contacts.google.com). There, the functionality of working with duplicates and groups is implemented most fully and conveniently through a large computer screen.

Is it possible to transfer contacts if the old phone is broken and does not turn on?

If the screen does not work, but the phone turns on and makes sounds, you can try connecting a USB mouse via an OTG adapter to unlock the screen and enable synchronization. If the phone does not turn on at all, but the SIM card is intact, remove it and insert it into a new phone - the contacts saved on the SIM card are imported automatically. If the numbers were only in the memory of a broken phone, it is almost impossible to restore them without repairing the device.

How long does it take to transfer 1000 contacts?

When using Google Synchronization or cloud methods, the time depends on the Internet speed, but usually it takes from 1 to 5 minutes. When transferring via Bluetooth, the process may take 10-15 minutes. Branded utilities like Smart Switch or Mi Mover handle thousands of entries in less than a minute thanks to the use of high-speed Wi-Fi Direct.

Will contacts be lost from the old phone after the transfer?

No, standard copying or synchronization procedures do not delete data from the original device. Your contacts will remain in place. However, if you used the Factory Reset feature on your old phone in preparation for selling it, then the data will be erased. Always check the availability of numbers on the new device before clearing the old one.