Changing a smartphone, especially to an ecosystem Xiaomi, is always accompanied by worry about the safety of personal information. The most valuable asset for most users is their phone book, the loss of which can paralyze their business and personal life. Fortunately, the operating system architecture Android provides for several reliable data migration mechanisms that allow you to avoid manually entering hundreds of contacts.
The process of transferring numbers from any device based on Android to smartphones Redmi or POCO has become the most automated. You don't need to be a programming expert or have in-depth technical knowledge. Modern tools, such as cloud synchronization and specialized utilities from the manufacturer, take on all the hard work, ensuring data integrity and saving additional fields like email addresses and photos of subscribers.
In this guide, we will analyze in detail all the available methods: from classic synchronization through an account Google to using a proprietary application Mi Mover. You'll learn how to avoid common mistakes such as duplicate entries or losing numbers stored solely on your SIM card. The correct choice of method depends on the size of your phone book and the availability of a stable Internet connection.
Preparing for data migration and checking sources
Before you begin the active phase of migration, you need to audit where exactly your current contacts are stored. This is a critical step that is often ignored, resulting in incomplete migration. In modern smartphones, numbers can be physically located in three different locations: the device’s internal memory, on a SIM card, or in the cloud storage of a linked account.
Open the Contacts application on your old device and carefully study the display settings. Often, users do not see some numbers simply because the filter is configured to show only entries from the SIM card, ignoring the phone's memory. Make sure that all possible data storage sources are activated in the display settings.
Particular attention should be paid to contacts saved on SIM card. This medium has serious technical limitations: it does not support storing multiple numbers per subscriber, long names or additional fields such as birthdays. If your phone book has been formed over the years, most likely, some of the data has been simplified to the minimum.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any manipulations, it is strongly recommended to create a backup copy of the current phone book in the format
.vcf. This will create a fallback point in case the synchronization process fails or the data is not merged correctly.
If you plan to use cloud methods, check the status of your Internet connection. Transferring large amounts of data, especially if contacts have high-resolution photos attached, will require a stable communication channel. mobile data may be unstable, so prefer using the network Wi-Fi.
☑️ Preparing for migration
Synchronization via Google account: the most reliable method
Ecosystem Google is the de facto standard for the platform Android, offering the most seamless way to transfer data. The essence of the method is that contacts are not transferred directly from phone to phone, but are uploaded to the corporation’s servers, from where the new smartphone Xiaomi downloads them upon first authorization. This ensures that your phone book will be safe even if both devices are physically lost.
On the old device, you need to make sure that synchronization is turned on. Go to the Settings → Accounts section and select your Google profile. The "Contacts" item must be active in the list of synchronized data. If the switch is turned off, turn it on and press the sync button manually to force the data to be sent to the server.
After the data has gone to the cloud, pick up a new smartphone Xiaomi. During initial setup, the system will prompt you to enter your account information. Use the same username and password as on your old device. During the setup process, the wizard will offer to restore data from a backup copy - agree with this proposal.
- 📱 Advantages of the method: contacts are linked to an email, and not to the device, which makes it easy to change phones in the future.
- 🔄 Automatic update: any change in the number on one device will instantly affect all other gadgets where you are logged into this account.
- 🛡️ Security: data is protected by Google's two-factor authentication and cannot be lost if the SIM card breaks down.
If the phone is already set up and you skipped the initial setup step, do not reset the device to factory settings. You can add an account manually through the menu Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Add account → Google. After entering the data, the system will automatically begin to pull up contacts within a few minutes.
Use the contacts.google.com web interface to verify that all numbers are actually uploaded to the cloud before setting up a new phone. This is a visual confirmation of the success of the operation.
Using the Mi Mover application for direct transfer
The Company Xiaomi has developed its own powerful data migration solution called Mi Mover. This application is pre-installed on all brand smartphones and allows you to transfer data directly via Wi-Fi channel between devices, bypassing cloud servers. This is an ideal option for those who want to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications and system settings.
The process begins by installing the application on the old device, if it is not there. You can download it from Google Play or through the built-in store GetApps. Launch the application on both phones. On the new smartphone Xiaomi select the role “I am the recipient”, and on the old one - “I am the sender”.
Then the devices will offer to connect. A QR code will appear on the screen of the new phone, which must be scanned with the camera of the old device. Once the connection is established, you will see a list of data categories to transfer. Be sure to select "Contacts". You can choose to transfer all entries or mark only specific groups.
| Option | Google Synchronization | Mi Mover | SIM card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Depends on the Internet | High (up to 40 MB/s) | Low |
| Photo saving | Yes | Yes | No |
| Multiple numbers | Yes | Yes | No |
| Requires Internet | Yes | No (local network) | No |
After confirming your selection, the transfer process will begin. The progress bar will show the status of the operation. It is important not to minimize the application or lock the device screens until the process is complete. Upon completion, you will receive a notification about the successful import, and the contacts will immediately appear in the standard dialer MIUI.
What to do if Mi Mover freezes?
If the transfer process is frozen at 99%, try disabling power saving on both devices. Sometimes aggressive battery optimization breaks the Wi-Fi connection. Also make sure that there is enough free memory on the receiving device.
Transfer via SIM card: classic method
Despite the development of cloud technologies, the transfer method via a physical SIM card remains relevant for users with older phone models or for those who do not have access to the Internet. This method is universal and works even between devices of different operating systems, for example, when switching from a feature phone to a smartphone.
First you need to export the data to a memory card. On your old device, go to the contacts app, open the settings menu (usually three dots or lines) and find the "Import/Export" option. Select option Export to SIM card. The system will warn you about possible format restrictions, confirm the action.
After export is completed, remove the SIM card and insert it into a new smartphone Xiaomi. Go to the contacts app on your new device, open the import/export menu again, but now select Import from a SIM card. You will be asked to select a destination: it is recommended to select a Google account or phone memory, but not the SIM card itself, so as not to create duplicates.
⚠️ Attention: When importing from a SIM card, all numbers will be recorded in the phone memory as separate contacts. If you have saved several numbers under one name (for example, “Mom work” and “Mom mobile”), they may be combined on the SIM card or saved incorrectly due to storage format limitations.
This method is good for its simplicity, but it is not without its drawbacks. The main limitation is the lack of support for extended fields. Birthdays, addresses, notes and ring rings associated with contacts will be irretrievably lost during such a transfer. Use this method only as a last resort.
Import from VCF file: universal solution
Format VCF (vCard) is a universal standard for exchanging contact information. A file with the extension .vcf can contain complete information about the contact, including a photo, and can be transferred in any convenient way: via instant messengers, Bluetooth, email or USB cable.
To create such a file on an old device, export to the phone's memory. In the contacts menu, select Export to file.vcf. The system will prompt you to select a file name and save location. Usually the file is saved in the root of the internal memory or in the folder Contacts.
Transfer the resulting file to a new smartphone Xiaomi. This can be done via Bluetoothby sending the file to yourself via Telegram or WhatsApp, or by connecting your old phone to your computer and copying the file, and then transferring it to your new phone. Once the file is on the new device, simply click on it in the file manager.
The system will automatically recognize the format and offer to open it through the Contacts application. You will be shown a list of found records and asked to select the account in which you want to save this data. Confirm the import, and all entries will be added to the phone book.
- 📂 Flexibility: the file can be stored on a flash drive or in the cloud as an eternal backup.
- 🚀 Speed: instantly transfer thousands of contacts with one click.
- 🔒 Privacy: data does not go through third-party synchronization servers when transferred via Bluetooth or cable.
Solving problems with duplicates and merging records
After transferring contacts by any method, users often encounter the problem of duplication. This happens when the same contact was saved on the SIM card, in the phone memory, and in the cloud, and during import the system created several copies. Visual noise in the phone book makes it difficult to find the desired subscriber.
The shell MIUI has a built-in tool for clearing the contact list. Go to the "Contacts" application, click on the settings menu and find the "Clear duplicates" or "Merge duplicates" item. The system will automatically scan the database and find records with the same names or phone numbers.
You will be asked to view the found pairs and combine them manually or entrust this to automation. When merging, the system will save all available information: if one entry contained only a number, and another - email and photo, the resulting contact will contain all this data.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and menu layout may vary slightly depending on the firmware version MIUI or HyperOS. If you do not find the merge item, use the search in your phone settings by entering the query “duplicates”.
Regularly cleaning duplicates not only improves the aesthetics of the list, but also speeds up the contacts application and database search. It is recommended to perform this procedure after each major data import.
Built-in MIUI tools allow you to merge duplicate contacts automatically, while maintaining the maximum amount of information from different recording sources.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What to do if contacts do not sync with Google?
Check whether synchronization is enabled in your account settings. Make sure your device is set to the correct time and date. Try deleting your account and adding it again, after clearing the Google Play Servers application cache.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the screen of your old phone is broken?
Yes, if USB debugging is enabled on your phone and you can manage it via a computer using utilities like ADB. You can also remove the SIM card and transfer numbers from it if they are saved there.
Is it safe to use Mi Mover to transfer contacts?
Absolutely safe. The application creates a direct encrypted connection between devices over a local Wi-Fi network. The data is not transmitted over the Internet and is not stored on Xiaomi servers.
Why did contact photos disappear after the transfer?
Most likely, you used the transfer method via a SIM card, which does not support graphic files. Try using Google sync or VCF file import to recover the images.
How to transfer contacts from iPhone to Xiaomi?
On iPhone, export contacts to VCF file through iCloud settings or Contacts app, send the file to Xiaomi and import it. You can also use the Mi Mover application, available in the App Store.