Moving to a new smartphone Xiaomi or Redmi often becomes stressful due to the fear of losing important numbers of friends and colleagues. Fortunately, the modern ecosystem Android offers many built-in tools for seamless data transfer between devices. Correct synchronization of contacts is not just copying a list of names, but creating a reliable backup copy, accessible from anywhere in the world.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the current methods of transferring a phone book: from cloud services Google to local transfer via Bluetooth or Mi Mover. You will learn how to avoid duplicate entries and why storing numbers on a SIM card is considered an archaic method in 2026.
Preparing devices for data transfer
Before starting any information transfer operation, you must ensure that both devices are ready for use. On the old phone, you should clear the list of unnecessary entries and merge duplicates so as not to clog the memory of the new one. Check the battery level on both gadgets - the process may take time, and a sudden power outage will cause a failure. Redmi. Check the battery level on both gadgets - the process may take time, and a sudden power outage will cause a crash.
Make sure that both devices are turned on Bluetooth or they are connected to the same network Wi-Fiif you plan to use cloud methods. It is critically important for owners Xiaomi to check the availability of an account Mi Accountas it provides additional synchronization opportunities within the brand ecosystem. It is also worth updating the firmware to the latest version to eliminate file format compatibility errors.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using an old phone with an Android version lower than 8.0, some modern vCard export formats may not be read correctly. In this case, prefer the transfer method via a SIM card or a specialized application.
☑️ Ready for synchronization
Synchronization via Google account: the most reliable method
Using cloud storage Google Contacts is the “gold standard” for users Android. This method ensures that your contacts will not be lost even if the physical device is completely lost or damaged. It is enough to log into your Google account on your old phone and allow synchronization so that all data is instantly uploaded to the server.
On the new Redmi the procedure is even simpler: during the initial setup, enter the same credentials. The system will automatically offer to restore data from the cloud. If the phone is already configured, go to the Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google section and make sure that the switch next to the “Contacts” item is active. After clicking the “Synchronize” button, the phone book will be updated in the background.
The advantage of this method is the ability to manage contacts via the web interface on your computer. You can edit numbers, add photos and delete unnecessary entries directly in the browser, and the changes will instantly appear on your computer. Xiaomi. This is especially convenient when importing data in bulk from other services.
Use the “Undo changes” function in the Google Contacts settings on the website if, after synchronization, you find numbers missing or old duplicates appearing. The system allows you to roll back the state of the database 30 days ago.
Using the Mi Mover application for quick transfer
The company Xiaomi has developed its own utility Mi Moverwhich is pre-installed on all smartphones of the brand. This application allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, messages and installed applications from your old phone to your new one Redmi without using the Internet. The data transfer speed is much higher than through the cloud.
To start the process, open the application on both devices. On the new phone, select the “I am the recipient” role, and on the old phone, “I am the sender”. After scanning QR code or connecting via a Wi-Fi access point, select the “Contacts” category in the list of transferred data. The process will start automatically and end with a notification of success.
It is important to note that Mi Mover works stably even when transferring data from devices based on iOS, although the functionality may be limited compared to transferring between Android smartphones. The utility automatically converts the data into a format understandable to the shell MIUI or HyperOS.
What to do if Mi Mover freezes?
If the transfer is interrupted at 99%, try disabling power saving on both phones and bringing the devices as close to each other as possible. Sometimes rebooting both gadgets before trying again helps.
Exporting and importing contacts via a vCard file
If cloud services are not available or you prefer to store data locally, the export to file method vCard (.vcf) will be the optimal solution. This universal format is supported by almost all mobile operating systems and email clients. You can create a single file with all numbers and transfer it in any convenient way.
On your old device, open the Contacts application, go to settings and select Export contacts. Specify the save location - internal memory or card SD. The resulting file can be sent to a new one Redmi via messenger, email, or copied via a computer. On the receiving side, just click on the file, and the system will offer to import entries into the phone book.
- 📂 The vCard file can contain not only numbers, but also addresses, emails and notes.
- 🔄 Import can be done in batches, immediately adding hundreds of contacts in one operation.
- 💾 The file is conveniently stored on flash drive as a backup in case of account failures.
When importing a large file, the system may ask in which account to save the data. It is recommended to select the local storage of the phone or immediately your main one Google accountto avoid repeating the procedure manually in the future.
| Transfer method | Speed | Internet required | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Synchronization | High | Yes | Maximum |
| Mi Mover | Very high | No | High |
| vCard file | Medium | No | Medium |
| SIM card | Low | No | Low |
Transferring contacts from a SIM card
Despite the development of technology, many users still store numbers on SIM card. This method has significant limitations: usually no more than 250 contacts can be placed on the card, and the name length is limited to a few characters. In addition, additional fields, such as address or e-mail, are irretrievably lost during such storage.
To transfer data from SIM to Redmi, insert the card into the slot of the new device. Open the Contacts app, go to settings and select Import from SIM card. The system will prompt you to select an account to save - be sure to specify Google or phone memory, but do not save back to SIM.
⚠️ Attention: After successful import, be sure to delete contacts from the SIM card through the management menu to avoid confusion in the future. Storing a database of numbers on an operator chip is considered unsafe and inconvenient.
If you do not have an adapter for a new SIM card format, you can use your old phone as an intermediary: export data from the SIM to a file on the old device, and then transfer the file to the new one Xiaomi.
Solving problems with duplicates and merging records
A common problem after synchronizing multiple data sources is the appearance of duplicates. The same person can be recorded three times: once from SIM, second time from Viber and third time from Google. The shell MIUI has a built-in tool to solve this problem, which works automatically or manually.
Go to the “Contacts” application on your Redmi, click on the menu (three dots or stripes) and select “Merge duplicates”. The system will analyze the database, find records with matching names or numbers and offer to merge them into one card. You can review each offer before confirming.
For more detailed settings, go to the web version of Google Contacts. There is a “Find and Merge” tool available, which allows you to choose which information to leave as a priority when merging - for example, keep the number from your old phone, and take a profile photo from a social network.
Regularly clearing duplicates speeds up the search for contacts and frees up space in the cloud storage, making the phone book neat and structured.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why are contacts not synchronized after logging into Google?
Check your Internet connection and make sure that the checkbox next to “Contacts” is enabled in your account settings. Also try clearing the cache of the Google Play Services application in the application settings section.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the screen of your old phone is broken?
Yes, if USB debugging was enabled on the phone or synchronization with the cloud was previously configured. You can log into your Google account from a computer or a new phone, and the data will be pulled up automatically.
Is it safe to use third-party applications for transfer?
Using proven utilities like Mi Mover or Send Anywhere is safe. However, avoid little-known apps that require access to your personal data without a clear reputation as a developer.
What to do if names are displayed in hieroglyphs during import?
This is a vCard file encoding problem. Try opening the file on your computer using Notepad and saving it in UTF-8 encoding, then import it again to your phone.