Buying a new Xiaomi smartphone is always a joyful event, which is often overshadowed by one technical problem: how to transfer the entire accumulated phone book from an old device? Modern ecosystems Android offer many tools to solve this problem, but sometimes they are hidden in the depths of the menu or are unstable. Owners of devices from Xiaomi and Redmi are faced with the need not only to copy numbers, but also to save additional data, such as photographs of subscribers and email addresses.
The data migration process depends on the version of the operating system on both gadgets, as well as on whether Google account is configured on the old phone. There are several main scenarios: using cloud storage, direct transfer via cable or Wi-Fi, as well as classic methods via a physical SIM card. The choice of a specific method is dictated by the condition of the old device and your personal preferences regarding privacy.
In this material we will analyze in detail each of the available methods, explain how to avoid data loss and why some contacts may not be displayed correctly after the transfer. We will pay special attention to the proprietary utility Mi Mover, which is a standard for the Xiaomi ecosystem, but we will also consider universal solutions suitable for any devices based on Android.
Preparing for data transfer and synchronizing accounts
Before taking active steps, you need to make sure that both devices are ready to transfer information. On your old phone, you should check where exactly new contacts are saved: to the phone memory, to the SIM card, or directly to your Google account. This is a critical step, since transferring data from the device's memory is often more difficult than from the cloud.
Go to the contacts settings on your old smartphone and make sure that synchronization is enabled. Usually the path looks like Settings → Accounts → Google. If synchronization is disabled, your numbers will not go to the cloud, and automatic transfer to the new Xiaomi will not work correctly. Make sure that you have access to the Internet, preferably through a stable Wi-Fi connection.
⚠️ Attention: If your old phone has two SIM cards, make sure that your contacts are not scattered across different storage areas. Some models save numbers only to the card that was active at the time the entry was created.
On a new Xiaomi device, when setting up for the first time, the system will prompt you to log in to your Google account. This is the easiest way to restore your phone book. However, if you skipped this step or want to transfer data locally without using the Internet, you will need other methods described below. It is also important to charge both devices to at least 50% so that the process is not interrupted due to low battery.
☑️ Preparing for migration
Method 1: Using the proprietary Mi Mover application
The most effective and fastest way to transfer data between Xiaomi phones (or from any Android to Xiaomi) is to use the pre-installed applications Mi Mover. This utility creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between devices, which provides high transfer speeds and does not consume mobile traffic. The application is already built into the MIUI and HyperOS shell, but it can also be downloaded to third-party Android smartphones via Google Play.
To get started, launch Mi Mover on both devices. On the new Xiaomi phone, select the role “I am the recipient” (or “New device”), and on the old one, select “I am the sender”. The system will ask you to connect both gadgets to the same Wi-Fi network or create your own access point on the new phone, which you will need to connect to from the old one.
After the connection is established, you will see a list of data categories to transfer. Select "Contacts" and, if necessary, "Messages", "Photos" or "Applications". Click the "Submit" button and wait for the process to complete. The utility's operating algorithm is optimized to avoid duplicating entries if you have previously logged into your account on a new device.
When using Mi Mover, do not lock your phone screens during the transfer, as this may break the Wi-Fi connection and interrupt the copying process.
The main advantage of this method is that it transfers contacts along with the photos attached to them and additional notes that are often lost when exporting via SIM card. In addition, the transfer speed via Wi-Fi Direct is significantly higher than when using Bluetooth.
The Mi Mover application is a native solution for the Xiaomi ecosystem, providing complete data migration without losing multimedia information associated with contacts.
Method 2: Synchronization via Google Account
The most reliable and A “seamless” method that does not require installing additional software is synchronization via the Google cloud. If on your old phone the contacts were saved to your Gmail account, then when you enter the same credentials on the new Xiaomi, the entire phone book will appear automatically within a few minutes.
The process is as follows: on the new device, go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization. Click "Add Account", select Google and enter your username and password. After authorization, make sure that the switch next to the “Contacts” item is active. The system will automatically start downloading data from the cloud to the local memory of the smartphone.
This method is ideal for those who often change devices, since your phone book always remains safe on Google servers. Even if you lose both phones, you can restore the numbers by simply logging into your account from any other device or through the web interface contacts.google.com.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that “Contacts” is checked in your Google account settings on your old phone. If synchronization has been disabled, the data will not go to the cloud and will not be transferred to a new device.
Method 3: Export and import via VCF file
If you do not have access to the Internet or you fundamentally do not want to use cloud services, you can use the method of manual export to a file format .vcf (vCard). This format is a universal standard for storing contact information and is supported by all devices based on Android, iOS and Windows.
On your old phone, open the Contacts application, click on the menu (three dots or bars) and select Import/Export Contacts. Select the "Export to device memory" or "Export to storage" option. The system will create a file, usually called 00001.vcf or contacts.vcf, in the root of the internal memory or in the downloads folder.
Next, this file must be transferred to the new Xiaomi. This can be done via Bluetooth, instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email, or simply by copying the file to your computer and then to a new phone. Once the file is on your new device, simply click on it in the file manager. The system will offer to open it through the Contacts application and import data.
| Transfer method | Speed | Reliability | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Mover (Wi-Fi) | High | High | Low |
| Google Synchronization | Medium | Maximum | Minimum |
| VCF file (Bluetooth) | Low | Medium | Medium |
| SIM card | Low | Low | Low |
The advantage of the VCF file method is its autonomy. You receive a physical file that can be stored as a backup copy on a flash drive or computer. However, when importing a large number of contacts (more than 500), the process may take some time, and the phone interface may temporarily freeze.
What to do if the file does not open?
If, when you click on the .vcf file, the system does not offer import, try opening it through the Contacts application forcibly. Go to the Contacts application settings → Import/Export → Import from storage and specify the path to the file manually.
Method 4: Classic transfer via SIM card
The oldest and time-tested method is to use a SIM card as an intermediate storage device. This method is suitable if you have very old phones without support for modern transmission protocols or if other methods for some reason do not work. However, it has significant limitations in terms of the volume and quality of transferred data.
On your old device, go to the Contacts application, select the menu and click Import/Export. Select the "Export to SIM" option. The system will warn that additional fields (addresses, photos, second numbers) may be lost during copying, since the SIM card memory is limited and only supports the basic recording format (Name + Number).
After the export is complete, replace the SIM card in the new Xiaomi phone. Go to the Contacts app, select Import/Export and tap Import from SIM Card. You will be asked to select an account or phone memory where the data will be saved. Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.
- 📱 Pros of the method: Works on any phone, even push-button; does not require Internet and Wi-Fi settings.
- 📉 Disadvantages of the method: Limitation on the number of contacts (usually up to 250-500); loss of photos and additional data; long names may be truncated.
- ⚙️ Nuances: Some telecom operators block recording contacts on SIM if a new card format (USIM) is used, so the function may not be available.
⚠️ Attention: When When importing from a SIM card, contact names may appear in upper case (ALL CAPITAL LETTERS). This is normal behavior for the standard for storing data on SIM cards; this can only be corrected manually after the transfer.
Solving problems and eliminating duplicates
After transferring contacts, users often encounter the problem of duplicate entries. This happens when the same contact is saved in both your phone and your Google Account, or if you used multiple transfer methods in a row. The MIUI and HyperOS shell has a built-in convenient tool for merging duplicates.
Open the “Contacts” application on Xiaomi, go to the “Management” tab or click on the profile icon in the corner. Find the option “Merge duplicates” (or “Merge contacts”). The system will automatically scan the database, find records with the same names or numbers and offer to combine them into one card, saving all available information.
It is also worth checking the display of names. Sometimes, after transferring, contacts may be displayed in the “Last Name First Name” format instead of the usual “First Name Last Name”. To fix this, go to the settings of the Contacts application, select “Name display format” and change the order to the one convenient for you.
If some contacts are still not displayed, check the display filters. In the Contacts app, tap the three dots in the corner and select Contacts to display. Make sure that "All Contacts" is selected, not just a specific account or group. Sometimes new entries end up in a hidden group or in an account that is hidden from the list by default.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
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 responds to presses, you can try connecting it to computer via USB and copy the contact database (.db file) if you have root access, but this is difficult. The easiest way is to remove the SIM card if the contacts were stored on it. If the data was only in the internal memory and the phone is dead, it is almost impossible to restore it without repairing the screen unless synchronization with Google was enabled in advance.
Why did contact photos disappear after transferring to Xiaomi?
Photos are often lost when transferred via a SIM card or older versions of Bluetooth protocols. To save photos, use Mi Mover methods or Google Account synchronization. Also make sure that on your old phone the photo was linked specifically to a contact in your Google account, and not stored in a separate gallery without a link.
How long does it take to transfer 1000 contacts via Mi Mover?
Transferring text data, including 1000 contacts, usually takes less than 1 minute, since the amount of information is negligible. Most of the time is spent on establishing a connection between devices and shaking hands with security protocols. The copying process itself occurs almost instantly.
Is it safe to transfer contacts through third-party applications from the Play Market?
Most popular applications for data transfer (for example, Send Anywhere, SHAREit) are safe because they use a local Wi-Fi connection without transferring data through their servers. However, always check the permissions that the application asks for. Native tools such as Mi Mover or Google Sync are always a better choice in terms of security and privacy.
What to do if, when importing a VCF file, you receive an “Insufficient space” error?
Contacts take up very little space, so the “Insufficient space” error usually does not indicate a lack of memory, but a corruption of the file itself or incompatible encoding. Try opening the file on your computer in Notepad, checking its integrity, or splitting a large file into several smaller parts before re-importing.