Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often faced with a situation where when adding a new number, the system defaults to save it in the memory of the phone or on the phone. SIM-This creates the risk of losing important data when you change your device or reset your settings. Changing the save point is a critical step to keep your phone book safe.
The current MIUI operating system and its more recent version of HyperOS offer flexible contact management tools, but they are hidden in non-obvious menu locations. Properly configured not only to secure data, but also to synchronize it between a tablet, laptop and other gadgets. In this article, we will break down all the nuances of the default reconfiguration.
Many users don't know that you can force a priority account for all new records, so that you don't have to manually choose your storage location every time, so let's look at how to set up a system once to forget about any lost number issues in the future.
Why it is important to use a Google account for contacts
Saving numbers directly into the device's memory is the most risky scenario: If a smartphone breaks down, it is stolen, or you have to perform a full reset (Wipe Data), the entire phone book will be irretrievably lost, and recovery of such data is almost impossible without a prior backup.
Use of the SIM-Older SIMs often have a limit on the number of characters in a name (usually up to the limit of the number of characters in a name). 10-15 signs) and do not support the retention of additional fields, such as email, address or photo of the subscriber, and when transferring from the SIM card to a new smartphone, the formatting of names is often lost.
⚠️ Note: Keeping contacts exclusively on SIM-The map may cause long names to be cut and special symbols to be replaced by question marks.
Google accounts solve these problems by providing virtually unlimited space, allowing you to store full profiles with photos, and automatically synchronize changes across all your devices, so if you lose your phone, just log in to your account on a new device, and all the numbers will appear automatically.
- 🔄 Automatic synchronization of data in the cloud in real time.
- 📸 Ability to add photos and detailed contact information.
- 🛡️ Protection against data loss in case of breakage or reset of the smartphone.
Where is the default location setting
To change the standard behavior of the system, you need to go to the settings of the Contacts app itself, not the general settings of the phone. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. First, open the standard Contacts or Phone app.
In the interface that opens, look for a three-dot icon or a gear that is usually located at the top of the screen, and if you click on it, you will be taken to the settings menu. Here we are interested in the settings item (or display settings in some firmwares), and it is inside this submenu that the option you are looking for is hidden.
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If you don’t see the settings menu, try tapping the empty contact list area or swiping your finger from the bottom up to trigger additional options.
In the list of parameters, you need to find the item “Save the default location” (sometimes it is called “Save new contacts in: SIM-Map, phone memory or your Google account.Select a Google account for maximum security.
☑️ Checking the saving settings
Step-by-step change instructions for MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shell interface is constantly updated, so let’s look at the algorithm for current versions. The process takes no more than a minute, but requires care. Make sure that the device is signed in to your Google account.
Perform the following actions consistently:
- Launch the Contacts app (yellow icon with a human silhouette).
- In the upper right corner, click on the icon with three dots.
- In the drop-down menu, select Settings.
- Find the default location location.
- In the list that opens, select your email address with Google’s name.
After that, all new numbers will be automatically written to the cloud. If you create a contact through the Phone application (green handset), the algorithm is similar: menu (three dots) → Settings → Save Place. In some versions of the firmware, these settings can be duplicated in both applications.
⚠️ Note: If after choosing Google, the system still offers to save to your phone, check whether you have the “Only offline” mode turned on or if the synchronization in the settings of the account itself is not broken.
Transferring existing contacts to the cloud
Changing the default setting does not affect numbers that are already stored in the phone’s memory or on the phone. SIM-They need to be moved manually to protect them, and fortunately, Xiaomi has a handy tool for importing and exporting them.
Go to the Contacts app, click on three dots, and select Import/Export Contacts. Here you will see options. You will select Import with SIM-maps" (if numbers are there) or "Import from device memory." Make sure to include your Google account as your destination.
What to do if the import is frozen?
Once the process is complete, check the result. Open contacts.google.com from your computer or any browser and log in. If all numbers are in place and displayed correctly, the procedure can be considered complete. Old copies from the phone's memory can be deleted to avoid duplication.
Comparison of data storage methods
To better understand the advantages and disadvantages of different storage methods, let's compare them in a table, which will help to determine the choice, although the recommendation of experts is unequivocal.
| Parameter | Phone memory | SIM-map | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Low (risk of discharge) | Medium (physical wear) | High (cloud storage) |
| Symbolic limit | No restrictions. | Limited (10-15 characters) | No restrictions. |
| Supplementary fields | Full support | Name and number only | Full support + photo |
| Synchronization | Absent. | Removal required | Automatic. |
As the comparison shows, Google cloud storage benefits in every way, except perhaps depending on the availability of the Internet for the initial download (although caching allows you to work offline as well). Local storage only makes sense for temporary records, which are not a pity to lose.
Solving synchronization problems
Sometimes users find that contacts are not saved to Google or synced. Most often the problem lies in the settings of the application access to the account. Go to the phone settings → Accounts and sync → Google. Make sure that the switch next to the Contacts item is active.
Another cause could be a Google storage overflow (15GB limit for all services at once) or network connection issues. Check if the Contacts app has permission to access the network. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Other permissions and allow Wi-Fi and mobile internet access.
- 📶 Check the stability of the Internet connection.
- 🔑 Make sure your Google account password hasn’t been changed recently.
- 📱 Update the Google Contacts app through the Play Market.
If the problem persists, try deleting and adding the account again. Be sure to back up before that if the data is not synchronized. Often, a simple account reassignment solves sync errors.
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Timely checking of synchronization status helps to avoid unpleasant surprises at the moment when the phone book is really needed.