Import contacts from SIM-cards on Xiaomi Redmi: a step-by-step guide

Changing a smartphone or recovering data after a system reset is often stressful for the user, especially when it comes to keeping a phone book. owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices face having to move records that have been stored on the old one for years. SIM-And today's Android operating systems provide built-in tools for data migration, but the shell interface is a little bit more than a little bit more than a little bit of a scalp. MIUI HyperOS can hide the necessary options in non-obvious places.

The transfer process does not require a connection to a computer or the installation of third-party software, since all the necessary functions are built into the system application “Contacts”. However, the success of the operation depends on the state of the SIM card itself and the correct choice of the save format to avoid loss of names or duplication of records in the future.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the algorithm for different firmware versions, look at typical import errors, and explain why storing numbers in the Google cloud is a more reliable option compared to a physical carrier card.

Preparation of SIM-card and compatibility check

Before starting the copying procedure, you need to make sure that the operator’s physical card is correct and correctly installed in the device slot. Old SIM cards with a large volume of records can be read slowly or incorrectly if their chip is damaged. It is recommended to visually examine the contacts on the map and wipe them with soft dry cloth before installing in Xiaomi Redmi.

It is important to understand that SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and supports only basic text fields. 20-30 Additional numbers, e-mails, addresses and photos stored in the phone are not transferred to the SIM card and will be lost on export.

⚠️ Note: If your SIM card is very old (mini-SIM format) and has been manually cropped to nano-SIM, contacts may be read with errors due to damage to the chip's memory tracks.

For successful import, make sure your smartphone has Google’s Contacts app or MIUI system app that hasn’t been removed or disabled. Also check for free space in the device’s internal memory, although text recordings only take a few kilobytes.

Standard method of import through the “Contacts” application

The easiest and most reliable way to migrate data is to use the built-in functionality of the Android system, which works on all current versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells without the need for root rights. The algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the version of the interface, but the logic remains the same.

Open the Contacts app on the home screen or in the Tools folder. At the bottom of the screen or in the top corner, find a menu button that can look like three dots, three bars or a profile icon. From the list that opens, select Import/Export Contacts or Contact Management.

• 📲 Click on the button "Import with" SIM-map».
• 📂 Select a Google or Phone account where the data will be stored (Google recommended).
• ✅ Confirm the action by clicking “OK” or “Import».
• ⏳ Wait for the process to end without turning off the smartphone screen.

Once the operation is complete, the system will notify you of the number of successfully copied records, and if the process is interrupted, repeat the procedure by pre-deleting the partially created duplicates through the "Contact Connect" function.

Import via system settings and menus SIM-map

In some versions of Xiaomi firmware, direct access to managing SIM card contacts is included in the general settings of the device, which is useful if the standard contact application is not working correctly or was removed by the user.

Go to Settings section, then select the App item -> Settings SIM-card «SIM-Maps and mobile networks.“.This shows operator information and activities available.Look for “Import contacts” or “Copy contacts».

The system will suggest selecting a source (your SIM card) and a destination (destination), and when choosing a save location, it is preferable to specify your Gmail account, rather than “Phone”, which will automatically sync data with the cloud and allow you to restore numbers even if you completely lose or steal your device.

If the settings are on the menu SIM-There is no import point, return to the method via the Contacts app or use third-party utilities, as some carriers block direct reading of data from the card through system settings.

Working with duplicates and combining records

A common problem with data transfer is the appearance of duplicates: the same contact can be saved twice – once from a SIM card, another was already in the memory of the phone or the cloud.

Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots), and select “Contact Manage” or “Contact Manage.” Find the option “Contact Repeated Contacts.” The system will analyze the database, find the records with the same names or numbers, and suggest combining them.

Be careful when automatically combining: if you have contacts with the same names but different people (like two Alexanders), the system may mistakenly combine their cards.

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Before the mass association, make a backup of contacts through the website contacts.google.com – this will allow you to roll back changes in case of an error.

Alternative ways: Google Account and Mi Cloud

If standard methods don't work or the SIM card isn't readable, you can use cloud services, and the most reliable option is sync through your Google account, insert the SIM card into any other phone (or use a PC card reader), export the contacts to a.vcf file, and upload them to contacts.google.com.

Once you upload to the site, turn on your Xiaomi smartphone, make sure your Google account settings are synchronized contacts, the data will appear in the phone book automatically in a few minutes, this method eliminates the risk of data damage when you read it directly from the map.

The second option is to use Mi Cloud, go to the Mi Account settings on your device, select Sync, and enable Contacts. SIM-Xiaomi cloud maps without intermediate storage in the phone memory may not be available in some regions.

• ☁️ Google Contacts: Best Option for Cross-Platform (Android, iOS, Web).
• 🔒 Mi Cloud: Easy for Xiaomi ecosystem users, but tied to brand.
• 💾 Local file. VCF: Universal format that can be saved to a flash drive or to cloud storage.

Using cloud technology ensures that your phone book is not lost even if your smartphone is physically damaged or your SIM card is lost. SIM-The card is considered an outdated and less secure method.

Possible errors and ways to eliminate them

Users may encounter technical problems during the import process, most often with the formatting of data on an old SIM card or software conflicts, and understanding the causes of errors will help them to quickly resolve them without losing data.

If you see a message saying “Can’t import contacts,” check if the phone’s memory is full, and the problem may be encoding: some old cards use encoding that modern smartphones can’t correctly recognize, leading to “crackers” instead of names.

⚠️ Note: If the contact names are not displayed correctly (characters instead of letters) when importing, try changing the system's language to English, importing and then returning Russian.

If the import process freezes, take your time to restart the device. Wait 5-10 minutes, as reading old maps can take a long time. If the process does not shift, force the Contacts app to close through the application settings and try again by selecting only the import of parts of the contacts.

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The most common cause of import errors is physical wear and tear of the chip SIM-If nothing helps, contact the operator's salon to replace the card with a number saved - employees can consider contacts as their equipment.

Remember that modern Xiaomi smartphones are optimized to work with digital profiles, so switching to storing contacts in the cloud will solve most compatibility issues in the future.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions