How to transfer contacts from SIM to Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Many users when buying a new smartphone are faced with the need to transfer the phone book. SIM-A map that has been accumulating important numbers for years, and owners of Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco devices are often surprised not to find the usual "copy" button immediately after installing the SIM.

MIUI has its own interface features that can confuse a beginner. The standard algorithm of actions here is not always obvious, since modern smartphones by default offer to save data to the cloud, not to the memory of the card. However, physical transfer of records remains an important feature for those who have just switched to Android or change devices without synchronization.

In this article, we'll look at a detailed algorithm for different versions of firmware, how to avoid data loss when importing and where to look for hidden phone book settings. SIM-The card has a limit of characters on the contact name, so long titles can be cropped when copied.

Preparation of the device and visibility check SIM-map

Before you start manipulating the phone book, you need to make sure that the smartphone correctly recognizes the installed SIM-If the device can't see the communication module, there's no import, check if the chip is properly installed in the tray and if the contacts are dense.

After turning on the phone, pay attention to the top status bar, and it should show the signal level and the icon. 4G/LTE or 5G. If the name of the operator is replaced by the inscription "No" SIM-"Calls only" or "Emergency Calls" will have to be postponed until network problems are resolved.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to remove the tray for SIM-cards while working with the phone book or immediately after turning on the phone, this can damage the contact file system.

Make sure there are actually saved numbers on the card. On older SIM cards, memory capacity is limited to 250 entries, and newer phone models may not see records if they were saved in a format that is incompatible with the current GSM standard.

  • 📱 Make sure that SIM-The card is active and determined by the system.
  • 🔍 Check if you have saved numbers on another device if you have any doubts.
  • 📶 Wait for the full interface loading MIUI before the action.
  • 🔋 Make sure the battery is at least 20% in order to avoid a sudden shutdown.
📊 What device do you use to switch to Xiaomi?
iPhone
Old Android
Button phone
This is my first smartphone.
Other

Import contacts through the standard "Contacts" application

The main way to transfer data is built directly into the system application. In the Xiaomi shell, it can be called simply Contacts or combined with call functions. Open the application, which usually has a green or blue icon with a human silhouette.

In the interface that opens, find the settings menu. Most versions of MIUI have it hidden under three dots in the upper right corner or under a button with three horizontal bars. When you click on this item, you will see a drop-down menu with different control options.

You have to select "Import contacts" and the system will suggest you choose a data source "SIM-map "SIM 1 / SIM 2", depending on the slot where your card is installed. If you select "Phone Memory", the process will not begin.

☑️ Import algorithm

Done: 0 / 1

Once you have selected a source, the system will suggest you specify your destination, and you should choose your Google account or your Phone, and Google will prefer it because it provides automatic synchronization and protection against data loss when you change devices.

Alternative method through the system settings menu

Sometimes, a standard contact app may not work properly or have a modified interface, and in these cases, deep Android settings come to the rescue, a method that is more versatile and works on almost all firmware versions, including Chinese ones.

Go to the main smartphone settings menu. Scroll down to the Apps section or search for settings by typing the word "Contacts." You want "Import and Export Contacts," which is often hidden in the submenu.

In the window that opens, you will see two large buttons: "Import from memory" and "Import from memory". SIM-Select the second option. The system will request confirmation of the action, because this operation affects system data.

Settings → Applications → Contacts → Import and Export → Import from SIM-card

Then the device will suggest you select an account to save. If you have multiple Google profiles, be careful and choose the one that is the main one. Once confirmed, the copying process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records.

ParameterDescriptionRecommendation
SourceStorage area for old roomsSIM-map
AppointmentWhere do we keep the data?Google Account
FormatData structurevCard (automatically)
DuplicateRepeated recordingsCombining or creating new

⚠️ Note: When importing through system settings, storage access permission may be required, which must be provided, otherwise the process will end in error.

What to do if the import is frozen?
If the import process is stuck in the middle, don't panic. Force the application to close through the menu of running tasks. Reboot the smartphone and try to repeat the procedure by selecting "Phone Memory" as the destination, and then manually export the file to Google.> After a successful transfer, you may encounter a situation where duplicates appear in the phone book. SIM-The cards were partially identical to those already in memory or synced from the cloud before. Google's Contacts app and Xiaomi's standard call have built-in cleaning tools. Usually, the system itself offers "Combine Duplicates" immediately after import. If this does not happen, go to the settings of the application and find the appropriate item. The automatic connection works by matching phone numbers. SIM-card number is recorded in format +79990 billion, and the phone had 89990 billion, and the system could count them as different records, so you'd have to manually combine them by selecting the contact and clicking "Connect" or "Combine". 🔄 Open the Contacts app and go to the "Current and Manage" section". 🔗 Click "Combine duplicates" for automatic cleaning. ✍️ Manually check complex cases where names are written differently. 💾 After cleaning, wait until you sync with the server. Removing duplicates is an important step that will make your phone book neat and easy to use. This is especially true for business users who may have hundreds of contacts on their list. The most reliable way to store contacts on Android is cloud sync. SIM-Maps to your phone, it is highly recommended to make sure that they are stored in the cloud, and not locally. → Accounts and sync. Find your Google account and click on it. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active (blue or green). If sync is enabled, all your numbers will automatically be saved to Google servers. This means that even if you lose your smartphone or reset to factory settings, you can recover your entire phone book simply by logging in to your account on a new device. In the Contacts app, you have a save account in your settings, and you can select your primary Google account there, so that all the new numbers you add manually will go to the cloud immediately. You can see any problems and solutions that you can get. Users may experience import errors when the system says "failed to import" or simply ignores the command. SIM-If the importation does not begin, try to extract SIM-A card, wipe the contacts with a soft dry cloth and paste them back in, and rebooting the smartphone before the procedure helps, and in rare cases, the problem is solved by cleaning the cache of the Contacts app through the app menu. When you transfer from very old maps, Cyrillic names can turn into a collection of incomprehensible symbols. SIM-card to.vcf file on your computer via card reader, and then import this file to your phone. ⚠️ Note: If the names are missing after importation, but the numbers remain, do not delete anything from the name. SIM-Try changing the list of contacts in the app to "All contacts", perhaps they are simply hidden by the filter. 💡The most common cause of import errors is unstable contact. SIM-The card or the file system of the card itself is damaged, so backing up to the computer is always superfluous. Why do contact names appear as numbers after copying? SIM-The card was overflowing or used in very old phones that didn't support full name encoding. It also happens if you've chosen the wrong encoding format when you import it, so try editing one contact and saving it again, can you copy contacts if the phone's screen is broken? Yes, if the phone has debugging enabled. USB And you've already connected to a computer, and you can use programs like this. ADB. However, it is easier for a normal user to connect USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter and cursor interface to start importing. SIM-- Standard capacity. SIM-The cards range from 150 to 250 entries. Older cards can hold fewer, which is why when you overflow, new numbers are often not saved or only numbers without names are saved. Modern smartphones allow you to store thousands of contacts in memory. What to do if your phone says “Contact storage is full"? This message refers to the phone’s internal memory, set aside for the contact database, not the phone’s internal memory. SIM-You need to delete some unnecessary entries, clear the cache of the Contacts app or transfer some data to a Google account, freeing up local space.