The switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone is often accompanied by the need to transfer all personal information. Contact details are one of the most important elements that you need to save when changing your device. If you have previously used a button phone or other Android smartphone where numbers are stored locally, you need to move them to the phone. SIM-fast-synchronization.
With MIUI and the new HyperOS, importing and exporting data is easy, but it has its own nuances. Android allows you to manage records flexibly, but the standard menu can be hidden or renamed depending on the firmware version. Understanding the logic of the contact store will help you avoid losing important numbers.
This article describes in detail the step-by-step algorithm for transferring a phone book. We will look at the standard system facilities, and also pay attention to the potential limitations of the data storage format on the phone. SIM-This will allow you to quickly prepare the device for operation or move the number base from the old gadget.
Preparation for data transfer to Xiaomi
Before you start copying directly, you need to make sure that the hardware is working correctly. SIM-card to your Xiaomi slot and make sure that the system identifies it without errors. If the device has two SIMs, choose the one you plan to write numbers to, since the transfer usually takes place on a specific media.
It is important to understand the difference between local phone storage and SIM card memory. The internal memory of a smartphone allows you to store advanced information: photos, email addresses, additional numbers and notes. SIM-The map has a strictly limited amount and format of data, which often leads to truncation of information during transfer.
You should check in advance where your current contacts are saved. Open the Contacts app and go to the display settings. Make sure you see all the records you plan to move. If some of the numbers are stored in your Google account, they will first need to be exported to the device's memory.
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Before mass transfer, back up your contacts in.vcf format through the Contacts settings to protect your data from accidental loss.
Exporting contacts from phone memory to SIM
The process of transferring numbers already in the memory of the smartphone is done through the built-in Contacts app. The interface may vary slightly on different versions of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. You need to open the application and find the recording management menu.
Click the menu button (usually three dots or three bars in the corner of the screen) and select "Import/Export Contacts." In the window that opens, the system will prompt you to select the direction of operation. SIM-Once selected, the system will warn you of possible loss of data due to format limitations.
Then you'll be asked to select the contacts to transfer, you can tag individual records or use the "Select All" function, and once you confirm the selection, the copying process will begin, and the speed depends on the number of records and the amount of data in each of them.
☑️ Pre-export verification
Please note that when exporting to SIM-Long names can be cropped off. GSM Oftentimes limiting the length of the name 10-15 Additional fields, such as address or job title, may also disappear because the storage format on the chip does not support them.
⚠️ Note: When exporting contacts to SIM-The original entries in the phone's memory remain unchanged, but if you choose to import data back from the SIM later, duplicates may appear.
Import numbers from SIM-card in the memory of the smartphone
If you just inserted a SIM card from an old phone into a new Xiaomi, you will need to perform the reverse operation — import. This will allow you to transfer the numbers to the device memory, where they will be formatted and synced with the cloud. Open the Contacts app and go back to the Import/Export menu.
Select the option “Import with” SIM-The system will automatically detect the entries on the chip, you will be asked to choose an account or storage where the data will be stored, and the best choice is a Google account, as this ensures the safety of the data even if the phone is lost or broken.
Once you have selected your destination, confirm the action. The phone will start reading data from the SIM card. During the import process, Android may suggest combining duplicate contacts if they are found in the device's memory. It is recommended to agree to the combination so that the phone book remains clean.
When you're done, check the results. Go through the contact list, make sure the numbers are displayed correctly, and the names are not inscribed or cropped, and if you're successful, the SIM card can be read and the data stored in the cloud.
Using Mi Mover to Migration Data
For owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, there is a more modern and convenient way to transfer data - the Mi Mover application. This tool allows you to transfer contacts, messages, photos and applications from the old phone to the new one without using the new one. SIM-card-carrier.
Install the Mi Mover app on both devices (in the new models it is built into the Tools section). Run the program on the new phone and select the Receiver role. On the old device, select the Sender role. Scan QR-code or connection via Wi-Fi access point will create a direct communication channel.
In the data transfer list, make sure to check "Contacts" and you can select specific groups or migrate the entire phone book, and the speed of transfer via Mi Mover is much faster than when copying via Bluetooth or cloud services, and does not consume mobile traffic.
Why Mi Mover is better than the SIM-map?
The main advantage of this method is to preserve the entire data structure, so you don't have to worry about the contact name being cut down to 10 characters or the subscriber's photo disappearing, and once the transfer is complete, all the data will be immediately available on the system and synchronized with your profile.
Restrictions on the SIM-card storage format
It is important for users to be aware of the technical limitations of the use of SIM-It's an outdated method that's been preserved more for compatibility than for convenience, and understanding these limitations will help you avoid unpleasant surprises when you're moving data.
The main problem is the encoding and field length: Older SIM cards may not support Cyrillic in contact names, replacing letters with question marks or blank spaces. Even modern chips often have a limit on the number of characters, which is critical for Russian names and patronymics.
Besides, on one SIM-A limited number of records can usually be saved to a card (often 250 to 500), if your phone book is larger, some contacts will simply not be recorded, and there is no possibility to store more than one number on one name within a single SIM record.
| Parameter | Phone Memory / Google | SIM-map |
|---|---|---|
| Number of numbers per name | No restrictions. | Usually 1. |
| Length of name | Up to 200+ characters | 10-15 characters |
| Photo support | Yes. | No. |
| Additional fields (Email, address) | Yes. | No. |
| Risk of data loss | Minimum (cloud) | Tall (physical carrier) |
⚠️ Attention: Do not use SIM-The card is the only place to store important contacts, and the physical wear and tear of the chip or loss of it will lead to the permanent removal of the entire phone book.
Synchronization with Google account
The most reliable way to store contacts in the Android ecosystem is sync with Google. SIM-This method has no practical limits on the scope and provides access to numbers from any device, whether it is a tablet, computer or a new smartphone.
To activate sync on Xiaomi, go to system settings and select Accounts and Sync. Find your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If it is off, turn it on and wait for the initial sync to complete.
All new contacts created on your phone must be saved to your Google account by default, check this in the Contacts app settings under Account for New Contacts, which ensures that even when you reset your settings to Hard Reset, your numbers will not be lost.
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Synchronization with Google account completely replaces the need to copy numbers on the Internet. SIM-The card is a modern standard of data security.
To recover contacts from the cloud, simply enter your Google email login and password on your new device, automatically pull up all the stored records, sort them out, and merge them with your local database, and it takes a few seconds and doesn't require physical presence. SIM-card.