Switching to a new smartphone or changing carriers often poses a challenge to users to save important information. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices may face a situation where phone numbers are stored in a device memory or in the cloud service and they need to be moved to a physical SIM card, which is especially important when buying a button phone, transferring the device to another person or simply wanting to have a backup of numbers on plastic media.
The process of copying data in MIUI and HyperOS is quite simple, but has its own nuances depending on the firmware version and the source from which you plan to retrieve records. Modern interfaces "callers" can hide some functions under additional menus, which sometimes causes difficulties for users. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, consider working with standard tools and third-party applications, and answer frequent questions.
It is worth noting that SIM cards have limited memory and specifications that are inferior to modern cloud storage. When you transfer, you can lose some information, such as photos of subscribers, additional email addresses or long contact names. However, for a basic number list, this method remains one of the most reliable and versatile, ensuring compatibility with any mobile device, regardless of the operating system.
Limitations and features of data storage on SIM
Before you start moving, you need to be aware of the technical limitations of SIM technology. It is not a full-fledged data storage device, but a specialized security module that was not originally designed to store large amounts of information. Old cards can hold only 250 records, modern ones can hold up to 500, but the structure of each memory cell is strictly regulated by GSM standards.
The main problem is the length of the contact name. The standard often limits the number of characters in the name (usually up to 14-20 characters), so long company names or full names can be cropped. In addition, it is usually impossible to copy more than one number to one name to a card, while in a smartphone memory you can associate a mobile, home, work number, video call and fax to one contact.
⚠️ Note: When you copy contacts with extended fields (photos, multiple numbers, addresses) to the SIM card, all additional information, except for the main number and name, will be irretrievably deleted.
If your contacts are synced with Google Contacts, they may have unique identifiers and structures that are exported to the Internet. SIM This can lead to the fact that after you download back to the new smartphone, you will have many duplicates or disparate records that you will have to manually combine. VCF-file to have a rollback point.
Preparation of the device and verification of the SIM card
To successfully perform the operation, your smartphone must correctly recognize the installed SIM-Make sure the card tray is inserted before clicking and the top of the screen displays the network signal and icon. 4G/5G or+. If the card is not identified, the copy function will be inaccessible or inactive in the menu.
Check the free space on the chip. While this is rarely a problem for the average user, a crowded map will not allow you to add new entries, and also make sure that the phone has Google's Contacts app or the standard MIUI app installed, since this is where the database is managed.
☑️ Pre-transfer check
An important step is to identify the source of data. On Xiaomi smartphones, contacts can be stored in three main places: in the device memory (locally), in a Google account or in a Xiaomi Cloud account. To transfer to the SIM card, the data must be readable by the system. If you see a blank list, it is possible that contacts from certain media are hidden in the display settings.
Copying contacts through the standard MIUI application
Owners of MIUI-enclosed smartphones have a built-in contact management tool that allows you to import and export data without installing additional software. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic of actions remains the same. First, open the Contacts app (a yellow icon with a human silhouette).
In the menu button that opens, find the menu button. In newer versions of HyperOS and newer MIUIs, it's often three dots in the top right corner or the Settings button at the bottom of the screen. You need to find an item called "Import/Export Contacts" or simply "Import/Export." Click on it to reveal the list of available transactions.
The system will tell you to choose the direction of transfer. You need the item "Export to the port". SIM-map or "copy on" SIM-Once you select this action, the phone will ask you to specify the source. If you have hundreds of numbers in your memory, the system may suggest you select the contacts manually or select all at once».
- 📱 Open the Contacts app on the home screen.
- ⚙️ Go to the settings menu or click on the three dots in the corner.
- 📤 Select the option “Import/Export Contacts».
- 💾 Click "Export on" SIM-map and confirm the action.
The copying process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the number of records. At this time, it is not recommended to turn off the screen or launch heavy applications so as not to interrupt the writing process to the chip. Upon completion, you will receive a success notification or error report if any contacts were not recorded due to a name length limitation or lack of space.
Transfer through Google Contacts (Android Standard)
Many users prefer to use a clean interface from Google, which is often pre-installed on global firmware versions or installed manually.This method is more versatile and works the same way for Xiaomi, Samsung and other brands. Open the Contacts app with the logo of a colored man from Google.
In the bottom menu, select the "Fix & manage" tab, and here are all the tools for working with the database. SIM-If this item is missing, perhaps your SIM-The card does not support recording or the operator has blocked this function (which is extremely rare).
The system will request confirmation and possibly account selection if there are more than one. Once confirmed, the data conversion process will begin. Google will try to adapt the names as much as possible, cutting off the extra characters to fit into the SIM limits. Unlike MIUI, the interface is more minimal and contains fewer visual effects, but functionally it fully covers the user's needs.
What to do if there is no “SIM Export” item?
After completion of the operation, it is recommended to SIM-A card and paste it into another, preferably simple phone to check that the names and numbers are correctly displayed, so that the data is read correctly and not damaged during the recording process.
Use of third-party applications for migration
If Xiaomi’s standard tools are not working properly for some reason (for example, they fly out when trying to export a large list), you can use the trusted third-party utilities from the Google Play store.
One popular solution is the “Copy my Data” app or specialized utilities like SIM Card Manager, which provide a more flexible interface for selecting specific contacts, filtering duplicates before recording, and detailing error logs, and installing these programs requires permissions to access contacts and phone calls.
| Title of the annex | Substantive function | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Copy my Data | Copying between devices | Works via Wi-Fi, convenient for pair transfer |
| SIM Card Manager | SIM Memory Management | Allows you to delete and edit records directly on the map |
| Backup Your Mobile | Backup | Creates full backups, including SMS and magazines |
| Google Contacts | Synchronization | Standard solution built into Android |
When using third-party software, be careful about permission requests. A quality application does not require access to your geolocation or microphone to work with contacts. After completing the task, third-party applications should delete or revoke their access rights for the sake of personal data security.
Solution: errors and duplicates
During the transfer process, users often encounter technical problems, one of the most common is the memory error. SIM-In this case, the system will suggest that you delete old records or replace them with new ones. Be careful: when you replace them, you will lose old numbers that were not copied to the clipboard.
Another common problem is the appearance of duplicates, if you've previously copied contacts and then added new ones to your phone, when you re-export them to your phone. SIM Modern Xiaomi smartphones can automatically combine duplicates, but at the level of the SIM-This is done by the phone itself when you read the card. Use the "Combine Duplicates" function in your contact settings to clean the card.
⚠️ Note: If you have an error when exporting, “Can’t copy the contact,” check the record name. Having special characters, emojis, or a name that is too long (over 20 characters) often causes the record to fail on the chip.
It is also possible that contacts are copied, but names are displayed as "Unknown" or a set of digits, which occurs when encoding incompatibility or file system damage occurs. SIM-In this case, it is recommended to contact the operator for a replacement. SIM-New card, while retaining the phone number.
💡
Tip: Before mass SIM, try copying one test contact, and if it shows up correctly with your name and number, then you can safely continue with the entire phone book.
Reverse import: return contacts to the phone
Once you return to using a full-memory smartphone or buy a new Xiaomi, you will need to perform the reverse operation – transfer contacts from the SIM card back to the device’s memory or to the cloud. SIM-The card is considered temporary and less reliable.
The procedure is performed similarly to export. In the menu "Import / export" select "Import with" SIM-The system will ask where you want to save your data, and it is highly recommended that you choose a Google account rather than a “phone memory” so that if you lose or break your device, your numbers will not be lost.
After importing, be sure to check the list. Often, names cropped when writing on the list are not available. SIM, They can be edited manually, with full names added and missing numbers added if you have them elsewhere. SIM-Personal data card if you plan to take it to scrap or transfer it to another person.
💡
The golden rule: SIM is a transport for numbers, not an archive. Always keep the main copy in the Google or iCloud cloud.