How to transfer contacts from the SIM card to Xiaomi: the complete guide

Changing your smartphone is always stressful, not only with getting used to a new interface, but also with the need to recover all the important data. Owners of Xiaomi devices, switching from button phones or other Android brands, often face the question: how to transfer contacts from the SIM card to Xiaomi so as not to lose a single number. This procedure seems trivial, but in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, it has its own nuances, ignoring which can lead to data loss or duplicate records.

Modern smartphones allow you to flexibly manage your phone book by choosing the storage location for each record, but if your numbers are stored exclusively on plastic, you need to copy them to the device’s internal memory or to the cloud service, which will ensure that data is stored even in the event of a breakdown of the gadget or loss of the SIM card.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the ways to import numbers, look at possible synchronization errors, and give tips on how to properly organize your phone book for maximum security and usability.

Preparation for data transfer and SIM card verification

Before you start the copying procedure, you need to make sure that the SIM card is correctly defined by the system and is in good condition. Put the plastic in the slot of the device, wait for the network to appear, and only then start manipulating contacts. If the SIM card is old and has a non-standard size, use an adapter, but make sure that the contacts are not mechanically damaged.

It's important to understand the difference between storages. A SIM card has a very limited amount of storage and often trims long names or doesn't support storing multiple numbers for a single name, so the purpose of migrating is not just to copy the data, but to migrate it to a more advanced medium, such as a Google account or Xiaomi's internal memory.

⚠️ Warning: Before starting mass import, make sure that the SIM card does have saved numbers. Often users store contacts in the memory of an old phone, and the SIM card in the new device will be empty.

It’s also worth checking if access to contacts is activated for system applications. In rare cases, after resetting settings or installing third-party launchers, permissions can be reset, which will block the ability to manage the phone book.

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If you use two SIM cards, carefully monitor the choice of source when importing, so as not to miss the numbers from the second card.

Standard method of import through the Contacts app

The easiest and most reliable method for Xiaomi to transfer contacts from a SIM card is built into the regular Contacts app, which requires no additional software installation and works on all versions of the firmware. Open the app, which usually has a blue icon with a human silhouette, and go to the settings menu.

In the application interface, you need to find the data management item, and depending on the version of MIUI, it can be called Import/Export Contacts or just Contact Management, and clicking on this pointer, the system will suggest you to select the source of the data.

• 📱 Select the source «SIM-card" or "import with SIM-map».
• 📂 Destination: It is recommended to choose Google or Phone, but do not leave it on. SIM.
• ✅ Confirm the action and wait for the copying process to end.

Once the operation is complete, the system will notify you of the successful import. If there are many numbers, the process can take several seconds.

Using the Mi Mover app for migration

For users who have just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone and want to transfer data from an old Android device, the Mi Mover utility is ideal. This application allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, messages and application settings without using the Internet.

Run Mi Mover on both devices. Select Receiver on the new phone and Sendr on the old one. Apps connect over Wi-Fi Direct, creating a secure data channel. Make sure to check Contacts on the file list.

The main advantage of this method is that it automatically converts data to the correct format and places it in the default storage of the new phone, which eliminates human error and manual selection of menu items.

Synchronization through Google account

The most modern and reliable way to store numbers is cloud sync. If you want to forget about the question of how to transfer contacts to Xiaomi from a SIM card in the future, you should set up automatic download once in Google Contacts, which ensures that your phone book will be accessible from any device in the world.

To implement this plan, first perform a standard SIM card import into your phone’s memory (as described in the second section). Once the numbers appear in the list, open the Settings section of your smartphone, search for Accounts and Sync, and select your Google account.

In the sync menu, make sure that the slider opposite the Contacts item is activated. The system automatically uploads all local records to the cloud. After that, you can safely delete local copies or even reset the phone to factory settings - when you re-enter the account, all numbers will return to their places.

⚠️ Attention: The first synchronization may result in a duplicate conflict, Google will suggest combining the same entries, carefully check the result of the merger, so as not to lose unique numbers recorded under different names.

Using the cloud also makes it easy to edit contacts from your computer via a browser, which is much more convenient than typing on a smartphone’s on-screen keyboard.

Solving problems with coding and duplicates

Often, when transferring data from older SIM cards, users are faced with the problem of “krakozyabr” instead of names or transliteration of Cyrillic into Latin.This is due to differences in the encoding of GSM and modern Unicode standards that Android uses. Unfortunately, it is difficult to fix already imported “krakozyabr” so it is important to set the process correctly before you start.

If you see names showing incorrectly, try changing the encoding when exporting if this option is available on your menu, or use middleware on your PC. However, it is often easier to re-write critical numbers manually, saving them immediately in the correct format.

Another common problem is duplication of records, which occurs when the same number is stored on the SIM card, in the phone's memory, and in the cloud. The MIUI shell has a built-in cleaning tool.

• 🧹 Open the Contacts app and click on three dots in the corner.
• 🔍 Select “Contact Management” or “Contact Management».
• 🔗 Click on “Combine duplicates” and confirm the cleanup.

The system will analyze the database and suggest combining records with the same numbers or names, which will help to clean up the phone book and avoid confusion when calling.

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Regularly cleaning duplicates through built-in MIUI tools speeds up your contact search and frees up space in cloud storage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)