Modern Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI or HyperOS offers many ways to store information, but basic features sometimes work in a non-obvious way. SIM-The numbers stored on the operator's chip are simply not visible in the general phone book, which creates inconveniences as you have to switch between menus or perform complex actions to make a call.
The problem of lack of visibility can be in filtering settings, app access rights or the features of the Google account. Android default seeks to store all data in the cloud, ignoring the physical memory of the SIM card, which requires manual intervention. In this article, we will discuss all possible scenarios, from simply turning on the display to fully import numbers into internal memory.
Restoring access to the subscriber list is not a complicated process, but it requires attention to the details of the interface. Different versions of firmware may have different names of menu items, but the logic of the work remains the same. Following the instructions will help you quickly get the phone book running and avoid losing important data during further use of the gadget.
Why SIM contacts are not visible in the general ledger
The main reason numbers don't show up is because of the Android operating system. Unlike older push-button phones, modern smartphones are looking at the way they work. SIM-So the default is a filter that hides those records, so that you don't clutter up the main list and speed up your search.
Also, there is often conflict between multiple contact sources: If you have synced with Google, MI Cloud or Telegram account, the system can prioritize them by hiding data from the SIM, sometimes a problem occurs after a firmware update, when the permissions for the standard Contacts app are reset.
⚠️ Warning: If you see an empty list after installing a new SIM card, don't rush to reset your settings. 90% of the time, the numbers are physically on the chip but hidden by a software filter.
It is important to understand the difference between “display” and “import”; display allows you to see numbers, but they continue to be stored on the SIM card, which limits their functionality (for example, you can not add a photo or a second number), while importing copies the data into internal memory, making them a full part of the smartphone ecosystem.
Filtering settings in the Contacts app
The easiest way to get back missing numbers is to change the display settings in the standard app, by opening the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette) and going to the control menu, usually called by pressing three dots in the upper right corner or swiping from right to left.
In the menu that opens, you'll find Settings or Contact Display, and you'll see Contacts to Display or Contact Filter, and the default checkbox may be All Contacts, but if the SIM card isn't selected separately, the list will remain blank, and you'll need to select All Contacts or manually tick your carrier's name.
- 📱 Open the Contacts app on the main screen.
- ⚙️ Click on three dots in the corner and select Settings.
- 👁️ Find the Contact Display or Filter section.
- ✅ Make sure that the checkmark is opposite All contacts or yours. SIM-map.
Once you change your settings, the list should be updated instantly. If that doesn't happen, try closing the application completely through the menu of running tasks and reopening it. Some versions of MIUI require a device reboot to apply the changes to the phone book.
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Use contact search as soon as you turn on the filter. Sometimes the system is too lazy to redraw the list, but the search instantly finds hidden records, confirming their presence.
Import contacts from SIM-cards in the memory of the phone
To fully use all the functions of the smartphone Xiaomi recommended to transfer numbers from the SIM card to internal memory or cloud account, this will not only solve the problem of visibility, but also protect data from loss when chip damage.
Go to the contact settings and find the Import/Export contact. The system will tell you to choose the source of the data — in this case, it's the source of the data. SIM-Next, you need to specify the destination, where the numbers will be saved, and the best way to choose a Google account, as this will provide automatic synchronization and backup.
Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Import with SIM → GoogleOnce the operation is confirmed, the copying process will begin. The run time depends on the number of records. It is important not to interrupt the process or turn off the screen, although modern systems are resistant to interruptions. When completed, you will receive a notification of successful import.
☑️ Checklist of successful imports
If the import was successful but the numbers are still not visible, check if the filter is turned on again.Sometimes after importing, the system automatically switches the view to Phone Only, hiding the data just copied if it was recorded in a cloud profile rather than in the device's local memory.
Managing access rights and permits
Modern versions of Android (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and HyperOS shells place a particular emphasis on privacy.The Contacts or Phone app may not be allowed to read data from the user's home. SIM-cards if the permission was accidentally revoked by the user or shot down by a system update.
To check this, go to Settings smartphone, then to the section Applications → All applications. find in the list Contacts (system, often with a human icon) and Phone (tube icon). Go to the paragraph Application permissions or Other permissions.
Make sure the Contact and Phone switch is set to "Allowed." If you have "Not allowed" or "Ask", change the value. Without that right, the application cannot physically read information from the operator's chip, even if it's technically there.
| Annex | Permission required | Default status | Action. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts (System) | Contact, Telephone. | Permitted. | Check it out. |
| Phone (Calls) | Contact, Telephone. | Permitted. | Check it out. |
| Google Contacts | Contacts | Requested | Permission. |
| Third-party launchers | Contacts | Forbidden. | Permission. |
⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party “caller” (for example, from Google or Truecaller), the permission settings should be checked in it, and not in the Xiaomi system application.
Once permissions are enabled, it is recommended to force the application to stop through the settings menu and run it again, ensuring that the new rights status is applied correctly and the subscriber list is updated.
What if permissions are included but no contact?
Synchronization with Google and MI Cloud
Xiaomi’s ecosystem is closely integrated with Google’s services. Often the numbers you see on other devices are stored in the cloud, not on a SIM card. If the new phone doesn’t sign in or sync out, the list will be empty, even if the old SIM card had something on it.
Check the sync status in Settings → Accounts and Sync. Select your Google account and make sure that the Contacts slider is active. A similar procedure should be done for your MI Cloud account if you use Xiaomi cloud services.
Sometimes there is conflict when the phone tries to show only local contacts, ignoring cloud ones. In the display settings (which were discussed in the second section), make sure that all available accounts are selected, MI Cloud and SIM-tape-card.
- ☁️ Open the smartphone settings.
- 🔑 Go to Accounts and Synchronization.
- 🔄 Select Google and check the status of your contacts sync.
- ✅ If necessary, click Synchronize manually.
If you've just changed your phone, the initial sync process can take a few minutes, especially if there are hundreds of records in the cloud, and it's best to use Wi-Fi to speed up the process and save traffic.
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Cloud sync is the most reliable way to store your numbers, ensuring that you don't lose your numbers even when you're physically damaged. SIM-Cards or the loss of the smartphone.
Solving format and coding problems
It's rare, but there are cases where contacts are displayed, but instead of names, they show "krakozyabra" or incomprehensible characters, and this is a coding problem that occurs when you transfer data from old phones or when you use them. SIM-cards filled on devices with a different locale.
If the contact is saved without a country code (for example, just an 8-digit number or a number without +7), the smartphone may not recognize it as valid for display in some messengers or smart filters.
Re-import-export often helps to fix encoding. First, export the SIM contacts to the.vcf file for internal memory, then delete them from the SIM card and import them back from the file. When writing from the file, the system uses modern UTF-8 encoding, which solves the character problem.
If the numbers are not identified as mobile (there is no mobile phone icon next to the name), check the number type in the contact card. Sometimes they are saved as Home or Worker, and the Mobile Only filter hides them from the general list when you call.
⚠️ Note: When editing old contacts, pay attention to the extra characters at the beginning of the number (for example, 8-8 or +7-8). Removing the excess eight after the country code often solves the problem of determining the caller. ID.