Changing a mobile device or switching to a more modern model, such as the Xiaomi Redmi 9, often involves the need to transfer personal data. The most critical resource for most users is a phone book containing the numbers of friends, colleagues and delivery services. If you’ve just unpacked your new smartphone, the first question to ask is how to quickly and safely copy accumulated records from your old one. SIM-map.
The MIUI protocol, which is based on Redmi 9, is as simple as possible and doesn’t require third-party applications to be installed. Built-in tools allow you to transfer in just a few touches, which minimizes the risk of error. However, it’s important to understand the difference between temporary storage on a SIM chip and permanent storage on a device or cloud account.
In this article, we will discuss each step of the procedure, explain why you should not keep numbers on the SIM card all the time, and how to set up automatic synchronization. You will learn how to avoid duplication of records and what to do if the phone does not see contacts after import. Proper management of the contact book is the basis of comfortable use of a smartphone.
Why it is important to transfer contacts to your phone memory
Many users have been storing numbers directly on the site for years. SIM-This is a legacy of the push-button era, when internal memory was limited and cloud services were non-existent, but for a modern smartphone like the Redmi 9, this approach is archaic and potentially dangerous for data security.
The main problem with SIM storage is that it has very limited storage capacity, and typically only allows one cell to save a phone number and a name, and the length of the name is often limited to 10-15 characters, and second numbers, email addresses, photos and addresses are lost or cut off, making contact incomplete.
⚠️ Attention: In case of damage or loss SIM-All the numbers saved on it will be irretrievably lost, since they do not have a backup copy on the Internet.
Transferring contacts to your phone’s memory, or better yet, to your Google account, can be a multi-task solution, so you can add more information to each contact, assign unique melodies and photos, and cloud storage ensures that you don’t have to re-enter hundreds of numbers manually when you buy your next phone.
Preparation of SIM-card and Redmi 9 devices
Before proceeding with direct import, it is necessary to make sure that SIM-Insert the SIM card into your Xiaomi Redmi 9 slot and wait for the network signal to appear. If the card is new or previously used in a phone of another brand, the process can take a little longer.
Make sure your device has a screen unlock password or biometric access set up, a security requirement for Android that prevents unauthorized access to your personal data in the event that the phone ends up in the wrong hands during the transfer procedure.
It is also recommended to check the free space in internal memory. Although contacts occupy a negligible amount of space, crowded memory can cause system applications to malfunction, clear the cache or delete unnecessary files if the storage is more than 95% full.
Step-by-step instructions for importing contacts
The MIUI data transfer process is standardized and done through the Contacts app. Open the app menu and find an icon with a phone handset or a human silhouette. Launch the app to go to the phone book management.
In the interface that opens, look at the top of the screen or the bottom menu, where there are three dots or a menu icon. Click on it to reveal the list of actions available. Find Import contacts (or "Import contacts"). The system will suggest selecting a data source.
In the list of sources, select yours. SIM-map, SIM 1 SIM 2) After that, the smartphone will scan the chip and display a list of found records, you will be asked to choose where to save the data: in memory of the phone, to Google account or in another profile.
You should choose a Google account if it's linked to a device, which will automatically sync. If you want to save data locally, select Phone. Click OK or Import to start the copying process. The operation takes from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records.
Display setting and duplicate management
Once you have completed importing, you may find yourself in a situation where duplicate entries appear on the list, which happens if you have previously saved some numbers to your phone’s memory and now copied them from your SIM card. Xiaomi has a built-in tool to solve this problem.
Go to the Contacts settings and find the Clear Repetitive Contacts section, and the system automatically analyzes the database and suggests combining records with the same numbers or names, which will help the mantener order the phone book and make it easier to find the right subscriber.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Phone Memory / Google |
|---|---|---|
| Memory capacity | Limited (usually up to 250 entries) | Almost unlimited |
| Length of name | Frequently cropped (10-15 characters) | Complete, no restrictions. |
| Supplementary fields | Only number and name. | Email, address, photos, notes |
| Security | Low (risk of loss in case of breakdown) | High (backup) |
You can also select which contacts to show in the list in the display settings, so you can filter them so that you can only see the ones in the phone's memory, hiding old entries from the SIM card so you don't get confused.
Synchronization with Google account
The most reliable way to store contacts on Redmi 9 is by linking to a Google account. This not only saves numbers, but also allows you to instantly restore them on any new Android device simply by entering your login and password. Check if sync is enabled.
Go to Settings on your smartphone, then select Accounts and Sync. Find your Google account in the list and make sure the switch next to Contacts is active. If sync is disabled, turn it on and press the update button.
To check if you're successful in saving, open your browser on your computer and go to contacts.google.com. Sign in with the same account you have on your phone. If your numbers are displayed there, it's a success and your data is secure in the cloud.
Solving problems in transfer
Sometimes users have difficulty: the phone says "Contacts not found" or the import freezes. The first reason may be in the format of a SIM card entry. Some old operators or phones used encoding that is incorrectly displayed on modern screens, turning Russian letters into Krakozabras.
In this case, you may need to manually edit the names after importing, and check the access rights of the Contacts app. Go to Settings → Apps → Contacts → Rights and make sure the app is allowed to read and change contacts, as well as access to the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Don't pull out SIM-card during the import or synchronization process, this can damage the phone book database.
If the problem persists, try exporting the SIM contacts to a.vcf file (if available on your current phone), flip the file to Redmi 9 and open it, a method that often bypasses system errors of direct SIM reading.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer contacts without the Internet?
Will the numbers be deleted from the SIM card after the transfer?
Why are contact names displayed in questions or characters?
How to transfer contacts if the screen of the old phone is broken?
Competent contact management on Xiaomi Redmi 9 allows not only to save important numbers, but also to make communication more comfortable. MIUI, You can easily get rid of the restrictions. SIM-You have complete control over your data, don't neglect to set up cloud backups to make sure that you keep your information safe in any situation.