When switching to a new smartphone or after buying a Xiaomi Redmi device, many users are faced with the need to quickly transfer the phone book. Often, old numbers are stored directly on a plastic carrier, which is a thing of the past, but still relevant for many subscribers. Modern smartphones, including the Redmi Note and Redmi Pro models, offer powerful tools for data migration, making this process as simple and secure as possible.
Moving contacts with SIM-Maps to your device’s internal storage or Google account are not just a matter of convenience, but also an important measure of data security: If you lose your card or break your old device, the numbers stored in your phone’s memory or in the cloud will stay with you forever. We will discuss in detail all available methods, from standard system tools to the use of specialized applications.
Shell interface MIUI HyperOS, or its current version, may vary slightly depending on the model and version of Android, but the basic principles remain the same for the entire ecosystem. You don't need root rights or complex software, SIM-card with recorded numbers and a few minutes of free time to perform all the necessary operations for setting up.
Preparation for the transfer of contacts to Xiaomi
Before starting the import procedure, you must make sure that the serviceability SIM-If you just inserted a card into the new Xiaomi Redmi, wait for the system to fully load and the network icons appear in the status bar. Make sure the card is correctly identified and displays the name of the carrier.
A critical step is to check the fullness of the memory itself. SIM-Older communication cards often have a limit on the number of characters in the contact name and the total number of records. 200-250 In the case of numbers, the import process may take longer or require a breakdown into steps.
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Before importing, make sure that the phone has at least 30% battery charge to avoid a sudden shutdown while recording data in memory.
You also need to pay attention to the state of contact. SIM-The card can retain duplicates or records with damaged encodings (instead of letters - question marks). After transferring to the internal memory of the smartphone, you can easily edit such records by adding photos, email and addresses, which is impossible to do when storing on a sim.
Import contacts through the standard “Contacts” application
The easiest and most reliable way to move numbers is to use Google’s built-in Contacts app or MIUI system app. This method doesn’t require an internet connection and works even in flight mode, as data is read locally. Open the Contacts app on your Redmi.
In the interface that opens, find the settings menu, usually indicated by three dots in the upper right corner or three horizontal lines, and in the drop-down list, select "Import contacts" or "Contact management", and the system will suggest selecting the source of the data.
☑️ Pre-import checks
After selecting the source SIM-You'll be asked to specify your destination, and it's important not to leave a default option if you want to secure your data.@gmail.com) Clicking the "Import" button will start the copying process.
The time it takes depends on the number of records, and when you're done, you'll see a success notice, and all the numbers that were previously only available when you put a SIM in any phone are now integrated into Android and are available for smart search and sorting.
Using the Mi Mover app for full migration
If you're switching from an old Android smartphone to a new Xiaomi Redmi, it's more convenient to use the Mi Mover utility. This app is pre-installed on all the brand's devices and allows you to flip not only contacts, but also photos, messages and application settings. Run Mi Mover on both devices.
On the new phone, select "I am the recipient" and on the old one, "I am the sender." Devices will create a secure Wi-Fi network for data transfer. In the data transfer list, be sure to tick "Contacts" and select the import option from the phone. SIM-card if installed in an old phone or from memory of an old device.
| Parameter | Standard imports | Mi Mover | Google Synchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | Tall. | Very high. | Depends on the Internet. |
| We need the Internet. | No. | No (wi-fi only) | Yes. |
| Portability of photo | No. | Yes. | Yes (if retained) |
| Difficulty | Low. | Medium | Low. |
The advantage of Mi Mover is that the app automatically recognizes duplicates and can combine them if you have previously used Xiaomi smartphones. Once the transfer is complete, the data on the new Redmi will be structured in the same way as on the old device, with all groups and tags.
Sync with Google Account: Cloud Storage
The modern approach to keeping a phone book is to avoid storing numbers on physical media. Google accounts provide unlimited contact space by linking them to your email address, allowing you to access numbers from any device, whether it's a tablet, a computer or a new smartphone, just by logging in to your profile.
To activate this feature on Xiaomi Redmi, go to system settings. Find Accounts and Sync (or Users and Accounts) section. Select your Google account from the list and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If sync has been disabled, turn it on right now.
⚠️ Warning: When you turn on sync, make sure you're in the right direction. If you already have numbers on your phone and they're not in the cloud, the data can be uploaded to the cloud. If you have old numbers in the cloud, they'll show up on your phone.
Once synced, the system will automatically download all stored records in the cloud. You can check this by going to contacts.google.com from your computer. Any changes made to your Redmi phone book will instantly be displayed in the cloud and on your other devices.
Solving problems with coding and duplicates
Frequent problems with transferring SIM-The maps are incorrectly displayed, especially if Cyrillic characters were used «Àëåêñåé» It's a set of incomprehensible characters, and it's because of the different encodings. GSM and UTF-8, used by different phone manufacturers.
To fix the situation on Xiaomi, you can use the unification function. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Contact Management -> Repeat Combines. The system will suggest finding similar entries. Often, after manually editing one of the duplicates, the encoding is restored automatically.
Why are names cut off?
If the problem is massive, you can export contacts to a.vcf file, open it on your computer via a text editor (such as Notepad++), fix the encoding to UTF-8 and import back. However, it is easier to use Google Contacts on PC, which has a convenient tool for correcting and merging records.
Export and backup of the phone book
After successfully moving numbers to Xiaomi Redmi, it is strongly recommended to back up.This will protect you from accidental data loss in the future.The export file has the.vcf extension and can be stored on a memory card or sent to yourself by email.
To create a copy, go to Contacts -> Contact Management -> Contact Export. Choose a source (usually a Phone or Google account) and specify where to save. Contacts.vcf contains all the information: names, numbers, addresses and emails.
Storing a backup on an external medium or in a cloud storage (like Google Drive or Dropbox) is the gold standard of security. If you reset your settings to Factory Reset, you can recover the entire phone book in a couple of seconds just by opening the saved file.
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Regularly exporting contacts to a.vcf file and saving them to the cloud is the only way to guarantee 100% security of numbers in case of any phone breakdown.
Configure the display and sorting of contacts
Once imported, you may experience contacts that are not displayed in the order you are used to, and in the Contacts app settings on MIUI, you can flexibly adjust the list view, go to the display settings and select the sort by name or last name.
Filtering of your contacts is also available. If you imported numbers from a SIM, but you lost old posts from messengers (Viber, WhatsApp) or social networks, you can hide them. In the Contacts for Display menu, uncheck the extra sources, leaving only the Phone and Google.
Be sure to check which source is installed to save new numbers by default.It is recommended to install Google or Phone, but never choose «SIM-map" as the main storage, as it limits the functionality (inability to add a photo, second number, etc.).