The switch to Xiaomi’s new smartphone often comes with the need to transfer the phone book accumulated over the years. Although modern cloud services allow you to synchronize data instantly, many users still prefer the classic method of saving numbers directly to the phone book. SIM-This allows for data autonomy: even if you lose or break your phone, the numbers will stay with you, just by inserting a plastic card into another phone.
But this process has its nuances, especially in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS. Unlike older button phones, modern Xiaomi smartphones by default offer to save contacts to a Google account or Mi Cloud, which is more functional, but requires an Internet connection to access. If your goal is to physically transfer to the chip, you will need to perform several specific actions in the device menu.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the algorithms for different scenarios: transferring from another Android smartphone, importing from an iPhone, and managing existing records. You will learn about the technical limitations of the storage format and how to avoid losing important data, such as second numbers or photos of contacts that are not available. SIM-card does not support.
Technical limitations of SIM-cards when storing contacts
Before proceeding with the transfer, it is important to understand that SIM-The map is an outdated medium in terms of modern multimedia capabilities, and it uses a file system that was developed decades ago, when phones were used exclusively for calling and using the same information. SMS. Therefore, when copying data, you will encounter a number of technical limitations that you need to know in advance, so as not to be surprised by the missing fields in the phone book.
The main problem is the amount of memory allocated to the phone book. SIM-The card can store a limited number of records, usually from 250 before 500, Moreover, the storage format often cuts off long names, leaving only the first ones. 10-15 All additional numbers, email addresses, addresses and positions will be irretrievably lost in this transfer.
⚠️ Note: When transferring contacts to SIM-All additional fields (second number, work email, job title) will be deleted.
Another important aspect is the coding of names. SIM-The cards may incorrectly display Cyrillic symbols or special signs, replacing them with question marks or empty symbols. If your phone book has a lot of contacts with names in Russian, after transferring it to the map and pasting it into an old phone, you can see an unreadable set of characters instead of names.
- 📉 Limitation on the number of records: usually no more 250-500 contact.
- 🔤 Long name trimming: Only the first characters of the contact name are retained.
- 📞 One number to name: the ability to save only one phone number for each record.
- 🌐 Coding problems: the risk of incorrect display of Russian letters on old devices.
That is why experts recommend using SIM-The card is only a temporary means to move between phones, not as a permanent storage. For long-term storage, it is better to use Google Contacts or export to a.vcf file, which saves the entire data structure without loss.
Preparation of Xiaomi smartphone for data import
Before starting the procedure, make sure that your Xiaomi smartphone correctly recognizes SIM-Put the card in the appropriate slot (usually the tray is combined, but the chip must be correctly placed) and wait for the network to appear. SIM-It is important to know which card you will be writing data to, as it is physically independent.
Check if the memory is full. SIM-If you've used this card on another phone before and you haven't cleaned it, there may be old records that might conflict with new ones or just take up space, and cleaning the card before you start the operation is a good tone to avoid confusion. This can be done through the standard “Contacts” application in the settings. SIM-map.
☑️ Pre-transfer check
It’s also worth making sure that the current Contacts app is installed on Xiaomi’s phone. MIUI is a system application that can sometimes be hidden in the Tools or System folder. If you use a third-party call (like Google), the interface may differ, but the logic of the action will remain the same: Import/Export search.
The important thing is permission. When you first run a contact application, the system MIUI If you don't have those permissions, the operating system won't let the application read the data from the phone. SIM-If you have previously refused access, check the settings in the Settings section. → Annexes → Contacts → Permits.
Transferring contacts from another Android smartphone
If you have an old Android phone, the process of transferring numbers to the Android phone SIM-There are two main ways to do a Xiaomi card: one is to export directly to the card via an old phone, and the other is to import via a file or Bluetooth.
On an old Android smartphone, open the Contacts app. Click on the menu (three dots or three bars) and select Contact Management or Import/Export. You need to choose Copy Contacts or Export on the menu. SIM-The system will prompt you to select a source (Phone, Google, Samsung Account) and (SIM-Once all contacts are selected, the copying process will begin.
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If your contacts are stored in your Google account on your old phone, export them to your phone’s internal memory first, and then copy them to your phone. SIM-map, as direct export from the cloud to SIM is often not available.
After the old phone reports a successful completion, retrieve SIM-On the new device, open Contacts, go to the settings (three dots in the corner) and select Import/Export. Click Import with SIM-The system will tell you to choose where to save the data: in memory of the phone, to Google account or to the very same. SIM (Select "Phone" or "Google" to transfer the numbers to internal memory Xiaomi.
An alternative for advanced users is to use the.vcf file. On an old phone, export all contacts to a file, transfer it to Xiaomi via Bluetooth or messenger (for example, Telegram to Favorites), and open the file on a new device, which is preferable because it stores all contact fields, as opposed to writing to SIM.
- 📲 Open Contacts on an Old Android Device.
- 💾 Select "Import/Export» → «Exports to SIM-map».
- 🔄 Put it in. SIM In Xiaomi and select “Import with” SIM-map».
- ☁️ Save imported numbers to your phone or Google account.
Import contacts with iPhone (iOS) on Xiaomi
iPhone owners are less fortunate, as Apple does not provide a direct opportunity to copy contacts to the Internet. SIM-The iOS security policy prohibits direct access of applications to write to the chip SIM. However, there is a proven workaround that requires having a computer or using cloud services.
The easiest way to do this without a computer is to use the Move to iOS app or similar utilities from the App Store that can export contacts. But to write directly to SIM, you'll need a file. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone, select all contacts (or use iCloud on your computer), export them in vCard format and send them to your mail or messenger.
Once you have a.vcf file on Xiaomi, just click on it. The system will suggest importing contacts. Select your target account (Google or Phone). Direct SIM recording from your iPhone is impossible without special, often paid and insecure intermediary apps that may not work properly with new versions of iOS.
Why can’t iPhone write in SIM?
If you have the ability to use a computer, connect your iPhone to iTunes (or Finder on a Mac), back up your contacts, then export them to a vCard file. This file is then transferred to Xiaomi. This ensures that all fields, including photos and addresses, are saved, which, when used, are SIM-The cards would still be gone.
After importing it to Xiaomi, if you absolutely want to have them on the market. SIM (For example, to move to a button phone, use the function "Export to the phone". SIM-The map is already inside the Xiaomi phone, which we talked about in the previous sections, so the iPhone is only the source of the file, and Xiaomi is the recording tool.
Contact management and display configuration in MIUI
After the numbers were on SIM-map or memory Xiaomi, it is important to properly configure their display. MIUI It allows you to flexibly manage the visibility of contacts. Often users do not see numbers because the display settings have a "Phone Only" or "Phone Only" filter. SIM», concealer.
To adjust visibility, open the Contacts app, click on the three dots in the top corner, and select Settings → Contacts to Display. Here you can choose All Contacts to see the full picture, or filter out the extra one. This menu also has a duplicate merging feature, which is very important after transferring data from different sources.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Storage area | Where is the physical contact? | Google Account (Cloud) |
| Name format | Order of words (Name of last name) | Like in the phone book. |
| Simple set. | Search by number numbers | Included. |
| Merging of takes | Automatic integration | Included. |
The Simple Set feature deserves special attention. If it is enabled, you can find the Alexander contact by typing 2 (ABC), 5 (JKL), 3 (DEF), 2 (ABC), 6 (MNO), 3 (DEF), 7 (PRS) in search. This greatly speeds up the search, especially if you do not remember the exact spelling of the name.
Remember to back up regularly, even if your contacts are SIM-The card, it can demagnetize or lose the chip. In the settings of the contacts Xiaomi has a paragraph "Organization of contacts» → «Export to internal memory. Do this before any major system changes or resets.
Solution: Duplicates and missing numbers
One of the most common problems after a contact transfer is the appearance of duplicates, which occurs when the same number is stored in both the phone's memory and on the phone's memory. SIM-map, and in a Google account. MIUI Usually offers to automatically combine them, but sometimes this process is incorrect, creating a "porridge" of records.
To solve the problem, use the built-in cleaning tool. In the Contacts app, go to Contact Organization (or Management) and select "Joint Repetitive Contacts." The system will analyze the database and suggest that similar records be merged. Check the result carefully so that you do not lose unique data accidentally caught in the group of takes.
⚠️ Note: If Cyrillic numbers are missing after transfer, try changing the system language or font, but most often this means that SIM-The card does not support encoding, and in this case, only re-importing through the vCard file will help.
If the numbers are gone, check the display filter, maybe you accidentally activated Hidden Contacts mode or selected a filter for only one group, and check if the phone synced with an empty Google account by wiping out the local database, in which case recovery from the backup of Google Contacts (contacts.google.com), which stores the history of changes over the past 30 days, will help.
In the event that SIM-The card is full and new numbers are not recorded, you need to delete some of the old ones or transfer them to the phone memory. SIM-cards via a computer (not recommended for beginners) or replacing the card with a new one from the operator will solve the problem of physical wear and tear of the memory cell.
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The most reliable way to store contacts is synchronization with a Google account, not an entry to the account. SIM-card, as it protects data from loss when your phone breaks.
Regularly checking the phone book and removing unnecessary “junk” (old numbers, test records) will help keep the system clean and speed up the search for the right subscribers.