Changing your smartphone to a new device from Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco is always an exciting moment, which begins with the question of transferring contacts. SIM-It's a map that was standard in the age of push-button phones, but in today's Android environment, it requires a more flexible approach. MIUI HyperOS is simplified by developers, but has its own nuances, depending on the version of the software.
Before any manipulation of the device memory, it is necessary to understand that SIM-The card has a very limited amount of memory and is not designed to store complete contact profiles. Modern smartphones allow you to instantly copy records to the cloud or internal memory, while storing additional fields such as email, photos and addresses. Ignoring this step may result in loss of some information in future firmware updates or carrier changes.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at all available import methods, with a focus on built-in system tools and cloud services, learn how to avoid common errors, eliminate duplicates and set up automatic synchronization so that you never have to worry about your phone book again. Follow the instructions consistently to ensure a successful result without losing data.
Features of storing contacts on SIM and in Android memory
Technologically SIM-The card is a module with very limited memory, which was originally designed to identify the subscriber in the network, and not to manage personal data. The standard storage limit for a single record is often limited to 255 characters, making it impossible to keep long names, compound surnames or addresses. That is why when transferring data from the SIM to the Xiaomi phone, it is often observed that names are cropped or part of the number is lost if it is recorded in an international format.
Unlike the old standard, the internal memory of the smartphone and Google account provide almost unlimited opportunities for structuring information. Android uses a single database, where contacts from all sources: messengers, social networks and social networks flock. SIM-When imported to a Redmi or Poco device, the system automatically tries to distribute this data to the most appropriate fields, but sometimes manual adjustments are required.
⚠️ Before starting mass import, make sure that SIM-The card does not save your operator’s system numbers (such as voicemail or balance) so as not to clog the main phone book of the smartphone.
It is also important to take into account the difference in character encoding: Old SIM cards may not display Cyrillic characters correctly when read by a modern device, although when writing to the memory of a Xiaomi phone this problem is solved automatically. Using Unicode in the Android database allows you to save names in any languages of the world without distortion, which is impossible to implement under the GSM standards for SIM.
Preparation of the device and compatibility check
Before taking any active action, you need to make sure that SIM-The card is physically correctly installed in the tray of the device. Modern Xiaomi smartphones use combined trays, where the second slot can be combined with a microSD memory card. If you use a dual-sim device, make sure that the contact card is inserted into the slot that the system identifies as primary or simply active for voice calls.
Once the device is turned on, the system must automatically recognize the presence of contacts on the SIM card, and you can check this by opening the Contacts or Phone app and going to the display settings. If the list is empty, maybe a filter that hides the SIM numbers is turned on, or the card is damaged, in which case you should try to remove and re-insert the module, pre-turning the smartphone.
It is also critical to check the status of your Google account, because we will be moving data to cloud storage or local memory, binding to an account is a must for security. Without authorization, you risk losing data when you reset or break your device, as a local copy without a backup in the cloud is less reliable.
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If you have a two-sim phone, when importing, the system will ask which one. SIM-You need to read the data. Choose the slot carefully so you don't import an empty database.
Import contacts through the built-in “Contacts” application
The most reliable and quick way to transfer data is to use the standard functionality of the MIUI shell. This method does not require an Internet connection and third-party applications, working at the system level. The algorithm of actions is the same for most models, from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi.
To start, open the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette). In the upper right corner or in the More menu (three dots), find the Import/Export Contacts item. The system will prompt you to select a data source. In our case, this will be Import with SIM-Once you have selected the source, you will be asked to specify the destination.
Here's the important thing about choosing a target directory.
- 📱 Phone – Contacts will only be stored in the memory of that particular device.
- ☁️ Google (your account) – Contacts will go to the cloud and sync with all devices.
- 💾 Mi Account – Using Xiaomi’s cloud service (less versatile but convenient in the brand ecosystem).
☑️ Import algorithm through MIUI
Once confirmed, the copying process will begin, the progress bar will appear on the screen, the system will notify you of a successful import or issue an error report if any records are damaged, and it is recommended that you immediately open the contact list and check if the names and numbers are displayed correctly.
Use Google Contacts for Synchronization
An alternative but more modern approach is to use Google Contacts, a specialized app that is preferred if you plan to switch to another Android smartphone in the future, as it ensures full data compatibility. The application interface may differ from the standard MIUI call, with more advanced management tools.
Run Google’s Contacts app (if installed separately) or go to system sync settings. From the menu, select Import/Export Settings and then Import from SIM-The key difference is that Google Contacts will automatically offer to combine duplicates during the import process, which will save time for subsequent cleaning.
If the automatic import didn’t work, you can use the web version of the service via the browser on your computer, but this requires pre-exporting data from the SIM to a file on another device, which is not advisable with a smartphone at hand.
What if Google Contacts can’t see SIM?
Once you have completed importing through Google, it is useful to go to contacts.google.com from your computer and check if new records have been displayed there, which will confirm that the backup is correct and can be restored at any time, even if the phone itself is lost.
Solving problems with coding and duplicates
A common problem with data transfer is the appearance of duplicates, which happens if you previously saved some numbers in the phone book, and now added them to the same phone book. SIM-In the shell. MIUI There's a built-in tool to solve this problem. Go to Contact» → «Settings» → «Duplicate cleaning" (or "Combine repetitive contacts"). The system will prompt you to automatically merge the same records.
The problem with encoding (where the names are displayed squares or characters) is more complicated. If you see Krakozyabry when importing, try changing the input language or locale of the system before re-importing, although this rarely helps if the data is already damaged at the SIM level. In such cases, it is better to manually rewrite important numbers or use an intermediate export to the VCF file via another phone.
For advanced users facing massive display errors, there is a method to clear the contact app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory → Clear. This will not delete your numbers (since they are stored in a database or cloud), but reset the list display settings.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms are cut off. | Limitation of field length on SIM | Manually edit the contact after import |
| No contact photos. | SIM doesn't store graphics | Download photos from the gallery or social networks manually |
| Duplicate records | Re-importation | Use the function "Combine duplicates" |
| Wrong number format | Difference of standards (+7 vs 8) | Use a smart set or fix in the editor |
Automatic synchronization and security
After successfully transferring data from the SIM to the Xiaomi phone, it is crucial to set up automatic synchronization so that this procedure does not repeat in the future. By default, the system may offer to store new contacts in the phone memory, which does not ensure their safety when they break.
Open Contacts, go to Settings, and find Account for New Contacts (or similar). Select your Google account. From now on, all new numbers you add or come in as a new number. SMS-And the messages will automatically fly to the cloud, and this creates a continuous security loop.
It is also recommended to enable sync via mobile network if you change devices frequently. Make sure that in the Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google activated slider opposite the item "Contacts". Periodic check of sync status will help to avoid unpleasant surprises.
⚠️ Note: When you turn on sync, make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi if the volume of the phone book is too large (thousands of contacts with photos) to avoid wasting mobile traffic.
Data security also means protecting your account itself. Using two-factor authentication for a Google account ensures that even if you lose your phone, your contacts will not be accessible to anyone else, and you can restore them to a new device simply by entering your username and password.
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Keeping your contacts in the Google cloud is the only way to guarantee 100% safety in the event of loss, theft or complete breakdown of your Xiaomi smartphone.