How to transfer contacts from SIM card to Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Switching to a new smartphone often becomes stressful not because of the difficulties with setting up the operating system, but because of the fear of losing important data. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to quickly transfer the phone book from an old device or an old SIM card. If your numbers are stored in the memory of an old phone, the process can take time, but transferring from the SIM card is a task that can be solved in a few minutes.

The modern MIUI (or HyperOS) shell offers built-in tools for data migration that do not require the installation of third-party software. However, there are many nuances, from the format of the save to possible errors when reading the map. In this article, we will discuss all the current import methods so that you can be sure of the safety of your contact information.

It's worth noting that storing numbers directly on a carrier's plastic media is considered obsolete due to the limitations of the number of characters in the name and the lack of backup. However, for many users, this is the only way to quickly migrate, and we'll look at how to perform the procedure correctly and whether to leave data on the map in the long run.

Preparation of the SIM card and compatibility check

Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that the physical storage medium is in good condition. Old SIM cards can have damaged contacts or be simply too worn out, which will lead to read errors. Make sure that the card sits tightly in the tray and is determined by the system without delay.

An important step is to check the format of the data storage. Some carriers use specific encodings that may not be displayed correctly on modern smartphones. If after importing you see "crackers" instead of letters, you can solve the problem by changing the encoding in the display settings, but you better check the map immediately on another device.

• 📱 Make sure the SIM card is installed in the active slot that is selected for default voice calls.
• 🔋 Charge your smartphone to at least 40% so that a sudden shutdown does not interrupt the memory recording process.
• 📶 Check for network signal, as some operations may require confirmation from the operator.

Special attention should be paid to the amount of memory of the card itself. Standard SIM cards can accommodate 150 to 250 numbers. If your card is full, the system may suggest choosing contacts to import or skip some of them, in which case it is better to import contacts in parts or use alternative synchronization methods.

⚠️ Warning: Never remove the SIM card during the data copying process.This can damage the file system of the card and completely lose records without the possibility of recovery.

Import contacts through the standard “Contacts” application

The easiest and most reliable way to transfer data is to use the built-in functionality of the MIUI shell. Xiaomi developers have provided a convenient interface for managing the phone book. You do not need to search for hidden menus, all the necessary options are available in the open.

To start, open the Contacts app (a green icon with a human silhouette) and in the upper right corner of the screen, find the menu button, which usually looks like three dots or three horizontal bars, and click on it and you will see a drop-down list of actions.

In the menu that opens, select Import Contacts. The system will suggest you select a data source. In this case, it will be a SIM card (or SIM 1 / SIM 2 if you have a dual-sim device). Once you select the source, the phone will start scanning the card memory.

Then you'll be asked to choose your destination, and that's the key to the whole process: you can save your data to your phone or to your Google account, and you'll prefer a Google account because it automatically syncs and protects you from loss when you change your device.

Using Mi Mover to Use Mass Migration

If you plan to transfer other data from your old smartphone in addition to contacts with the SIM card, the Mi Mover utility will be an excellent solution. This application is pre-installed on all new devices of the brand and allows you to transfer information over Wi-Fi Direct without using the Internet.

The process starts with running the app on both devices, and on the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" status, and on the old phone, "I'm the sender." QR-The device code will connect and you will be able to select data categories to transmit.

In the list of available options, be sure to check Contacts. The utility will automatically determine whether they are stored on the SIM card or in the device memory, and will prompt you to transfer them all at once. This is especially convenient if you do not have a new SIM card adapter at hand.

Using Mi Mover also allows you to save the contact structure, including photos, additional numbers and email addresses, tied to each subscriber, which is often lost when you import from a SIM card.

Synchronization through Google account

The most modern and secure way to work with a phone book is cloud storage, and if you've used an Android smartphone before, your contacts are probably already in the cloud, in which case you may not even need to transfer from the SIM card.

To check this, go to your phone's settings, look for Accounts and Sync, and select your Google account. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If sync is enabled, the phone will automatically download all numbers from the cloud.

However, if the numbers are physically only on the SIM card, you first need to upload them to the cloud, using the method described in the second section, selecting your Google account as the target when importing, and then all the data will be accessed from any device where you log in to this account.

The main advantage of this method is its independence from the physical media, and even if the SIM card is lost or damaged, your phone book will remain safe and sound in Google’s secure storage.

Solution: When Contacts Are Not Copyed

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the import process ends in an error or contacts are not displayed after copying, most often the problem lies in the application (permissions) or crowded memory.

The first thing to do is to check if the app has “Contacts” or «SIM-Manager" permissions required. Go to the Settings path. → Annexes → All applications → Contacts → Permits: Make sure that phone and contacts are allowed.

The second common reason is the storage format: SIM cards often do not support long names or special characters, and when imported, such records may be cropped or not created at all, in which case manual verification or use of third-party applications to read SIM cards will help.

• 🔄 Try restarting the device before trying to import again, this will clear the cache of system services.
• 🗑️ Remove some old or unnecessary numbers from your SIM card if they exceed the 250 entries limit.
• 📲 Use a SIM card adapter to insert the card into another phone and check the readability of the data.

⚠️ Warning: If the system reports data corruption on the SIM card, do not attempt to format it via your phone. This will destroy all records.

Cleaning duplicates and sorting after transfer

After successful data transfer, it is often necessary to clean up the phone book, and duplicates can appear if you have previously synced some numbers through Google, and now added them from the SIM card.

There's a built-in cleaning tool in the MIUI shell. Open the Contacts app, click on the menu, and select Contact Management. Here you'll find Clear Repetitive Contacts. The system will offer to merge similar entries, saving all numbers and photos in one card.

It's also useful to sort contacts by name or surname for easy search, and in the display settings, you can choose the order of sorting: "First name, last name" or "Family, first name," which is especially true for large phone books, where manual search takes a long time.

Remember to back up periodically, and even if you're using the cloud, a local.vcf backup is never superfluous, and you can save it to your computer or send it to your email.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The most reliable way to save contacts is to import them into your Google account, which guarantees access to numbers from any device and protection against loss.

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Save your contacts backup in.vcf once a month, and a file weighing several kilobytes can be stored in cloud storage or sent to your messenger as "Favorites."