Buying a new smartphone like Xiaomi Poco M3, It's always accompanied by a desire to start using it more quickly, but the first obstacle is often not having a notebook, if you're used to storing numbers directly on the computer. SIM-Unlike older push-button phones, modern Android devices don’t initially display this data without a special import procedure.
The process of transferring data on devices with a MIUI shell (or HyperOS) is as simple as possible for developers, but has its own nuances: you do not need to install third-party applications or have the skills of a programmer. You just need to know the right path in the system menu to synchronize all the records.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the algorithm for your model, and the possible errors that can occur when working with contact files. Properly following the steps ensures that no important number is lost during the migration to the new gadget.
Preparation of SIM-card and checking the storage format
Before you start active actions in the smartphone menu, you need to make sure the physical condition of the media. SIM-The card must be properly installed in the slot of the device. If you just inserted the chip, wait for the network icons to appear at the top of the screen.
It should be understood that the SIM card has serious limitations compared to cloud storage or internal phone memory, it usually holds no more than 250 records, and the number length is limited by the standard. If your contacts contain additional fields such as email, address or photo, when importing this information will be lost, because the SIM format does not support it.
It is recommended to check in advance whether the numbers are actually on the SIM, you can temporarily install the card in any other phone and see the contact list, if the notebook is empty, then the data is stored in the memory of the old device or in the Google account, and the procedure for importing from the SIM card will be useless.
⚠️ Attention: Don't pull out SIM-a card during the process of importing or exporting data, which may result in the file system of contacts being damaged or the complete loss of records.
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Before you start any contact transactions, back them up through your Google Account, even if you plan to just move the data from your SIM card, which will create a restore point in case of a crash.
Standard method of import through the Contacts app
The basic method of data transfer is built into the standard Contacts app, which is preinstalled on the Xiaomi Poco M3. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
To start, open the app and find the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots in the top right corner or behind the gear icon, and that's where the number database management functionality is.
- 📱 Open the Contacts app and go to the settings menu (three dots).
- 📥 Select "Import/Export Contacts" in the list of options.
- 💾 Click on the button "Import with" SIM-maps.
- 📂 Select an account (Google or Phone) where the data will be stored.
Once you have selected a source, the system will request a copy confirmation, so you can select all the contacts at once or only manually mark them, and if you have chosen to save to your Google account, the process will go in the background, and the data will automatically appear on your other devices.
☑️ Checklist of successful imports
Using Mi Mover to Migration Data
If you’re switching from an old Android smartphone, the built-in Mi Mover tool may be more effective than working with a mobile phone. SIM-This method allows you to transfer not only the numbers, but also the history of calls, SMS Photos without loss of quality.
But if your goal is to extract data from the SIM card of an old phone that doesn't turn on, but the chip works, then Mi Mover won't help you directly with the chip here. But if the old phone turns on, you better use this tool. It creates a direct Wi-Fi channel between devices.
Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old phone, "I'm the sender." Scan. QR-The system will decide where to get the information, often prioritizing internal storage, but you can choose and choose between the two. SIM.
Why Mi Mover is better than the SIM-map?
Syncing with Google Account as an Alternative
The most reliable way to store numbers in the Android ecosystem is by linking to a Google account, which eliminates the need to physically transfer files or use a SIM card as an intermediary, stored on servers and accessible from any device after login.
If you have already completed the importation of SIM-cards to phone, it is strongly recommended to immediately enable sync. → Accounts and synchronization → Make sure the switch opposite the "Contact" item is activated.
This step is critical for security. In the event of a loss or breakdown of the Xiaomi Poco M3, you can recover the entire notebook in a few minutes just by logging into your account on a new device. Local storage on SIM or in the phone's memory does not provide such a guarantee.
| Storage method | Limit of records | Photo preservation | Risk of loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM-map | ~250 pcs. | No. | High (physical wear and tear) |
| Phone memory | No restrictions. | Yes. | Medium (when the device breaks) |
| Google Account | No restrictions. | Yes. | Minimum (cloud storage) |
| File.vcf | No restrictions. | Yes. | Depends on the file's safety. |
Solution: Contacts are not copied or duplicated
In the process of transferring Poco users M3 This can be a technical problem, and it's a common situation that the import button is inactive or the process is in error, and it can be caused by damage to the contact file on the contact file itself. SIM-map or encoding incompatibility.
Another common problem is the emergence of duplicates, because Android tries to combine data from different sources, the same number can be displayed twice: once as a record with SIM, the second as a record from Google, and this can be solved through the unification function.
- 🔄 Go to the Contacts app and select the settings menu.
- 🧹 Find the item "Connect Duplicate Contacts" or "Contact Organization".
- ✅ Confirm Automatic Merge of Records with Same Numbers.
If importing is interrupted, try restarting your smartphone and repeating the procedure, and make sure the device has the latest system update, as older versions of MIUI have sometimes had bugs when working with certain carriers.
⚠️ Note: When attempting to import more than 500 contacts from one SIM-If the card is modified or non-standard, the phone may freeze%.
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Automatic doubles are a standard MIUI feature that eliminates the need to manually delete duplicate numbers after import.
Export contacts to a backup file
After successfully migrating numbers to Xiaomi Poco M3, it is a reasonable step to create a local backup. The.vcf (vCard) file contains all the contact information and can be saved to your computer or sent to your messenger.
To do this, go back to the "Import/Export Contacts" menu and select "Export to Storage" or "Export to File.vcf." The system will prompt you to select a save location. contacts_date time.vcf.
The presence of such a file allows you to restore the notebook at any time, even without access to the Internet or SIM-Just open this file on any Android device and the system will suggest adding all the numbers to the memory.
The path to the file after export:
Internal memory → MIUI → backup → AllBackup → 1234567890 (User ID) → contactRegularly making copies of these before resetting your settings or firmware is the gold standard of digital hygiene.It takes less than a minute, but saves hours of work to reconnect.