Buying a new Xiaomi Redmi smartphone or switching from a different device always starts with the most important thing: saving the phone book. Losing a number can be a nuisance, so proper data migration is a priority for every owner. Modern MIUI and HyperOS shells offer flexible tools for working with data, but the process is not always obvious to beginners.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to safely transfer contacts with the SIM-We're going to look at not only the standard methods, but also the nuances that users often miss, such as name encoding and duplicates, and understanding these processes will help avoid losing information in the future.
It's worth noting that storing numbers directly on a SIM card is an archaic method that has severe character and functionality limitations. Moving to the cloud or phone memory gives you access to synchronization, backup and quick search. Let's take the steps as closely as possible.
Preparation of SIM-card and compatibility check
Before you start importing, you need to make sure that your SIM-The card is technically correct and correctly defined by the system. Put the card in the slot and wait for the network signal to appear. If the screen displays a read error message, data transfer will not be possible until the hardware problem is fixed.
Modern Xiaomi smartphones often use a combined slot, so make sure the card is set correctly. check if the device sees the number by opening the standard Phone app and going to the contacts section.If the list is empty or displayed incorrectly, a pre-clearance may be required.
⚠️ Note: If the SIM card has more than 500 numbers, the import process can take a considerable time.Do not retrieve the card or restart the device before the operation is complete to avoid damage to the database.
It's also important to check if the SIM card itself is full of old records that you don't plan to keep, some carriers limit the number of numbers you can save, and old records can interfere with reading new ones, and cleaning up the excess garbage will speed up the system.
Standard method of import through the Contacts app
The basic method of data transfer is built directly into the system call management application. To start, open the Contacts app (usually a yellow icon with a human silhouette) and in the upper right corner you will see a three-dot icon or a gear indicating the settings menu.
In the list that opens, select Import/Export Contacts. The system will offer several options. SIM-The phone will then suggest you to choose a destination, a place where the numbers will be stored.
- 📱 Device Memory – Saving Locally, Without Linking to an Account.
- ☁️ Google Account – Sync with the Cloud (Recommended Option).
- 📱 Xiaomi account – using the manufacturer’s cloud service.
- 💾 Internal storage – creating a backup file.
Choosing the right storage is critical to the security of your data: Keeping a Google account ensures that when you lose your phone or change your device, all numbers will be restored automatically, and local storage is dangerous because when you reset your settings to the factory (Hard Reset), all data will be lost irretrievably.
☑️ Pre-import checks
Step-by-step instructions for MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shell interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware. However, the logic remains the same for all Redmi Note, Poco and flagship series.
Once you have selected the source (SIM) and the recipient (Google Account), the system will request confirmation. Press OK or Allow. The copying process will begin, which is visually displayed by the progress bar, at which time the screen may go out — this is a normal energy saving reaction, but it is better to keep the device unlocked.
⚠️ Warning: Do not open other heavy applications during importation, which can cause the copying process to freeze, especially on models with little RAM.
When you finish the process, you'll see a notification of successful importation. Now it's recommended to check the phone book. Scroll down and up, make sure the names are displayed correctly, not as incomprehensible characters. If you see "crackers," there's a problem with the encoding, and the procedure may have to be repeated by choosing another method of saving.
Import via system settings and Mi Mover
If the standard contact application for some reason does not work or display SIM-You can use the system settings or the Mi Mover utility, which often helps when you need to transfer data from another Android device, but it also works with local sources.
Go to Settings. → The phone. → Reservation and Recovery: Select the Recovery or Import tab here, and in some firmware versions, this item is placed separately in the Additional section, and the system scans available data sources, including: SIM-map.
Alternatively, use the Services and Feedback app or the File Manager Explorer built-in. In Categories, select Contacts. If the system detects SIM card entries, it will offer a way to move them, a method that is less intuitive but effective in non-standard situations.
| Method of import | Speed of operation | Risk of data loss | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex Contacts | Tall. | Low. | Low. |
| System settings | Medium | Medium. | Medium |
| Third-party annexes | Depends on the software. | High-pitched | Tall. |
| Manual input | Very low. | Absent. | Tall. |
What to do if the import is frozen?
Problem Solving: Duplicates and coding
One of the most common problems after a transfer is the appearance of duplicates. This happens if you have previously synced some numbers and now added them again from the SIM card. Xiaomi has a built-in tool to solve this problem, but it needs to be activated manually.
Open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots) and select Contact Organization (or Contact Management). Find Combine Duplicates. The system will automatically analyze the database and suggest connecting the duplicate records, saving all numbers and email addresses under the same name.
The second common problem is the wrong encoding of names. Instead of "Alexander," you can see a set of characters. This happens when you transfer from very old phones, in which case only manual brute force or using an intermediate.vcf file will help. Export the contacts from the SIM card to the file, and then import this file, choosing the correct encoding when reading.
- 🧹 Cleaning – Delete empty records without names.
- 🔗 Combination – merging cards with the same names.
- ✏️ Editing – manually correcting names in batch mode.
- 🗑️ Removal – Complete cleaning of selected contact groups.
💡
Regular double checks save the phone’s memory and speed up the search for the right subscriber in an emergency.
Synchronization with Google: Security Guarantee
Once your contacts are successfully transferred to your phone's memory, the smartest step is to immediately sync them to the cloud, which will turn your phonebook into a secure database that can be accessed from any device. → Accounts and synchronization.
Find your Google account and click on it. Make sure the switch opposite Contact is active (blue or green). If you haven't synced in a long time, click on three dots in the corner and select Sync.
You can check the results not only on your phone, but go from your computer to contacts.google.com. If you see all your numbers there, it's a success. Now, even if you lose your phone or break your screen, your contacts are safe and will automatically be uploaded to the new Redmi when you log in to Acca.
Don't neglect this step, relying only on the device's memory. The internal drive can fail, and a software failure can erase all data in a second. Cloud synchronization is the only reliable way to protect.
💡
Enable the “Outload and Sync” function for contacts in the settings of Google Photos and Google Services so that backups occur automatically when you connect to Wi-Fi.