Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to migrate data when switching to a new device or after resetting to factory settings. Xiaomi Redmi 8, despite the affordable price, is equipped with a modern MIUI shell, which has its own characteristics of working with a phone book. Standard copying procedure numbers may not be obvious to the user accustomed to pure Android or other interfaces.
The main difficulty is that the default system tends to store all data in a cloud account Mi Account or Google, ignoring the physical nature of the system. SIM-This is for security, because if you lose your card, you're not going to lose your numbers, but if you want to copy the data from the carrier's chip to the internal storage of your smartphone, you're going to have to do a few specific things in the contact menu.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each step of the process, address possible errors, and provide alternative synchronization methods. Understanding the logic of how MIUI contacts work will help you avoid losing important numbers and duplication of records in the future.
Preparation of the device and checking the visibility of contacts
Before you start actively copying, you need to make sure that the phone reads the information from the installed SIM card correctly. Plug the card into the appropriate slot and wait for the network icons to appear at the top of the screen. If the network appears but the numbers are not displayed, the problem may lie in the display settings.
Go to the Contacts app and look at the top of the list, and there's often a filter that restricts the information you're displaying, and you have to select the All Contacts option or specifically specify your SIM-So, without this step, you can see the numbers on the map, and you can't do anything else.
It’s also worth checking if contacts are hidden because of sync with other accounts. Go to the app settings and make sure that check boxes are ticked against all sources, including SIM. This is a basic diagnostic step that is often overlooked when trying to find non-existent problems in the software.
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If the phone can't see SIM-map, try gently wipe the golden contacts on the chip with a soft dry cloth before re-installing.
Standard method of import via contact menu
The most reliable and quickest way to move numbers is to use the built-in functionality of the Contacts app, which does not require an Internet connection or third-party programs, and the algorithm is unified for most versions of MIUI installed on Redmi 8.
To start, open the app and find the menu button, which is usually represented by three dots or stripes in the corner of the screen. In the drop-down list, select "Import / Export Contacts", the system can request permission to access the data, which must be confirmed.
Next, select the source of the data. In our case, it is "Import with the data source". SIM-Once the source is selected, the system will prompt you to specify your destination, and it is recommended to choose a “Phone” or “Mi Account” to ensure that the data is stored even when changing devices.
- 📱 Click on the menu button in the Contacts app».
- 📥 Select the item "Import / Export Contacts».
- 💾 Specify the source: «SIM-card 1" or «SIM-map».
- ✅ Confirm the selection of all numbers for copying.
The copying process takes from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the number of records, and once completed, you will see a successful import notification, and now your numbers are stored in the device's memory and protected from loss when you retrieve the card.
☑️ Import checklist
Using System Settings for Data Management
An alternative way to manage a phone book is through the general settings of Xiaomi’s system, which is convenient because it allows you to manage access rights and synchronization options for all applications at once, and is especially useful if the standard contact menu is not working properly.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps → Contacts. This is the data store and cache. In some firmware versions, the import button is displayed directly in this section or is available through additional settings at the top of the screen.
It is important to note that system settings can also clear the app cache if the import process is stalling, but this should be done carefully so as not to delete temporary files necessary for the current operation.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning the Contacts app data through system settings, user display settings may be reset, but the numbers stored in the phone’s memory or cloud are not usually deleted.
Using the system menu gives you deeper control over the process, you can see how much space the contacts take up, and force the process to stop if it consumes too much of the Redmi 8 processor.
Google Contacts as an Alternative
Google's ecosystem offers a powerful room management tool that is often ignored by Xiaomi users.The Google Contacts app can automatically sync data with the company's users. SIM-cards at the first start or at the request of the user.
If you have Google Play installed, open Google’s Contacts app (an icon with an “A” on a color background). Go to the settings menu (three bars) and select Settings» → «Import. Choose yours. SIM-Google Map and Account to which you need to save data.
The advantage of this method is that the numbers go straight to the Google cloud, which means that when you buy a new Android smartphone and log in to your account, the entire phone book will automatically recover in seconds.
- 🌐 Open the Google Contacts app.
- ⚙️ Go to the settings section via the side menu.
- 📲 Select the import function with SIM-map.
- ☁️ Specify your Google Account for Save.
This is ideal for those who are planning to switch to a different smartphone brand in the future, and the data will be universal and accessible from any device that has access to the Internet and your account.
What if Google Contacts can’t see SIM?
Solving Common Import Problems
The data transfer process is not always smooth. Xiaomi Redmi 8 users may experience reading errors, freezes or partial import. SIM-map.
Older SIM cards have a limit on the length of the contact name and the number of characters in the room. If there are entries on the card that do not meet modern standards, the phone may miss them or display them with errors, in such cases, it is recommended to rename the problematic contacts manually after importing.
Another common problem is duplication: when importing, you can create copies of existing numbers. MIUI has a built-in merging function, but sometimes it requires manual intervention.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Imports complete, but no numbers | Incorrect display filter | Select “All Contacts” from the menu |
| The "Not Enough Space" Mistake | Phone memory is overflowing | Clear cache or delete unnecessary files |
| Numbers are copied with country code | Storage format on SIM | Manually edit the format of the number |
| The phone can't see. SIM-map | Poor contact or software failure | Reboot the device, move the map |
If none of these methods help, perhaps they themselves. SIM-The card is physically damaged or has an old format of data storage, in which case the best solution is to contact the operator's salon to replace the card with the preservation of the number.
Features of the MIUI shell on Redmi 8
The MIUI shell on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 has an aggressive energy saving system that can interrupt background import processes. If you have a very large phone book (more than 500 contacts), the system may find the import process too resource-intensive and stop it.
To avoid this, it is recommended to close all unnecessary applications before starting a mass migration of data, and make sure that the battery level is at least 20-30%, although the copying process consumes minimal energy.
The MIUI interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware (Global, China, Russia).Menu item names may vary, but the logic remains the same: search for Import/Export in the contacts app.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI After importing contacts, you need to manually enable synchronization with Mi Cloud, otherwise new records may not be saved when resetting settings.
Understanding the specifics of your firmware version helps you navigate the menu faster. If you can't find the right item, search by settings by entering the word "Import" or "Contacts".
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MIUI can limit background processes, so it is better to close other applications and ensure the system is stable to import large amounts of data.
Data retention and backup
After successfully transferring contacts to the phone’s memory, it is critical to ensure that they are kept safe, and storing numbers only in the phone’s internal memory is risky: if the device breaks down or is stolen, it will be impossible to restore data.
It is recommended to back up immediately after import. In the Contacts app, select Import/Export → Export to Storage, which will create a.vcf file that can be saved to a memory card or sent to your messenger.
The most reliable way is to use cloud sync, activate sync with your Google Account or Mi Account, which ensures that your phone book is always available even if the physical device is completely destroyed.
- 💾 Export to.vcf file regularly.
- ☁️ Enable automatic synchronization with the cloud.
- 🔄 Check the relevance of backups once a month.
- 📤 Keep important contacts in several places.
Neglecting backup is the most common mistake users make, and losing important numbers to business partners or loved ones can be a serious problem that will take a long time and nerves to resolve.