The switch to a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone often involves the need to migrate old data, and the most important element for most users remains the phone book. Unlike other smartphones, the MIUI shell and its current version of HyperOS have their own specifics in working with system storage. Many users are accustomed to the standard algorithm of actions in “pure” Android, but face difficulties when trying to find similar features on devices of the Chinese brand.
The main difficulty is that modern smartphones by default offer to save numbers to a cloud account Google or internal memory of the device. This is done for convenience of synchronization, but old habits or the need to move the SIM card to a button phone dictate their rules. SIM-Cards – a time-tested method that guarantees access to rooms even without the Internet and accounts.
In this article, we will discuss the process of exporting contact information in detail, paying attention to the nuances of the MIUI interface. You will learn how to avoid loss of information when copying and what to do if the standard menu does not display the necessary options. The security of your data is a priority, so it is important to understand where exactly a copy of the phone book is stored before retrieving the card.
Preparation for transfer and verification of restrictions SIM-map
Before proceeding with direct copying, it is necessary to make sure that the operation is technically possible. SIM-A card is not a full-fledged storage device, but a chip with very limited memory, designed primarily to identify a subscriber on the network. Unlike the internal memory of a smartphone, where you can store thousands of contacts with detailed information, a SIM card has strict limits.
Standard SIM card storage capacity typically ranges from 250 to 500 entries. If your phone book is much larger, full portability is physically impossible without first sorting. Also, the format of storage on the chip is outdated: long names can be cropped, and additional fields such as email or address will be ignored by the system.
⚠️ Before starting mass copying, be sure to check the number of free cells on your computer. SIM-Trying to write more numbers than the chip allows will cause an error or overwriting of old data on top of new ones.
It’s also worth considering that some carriers block the recording of contacts on their SIM cards by software, although this is increasingly rare.Make sure the card is installed in a read-write slot, especially if your Xiaomi uses a hybrid tray for two SIM cards and a memory card.
Step-by-step: export through the standard Contacts app
The easiest and most reliable way to migrate data to Xiaomi devices is to use an embedded system application. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic of actions remains the same for all models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Mi and Poco.
To start, open the Contacts app (usually a yellow or blue icon with a human silhouette) and the top right corner of the screen is a menu button represented by three dots or a gear, and clicking on it will show you a drop-down list where you want to select "Import/Export contacts," which is where the key function of managing the phone book lies.
After selecting the point of import/export, the system will prompt you to determine the source and destination. SIM-map" or "copy on SIM-If you have two SIM cards installed, the phone will ask you to specify which one will be stored, then you will need to highlight the contacts: you can select individual numbers or click "Select all" for mass copying.
☑️ Pre-export checklist
The copying process can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records. At this time, it is not recommended to switch between applications or lock the screen so as not to interrupt the system script of the record. Upon completion of the operation, you will receive a notification of a successful export or an error message if the memory limit is exceeded.
Alternative method through system settings
Sometimes the direct menu in the contact app is not available or not working properly, and in such cases, Xiaomi smartphones can use deep system settings, which is especially useful if the standard application has been updated or replaced by a third-party counterpart.
Go to the main smartphone settings menu, scroll down and find the Apps section. Inside this section, select App settings, and then look for Contacts. Go to the app management menu, click on Other Permissions or Special Options, where you may be hiding access to storage management.
However, a more direct path in new versions of HyperOS is through settings. Click on the magnifier at the top of the settings screen and enter the request "SIM". The system will offer a paragraph "Contacts to SIM-This hidden partition allows you to control the contents of the SIM card directly, bypassing the interface of the main phone book.
So here you'll see two lists: contacts that are stored on your phone and contacts on your SIM card, and using the buttons at the bottom of the screen or the control menu, you can move records between these two stores, and this is a good way to visualize what numbers are already recorded and what numbers are being moved.