Replacing the device or switching to a different tariff plan often requires moving the phone book to a physical medium. -- Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, which runs on the shell MIUI, You may find that the standard menu paths here are different from the "pure" Android. SIM-The card is a reliable way of backup, which does not depend on cloud services or Internet availability.
However, there is a technical limitation: only a name and a number are usually written to a single SIM card memory cell. If the phone has multiple numbers or a complex name structure, some of the data may be lost when you transfer it, so it is critical to back up the entire phone book in the cloud or on the drive before starting the procedure so that important information is not lost in the event of a crash.
In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of working with contacts on Redmi 8 Pro. You will learn how to import and export correctly, what are the limitations of the recording format and how to avoid typical errors that lead to data loss or the appearance of “broken” records in the memory of the phone.
Preparation for data transfer and compatibility check
Before you start manipulating the phone book, you need to make sure that the device correctly identifies the SIM card. paste the media into the appropriate slot and wait for the network to appear. On Redmi 8 Pro, control SIM-The cards are carried out through the menu Settings → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Make sure that the card status is displayed as Active».
Keep in mind that older SIM cards have a limited amount of memory, usually 250 to 500 entries. If your phone book exceeds this limit, full transfer will not be possible without first sorting. Cleaning duplicates and removing unnecessary numbers will greatly simplify the process and reduce the risk of errors in writing.
It is also recommended to check where your contacts are stored right now. MIUI uses sync with Mi Account or Google by default, which stores data in the cloud. To transfer to the SIM card, the source data must be available in the local storage of the phone or in the Contacts app.
- 📱 Make sure that the SIM card is installed in slot 1 or 2 and visible to the system.
- ☁️ Check sync status with Mi Cloud or Google Contacts.
- 🗑️ Remove clearly unnecessary or erroneous records before export.
- 🔋 Charge the Redmi 8 Pro battery to at least 40% to avoid shutdown.
Standard method of copying through the Contacts application
The easiest and safest way to migrate data is to use the built-in MIUI shell functionality. Open the standard Contacts app, which usually has an orange icon with a human silhouette. In the upper or lower right corner of the screen, find the settings menu, often denoted by three dots or a gear.
In the menu that opens, you need to select Import and Export Contacts, and the system will offer several options. SIM-map (or "copy on" SIM-If you have two active SIM cards on your phone, the system will ask you to specify which one to write the data to.
Once you select your target SIM, the phone will suggest you mark the contacts to move, you can select individual records or use the "Select All" feature. Note that the copying process can take some time, especially if the phone book has hundreds of numbers. Do not interrupt the process or turn off the screen until the end notification appears.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in the application
Using MIUI system settings to manage SIM
An alternative way to manage SIM contacts is through deep system settings, which is useful if the Contacts app isn't working properly or you can't find the right button in the interface. Go to Settings on the main menu of the smartphone.
In the list of parameters, find the Application section or use the search by settings, entering the word «SIM». You need the Settings item. SIM-cards «SIM-Maps and mobile networks.“ This displays technical information about the carrier, including the number ICCID network status.
At the bottom of the screen, or in the optional menu (three dots), you can have a SIM Contact Management button or something similar, and if you click on it, you'll be taken to a simplified interface that only displays the records that are physically on the chip, and you can import from the phone's memory, which is less informative, but more reliable for direct SIM memory.
⚠️ Note: When copying through system settings, contact names may be cut to 10-12 Symbols due to limitations of the old standard for storing data on SIM cards.
Working with duplicates and formatting names
One of the main problems when transferring contacts between different devices and media is the appearance of duplicates. Redmi 8 Pro has a built-in tool to solve this problem. In the Contacts app, go to the settings and select Combine Repetitive Contacts.
The system will automatically analyze the phone book and find records with the same numbers or names, and you will be asked to confirm the merger, which will clear the list and make it more accurate, which is especially important before writing to a SIM card, where the number of cells is limited.
Also worth paying attention to is the encoding of names. SIM cards use basic GSM encoding, which may not display Cyrillic characters or special signs correctly on some old phones. If you see "crazy cherries" instead of letters after transfer, try renaming the contact with only Latin or numbers, or use transliteration.
Why are names cut off?
Table of comparison of methods of storage of contacts
Understanding the differences between storage methods will help you choose the best option for your situation. Below is a comparative description of the main storage locations for a phone book on Xiaomi.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Phone memory | Google / Mi Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory capacity | Limited (250-500) | Depends on free memory. | Almost unlimited. |
| Photo preservation | Not supported | Supported | Supported |
| Several rooms. | Only one name. | Unlimitedly. | Unlimitedly. |
| Network dependency | Not required | Not required | Required for synchronization |
As you can see from the table, SIM-The card is the most archaic yet versatile storage method, and it's suitable for temporarily transferring data to a button phone or in the event of a complete change of device when access to the cloud is not possible.
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Use it. SIM-For permanent storage, it is better to set up automatic synchronization with Google Account - this will save your data if your smartphone is lost or broken.
Solving problems in the export of contacts
Redmi 8 Pro users may experience a situation where the export button is inactive or the process ends in an error, most often due to overflowing SIM card memory, in which case the system will prompt them to manually select contacts to fit them into the remaining free space.
Another common problem is that contacts are copied but not displayed when an incoming call is made, which can occur if the phone-only or Google account-only filter is selected in the contact display settings. You need to go to the display settings in the “Contacts” application and turn on the Contacts tick on SIM-map.
If none of the methods work, force the Contacts app to stop via the Settings menu. → Annexes → All applications → Contacts → In rare cases, you need to reset your application settings, but this will not delete the numbers themselves if they are saved in the cloud or on a SIM card.
- 🚫 Memory is full: Remove old unnecessary numbers from SIM card.
- 👁️ I don't see the number: check the display filter in the contact settings menu.
- 🔄 The process is hanging: restart your smartphone and try again.
- 📝 Names cannot be read: Rename contacts using only the Latin alphabet.
⚠️ Note: If a failure occurs during the recording of the SIM card, there is a risk of damage to the file system of the carrier itself, which may require its replacement by the carrier.
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A SIM card is an emergency storage option. Always keep the primary copy of your contacts in your Google or Mi Cloud account for instant recovery.