Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to migrate data when changing devices or selling gadgets. - Redmi Model 9T It has powerful functionality, but the standard number export procedure may not be obvious to beginners. MIUI The default is to save data to the cloud, but the physical SIM-The card remains a universal carrier.
The reason you need to migrate records to a chip is because you want to have a backup, regardless of the operating system. If you're planning to switch to a button phone or a device of another brand without a Google account, this is the only way to do it. It takes only a few minutes to copy and doesn't require third-party software to be installed.
It is important to understand that when transferring to a SIM card, only the basic data is stored: name and phone number. Additional fields such as email, address, photo of a contact or second number will be lost. So before starting the procedure, make sure that the format of storing the numbers is suitable for you, or make a backup copy to Google Contacts for more complete storage of information.
Restrictions on the SIM-card storage format
Before you start exporting, you need to be aware of the technical limitations of the chip, unlike the internal memory of a smartphone or cloud storage, SIM-The map has a very small amount of data and an outdated file system, and it's not designed to store media or long text fields.
The main problem is the encoding of names. Often, when transferring names containing Cyrillic, some older phones may display Krakozabras, although modern smartphones, including the Redmi 9T, usually correctly process the encoding of UTF-8. There is also a limit on the number of characters in the contact name, which varies from 10 to 20 characters on different SIM cards.
⚠️ Note: If the contact name is longer than the SIM card's allowable limit, it will be automatically cropped when saved.
Another important aspect is the number of numbers saved: old SIM cards can hold 250 to 500 entries. If your Redmi 9T phone book has thousands of contacts, full export may not be carried out, in which case the system will suggest you to choose contacts manually or skip unnecessary entries.
Why are photos of contacts missing?
Preparation of the telephone book for export
To successfully perform the operation, you need to conduct a preliminary revision of the contact list. In Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI shell, the numbers can be scattered across different sources: a Google account, phone memory, Mi Account or messengers like Viber and Telegram. On a SIM card, you can only copy those records that are physically in the device’s memory or already synchronized with local storage.
Open the standard Contacts or Phone app and go to the display settings. Make sure you select the view mode of all contacts. If you see a Google icon next to names, this means that the data is stored in the cloud. To transfer to SIM, it is advisable to first copy it to the phone's internal memory to avoid synchronization errors during the process.
Remove duplicate numbers before exporting. The MIUI pin-up function works automatically, but manual checks are helpful. This will free up space on the chip and speed up the copying process. Also check if the SIM card is installed correctly and is determined by the system.
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Before a mass operation, try to copy one test contact, which will help make sure that the encoding is displayed correctly and the SIM card is correct.
If you use a two-sim Redmi 9T, the system will ask which card to save data to, and decide in advance which slot will be the main one for storing the phone book, especially if you plan to move the card to another device.
Step-by-step: Export contacts through the Contacts app
The most reliable and quick way to transfer data is to use the built-in functionality of the MIUI shell. the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic of actions remains the same for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9T.
To start, open the Contacts app. At the bottom of the screen or in the top corner (depending on the subject), find a menu button or three-dot icon. Click on it to reveal the list of actions available. In the list that appears, select Import/Export Contacts. This section is responsible for all data migration operations between different media.
☑️ Algorithm for Exporting Contacts
The system will suggest you choose the source of contacts, usually by default, "Device Memory" or "All Contacts," or immediately show you a list of numbers to select. You can click "Select All" in the upper corner to copy the entire phone book, or manually tick the items you want.
After selecting the numbers, click Export or Copy, and you will be warned that some data (photo, email) will be lost, confirm the action by clicking OK or Continue, and the copying process will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the number of records, and upon completion, you will receive a notification of successful export.
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The use of the built-in Import/Export menu is a standard method that guarantees the correct recording of data in a format compatible with most mobile devices.
Alternative method through system settings
If the standard contact menu is not available or is not working properly, you can use Android system settings, which are less obvious but functionally identical and allow you to manage contacts at the operating system level.
Go to the main settings menu of your smartphone Settings. Scroll down to About Phone or Advanced Settings, although newer versions of MIUI often put contact management in a separate item called Contacts and Sync or Apps. Find the Contacts system app in the application list and open it.
Inside the app menu, find the Storage or Contact Management section. There should be an Import/Export button. When you click on it, you will be taken to the same menu as the main app, but with system administrator rights. SIM-map and follow the instructions on the screen.
This method is especially useful if the main Contacts application has been removed by the user or replaced by a third-party analogue that does not have the export function.
| Parameter | Through the Contacts app | Through System Settings | Through Google Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of access | High (1-2 clicks) | Medium (via menu) | Depends on the network. |
| Photo preservation | No. | No. | Yeah (in the cloud) |
| Saving email | No. | No. | Yes. |
| Network dependency | Not required | Not required | Required. |
Importing contacts to a new device
After successful data export SIM-You can get it from the Redmi. 9T And you can put it in a new phone, and the import procedure is also simple and it takes a very short time, so you can put it in the device that you want to count numbers from, and wait for the network to be determined.
Open the Contacts app on your new device. If it's a Xiaomi smartphone or another Android phone, the algorithm will be similar: the menu (three dots) → «Imports/Exports» → «Import with SIM-The system will tell you to choose where to save contacts: in memory of the phone or in the Google account. It is recommended to choose the memory of the phone or Google account to save complete information, if possible.
When importing, you may find yourself in a situation where the system offers to create new contacts or combine them with existing ones. Read the system's queries carefully so as not to create duplicates. Once the import is complete, all the numbers will appear in the phone book, but as mentioned earlier, without photos or additional fields.
If you migrate contacts to an iPhone (iOS), the process will be slightly different. You will need to go to Settings → Contacts → Import contacts with SIM. iOS automatically copies all records to the phone’s memory. After that, the SIM card can be removed, and the numbers will remain in the device.
Solving common problems and errors
Users may encounter various difficulties in the process of transferring. One of the common problems is the message "Memory" SIM-This means that the number of contacts exceeds the capacity of the chip, in which case you need to export the contacts in parts or clear the SIM card from old records before starting the operation.
Another common error is, "Can't copy contacts." This could be due to a damaged phone book file or a temporary system failure. 9T And then you can do it again, and you can also make sure that the SIM card doesn't have protection. PIN-code that blocks the recording of data, although modern maps rarely have such a restriction on the recording of data.
⚠️ Attention: Don't pull out SIM-This can damage the contacts file on the chip and lose some of the data.
Sometimes users complain that after importing the numbers are displayed in an international format (for example, +7 instead of 8 or with a country code), this is not a bug, but a feature of the encoding. These numbers are fully functional and allow you to make calls and send messages. If necessary, the format can be changed manually or using number correction applications.
What to do if contacts are displayed in squares?
It is important to note that the maximum length of the phone number on the SIM-mapping 20-24 signs, which is quite enough for international formats, but if there are extra characters in the record (for example, additional numbers through a comma), saving errors may occur.