Changing a mobile device or switching to a new carrier is always accompanied by stress due to the risk of losing important data. Especially alarming when it comes to a phone book, because it can take a long time to restore connections with business partners and friends. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often wonder how to safely and quickly transfer numbers from one SIM card to another or directly to the memory of a new gadget.
Fortunately, the MIUI ecosystem offers many built-in tools for data migration that do not require third-party software. Current operating systems allow you to manage contacts flexibly, storing them not only on physical media but also in cloud storage, which ensures the safety of information even if the SIM card physically breaks or the device itself is lost.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer numbers, from classic copying through the phone menu to synchronization through cloud services. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes when numbers are lost or duplicated. Proper use of import and export tools will make the process of changing a SIM card or phone as comfortable as possible.
Preparation for the transfer of contacts and verification of formats
Before you start the active phase of the transfer, you need to make sure that the source data is available and correct. Often users face the problem when the numbers are saved in a format that is not readable by the new device, or they are physically on an old SIM card with limited memory. Old SIM cards can only store the name and number, ignoring additional fields like email or addresses.
It is recommended to check in advance where exactly in your current smartphone the records are stored. In modern Android interfaces, contacts can be scattered across different sources: a Google account, a Mi Account, a phone memory or a SIM card itself. For successful transfer, it is best to consolidate them in one place. The best option is Google Contacts, since this method is the most universal.
If you plan to transfer data from a physical SIM card, make sure that it is properly installed in the slot and is determined by the system. In some cases, especially when using adapters or very old cards, the phone may not see the carrier. In this situation, copy the data to the device's memory first, and then work with them.
⚠️ Warning: Before any manipulation of contacts, make sure to back up. Even if you are confident in your actions, a technical failure can lead to the irretrievable loss of the phone book.
Also worth noting is the encoding of names. When you transfer between different phone manufacturers (for example, from Nokia to Xiaomi), there may be problems with displaying Cyrillic, in which case the names can turn into a set of incomprehensible characters. Using an intermediate format.vcf or cloud synchronization usually solves this problem automatically.
Copying contacts from the SIM card in memory of the Xiaomi phone
The most common scenario is to transfer numbers that are already written on the SIM card to the internal memory of the Xiaomi smartphone, which is necessary to free up space on the SIM card for new entries or simply for the convenience of managing the database. The process is performed through the standard “Contacts” application, which is preinstalled in the shell. MIUI.
To start, open the Contacts app and find the menu icon (usually three dots or a gear) in the top or bottom corner of the screen. From the list that opens, select Settings or Import/Export Contacts. The interface may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version, but the logic remains the same.
In the import/export menu, you will be asked to select a data source. Click on the option “Import with”. SIM-The system can suggest that you select a particular SIM card if there are two of them in the device.
☑️ Pre-import checks
Then the system will ask where to save your contacts, choose Phone, or better yet, your Google account, if you choose Phone, the records will be stored locally, if you choose a Google account, they will immediately sync to the cloud, and copying will begin after confirmation, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records.
When the process is complete, it is recommended to check the phone book, make sure that all the numbers are displayed correctly, and if you have used the method of copying to the memory of the phone, this data is not yet protected from resetting, so the next step should be to synchronize them.
Use cloud synchronization Mi Cloud and Google
Xiaomi’s ecosystem is closely integrated with its own cloud service, Mi Cloud, which allows you to store contacts, photos, notes and other data. This is one of the most convenient ways to transfer numbers to a new Xiaomi phone.
To activate sync, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If you just imported numbers from a SIM card into your phone’s memory, they will automatically upload to the cloud when you have an Internet connection. On a new device, it is enough to simply log in under the same login.
The alternative is Google’s service, where many users prefer to store their contacts there, as it ensures that they are safe when switching to a smartphone of any other brand. In the Contacts app, select Contact Management → Sync settings and make sure that the checkmark is in front of the desired Google account.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
One of the great advantages of cloud computing is that you can edit contacts from your computer, you can go to contacts.google.com or i.mi.com, delete duplicates, combine duplicates, add missing details, and all the changes will instantly affect your smartphone.
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Cloud sync is the only way to guarantee 100% safety of contacts in case of loss, theft or complete breakage of a smartphone.
Transfer contacts via vCard file (.vcf format)
If you don't have access to the Internet or prefer to store data locally, a great solution is to use the.vcf (vCard) file, which is a universal format supported by almost all devices and operating systems. The file is a digital counterpart to a business card that can contain one or thousands of records.
To create such a file on your old phone (or current Xiaomi), open the Contacts app, go to settings and select Contact Export «SD-The system will create a file, commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf.
The resulting file can be transferred to a new device in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), or simply copying it to a computer and then to a new phone, the main thing is that the file is physically in the memory of the new device.
On the new Xiaomi smartphone, open the file manager (the Explorer app), find the downloaded.vcf file and click on it. The system automatically prompts you to import the contacts contained in it. You only have to choose the account to which you need to save data (Google, Mi or Phone).
| Parameter | Description | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Format | .vcf (vCard) | Universality |
| Speed. | Instant. | Doesn't require the Internet. |
| Volume | No restrictions. | You can transfer thousands of numbers. |
| Security | Local storage | Data does not go to other people's servers |
This method is particularly useful when moving from push-button phones or other brands, where cloud sync may be unavailable or difficult to configure..vcf is a kind of “digital bridge” between different worlds of mobile technology.
Automatic transfer with Mi Mover
For users who change one Xiaomi smartphone to another (or switch from another Android device), the company has developed a special application Mi Mover.This tool allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications, system settings and even placement of icons on the desktop.
The app is preinstalled in the Tools folder on most Xiaomi smartphones. If it's not available, it's free to download from GetApps or Google Play. Run the app on both devices. Select Recipient on the new phone and Sender on the old one.
The devices will find each other through Wi-Fi Direct. Once connected, you'll see a list of data categories to transfer. Be sure to tick the "Contacts" box. You can also select specific SIM cards if there are multiple, and it's very fast, thanks to the use of high-speed wireless connectivity.
The main advantage of the Mi Mover is that it doesn't just copy numbers, it keeps the whole structure: tags, groups, fixed photos and additional numbers, which eliminates the need for manual adjustments after buying a new gadget, which is completely automated and secure, since data is transmitted over a local channel.
Note that when porting from an iPhone (iOS), the functionality can only be limited to contacts, photos and videos due to the closed Apple system. However, for the task of saving the phone book, this is quite enough. Once you complete the operation, check for all the records in the Contacts app.
Removing duplicates and sorting records
When you move numbers from one SIM card to another or from phone to phone, you often have a duplicate problem, and the same contact can be displayed twice, once from the SIM card, once from the cloud or from the phone's memory, which not only visually pollutes the list, but also makes it difficult to find the right subscriber.
Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in feature to solve this problem: Open the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner, and select Contact Organization (or Contact Management). Find the Combine Duplicates item. The system will analyze the database and suggest combining records with the same names or numbers.
In addition to auto-merging, it is useful to manually sort contacts, in the display settings you can choose to sort “by name” or “by name.” It is also recommended to configure the display of sources: you can hide contacts from the SIM card, leaving only those in the Google account to see a single, clean database.
⚠️ Note: When automatically combining duplicates, the system may fail if different people have similar names and numbers (e.g. father and son with the same names.
Cleaning your phone book regularly is a good habit, and every few months, you should check in to manage your contacts and delete old, unnecessary entries, and fix the format of your numbers (add the country code +7 or +380 for messengers to work correctly), which will ensure order in your digital life.