Changing your smartphone is always stressful, and the first thing users are looking for is a way to transfer contacts from SIM to Xiaomi Redmi 9. This budget device from Xiaomi has a powerful MIUI shell that offers flexible data management tools, but the interface may not be obvious to the beginner. Proper import of numbers ensures that your phone book will remain intact when you change your device or reset settings.
Unlike older knot phones, modern smartphones store information in the cloud or internal memory. SIM-The map is often a temporary storage when you go, and the copying process takes only a few minutes, if you know where to look for the menu items on Android, and we'll take a look at all the details of the procedure so you can be sure that your address book is safe.
Before you start any manipulations, make sure the SIM card is installed correctly and the phone sees the network.If you just turned on the new Redmi 9, the system may offer to transfer data automatically, but the manual method through the contact settings is the most reliable and controlled way.
Preparation for the transfer of contacts to Redmi 9
The first step is to check the physical condition. SIM-You can insert the card into the slot using a special clip from the set, and wait for the network icons to appear at the top of the screen. SIM-maps, try to wipe the contacts of the card with a soft cloth or check the correct installation in the tray.
Make sure that the card actually has numbers, not just the operator's data. Many users mistakenly assume that all their records are on the SIM, although by default modern smartphones store them in internal memory or Google account, you can check this by temporarily installing the card in any other phone and looking at the contents of the phone book.
It is also worth charging the battery of your Xiaomi Redmi 9 at least to 30-40%, so that the process is not interrupted due to discharge, although the risk here is minimal. Before starting work, close heavy applications so that the system works as responsive as possible and there are no delays when opening the import menu.
⚠️ Attention: If SIM-The card has a lot of numbers (more) 500), The reading process can take up to 2-3 Do not remove the card or restart the phone at this time, as this may damage the contact file system.
It is important to understand the difference between storage formats: SIM-The card has limitations on the length of the name and the number of characters in the number. When transferred to Redmi 9, long names can be cropped, and additional numbers for a single contact (for example, work and mobile) can be divided into different entries, which will require manual adjustments.
Import contacts through the standard application
The basic method of data transfer is built directly into the Contacts app, which is part of the MIUI shell. Open the standard green icon with a phone handset or person on your desktop. In the upper right corner, you will see three dots or menu icons, clicking on which will open a list of available actions.
In the menu that opens, you need to find the item "Import / Export contacts." The system will prompt you to select a data source - in our case, this is "Import from the Internet". SIM-Once you select a source, Redmi 9 will suggest you to determine where to store the data: to the internal memory of the phone, to the Google account or to another location. SIM-card if there are two.
The best solution is to choose to save to your Google account, because it provides automatic synchronization. If you choose the memory of your phone, if you lose or break your device, your data may be lost if you don't back up manually. Select all the numbers you want to move or click "Select all" for mass copying.
☑️ Checklist of successful imports
Once the transaction is confirmed, the copying process will begin, and the progress of the copy will be displayed on the screen, and when it is completed, you will see a notification of the number of successfully imported records, and now your numbers are available in the phone book and ready to be used for calls and messages.
Use of the Mi Cloud cloud service
Xiaomi smartphone owners have access to their own cloud storage Mi Cloud, which can serve as an intermediate or primary storage location. This method is convenient if you are switching from another Xiaomi smartphone or want to have a backup in the ecosystem of the brand. Go to the phone settings and find the "Mi Account" section.
Inside the account menu, select Sync and make sure the slider opposite Contacts is activated. If you've used a Xiaomi phone before, your data may already be in the cloud, and just enable sync to appear on Redmi 9. If you want to download data from SIM, you can also do this through the contact management menu in the cloud.
The advantage of using Mi Cloud is that you can manage your contacts via a web interface from your computer. You can go to i.mi.com, log in and manually add or edit numbers that will then automatically appear on your phone, which is especially useful for mass editing names or combining duplicates.
What to do if Mi Cloud is not synced?
It is worth noting that synchronization via Mi Cloud can take longer than direct import, especially with a slow Internet connection. SIM-card or loss of the device.
Transfer via Google Contacts account
The most versatile way to work on any Android device is to use Google services. If your contacts were previously saved to your old phone in a Google account, the new Redmi 9 just needs to enter the same username and password when you first set up.
In case the numbers are on SIM-You want to send them to the Google cloud, you can use the Google Contacts app. Open the app, click on the menu (three bars or dots) and select Settings. Go to Import and select the menu. SIM-map.
This method is preferred for those who plan to switch to another smartphone brand in the future, as Google-linked offers cross-platform connectivity, and you can always restore numbers on an iPhone, Samsung, or any other device by simply logging in to your account.
| Method of conservation | Advantages | Deficiencies | Better for you. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone memory | Quick access, no need for internet | Risk of loss in case of breakdown | Temporary storage |
| SIM-map | Universality, transfer to any phone | Symbols restriction, no photo | Old knot phones |
| Google Account | Autosynchronization, security, photo | You need the Internet for the initial download | Continuous use |
| Mi Cloud | Integration with MIUI, web access | Linking to Xiaomi’s ecosystem | Owners of Xiaomi equipment |
After importing to Google, it is recommended to go to the browser on your computer at contacts.google.com and check if all numbers are displayed correctly.
Solving import problems
Users often face a situation where the phone sees the phone. SIM-This may mean that the numbers are physically written in the memory of the old device, not on the chip of the card, in which case you need to go back to the old phone and export the contacts to the old one. SIM-pre-reposition.
Another common problem is name encoding, where you can transfer from devices from different manufacturers (for example, from Nokia or Sony to Xiaomi), instead of letters, you can display incomprehensible characters, whether you install a third-party contact management application or manually rename the most important subscribers.
If the import process freezes or the Contacts app closes with an error, try clearing the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory and click Clear Cache. Don’t confuse it with Clear All Data, as this will delete the current phone book.
⚠️ Note: When clearing the Contacts app data, make sure you have a backup, otherwise you may lose all locally stored numbers that haven’t yet synced to the cloud.
It's also worth checking the app's permissions. Make sure the system has access to the storage and SIM-In the map. MIUI privacy settings can be strict, so when you first start the import function, carefully read the system requests and allow access.
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Tip: After successfully transferring numbers, delete duplicates. Go to Contacts → three points → Contact Management → Combine duplicates. This will make the phone book neat.
Organization and sorting after transfer
Once you have managed to transfer contacts from the SIM card to the Xiaomi Redmi 9 phone, it is recommended to clean up the list. SIM-The names are saved in the format of "NAME FAMILY" or even "NAME NAME", which is inconvenient for search. You can sort the list by name or surname in the display settings.
Note the formatting of numbers: International numbers must start with a plus and country code (e.g. +7 for Russia) to properly work messengers like WhatsApp or Viber, as well as a number detector. If the numbers are written simply as "89...", applications may not recognize them.
Add photos and additional data (email, address) to important contacts. This not only graces the interface when an incoming call is made, but also helps MIUI's smart functions better sort calls and messages. The fuller the contact card, the more convenient it is to use your smartphone.
Remember to back up regularly. Set up automatic sync once a week or a month so that if you lose your phone, you can restore your phone book in a couple of minutes on a new device, which will take less time than manually entering hundreds of numbers.
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The most reliable way to store contacts is a Google account, not a Google account. SIM-card or phone memory, as it provides perpetual and secure data storage.