Changing a smartphone or switching to another carrier often challenges the user to quickly transfer the accumulated phone book. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices face this issue regularly, especially given the features of the MIUI and HyperOS shell. Properly saving contacts on a physical medium ensures their availability even if the settings are completely reset or the device itself breaks.
The process of data migration in the ecosystem of a Chinese manufacturer has its own nuances that can confuse an inexperienced user. The menu interface sometimes hides the necessary functions, and synchronization with cloud services can work incorrectly without proper configuration. Backup to a SIM card remains one of the most reliable and versatile ways to save numbers, independent of the availability of the Internet.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions for different versions of firmware, consider possible errors in import and export, and give tips on how to optimize the storage of contacts.
Preparation for data transfer and verification of storage format
Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that the source data is in a system-readable format. Often users do not even suspect that their numbers are recorded in a Google account or locally in the phone's memory, rather than on the SIM card they plan to use. Open the Contacts app and go to the display settings to check the current state of your phone book.
Pay attention to storage limits. Modern SIM cards have a limited amount of memory, usually allowing you to store 250 to 500 records. If you're used to saving long names, adding email addresses and additional numbers to one contact, when you transfer to SIM, some information may be lost or cropped. The system will alert you to this, but it's better to be prepared for the formatting to change.
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Before mass transfer, export the phone book to.vcf via the contact menu, which will back up all the data in case of a process failure.
Also worth checking is the physical condition of the SIM card tray, make sure the chip is installed correctly and the contacts are not contaminated. Dirt or oxidation can lead to recording errors that can be interpreted as software failure. If you have a dual-sim device, decide in advance which slot will be recorded so as not to get confused in the future.
Step-by-step instructions for exporting contacts to SIM into MIUI
The algorithm for MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS is almost identical, although menu item names may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the firmware. The standard path starts with running a regular call app.
In the interface that opens, find the menu button, which is usually represented by three dots in the upper right or lower corner of the screen. In the drop-down list, select Import/Export contacts. The system can request permission to access contacts if you are doing this for the first time - confirm the action. Then select the option Export to SIM-map.
☑️ Export algorithm
Once you have selected a source (usually a Phone or a Google account), the system will prompt you to mark the contacts to be transferred, you can select individual records or click the Select All button at the top of the screen. Be careful: if the number of selected contacts exceeds the capacity of the SIM card, the system will prompt you to select only a part of them or warn you that you can not complete the operation.
At the final stage, press the Export or OK button. The copying process takes from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the amount of data and the speed of the drive, during which time it is not recommended to switch between applications or lock the screen so as not to interrupt the writing procedure to the chip.
Import numbers from the SIM card in the memory of the smartphone
The reverse procedure is necessary when you buy a new phone or restore the device after reset. Transferring data from the SIM card to the device memory allows you to use all the features of the smartphone: add photos, long names and associate contacts with messengers. First, make sure that the SIM card with numbers is installed in the device and is determined by the system.
Go to the Contacts app and reopen the menu through three dots. This time we're interested in Imports with. SIM-The system automatically counts the available records. If you have two SIM cards installed, the phone will tell you to choose which one to read from, SIM 1.
You'll need to specify your destination. For maximum synchronization and security, you'll want to choose a Google account, which will automatically save to the cloud. If you don't have Internet or prefer local storage, select the Phone option. Once you select your destination, you'll start copying.
⚠️ Note: Duplicates may occur when imported from a SIM card if part of the numbers are already stored in the phone's memory. Xiaomi's system usually offers to combine duplicate entries, but it is recommended to manually check the phone book after importing it.
When you complete the operation, you will see a notification of successful import, and now your contacts are available for editing and enriching with additional information. Remember that after successfully migrating to the cloud or phone memory, storing numbers exclusively on the SIM card no longer makes sense, since it is less reliable medium.
Working with duplicates and combining records
A common problem with data migration is the emergence of duplicates, which occurs when the same number is stored in the phone’s memory, on the SIM card, and in the cloud account, and the MIUI shell has built-in tools to solve this problem, which makes life much easier for the user.
To clear the list, open the Contacts app, go to the menu (three dots) and select Contact Organization. Here you will find the option to Combine Duplicates. The system will analyze the database and suggest a list of pairs or groups of contacts that have the same numbers or names.
You can view each group and decide to merge manually, or you can use Autounite, which is safe and reversible within the current session until you close the app, and when you merge, the phonebook is cleaner and easier to navigate.
| Type of storage | Limit of records | Photo support | Synchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM-map | 250-500 | No. | Absent. |
| Phone memory | Depends on memory. | Yes. | Locally. |
| Google Account | No restrictions. | Yes. | Automatic. |
| Mi Account | No restrictions. | Yes. | Automatic. |
It's important to understand that linking contacts is not just about deleting copies, it's about merging information. If one contact on the SIM card had only a number, and the phone had an email and an address attached to that number, you'll get one full entry with all the information.
Using cloud services Xiaomi and Google
In the digital age, physical porting to a SIM card is slowly becoming a thing of the past, giving way to cloud technology. Xiaomi smartphones offer two main synchronization routes: through its own Mi Cloud service and through a standard Google account, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages.
Mi Cloud is deeply integrated into the system and allows you to synchronize not only contacts, but also messages, notes, voice recorder and even the location of windows on the desktop. To work, you need to log into Mi Account through the Settings menu → Mi Account. In the Sync section, make sure that the switch opposite to Contact is activated.
What happens in a synchronization conflict?
Google accounts are a universal standard. When you set up a new Android smartphone, you type in your Gmail, and the entire phone book instantly appears on the device. This is ideal for those who often change devices or use multiple gadgets. Contact management is most convenient in this case through the web interface contacts.google.com.
Using clouds eliminates the risk of data loss when a SIM card breaks or a phone gets mechanically damaged. The only critical factor for cloud storage is having access to the Internet and saving passwords from accounts. It is recommended to periodically check the web version of contacts to make sure that sync is correct.
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users often face technical problems. One of the most common mistakes is the message "Memory" SIM-This occurs when you try to record more contacts than the physical medium allows, and the solution is one: clear the SIM card of old records through the contact management menu, or transfer only the most important numbers.
Another common problem is that contacts are copied, but instead of names, empty fields or symbols are displayed, this is due to encoding or limiting the length of the name on the SIM card (usually up to 15-20 characters), long names will be cropped, and old SIM cards may not support maintaining contacts with Cyrillic names, displaying them as a set of characters.
⚠️ Note: If the phone says "Error" SIM-If the error is repeated, the SIM card chip may be damaged or incompatible with the current slot (for example, problems with contacts in slot 2).
Sometimes the Contacts app can freeze when trying to export a lot of data. In this case, try breaking the process into parts: export contacts alphabetically (for example, first A-K, then L-Y). → Annexes → All applications → Contacts → Clear (cache, not data, if you do not want to reset the display settings).