Changing a mobile device or switching from a button phone to a modern Xiaomi Redmi always comes with the need to transfer personal information. The most critical element without which a smartphone turns into a useless piece of plastic is the phone book. Users often face a situation where a new SIM card is already inserted, old numbers are stored on it, and the memory of the new device is empty. Fortunately, the Android operating system and the proprietary shell of MIUI (or its new version of HyperOS) provide built-in and reliable tools for migrating data without the use of third-party programs.
The import process takes only a few minutes, but requires care to avoid duplicate records or losing important details such as extra numbers or email addresses. Unlike older phones, where SIM card memory was limited to 250 contacts, modern smartphones allow you to store thousands of records with advanced information. SIM-The card is limited and does not allow you to save full names and additional fields, so transferring to internal memory or the cloud is a must for full use of the smartphone. In this article, we will analyze the algorithm of actions in detail, consider possible errors and answer frequently asked questions.
Before you start manipulating, make sure that the SIM card with saved numbers is physically installed in the slot of your device. If you use a dual-sim device, it is important to understand which slot the media is inserted into so that the system correctly determines the source of the data. Modern models of the Redmi Note and Redmi series support hybrid slots, so check the correct installation of the tray.
Preparation of the device and check the compatibility of formats
The first step before you start is to check the status of the SIM card, make sure the phone sees the media and it does have stored records, and sometimes users confuse the contacts stored in the memory of the old phone with those on the chip. To check, go to the Settings menu → The phone. → Status SIM-cards or just open the “Contacts” application and select the display from the SIM card.
MIUI automatically recognizes most storage standards, but there may be nuances with very old SIM cards formatted in legacy file systems. If the system issues an error when trying to import, you may need to pre-check the card on another, older device or use a card reader. It is also important to make sure that there is free space on the internal drive or in the Google account to place new records.
It is worth noting that when transferring names, you may have problems encoding, especially if they contain Cyrillic or special characters. In such cases, after importing, it is recommended to selectively check several entries. If you see Krakozyabry instead of letters, you may need to manually edit or use intermediate export to the.vcf file.
⚠️ Before starting mass import, we strongly advise you to make sure that there are no duplicate records on the SIM card, otherwise you risk getting a double list of contacts in the phone’s memory, which will complicate further navigation.
Import contacts through the standard “Contacts” application
The easiest and fastest way to move numbers is to use the built-in functionality of the Xiaomi shell. You don't need to download additional apps or connect your computer. You just need to open the standard Contacts app (usually yellow or blue depending on the theme), and in the upper right corner of the screen is a menu with three dots or a person icon that gives you access to the list management.
Once you open the menu, you'll need to find the item "Import contacts," and the system will suggest you choose the source of the data. SIM-card 1 SIM-Map 2, depending on where you inserted the chip, then you will need to select destination: internal phone memory, Google account or Mi Account.
The copying process is almost instantaneous. Once completed, a successful import notification will appear on the screen; if there are many contacts (more than 100), the system can request confirmation to import all records at once; do not interrupt the process even if the screen goes out - in the background, the operation continues.
☑️ Checklist of successful imports
It's important to choose the right location to save. If you choose Phone, contacts will only be linked to that particular device. If you lose or break your device, it will be difficult to restore them. Choosing a Google or Mi Cloud account ensures that your phone book is accessible from any device after you enter your login and password.
Using the Mi Mover feature for full migration
If you’re switching to Xiaomi Redmi from another Android smartphone or even an iPhone, standard SIM import may not be enough. In such cases, developers offer Mi Mover, a powerful tool that allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, apps, system settings and messages. Both devices need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network or use an access point.
Run the Mi Mover app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" status and on the old one, "I'm the sender." QR-If you have a code or hotspot connection, you should check the "Contacts" item in the data transfer list. The system will suggest copying it from the memory of the old phone, bypassing the need to pre-register to the SIM card, which is often faster and more reliable.
The advantage of this method is that it retains the structure of data, including subscriber photos and instant messenger binding, if supported. However, the speed of transmission depends on the volume of data and the quality of the wireless connection. It can take 5 to 15 minutes to transmit several thousand contacts with photos.
⚠️ Note: When using Mi Mover, make sure that the screens of both phones do not go out during transmission.Switching to sleep mode can break the connection and interrupt the copying process.
Sync with your Google account and Mi Cloud
The most modern and reliable method of working with the contact book is cloud sync. If your numbers are already saved in a Google account (for example, from the previous phone), then when you sign in to this account on the new Redmi, all data will be automatically connected. To do this, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure that the switch opposite to Contacts is activated.
The Xiaomi ecosystem works the same way. The Mi Account allows you to back up contacts on the manufacturer's servers. This is especially convenient if you use multiple Xiaomi or Redmi devices. You can log in to your account through the Settings menu → Mi Account. Once authorized, the system will offer to synchronize local data with the cloud.
Cloud-based technologies solve the problem of physical damage to the SIM card, chips tend to wear out, contacts on them can oxidize or erase, cloud storage ensures data security regardless of the state of the physical media, and it allows you to edit contacts from the computer through the browser, which is much more convenient when you make mass edits.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Removing Common Errors in Copying
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes experience technical glitches, and one of the common problems is the message “Can’t import contacts” which can be caused by overcrowded phone memory or damage to the file structure of the SIM card, in which case try to copy the contacts in small groups, if such an option is available, or first export them to the file.
Another common situation is contacting unknown names or blank fields, which occurs when the SIM card entry format is not fully compatible with Android database fields. SIM cards often have a name length limit (up to 10-15 characters), so long last names can be trimmed, and the solution is to manually edit such records after import.
There's also the problem of duplication, because if you've already synced some numbers through Google and now you're importing them from a SIM card, you'll see twins on the list. MIUI has a built-in merge function, but it doesn't always work automatically. After importing, you'll want to use the "Join Duplicates" tool in the contact management menu.
| Problem | Possible cause | Decision |
|:--- |:--- |:--- |
| Contacts are not displayed | Display source not selected | In the Contacts app, click the menu and select Display Contacts → All Contacts |
| Import error | SIM memory sector damage | Try inserting the SIM card into another phone and copying the numbers from there |
| Russian letters | Incorrect encoding | Edit the contact manually or use the export to vCard via another phone |
| Duplicate records | Re-import or synchronize | Use the "Combine duplicates" function in the contact menu |
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The most reliable way to avoid data loss is to back up regularly to a cloud service (Google or Mi Cloud) rather than storing it only on a cloud-based service. SIM-map.
Cleaning and optimizing the phone book after the transfer
After successfully moving numbers, it is recommended to review the list. Old SIM cards often contain junk entries, service numbers or test contacts that are no longer relevant. Deleting the extra will speed up the search and make the interface cleaner. Highlight unnecessary contacts with a long tap and select the basket icon.
It is also worth checking the correct format of numbers. When transferring from very old devices, numbers can be written without a country code (for example, starting with 8 instead of +7). For the correct operation of messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) and international communication, it is better to bring all numbers to a single international format. Many modern keyboards and contact applications can do this automatically.
Don’t forget to group contacts (Family, Work, Friends) to make it easier to set up sound profiles (such as quiet mode) and send group messages quickly. At Xiaomi, group creation is very convenient and allows you to assign unique ringtones to each category of subscribers.
⚠️ Note: When deleting contacts, make sure that you delete them from your device or SIM card, not from your cloud account, if you plan to use this data on other gadgets.
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Tip: Export your phone book to.vcf regularly and save it to your computer or send it to your email, which will create an additional recovery point in case cloud sync fails.