The transition to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always accompanied by a desire to start using the device as soon as possible, but this process is often overshadowed by the need to move the old contact book. Owners of devices who have used button phones or smartphones of other brands for years often face a problem: all numbers are saved directly to the phone. SIM-This creates certain difficulties, as modern smartphones, including Xiaomi Redmi and Poco models, are by default focused on syncing through accounts.
You don't have to manually interrupt hundreds of numbers, risking error or loss of data. The Android operating system on Xiaomi's gadgets has built-in tools for quickly importing data. However, to make sure the process goes smoothly, it's important to understand the difference between storing data on a SIM chip and in a phone's memory, and to know where to look for the desired features in the MIUI or HyperOS shell.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm for safely transferring your phone book, we will look at the standard methods available to each user, and we will touch on the nuances that can arise when working with different versions of firmware, a competent approach will allow you not only to move numbers, but also to protect them from loss in the future.
Why not keep your contacts only on the SIM-map
Before proceeding with the technical part of the transfer, you need to understand the reasons why storing numbers directly on the SIM card is considered an outdated and risky method. SIM-The card has a very limited amount of memory and an outdated file system that often does not support storing additional data, such as a subscriber’s photo, multiple numbers for a single contact or email address. The limit of symbols in a contact name also often causes long names to be cropped and become unreadable.
In addition, the physical safety of the data on the SIM card plastic is threatened. If the card breaks, it is lost or contacts are damaged, you instantly lose your entire phone book. In contrast, storing the data in the memory of your smartphone or, even better, in a Google or Mi Account account, ensures that it is safe even if the device is completely lost, and restoring contacts from the cloud takes minutes after logging into any new gadget.
Using cloud sync gives you the flexibility to manage your contacts from your computer, combine duplicates, and quickly find the right people. Shifting data from SIM to your phone is the first and most important step to moving to the modern level of personal information management that the Android ecosystem offers.
- 📉 Limited SIM card memory does not allow you to save more than 250 contacts.
- 🚫 Inability to add a photo, second number or email to your SIM contact.
- ☁️ Risk of complete data loss in case of damage or loss of a plastic card.
- 🔄 No automatic synchronization between devices without transfer.
⚠️ Note: After successful import of contacts, it is strongly recommended to remove them from the SIM-maps via the control menu to avoid creating duplicates when future imports or changing devices.
Preparation of the device before importing data
To successfully perform the transfer procedure, you need to make sure that your device is ready to work with new data. First of all, check that the SIM card with saved numbers is correctly installed in the smartphone slot and is determined by the system. If you use a dual-sim device, note which slot (SIM 1 or SIM 2) the card with contacts is inserted into, since the import menu will need to select the correct source.
The second important step is to ensure a stable battery charge. Although the import process is not energy intensive, suddenly turning off the phone while writing data into memory can lead to errors in the contact database or partial loss. It is also recommended to check the availability of free space in the internal memory of the smartphone, although the contacts take up negligible space, the system should have the resource to perform background operations.
Before you start manipulating, make sure that the screen does not run heavy applications that can slow down the interface. If you plan to further sync imported numbers with the cloud, make sure that the Internet connection is stable, this will allow you to activate backup immediately after the transfer and not worry about data safety.
☑️ Checklist for transfer preparations
Standard method of transfer through the Contacts application
The simplest and most reliable method, which does not require installing third-party software, is built directly into the system application Contacts or Phone. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, the interface may vary slightly, but the logic of actions remains the same for all Xiaomi models.
When you open the app, find the settings menu, often hidden under three dots in the corner of the screen or marked with a gear, and the list of parameters that opens should look for the item related to contact management, which can be called “Import/Export Contacts”, “Contact Management” or simply “Import”, and the choice of the specific name depends on the localization of the system and the version of the operating system.
By clicking on the import point, the system will prompt you to select the source of the data. SIM-The system can suggest you choose a specific SIM card if you have two, and then you'll be asked to specify your destination, and it's critical to choose not your phone, but your Google or Mi Account if you want to keep your data safe in the cloud. If you don’t have this option, choose a phone, but be aware of the risks of local storage.
The scanning and copying process will start, and a notification may appear on the screen that some fields (such as long names or extra numbers) may be cropped due to format limitations. SIM-This is the normal response of the system, and when you complete the process, you'll see a successful import notification, and all the numbers will appear in your phone book.
What if the import button is not active?
Using Mi Mover to migrate from another Android
If you are switching to Xiaomi from another Android smartphone and want to transfer not only contacts from the SIM, but also the entire history of calls, SMS and installed applications, the best solution will be the proprietary utility Mi Mover. This application is preinstalled on all new Xiaomi phones and allows you to create a direct data channel between devices without using the Internet.
To get started, run Mi Mover on both devices. On the new Xiaomi phone, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old device, "I'm the sender." QR-In the list of transmitted data, select the category "Contacts". The utility automatically reads data from all available sources, including the SIM card of the old phone, and transfers it to the corresponding sections of the new device.
The advantage of this method is that Mi Miver often performs a process of “cleaning” data, removing duplicates and bringing contacts to a single standard. This is especially useful if you (for many years) used different phones and your book has accumulated chaos. The transfer process is over Wi-Fi Direct, so the speed of copying thousands of contacts takes only a few seconds.
- 🚀 High data transfer speed without using mobile traffic.
- 🧹 Automatic Duplicate Deletion and Record Sorting.
- 📱 The ability to transfer not only contacts, but also multimedia.
- 🔒 Local data transfer provides a high level of confidentiality.
Solutions (Frequent Problems) in Importation
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes face technical difficulties. One of the most common problems is that contacts have been imported but are displayed incorrectly (for example, instead of a number name or characters), which indicates a problem with encoding.
Another common situation is that the system writes “Contacts not found” on the SIM card, which happens if the contacts are recorded in the memory of the old phone, not on the SIM itself. In this case, the old device must first export the contacts from the phone’s memory to the SIM card, and then move the SIM card to Xiaomi. Also make sure that the storage format on the SIM card is compatible; some older cards use the GSM format, which has strict restrictions.
If you see multiple duplicates after importing (the same person has been recorded several times), use the "Combine duplicates" function. In the Contacts app, go to the settings and find the appropriate item. The system will analyze the list, find matches by number or name, and suggest combining them into one card, which will make your phone book neat and convenient.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| No contact visible. | Not selected source of display | In the contact menu, select “Show contacts” → “All contacts” |
| Names are cut off | Limiting the length of a name on SIM | Edit contacts manually after importing into phone memory |
| Import error | Damage to the SIM memory sector | Try copying your contacts to another phone, then to Xiaomi. |
| Duplicate records | Re-import or synchronization | Use the “Combine Duplicates” function in the settings |
⚠️ Note: If the system requests permission to access contacts when importing, be sure to click "Allow." Without this system permission, the application will not be able to write data to the address book, and the process will end in an error.
Set up synchronization and backup
Once you have successfully moved numbers from your SIM card, it is crucial to set up automatic save so that you never again depend on a physical medium. On Xiaomi smartphones, sync with your Google account is responsible for this. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync, select your Google account and make sure that the switch opposite to Contacts is activated.
An alternative or addition is the Mi Cloud. If you use the Xiaomi ecosystem, enabling sync with Mi Account will allow you to see contacts not only on your phone, but also on your tablet, or even through the web interface on your computer, which is especially convenient for quickly searching for numbers or adding new entries when the phone is far away.
Check sync status regularly. Contacts at the top of the list often displays the status of the latest update. If you see an error icon, try switching the Internet (from Wi-Fi to mobile) or logging in again. Securely configuring this step ensures that even if you lose your phone and SIM card, your contacts will be safe.
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Expert advice: Once every six months, export your contacts to a.vcf file and save them to your computer or send them to your email, creating an additional cold backup independent of cloud services.
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Main conclusion: Transfer of contacts with SIM-Maps are just the first step. data security is ensured only by regular cloud sync with your Google or Mi Cloud account.