Changing your smartphone is always accompanied by the need to transfer important information, and the most critical part of this data is the phone book. Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 9 model often face the question of how to save their records to the physical medium, so as not to lose them when changing the device or resetting. Modern operating systems offer many cloud solutions, but the good old method of copying on the device is not lost. SIM-The map remains relevant and reliable.
The MIUI data migration procedure has its own features that differ from pure Android, which can cause confusion for inexperienced users. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods of transfer, consider the potential risks and answer frequently asked questions. You will learn to manage your address book as efficiently as possible using built-in tools of the system.
Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that your SIM-The card is good and properly installed in the slot, and it's also worth checking that there is free space on the media, since older cards may have memory limitations. SIM-The card is often limited to 250 contacts, so owners of large phone books will need to transfer or selectively copy the card.
Preparation of the device and compatibility check
The first step before any data manipulation is done is to prepare your workspace carefully, make sure your Redmi 9 is at least 30-40% charged to avoid a sudden shutdown at a critical moment, and while the risk of data loss when copying contacts is minimal, the stability of the system depends on the level of battery charge.
Next, you need to check the format of the saved numbers. Modern smartphones often save contacts immediately to Google account or phone memory, ignoring the fact that they are not able to save the contacts. SIM-It's done for convenience of synchronization, but it's complicated by the process of directly copying to the card. You need to understand where your numbers are stored right now to choose the right algorithm of actions.
Pay attention to the format of the storage of numbers. If you plan to transfer the records to a card that will be used in a button phone or another manufacturer's device, there may be problems with encoding names. Latin is displayed correctly almost everywhere, while Cyrillic names can turn into a set of incomprehensible characters after transfer.
⚠️ Note: When copying names on SIM-The contact name card is often limited 10-15 Long names and surnames will be cropped and special characters can be deleted automatically.
Directly transfer contacts from phone memory to SIM
The most common scenario is when all the numbers are already written into the internal memory of the smartphone, and they need to be transferred to the map. In the MIUI interface installed on the Xiaomi Redmi 9, this process is implemented through the standard application Contacts. Open the application menu and find an icon with a phone handset or a silhouette of a person.
Once you start the app, go to the settings that are usually hidden in the menu with three dots or a gear in the corner of the screen. You are interested in the item responsible for managing the contact list. In different versions of the firmware, it can be called "Import and export contacts" or simply "Contact management".
In the menu that opens, select the export option, the system will tell you to select the source of the data and its destination, you will need to specify "Device Memory" as the source and"SIM-Once the selection is confirmed, the copying process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records.
☑️ Checklist before export
Importantly, when exposed directly, the system can request confirmation for each contact or group of contacts, a security mechanism that prevents unnecessary data from being accidentally recorded, and be prepared to manually click the process if you don't have a mass selection option enabled.
Use Google Contacts for Synchronization
An alternative to manual copying is using Google’s cloud service, which is deeply integrated into Android, which is considered more modern and secure because your data is not tied to a physical medium that can be lost or damaged, and requires an active Internet connection and a Google account to work.
To use this method, open your phone's settings and search for Accounts and Sync. Select your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. Once sync is enabled, all numbers from your phone's memory will automatically upload to the cloud.
Once the contacts are in the cloud, you can manage them through a browser on your computer or through a special application, which allows you to easily edit, delete duplicates and sort records before sending them back to your phone or phone. SIM-Google Contacts also allows you to recover deleted records within 30 days.
| Parameter | Phone memory | SIM-map | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory capacity | Depends on the phone. | Limited (usually 250) | Unlimited. |
| Photo preservation | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
| Length of name | Anybody. | Limited. | Anybody. |
| Availability | Only on the device. | On any phone. | Internet everywhere. |
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
Work with vCard files and file manager
For advanced users or if necessary, transfer contacts to another smartphone without using the Internet, the vCard file format (vcf format) is ideal. This format is a universal standard for electronic business cards and is supported by almost all manufacturers of equipment.
The process begins with exporting contacts to a file. In the Contacts app, select the export option and specify as a place to save "Internal Drive" or "Mi Drive." The system will create a file with the extension.vcf, which will contain all the entries you choose, this file can be found through any file manager.
The resulting file can be transferred in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), email or USB-On the receiving device, it is easy to open the file and the system will suggest importing the contacts contained in it into the phone memory or on the phone. SIM-map.
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When exported to a vCard file, the system can create multiple files if the number of contacts is high. This is normal behavior, just import all the files received sequentially.
Using files allows you to create full backups of the entire phone book, and you can store these files on your computer or external hard drive, providing additional protection against data loss in the event of a smartphone breakage or loss of an account.
Solving Typical Copying Problems and Errors
In the process of data transfer, users of Xiaomi Redmi 9 can face various technical difficulties. SIM-This happens when the card is already filled with old records or has a small amount of memory.
To solve this problem, it is necessary to clean up beforehand. SIM-Go to the contact settings, select the display only with SIM-You can select all the records and delete them. Then try to start the copying process again.
Another common mistake is when importing, when the process is stuck at a certain percentage, this can be caused by a damaged entry in a phone book containing inappropriate characters, in which case, try copying contacts in small groups to identify and delete the problematic record.
⚠️ Note: If after the transfer, the phone numbers disappeared, but the names remained, this means that the format of the record on the phone is SIM-The card doesn't support multiple numbers for a single contact, and only the first number in the list will remain.
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Always back up your contacts in.vcf before any manipulations. SIM-card to be able to quickly recover data in case of failure.