Changing a mobile device or switching to a new one SIM-The card often puts the user in front of the need to carry the phone book. owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones may face features of the shell MIUI Or the new HyperOS, where the process of importing and exporting contacts has its own nuances, unlike simple button phones, modern smartphones store data in cloud services or internal memory, but the ability to save on physical data. SIM-The card remains relevant for backup or porting to older devices.
There are several ways to do this: through a standard contact app, file manager or Google account, and the choice of method depends on whether your numbers are stored in your phone’s memory, on your Google account or on your old one. SIM-It's important to understand that SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and is technically unable to store additional data such as photos, email addresses or multiple numbers for a single contact.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods so that you can easily migrate your data. We will look at the standard system tools, the features of working with Google contacts and solve typical problems that can arise in the process.
Preparation of SIM-card and compatibility check
Before starting the procedure, you must make sure that your SIM-Modern Xiaomi smartphones often use a hybrid slot, where the second tray can be designed for either a second tray. SIM, Make sure the chip card is inserted correctly and the system sees the operator's network, and if the card is new, it may be empty, which is the ideal condition for writing.
The standard storage capacity of numbers on a SIM card usually allows you to save 250 to 500 entries. The format of data storage on a chip is often limited to 16-20 characters for the contact name, so long names can be cropped. This is a critical point if you are used to giving contacts expanded names.
Also check if it is blocked. SIM-map PIN-If you've previously installed this protection, if you're trying to access the card data, the system can request a code. PIN, It is better to disable the code request through security settings or use another backup method so as not to block the card permanently after three failed attempts.
- 📱 Make sure that SIM-The card is active and displayed in the status bar.
- 🔒 Check availability PIN-code on the map and if necessary disable it.
- 💾 Estimate the number of contacts: if there are more than 500, a full transfer may not be possible.
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone to a minimum 40-50% avoiding interruption of the process.
💡
Before mass recording numbers, try to save one test contact to make sure the record card is working correctly.
Transfer contacts from phone memory to SIM via standard application
The most common scenario is to move numbers that are already stored in your smartphone’s internal memory or synced with your Google account, but are displayed in a shared ledger. Xiaomi smartphones use the standard Contacts app (often with an orange man icon) to open the app and go to the Contact Management section.
In the app interface, find the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or the "More" button, where you will need the "Import/Export Contacts" function. The system will prompt you to select a data source. If your numbers are stored in a Google account, select the appropriate item. If they are in the device's memory, select "Phone" or "Device".
Once the source is selected, the system will offer the target storage. SIM-map, «SIM 1" or «SIM 2. Select it. You'll then be asked to confirm the actions, as you copy or move the data, and it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the volume of the phone book.
☑️ Algorithm of actions through the application
Pay attention to the behavior of the system in duplicates. SIM-The card already has records with the same names, the phone may suggest skipping them, replacing them or creating duplicates. Be careful when choosing so as not to get confused in the list of subscribers later. SIM-map from old records, if it was previously used.
Use Google Contacts for synchronization and portability
Google’s ecosystem offers a more flexible and reliable way to manage phone books that Xiaomi users often ignore. If your contacts are saved in a Google account, you can manage them through a web interface or a separate application. This method is especially useful if you need to filter out excess data before writing to SIM, since the Xiaomi mobile application may not give detailed control over each entry when exporting.
Go to your phone settings, select Accounts and Sync, then Google. Make sure the slider opposite Contacts is active. After sync, open Google's Contacts app (blue icon with the letter "A"). The settings menu of this app also has the “Export” feature, which allows you to save data to a file or, in some versions of Android, immediately to the user. SIM-map.
The advantage of using Google tools is that you can pre-clean, you can combine duplicates, delete contacts without numbers, and fix name formatting. SIM-Only the current and correct data will be included in the map. After cleaning it through Google, the standard Xiaomi application will see the already updated database.
⚠️ Note: When exporting via Google Contacts on some versions of Android, direct entry to SIM In this case, use export to the.vcf file and then import this file through the standard Xiaomi application, choosing the file. SIM receiver.
If direct exports are SIM Google is not working, use the file manager. Save contacts in the device memory, find the created file (usually in the Contacts or Downloads folder) and click on it. The system will prompt you to select the application to open and the action - select "Import" and specify SIM-map.
Work with VCF files and external drives
VCF (vCard) is a universal standard for sharing contact information. This method is indispensable if you have too many numbers or if direct SIM recording through the phone menu causes errors. You can back up all contacts as a single file, transfer it to your computer or cloud storage, and then download it back to your device for conversion.
To create a file, go to Import/Export Contacts and select Export to Device Memory or Export to Internal Storage. The system will create a file with the.vcf extension. If you want to transfer contacts to another Xiaomi phone, just flip this file over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct or other devices. USB-On a new device, you just have to open the file and choose to import it. SIM.
This method also allows you to edit contacts on your computer before you write. VCF file in the program on PC, you can massively change names, remove unnecessary fields (addresses, sites) that are not supported SIM-Once cleaned, the file is loaded back into the phone, and the final recording is done on the chip.
| Transfer method | Speed of operation | Photo preservation | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Exports (MIUI) | Tall. | No. | Low. |
| Through Google Account | Medium (depending on the network) | No (when exported to SIM) | Minimum |
| Through the VCF file | Low (many steps) | No (SIM does not support) | Medium (human factor) |
| Bluetooth exchange | Low. | Depends on the device. | Medium. |
Why are photos lost when transferring to SIM?
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
During the transfer process, users often encounter a message "Memory" SIM-This happens even if the card is new, because of different capacity standards. 250 rooms, other — 500. If the system writes about an error, try to transfer contacts in small groups. 50-100 if the interface allows you to select contacts manually.
Another common problem is “krakozyabr” instead of letters in names, which is a coding conflict where Russian letters (Cyrillic) are replaced by question marks or incomprehensible symbols. To avoid this, before exporting, make sure that the language of the phone interface is set in Russian, and in the settings. SIM-cards (if any are in the menu of the mobile operator) also selected the correct encoding.
Sometimes, after the transfer, the contacts appear with the prefix "+7" or "8", creating duplicates, this is solved by the "Combine duplicates" function in the Contacts application. The system will analyze the numbers and suggest that the repeated entries be merged into one card, and this procedure regularly helps to keep the phone book in order.
- 🚫 Recording error: check if the ban on writing in the settings is not worth it SIM-menu.
- 🔤 Coding problems: change the language of the system before exporting.
- 📉 Lack of space: Remove old unnecessary numbers from the SIM card.
- 🔄 Hanging process: restart your smartphone and try again.
Features of the transfer on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shell interface is constantly updated, and the location of menu items can change. On older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 11, 12), the path to export was often deep in the settings of the application itself. In newer versions (MIUI 13, 14) and especially in HyperOS, the company seeks to simplify navigation by transferring important functions to the main screen of the application or in quick settings.
HyperOS emphasizes ecosystems, and can aggressively offer synchronization with Mi Cloud instead of exporting to the cloud. SIM. If your goal is exactly SIM-map, ignore cloud storage offers and look for the classic item "Import / Export" in some cases it may be hidden in the menu "Contact Management».
Global ROM users should be more careful with the terminology. Items may be called "Copy contacts" instead of "Import/Export." The logic of action remains the same: choose from where -> choose where -> confirm. If you can't find the right item, search the phone settings by entering the word "Contacts" or "SIM".
⚠️ Note: After updating the firmware access settings SIM-If the transfer worked before and now the system gives an access error, check the permissions for the Contacts app in the Applications section» -> «Permits».