How to transfer numbers from SIM to Xiaomi phone: a step-by-step guide

Switching to a new smartphone or replacing it SIM-The first thing users want to do is to keep their contacts. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the need to quickly import a phone book from a physical medium into the internal memory of the gadget. Modern versions of the shell MIUI HyperOS offers built-in tools for this task, making the process as simple as possible for even inexperienced users.

However, automatic synchronization sometimes fails, or the user simply does not know where to look for the desired button. Manual import of contacts remains the most reliable way to ensure that no important number is lost when changing devices. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of data transfer, possible errors and methods for eliminating them.

It is important to note that the storage of the numbers is directly SIM-The map is considered outdated due to limited memory and no backup, and transferring contacts to a Google or Mi Cloud account ensures their safety even if the smartphone is completely broken or stolen. Below we will consider the optimal algorithm of actions, which is relevant for all modern models of the Chinese brand.

Preparation of the device and compatibility check

Before proceeding with active actions on data copying, you need to make sure the correctness of the work SIM-Make sure the card sits tightly in the slot and the phone sees it. You just have to look at the top of the screen, and it has to show the signal level and the operator name.

In some cases, the system may not count contacts due to software failure or incompatibility of the data storage format on the old one. SIM-If you use a very old chip from a previous generation of networks, some fields (e.g. email or extra numbers) may not show up.

Also important is freeing up space and checking Google Contacts, which is the service that most often acts as an intermediary when importing, making sure your Google account is added to the device and sync is enabled, which will avoid the situation where the copied numbers disappear after resetting.

It is important to check if there is free space in the internal memory, although the contacts themselves take up minimal space, the process of importing and creating temporary files may require a buffer zone, and if the memory is full, the system may terminate the process with an error.

Standard method of import through the Contacts app

The easiest and fastest way to move numbers is to use Google's built-in Contacts app or Xiaomi's standard app. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic of the action remains the same. Open the app and find the control menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or stripes in the corner of the screen.

In the menu that opens, you need to select contact management or import/export, and the system will suggest you choose the source of the data. SIM-Once the source is selected, the phone will prompt you to specify the destination: the device’s internal memory or a specific Google account.

When you select a Google account, you get automatic sync, if you choose Phone, your contacts will only be stored locally, and local storage is less secure, because when you reset your settings to factory, that data will be lost without recovery unless you make a separate backup.

Once the selection is confirmed, the copying process will begin, which can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records, at which time the screen may wink slightly, and the load indicator may appear in the status bar, and it is not recommended to interrupt the process to avoid damaging the contact database.

⚠️ Note: If the phone offers to combine duplicates during the import process, carefully examine the list. Automatic fusion can lead to the loss of some information if the algorithm fails to determine matches.

Use of Google and Mi Cloud Services

Xiaomi’s ecosystem is closely integrated with its own Mi Cloud, which also manages contacts. This method is especially handy if you’re switching from another Xiaomi or Redmi phone. First, log into your phone’s settings and select the Mi Account section.

Turn on the contact sync. SIM-The card has numbers, import them into the phone first in the standard method, and then allow sync with Mi Cloud. This will create a backup in the Xiaomi cloud. The advantage of this method is that you can restore numbers by simply logging into your account on any device.

Google Contacts works similarly, but is more versatile. SIM-Select your Gmail account immediately, and then all the numbers will automatically appear on tablets, computers and other smartphones where you log in to this account.

It's important to understand the difference between synchronization and simple copying. Synchronization is a two-way process: changes made in the cloud will affect the phone, and vice versa. Simple copying is a one-time promotion. Long-term data storage is preferable to the former.

Solution: duplicates and coding

One of the most common problems with data transfer is the appearance of duplicates, which occurs when the same contact is recorded on the same data transfer. SIM-The system perceives them as different records, but with slight differences in the format of the number (for example, with or without a country code.

To solve this problem, Google Contacts has a built-in cleaning tool. Go to the app's settings and select "Combine and Fix" and automatically find similar entries and suggest combining them into one card with full information.

Another common problem is "cracker cherries" instead of names or empty fields, which is due to differences in encoding. SIM-Cards often use limited encoding. GSM, which does not fully support Cyrillic or special symbols, in which case names may be cropped or displayed incorrectly.

If you're faced with a problem of encoding, you can't fix names en masse, you have to edit each record manually, which is why digital storage is preferable to physical storage: there are no such rigid limits on length and characters in the memory of the phone or the cloud.

Alternative methods of transmission via Bluetooth and VCF

If the standard importation does not work, or SIM-The card is damaged, you can use the intermediate format VCF (vCard. This method requires a second device to count contacts from. On an old phone, export contacts to.vcf via the contact management menu.

The resulting file can be transferred to the new Xiaomi in any convenient way: via Bluetooth, messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) or USB-Once you have a file on a new device, just click on it. The system automatically prompts you to import the data it contains into the phone book.

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This method is good because it allows you to preview the file and verify the integrity of the data, and you can save the VCF file on your computer as an additional backup, which adds another layer of security to your data.

When transferring via instant messengers, make sure you send the file as a document, not as a media file, to keep it structured. Once a file is opened on Xiaomi, the system can ask which account to save the data to – again, it is recommended to choose Google.

Cleanup SIM-cards after successful transfer

Once you have made sure that all numbers are successfully transferred and displayed on the phone, it is recommended to clean up. SIM-Keeping contacts on a SIM has many disadvantages: a limit on the length of the name, the inability to add an email, address, photo and several numbers to one contact.

To clean up, go to the Contacts app, select the management menu and find the option “Delete contacts from the SIM-cards" or "clear SIM-Confirm the action. This will make room and prevent confusion in the future, where you may be importing again.

⚠️ Attention: Before cleaning SIM-Make sure to check-up several important contacts to make sure the numbers are working and stored in the phone’s memory, rather than being lost when exporting.

Released SIM-The card is now ready to be used as a means of communication, without excess data baggage. Xiaomi smartphones are capable of storing tens of thousands of contacts, so you should not worry about the lack of space in the phone book.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Regular sync with your cloud account is the only guarantee that your phone book will not disappear without a trace in case of unforeseen circumstances.