Switching to a new smartphone or replacing it SIM-Cards often put users in a position to quickly restore their phone book. owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices may face shell features MIUI The modern Android operating systems offer several ways to synchronize data, but the classic method of copying from a SIM card chip remains the fastest solution for local transfer.
The main difficulty is that by default, the system often suggests saving new numbers immediately to the cloud account, ignoring the physical card of the operator. This is done for data security, but when you first set up the gadget, the user must manually initiate the import procedure. If you just turned on the device or inserted a new SIM, the first thing to do is check the presence of records on it, so that you do not lose important connections.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the methods available, from the standard Contacts interface to hidden codes and third-party utilities, how to avoid duplicate records and why storing numbers in a phone’s memory or Google’s cloud is preferable to using a phone or a cloud. SIM-The right organization of the phone book is the key to easy communication and fast operation of smart search functions.
Preparation of the device and compatibility check
Before proceeding with data transfer, it is necessary to make sure that SIM-The card is correctly defined by the system. Insert the chip into the slot, making sure that the metal contacts are downward (or according to the scheme in the tray), and wait for the network icon to appear in the status bar. If the device supports two SIM cards, the import process can be started for each of them separately or select the desired one during the setup process.
It is important to understand the difference between storage formats. Older SIM cards could only contain a number and a name, and the length of the name was often limited to 10-15 characters. Modern cards allow you to store additional data, but still give way to cloud synchronization. When transferred to Xiaomi, the system will automatically try to distribute information in fields, but long names can be cropped.
⚠️ Attention: If yours SIM-The card is very old and has a non-standard size of contacts, it may not be read by new models of smartphones. USIM.
Make sure your smartphone has the latest security update installed. Sometimes bugs in the Contacts app are patched with MIUI. Go to Settings → About your phone and check for updates. Stable system performance is critical for importing large number lists correctly.
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Before you start importing, back up your current contacts through your Google account so you don’t accidentally lose your existing records in the event of a crash.
Standard import through the “Contacts” application
The easiest and most reliable way to move numbers is to use a built-in Google app or a MIUI system app. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version (Global, EEA, China), but the logic of action remains the same. You do not need third-party programs or root rights.
Open the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette). In the upper or lower right corner of the screen, find the settings menu indicated by three dots or a gear. In the list that opens, select Contact Management or Import/Export Contacts, and that's where the basic tools for working with the phone book are hidden.
The system will prompt you to select a data source. Click on the option "Import with" SIM-If you have two active SIMs in your device, you have to specify which data to read from, and then you start scanning the memory of the chip.
☑️ Contact import process
In the next step, the system will ask where to save the numbers, and it is strongly recommended to choose a Google account rather than a "phone memory" that will provide automatic synchronization: if you lose your phone, the numbers will easily recover on any other device after you log in to your account, and saving it in memory makes the data vulnerable when the gadget breaks.
Use of MIUI and HyperOS system settings
In some versions of Xiaomi’s shells, contact management features are included in the general system settings, which is useful if the standard contact app doesn’t work properly or opens, and the path to the desired option can be a little hidden from the eyes of the average user.
Go to the main smartphone settings menu. scroll down to Apps or System Apps. Find Contacts and select Contact Imports from Contacts. SIM-This path duplicates the functionality of the application, but works at the level of system services, which sometimes helps to bypass software errors.
You can also control the contact display in the settings menu. If you don't see the numbers after importing, check the filters. Click on three points in the contact app and select Contacts to Display. Make sure that the checkbox is next to All Contacts or the selected account you imported from.
The HyperOS shell, which replaces MIUI, has changed the visual design of the menu a little bit, but it has retained functionality. If you can't find the right item, search the settings (laptop of the screen), enter the "import" request, and the system will redirect you to the desired menu section.
Synchronization through Google account
Google's ecosystem is native to Android, so contact integration is the most stable. If you've used an Android smartphone before, your numbers are probably already stored in the cloud. SIM-You may not even need a card – just log in to your account.
To check the synchronization status, go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Make sure the Contacts switch is active. If sync is enabled, all numbers you import from SIM-Maps to Google account, will automatically fly to the cloud and will be available on tablets, computers and other phones.
The advantage of this method is that you can edit through the web interface, you can go to contacts.google.com from your computer, delete duplicates, combine cards and add photos, and then you have a change that will instantly affect your Xiaomi, which is much more convenient than editing each number with your finger on a small screen.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Google account | Phone memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory capacity | Limited (250-500 rooms) | Almost unlimited. | Depends on free memory. |
| Length of name | Up to 15-20 characters | No restrictions. | No restrictions. |
| Supplementary fields | Only number and name. | Email, address, photos, notes | Email, address, photos, notes |
| Recovery | Only if you have a physical card. | Automatically at the entrance | Only through backup. |
Using cloud storage allows you to create contact groups (family, work, friends) and send mass messages. SIM-This functionality is completely absent, which makes this medium obsolete for storing a communication database.
Solving problems with duplicate numbers
A common problem with transfer is taking, which happens when you have the same number stored on both the SIM and the phone, or when you have imported multiple times, and as a result, when you call, you see two identical cards, which is annoying and difficult to find.
Google’s Contacts app has a built-in cleaning tool. Open the app’s settings menu and find “Contact Management” (or “Contact Management” → “Contacts Combine”). The system will automatically analyze the database, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining them into a single card.
Why do you have doubles?
Manually delete hundreds of takes makes no sense. Use the "Combine" function to save the call and correspondence history tied to a specific number. Once the database is cleared, it is recommended to export contacts to the.vcf file as the final backup before any experiments.
Import via File Manager (VCF format)
There is an alternative method that is useful if standard import doesn’t work or you need to transfer contacts from another phone through a file.You can export contacts from an old SIM card (if there is anywhere) or phone to a.vcf (vCard) file, transfer it to Xiaomi and open it.
Copy the contact file on your smartphone. Click on it and the system will ask you which application to open the file. Choose Contacts or Import. This is a good way to preview the file and save it to the desired folder, and it is convenient for transferring contacts between different operating systems (for example, with iOS or a button phone).
The.vcf file contains not only numbers, but all the additional information: addresses, jobs, logos of companies. When imported through a file, the data structure is better preserved than when read directly from the data center. SIM-This is the best way to migrate for users from iPhone to Android.
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The file method (.vcf) is the only way to transfer contacts from the iPhone to Xiaomi without losing data and additional photos.