Switching to a new smartphone or replacing it SIM-The cards often put users in need of a quick transfer of the phone book. owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices POCO They may have to deal with the features of the shell. MIUI, It's important to understand that storing numbers directly on a plastic card is an outdated but still common method that requires the right approach to data migration.
Modern smartphones offer many synchronization options, but classic import is the most reliable in the absence of the Internet. If you just inserted an old chip into a new device, the system itself can offer to save data, but manual control of the process ensures that no number is lost. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of the procedure for current versions of firmware.
Before you start taking action, make sure your SIM-The card is correctly identified by the system. Sometimes the contact chip may be contaminated or misfitted in the slot, leading to read errors. Make sure the device sees the network and displays the carrier in the status bar.
Device preparation and verification SIM-map
The first step is to physically install the card in the appropriate slot of your gadget. Modern Xiaomi models use a combined tray, so it is important not to confuse the position of the SIM 1 and SIM 2 if you use two numbers.
Next, check if the phone sees the numbers recorded on the chip, and then open the standard Contacts or Phone app. If the screen displays a plug that suggests importing data, you can use it, but we'll look at a more detailed manual method through settings that are more stable.
Make sure there is enough space on the memory card or internal memory of the device. Although the contacts themselves take up a minimum of space, temporary files when converting databases may require several megabytes. Also check the battery power: it must be above 20% so that the device does not turn off at a critical moment.
⚠️ Attention: Don't pull out SIM-This can cause damage to the contact store file system and loss of some of the records.
If you have a dual-sim device, the system may ask which card to read the data from, and choose the source carefully, especially if different numbers store different groups of contacts (for example, work and personal).
Import of contacts through system settings
The main method of data transfer on Xiaomi smartphones is in the depth of the settings menu, which is preferable because it works even if the standard Contacts app is buggy or not running. You will need to go to Settings, then find the App item and select App Settings.
In the list that opens, find and click on the Contacts icon. At the bottom of the screen or in the menu (three dots in the corner), select the Import Contacts option. SIM-map.
Once you select a source, you will see a window that tells you to choose your destination, and you should choose your Google or Phone account, but not your destination. SIM-You can use the map to avoid duplication. Press the confirmation button and wait until the process is complete.
☑️ Pre-import checks
When you complete the operation, you'll see a notification of successful importation, and now all the numbers are available in the phone book and tied to the device's memory or cloud storage, making them plastic-free.
Use of the Contacts for Migration Application
An alternative and faster way is to use the built-in functionality of the phonebook app itself. Open the Contacts app on your Redmi or Xiaomi. In the upper right corner, click on the three dots (menu) and select Import Contacts.
In the menu that opens, you'll be asked to select a source. SIM-If there are many numbers, the process can take up to several minutes, at which time the screen may go out, but you should not interrupt the process.
The thing about MIUI is that it allows you to select a specific account to save, which is critical for those who use multiple mailboxes, and you can choose the right email address so that in the future, when you change your phone, all the data is automatically restored.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Source | SIM-map | Choose at the first launch |
| Appointment | Google Account | Best option for |
| Format | vCard | Standard format |
| Duplicate | Unite | Enable the merger function |
Once the import is complete, the system can suggest combining duplicates, which is a useful feature if you've already partially transferred data, and the algorithm will analyze the numbers and names, suggesting that you combine the repeated entries into one card.
Solving Name Coding Problems
A common problem when transferring SIM contacts is the misrepresentation of names, and instead of “Mom” or “Oleg,” users may see incomprehensible characters or blank fields, due to differences in text encoding between the old card and the new Android operating system.
To remedy the situation, try changing the input language or system language before you start importing. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Language and input. Make sure you choose Russian, and try repeating the import procedure.
What to do if the names are not restored?
In some cases, cleaning the cache of the Contacts and Contact Storage app helps. Go to the application settings, find those services, and click Clear Data. After that, the phone book will have to be imported again, but the encoding can be applied correctly.
If nothing works, use third-party management apps from Google Play, which specialize in format conversions. They often have more flexible coding settings than standard Xiaomi tools.
Synchronization with Google account
After you have copied the contacts with SIM-It's important to keep your cards safe, and the best way to do that is to sync with Google's cloud, so that you can keep your phone number from being lost or broken.
Check the sync status in the Settings menu → Accounts and sync. Find your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If the error icon is on, check the Internet connection.
⚠️ Note: Removing contacts from the phone book after import is only possible if you are sure that the copy is saved in the cloud.
Regular syncs are automatically done when you have Wi-Fi, but you can force it to run. In the account menu, click three dots and select Sync, which will update the server instantly.
Export contacts to a backup file
In addition to the cloud, it is recommended to create a local backup, especially for users who do not trust cloud storage or want to have a physical file. vCard (.vcf) is universal and opens on any device.
To create a copy, open the Contacts app, go to settings, and select Contact Export. Specify a save location, such as internal memory or SD-The file will be called approximately as contacts.vcf or with an added date.
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Keep the backup file not only in the phone's memory, but also send it to your messenger or mail, which will create an additional copy outside the device.
Recovery from the file is similar to import: select the option “Import contacts” and specify the path to the saved file.vcf. The system will prompt you to choose an account to place numbers, after which all entries will be returned to the phone book.