How to copy contacts with SIM-Xiaomi maps: The full guide

Switching to a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is always an exciting process, often overshadowed by the need to move an old phone book. SIM-It's a relic of the push-button era, but it's still a practice, in the Android operating system, and in the branded shells. MIUI HyperOS, this process is automated, but requires care not to lose data or create duplicates.

Xiaomi's current smartphones have powerful data management tools that allow you to import records in a couple of touches. MIUI, It can take time to find the right option. SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and does not allow you to save additional fields such as email or address, so transferring to the cloud or phone memory is critical.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods of transfer, from standard phone tools to using Google cloud services and Mi Account. We will also touch on the topic of security, since storing contacts exclusively on SIM card plastic carries the risk of losing them if the chip is damaged or the carrier is replaced.

Preparation of SIM-card and smartphone for import

Before you start the copying process, you need to make sure that SIM-If you've just installed a new communication module, the phone can request PIN-Enter it carefully, as a three-fold error will result in a card being blocked and you need to enter it. PUK-code, which is on a plastic card-holder issued by the operator.

Make sure your smartphone has a sufficient battery life. Although the process of importing text data consumes minimal energy, suddenly turning off the device while working with the contact database can damage the phone book file or cause system errors in the Contacts app.

It is also worth checking if you are not overcrowded. SIM-Older cards sometimes have a limit of 250 or 500 records, and if your previous phone allowed you to save more, some of the numbers might have stayed in the memory of the old device, not on the SIM. In this case, you first need to copy them from the memory of the old phone to the SIM card, and only then transfer them to Xiaomi.

Standard method of import through the “Contacts” application

The fastest and most reliable method that does not require an Internet connection is to use the built-in functionality of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android, but the logic of actions remains the same for all models of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi.

To start, open the standard Contacts app (usually an orange icon with a human silhouette). In the upper or lower right corner of the screen, find a menu of three dots or three horizontal bars. Click on it to reveal the action list. You need to find "Import Contacts" or "Contact Management" → "Import/Export".

In the menu that opens, the system will prompt you to select a data source. Select the option "Import with". SIM-And then the phone will scan the chip, and if there's a lot of data on the SIM card, it can take a few seconds to do that, and then you'll be asked to choose your destination: Google account, Mi Account, or phone memory.

• 📱 Phone Memory: Contacts will be stored locally, without being linked to an account (not recommended when resetting settings).
• ☁️ Google Account: Best Option to Sync with Other Android Devices.
• 🔶 Mi Account: handy if you use the Xiaomi ecosystem and the Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: When selecting the item "Import all", the system can create duplicates if the numbers with the number SIM-The cards have already been stored in your phone's memory.

After selecting the source and destination, click the confirmation button (usually a tick or OK button) and the system will alert you that multiple copies of contacts will be created if there are any matches. Confirm the action and the data will be transferred.

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Use the “Joint Duplicates” function in the contact settings immediately after import to clear the phone book of repetitive entries.

Use Google Contacts for Synchronization

Google’s ecosystem offers a more flexible management tool, which is especially useful if the standard MIUI app doesn’t work properly or if you plan to upgrade to a smartphone from another brand in the future.

Open the app and click on the profile icon or settings menu (three bars» → «Import contacts SIM-Unlike the standard app, here you can choose a specific Google account to which the numbers will be uploaded, which is especially true for users with multiple mailboxes.

The advantage of this method is that Google Contacts automatically normalizes the data, they can recognize the format of the number, add the country code if it is missed, and even find a profile photo for some contacts, if they are in the Google database.

If you use this method, make sure your device is synced. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. This ensures that your numbers are saved even if your smartphone is completely broken.

Transfers via Mi Mover and Mi Cloud

Xiaomi has developed its own utility, Mi Mover, which is designed to migrate data from an old device to a new one, and while the main use case is Wi-Fi Direct data transfer from phone to phone, the app also works with local backups that may contain contacts.

However, a more direct path through the Xiaomi ecosystem is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service. If you have a Mi Account, you can upload contacts there. → Mi Account. → Xiaomi Cloud. Find the Contacts section and enable synchronization. SIM-map, the system may suggest importing them for synchronization.

This method is especially useful for those who are already deeply integrated into the Xiaomi ecosystem (using tablets, laptops or the brand’s smart home).The data will be available on all devices authorized under your Mi ID. In addition, Mi Cloud has a Recycle Bin feature where remote contacts are stored for 30 days, which serves as additional insurance.

For users who change phones within the Xiaomi brand, this is the preferred method, not only to save numbers, but also call history, messages and even the placement of icons on the desktop.

Solution: Contacts are not copied or displayed incorrectly

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after importing the numbers are displayed as numbers without names, or the process is stalled. SIM-Some older SIM cards use encoding that is not fully compatible with modern smartphones, especially if contact names used special characters or emojis.

If you see empty fields or characters displayed instead of names, try changing the input language or system language temporarily into English, import and then return Russian. Also, cleaning the cache of the Contacts and Contact Storage application through the Settings menu → Apps → All apps helps.

Another problem is the length limit of the name. SIM-Cards often limit the contact name 10-15 When you migrate to Xiaomi, these names may crop or look strange, in which case, after importing, you will have to manually edit the most important contacts, adding full names and surnames.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to edit your contacts directly on SIM-A card with an engineering menu or third-party root rights without a backup can result in the total loss of the phone book without the possibility of recovery.

Cleaning and contact organization after transfer

Once you copy successfully, your phone book can look chaotic. There are often duplicates (like one SIM contact, another from Google with a similar number). MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in tool to solve this problem. Go to Contacts, click on the menu and select Contact Organization or Duplicate Management.

The system will suggest combining similar records, which will create a single contact card that will collect all the numbers and addresses associated with this person, not only streamline the list, but also speed up search in the future, and it is recommended to check contacts with the name "Unknown" or empty records that may have "stick" when importing, and delete them.

You can use sorting to clean up your contacts, and in your contact display settings, select "By name" or "By name" depending on how you're most likely to search. If you use Google Contacts, you can also use "Current and Manage" to automatically find duplicates and unnamed contacts.

• 🧹 Delete blank records: often, when importing, contacts are created with only one number or the name "Contact"; they should be deleted.
• 🔗 Social media binding: modern phones can offer to link contacts to profiles in messengers, if the numbers match.
• 🏷️ Grouping: Distribute contacts into groups (Family, Work, Services) for the convenience of mass mailing SMS call.

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Regular cleaning of duplicates and checking the relevance of numbers prolongs the life of the phone database and speeds up the search engine.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions