Switching to a new smartphone or having to move data often puts users in the face of the question: how to save important information? POCO They often look for ways to copy their contacts. SIM-It is true that a physical card can become a backup if there are problems with your Google account or internal memory.
But it's worth noting that modern smartphones offer more flexible synchronization tools. Moving numbers to an operator's chip has its technical limitations, which are rarely discussed in brief guides. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the copying process, uncover hidden nuances, and show you how to avoid losing any records in the process.
The interface of the MIUI shell and its global version of HyperOS may vary depending on the version of Android. We will look at universal algorithms of actions that will suit most current models, the main thing is to follow the steps carefully to avoid duplication of records or partial loss of records.
Why copy your contacts to SIM-map in 2026
In the era of cloud technology, storing numbers on physical media seems archaic. SIM-It's a kind of analog insurance, where if you forget your Google account password or your phone gets stolen, the numbers will stay in your hands on the plastic card.
Additionally, SIM porting is often required when changing carriers or buying an old button phone that doesn’t know how to run cloud services. For many users, it’s the easiest way to quickly migrate a database of numbers without using a computer or complex programs.
It is important to be aware of the technical limitations. SIM-The card has a very small amount of memory and outdated storage structure. Unlike the cloud or internal memory of a smartphone, it does not store photos, additional numbers (work, home) and email addresses.
Restrictions on the SIM-card storage format
Before you start porting, you need to figure out what exactly an operator chip can hold. The old storage standard dictates its rules, which can be unpleasant for the inexperienced user. The limit of characters in a contact name is often limited to 10-15 characters, so long names can be cropped.
The most critical limit is the number of numbers per phone book entry. SIM-If a contact has three numbers (mobile, work, home) in their phone memory, only the main number will be retained when exported, and the rest will be permanently lost.
⚠️ Note: When copying contacts with extended fields (photo, email, addresses) to SIM-All the additional information will be deleted, and only the name and one phone number will remain.
Also, you should consider encoding. Cyrillic names may not display correctly on some older devices or when changing region, so it's best to test the procedure on one or two contacts before mass transfer.
Technical details of the vCard format
Preparation of the device for data transfer
To make the process go smoothly and without errors, you need to properly prepare the device. SIM-The card is set to the slot and is determined by the system. → The phone. → All settings where network status should be displayed.
The second important step is to check the fullness of the SIM-On some tariffs or old cards, the memory may be occupied by the operator's service numbers, and if the space ends during the copying process, the system will give an error, and some contacts may not be saved.
It is also recommended to make sure that the battery charge is at least 30-40%.Although the process is not energy-consuming, suddenly turning off the smartphone while writing data to the chip can damage the phone book file system.
☑️ Preparations for export
Step-by-step: export through the standard application
The most reliable and correct way to transfer numbers on Xiaomi and Redmi devices is to use the built-in functionality of the Contacts application. This method does not require the installation of third-party software and guarantees the correct operation of the system.
To start, open the Contacts app (yellow or blue icon with a human silhouette). In the upper right corner or in the lower menu (depending on the MIUI version), find a three-dot button or menu icon. Click on it and select Settings or Import/Export Contacts.
In the menu you are interested in the option "Export to the SIM-The system will alert you that some data may be lost (photos, additional numbers). Confirm the action by clicking "OK" or "Continue".
Then the smartphone will suggest you select the contacts to copy, you can mark specific entries manually or select the option "Select all." Once confirmed, the copying process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of entries.
💡
Use only the regular Contacts app for export. Third-party programs from Play Market often have redundant permissions and can duplicate entries, creating chaos in the phone book.
Alternative methods and work with Mi Cloud
If the standard method is not available or is not working properly for some reason, you can use the Mi Cloud ecosystem.This service automatically syncs your contacts with the Xiaomi server. To transfer them to the SIM, first make sure that sync is enabled in the Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts section.
Once the data has been uploaded to the cloud, you can go back to the contacts app and try importing it from there. → SIM" In this case, it is more logical to import contacts from Mi Cloud into the memory of the phone, and then export them to the phone. SIM-map.
There are also third-party contact management apps from Google Play that offer more flexible filtering settings before exporting, but using such software requires you to access your personal data, which is not always secure.
| Copying method | Saves a photo. | Saves the email. | Several rooms. | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Tall. |
| Phone memory | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Medium |
| SIM-map | No. | No. | No (1 number) | Low. |
| File.vcf | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Tall. |
Solving problems and errors when copying
Users often face a situation where the "Export" button is SIM" It's inactive or hidden, and it happens when you don't have a phone installed. SIM-check if the tray is inserted correctly and if the device sees the network.
Another common problem is the message "Memory". SIM-As mentioned earlier, old cards can hold 250 to 500 contacts. If you have more records, you have to either delete some of them. SIM, either transfer contacts in parts, or, more reasonable, abandon this venture in favor of Google contacts.
Sometimes, after copying, the names are displayed as "Contact 1", "Contact 2" or a set of digits, which indicates a problem with encoding or damage to the records during conversion, in which case it is better to return everything as it was using the import function from the digits. SIM-Cards back to the phone so as not to lose data permanently.
💡
If the export button is grey, try temporarily switching the contact display. From the contact settings menu, select "Show contacts" and specify "All contacts" or the account where they are, rather than "Only from your phone."