Change of mobile device or need to temporarily install your device SIM-A card to an old button phone often puts Xiaomi users in the task of moving numbers. Unlike many modern smartphones, which offer exclusively cloud storage, the system is a very simple one. MIUI It allows you to quickly migrate between devices without a long procedure of synchronization over the Internet.
The procedure for copying data to the operator’s card chip is built into the standard Contacts application and does not require the installation of third-party utilities. However, owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices may encounter interface nuances that hide the desired options in the depth of the menu. Understanding the logic of the number storage system will help avoid losing important data when changing equipment.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the stages of portability, look at the differences between shell versions, and pay attention to critical details that are often overlooked.The right backup approach ensures that your phone book remains accessible even if your smartphone is completely broken.
Features of room storage in MIUI and HyperOS
Modern shells from the Chinese manufacturer use a hybrid address book system. By default, new entries are often saved in a Google account or the Mi Cloud, which allows them to be stored indefinitely and synchronized between devices. SIM-The card has strict limits on the amount of memory and length of the fields to be written, which makes this method less popular, but indispensable in specific situations.
The main difference between storage on a chip and cloud is the data format. If in a phone's memory a number can be written in an international format with a long name with other data (photo, email, addresses), then the SIM often crops the name to the name of the phone. 10-12 Latin or Cyrillic (depending on the encoding). GSM, SIM card does not support complex unicode strings in the way that modern operating systems do.
⚠️ Note: When copying the SIM-The long contact names will be cut off and the special symbols may disappear.
Users should be aware that a SIM card is only a temporary storage or migration tool, but not the main place to store a contact database in 2026-2026. The maximum number of entries on a SIM card is usually limited to 250-500 numbers, which is much less than the capabilities of cloud services.
Preparation of the device for the copying procedure
Before you start manipulating the database, you need to make sure that the device is ready for the correct execution of the command. First of all, check whether the SIM card is installed in the corresponding slot and whether it is determined by the system. → The phone. → SIM-Cards and make sure that the card status is active.
The second important step is to check the current source of contacts. Open the Contacts app and see where your numbers are displayed. If they are scattered across different accounts (Google, Mi Account, Phone), the copying process may require prior amalgamation or selecting a specific group, consolidating the data will simplify the task and prevent duplication of records.
☑️ Preparation for transfer
Also worth paying attention to the battery charge. Although the copying process takes a little time, suddenly turning off the device while writing data to the chip can damage the contact file system or the SIM card itself, it is recommended to have a charge of at least 30-40% before starting the procedure.
Step-by-step: export through the Contacts app
The most common and secure way to transfer data is built into the standard phone book application. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or the new HyperOS, but the logic of actions remains the same. Open the Contacts app on the home screen or in the Tools folder.
In the number list that opens, find the control menu, which is usually hidden under a button with three dots in the corner of the screen or under the profile icon. Click on it and select "Import / Export contacts." In the menu that opens, the system will suggest you choose the direction of operation. You need to select the option “Export to the SIM-map or "copy on" SIM-map».
Then the system will ask for confirmation of the source of the data. If you have multiple accounts, select Phone or a specific Google account where the primary numbers are stored. After selecting the source, a list of all available contacts with checkboxes for selection will appear.
- 📱 Click on “Select All” in the top corner if you want to copy the entire phone book at once.
- 🔍 Use search or manual selection if you only need to move selected numbers.
- ✅ Confirm the action with the button "Copy" or "Export».
After confirmation, the recording process will begin. A warning may appear on the screen that some data (photos, additional numbers) will be lost due to SIM format limitations. Agree to the terms and the system will begin to record data in turn.
Alternative method through system settings
If a standard application is not working properly or the interface is changed by the manufacturer, you can use the system settings of Android. This method is deeper and allows you to manage data at the system level, bypassing some limitations of the launcher interface.
Go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Search by settings (top line) and type in the “Contacts” or “SIM” query. The system will itself suggest the desired section. Alternatively, the path can look like Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts (although direct access to export from here is less common, more often the path is used through the menu of the application itself).
Hidden functions of the contact menu
A more robust system path is often found under "Additional" or "System Applications." Find "Contacts and Phone Book" and you can find advanced import and export settings here» → «Exports to SIM-This method is particularly useful if the standard Contacts app has been removed or replaced by a third-party counterpart, but the system module has remained.
When using the system menu, it is important to carefully monitor which one is the SIM-You choose a card to write if you have two on your phone, and a mistake in choosing a slot will cause the numbers to be written to the wrong card you plan to retrieve.
Working with two SIM-maps: nuances of choice
Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often use two active numbers. When copying contacts, the system will ask for clarification on which media to write data to, ignoring this step can lead to confusion, especially if both cards belong to the same operator and are visually different.
The SIM dialog will display both the operator and phone number. Check the last 4 digits of the number carefully to avoid making a mistake. If one card is marked as "Data Only" or has no voice rate, recording contacts on it may be technically impossible or impractical.
| Parameter | SIM 1 (Main) | SIM 2 (Additional) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active / Voice + Data | Active / Only voice |
| Operator. | MTS / Beeline / Megafon | Tele2/Yota/Other |
| Contact limit | ~250-500 records | ~250-500 records |
| Coding | GSM/Unicode (partially) | GSM/Unicode (partially) |
If you need to copy contacts to both cards (for example, to distribute to different people), the procedure will have to be repeated twice, each choosing the appropriate slot.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
The copying process is not always smooth. Users may experience write errors, process freezes or incomplete data transfer. Most often, the problem lies in the crowded memory of the SIM card. Old chips have a very small volume, and if there are already written numbers, new ones may not fit.
To solve this problem, you need to pre-clean the SIM card. Go to the contact menu, select SIM Only, or go to the SIM settings via the Security app or system menu. Delete old, unnecessary entries to make room. It also helps to format the SIM card through the phone menu, but this will delete all the numbers on it irrevocably.
⚠️ Note: If the copying process is interrupted in the middle, some contacts may not be recorded correctly. SIM-map and start the procedure again.
Another common problem is format error: Some contacts may contain characters that are not supported by the GSM standard (for example, rare emojis in a name or specific signs in a number). The system may miss such recordings or give an error, in which case try to edit the problem contact on the phone, simplifying the name, and try again.
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Tip: Before mass recording, copy to SIM-If it's displayed correctly with the correct name, you can easily copy the entire book.
Import contacts back to the phone
Once the SIM card has been on another device or you have decided to return the numbers back to your smartphone, you need to perform a reverse operation, which will return the contacts to a full digital format with support for all fields, insert the SIM card with saved numbers into the Xiaomi phone.
Open the Contacts app again and go to the Import/Export menu. This time, select the Import with option. SIM-The system will suggest you choose your destination: Google account, Mi Account or phone memory. It is recommended to choose a Google account, as this will provide automatic synchronization and protection against data loss in the future.
Confirm the import. The phone reads all the chip records and creates copies of them in the selected storage. Once the check is complete, it is recommended to remove the SIM card and check for numbers in the main address book. If everything is successful, the SIM card can be cleared or used as a backup medium.
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The Golden Rule: Always keep the main copy of your contacts in the cloud (Google/Mi Cloud, a. SIM-Use the card only as a temporary tool for transferring between devices.