Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to transfer data when changing devices or after resetting. SIM-Despite the development of cloud technologies, physical media remains indispensable for rapid migration to button phones or devices of other operating systems.
The process of copying on devices with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS has its own nuances that can confuse an inexperienced user. The standard contact menu sometimes hides the necessary functions in the depth of settings, and the absence of an explicit copy button raises questions. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm for safely moving your phone book.
Saving numbers on a SIM card ensures that your data stays with you even if your smartphone is completely lost or broken.It's a kind of backup that doesn't depend on your Internet connection or Google account. Let's look at how to do this correctly on your device.
Preparation of the device and checking the memory capacity
Before you start the transfer procedure, you need to make sure that your SIM-Older Mini-SIM or Micro-SIM cards can have a limited amount of memory, often no more than 250 pins. Modern Nano-SIM cards usually support a standard number, but no extra checks will be available.
Go to your phone and check the status of your SIM card, and if you bought it years ago and used it on old phones, it might already be filled with memory cells, and then some of the numbers might not be copied, and the system will give you an error.
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Before mass copying, try to save one test contact to the SIM-If it appears on the list, it means the card is good and accepts the records.
Also, consider the format of the data stored. SIM card is a technology with limited capabilities, it does not support long names, photos, email addresses or additional numbers for a single subscriber. When you copy contacts from the phone, some information may be lost, only the name and one primary number will remain.
Copying through the standard Contacts application
The basic and easiest way to migrate data is built directly into Xiaomi’s Contacts system app. The interface may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version, but the logic of action remains the same for all Redmi models.
To start, open the Contacts app on your desktop. Find a three-dot icon or a gear in the top right or bottom right for the settings menu. In the list that appears, select Import and Export Contacts.
Then the system will tell you to select the direction of operation. You need to click the "Export on" button. SIM-The phone will warn you that when you copy some data (for example, a photo or email) will be deleted, because the format is not in the same format. SIM-The cards don't support them. Confirm the action by pressing OK".
☑️ Copying algorithm
Once confirmed, the copying process will begin. The duration depends on the number of entries in your phone book. Don't interrupt the process or turn off the screen until the notification of completion of the operation appears. Now your numbers are securely stored on the chip.
Use of the system settings menu
If access to the feature is limited or errors occur through the contact app, you can use the deep settings of the Android system itself. This method is especially relevant if the standard Xiaomi application has been removed or replaced by a third-party counterpart.
Go to the main smartphone settings menu. Scroll down and find the Apps section. Select App Management inside. You need to find the Contacts system app (not to be confused with Phone or Google Contacts).
However, a more direct path is often hidden under SIM cards and mobile networks. Once you go there, select your active SIM card. Some firmware versions have a "Contacts on" button. SIM-You click on it and you'll be taken to the menu, where you can copy all the numbers from your phone's memory.
⚠️ Note: Newer versions of HyperOS may have different paths. If you don't find a point in your network settings, search for settings by typing the phrase "contact sims".
The good thing about this method is that it works at the system level, avoiding any possible bugs in the application interface, and it provides more stable data transfer, especially if the phone book has several hundred records.
Working with several SIM-map
Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are famous for supporting two SIM cards, which creates additional confusion when copying. The user needs to clearly understand which media will be stored data, so as not to lose them when extracting the wrong chip.
When selecting the export function, the system automatically determines the cards installed. If there are two SIMs on the phone, a window will appear telling you to choose a target card: SIM 1 or SIM 2.
If you need to copy contacts to both cards, you'll have to repeat the procedure twice. First, select the first SIM card and wait for the copy to finish, then repeat the actions for the second. Remember that contacts are not automatically duplicated between cards.
It is important to note that when you remove the SIM card tray, the phone may temporarily lose connection to the network. Make sure the copying process is complete before you pull the card from the device.
Limitations of SIM Storage Format
It is important to understand the technical limitations of SIM storage technology, which is not a complete database, but a simple list of fixed-length records, which is why transfers have a number of inherent limitations that every user should be aware of.
SIM cards cannot store the full Unicode, which can lead to problems with displaying Russian letters or special characters in names. Some characters can be replaced by question marks or turn into spaces. 10-15 symbolism.
| Parameter | Phone Memory / Google | SIM-map |
|---|---|---|
| Number of numbers per name | No restrictions. | Only one. |
| Length of name | Up to 100+ characters | Usually up to 14 characters |
| Photo of contact | Supported | Not supported |
| Email and address | Supported | Not supported |
It's also worth mentioning that when you copy a SIM card, you don't have to divide it into numbers (mobile, work, home), all numbers become basic numbers, and if you have three different phones on your contact, you're likely to have only the first one on your SIM card, or you'll have to choose by hand.
What to do if the names are cut off?
Re-establishment of contacts with SIM-map
Once you have moved the SIM card to a new phone or reset the factory settings of the old one, the contacts need to be returned back to the device's memory, a process called importation, which takes only a few seconds.
Open the Contacts app again and log in to the settings menu through three dots. Select Import and Export Contacts, but this time click Import with SIM-The system will ask where to save data: to Google account, to phone memory or to another SIM card.
The best option is to choose a Google account or a phone memory, which will allow you to sync your data in the future and not depend on a physical chip, and after you choose a save location, confirm the action, and all the numbers will appear in your phone book.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-cards can be duplicated if some numbers have already been stored in the phone's memory.
If you use a dual-sim phone, make sure that the import is from the card that the data was previously recorded on. An error in the choice of source will cause the phone to report the absence of contacts, even though they are physically on a different SIM card.
Alternative methods and cloud synchronization
While the issue was about copying to a SIM card, one cannot but mention more modern and convenient backup methods: Xiaomi owners have access to the powerful Mi Cloud tool, as well as standard synchronization of Google Contacts, which eliminate the need for manual transfer.
Using cloud technology, you can save not only numbers, but also your call history, SMS and system settings, and when you log in to your account on a new phone, all data will be restored automatically in a few minutes, without the risk of file damage or name length restrictions.
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A SIM card is an emergency storage option, and it is much more reliable and convenient to keep contacts in a Google or Xiaomi cloud account for everyday use.
However, the skill of working with a physical media is important. In situations where there is no Internet, a smartphone is discharged or you need to quickly transfer the number to a button caller, the ability to copy contacts to a SIM card becomes the only salvation.