Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face the need to restore the phone book after buying a new device or replacing a SIM card. The standard procedure for importing data in the MIUI shell allows you to quickly transfer all records, while preserving the number structure and additional fields, this is especially true for users who previously stored information exclusively on the physical carrier medium.
The copying process does not require the installation of third-party software, as the built-in Android tools are fully capable of this task. You only need a few minutes of free time and access to the contact menu. Proper porting ensures that no important number is lost during the data migration.
It’s worth noting that modern smartphones offer multiple options for storing an address book, and choosing the right method affects the security of your data. In this article, we’ll discuss the algorithm for Redmi 9 in detail, as well as the advantages of cloud storage over local storage, which will help you avoid the typical mistakes when working with a phone book.
Device preparation and verification SIM-map
Before you start copying directly, you need to make sure that the SIM card is properly installed in the slot and recognized by the system. Put the chip in the tray, observing the orientation of the contacts, and wait for the network icon to appear in the status bar. PIN-code, enter it to unlock access to card data.
Make sure that the device has access to the contact store. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and find the standard Contacts app. Check what permissions are given to it, especially access to memory and phone. Without these permissions, the system will not be able to read the SIM card records.
⚠️ Note: If more than 250 contacts are recorded on the SIM card, some older storage formats may not be supported by newer versions of Android.
It is also recommended to check the free space in the internal memory of the smartphone. Although contacts occupy a minimal amount, overcrowded storage can cause errors in the operation of system applications.
Import contacts through the standard application
The main method of data transfer is implemented directly in the interface of the application “Contacts” from Xiaomi. Open the call menu or find the corresponding icon in the launcher. In the upper right corner of the screen, click on the icon with three dots or gear to open the contextual settings menu.
In the list that opens, select Import/Export contacts. The system will prompt you to select a data source. SIM-Once the source is selected, the system will ask where exactly the numbers should be saved.
- 📱 Google Account is the Best Choice for Syncing and Recovery on Any Device.
- 📂 Device Memory – Local storage available only on that particular smartphone.
- 📞 Phone – legacy-version, similar to the memory of the device, but with limited functionality.
Select the target directory and confirm the action. The copying process will take from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the number of records, and when the operation is completed, you will see a notification of successful import, and all the numbers will appear in the general phone book.
☑️ Import checklist
Using the Mi Mover app to migrate
For users switching from an old Android smartphone to Redmi 9, Xiaomi has developed Mi Mover, an app that allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, messages and installed programs. Launch the application through the settings menu or find it in the Tools folder.
On the receiving device, select the Receiver role, and on the old phone, select the Sender. QR-If you have a code or connection through a Wi-Fi Direct hotspot, you will create a secure transmission channel».
The advantage of this method is that it can pre-filter, so you can select only certain contact groups or eliminate duplicates before transfer, which is especially useful if the old device has accumulated digital debris over the years of use.
What if Mi Mover can't see an old phone?
Synchronization through Google account
The most reliable way to save a phone book is by linking it to Google’s cloud service, and if your contacts are already saved to your Gmail account, the new Redmi 9 just needs to add that account, and it automatically pulls all your records from the cloud.
Check sync status in Settings → Accounts and Sync. Select your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. Click on the menu (three dots) if necessary and select Sync Now.
This has the undeniable advantage of losing your phone or SIM card, leaving your numbers intact, logging in from any other device to access the entire address book, and the only way to guarantee 100% data security in the event of a physical device failure.
Solution: Duplicates and coding
When transferring data from SIM-Users often face the problem of duplicate records, the same contact can be displayed twice or three times. To solve this problem, the Contacts app has a built-in cleaning tool.
Click on the settings menu inside the app and find “Clean Duplicate” or “Combine Repeated Contacts.” The system will analyze the phone book and suggest combining entries with the same names or numbers, which will take literally a couple of clicks.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts are not displayed | Not selected source of display | In the contact settings, enable the display of SIM and account |
| Mallards instead of names | Error of coding during importation | Try importing through Google Contacts on PC |
| No photos of contacts. | SIM does not store images | Add photos manually after importing the numbers |
| Cut off long numbers | Limitation of the SIM format | Edit the number manually by adding the country code |
Another common problem is the incorrect display of names containing Cyrillic if the import is made from very old SIM cards. In such cases, manual editing of names or the use of intermediate export to the.vcf file via a computer may be necessary.
💡
Periodically back up your contacts to a.vcf file and save them to a cloud drive or computer, which will create an additional layer of protection in case of problems with your Google account.
Export contacts to VCF file for backup
In addition to copying to your device, it is important to back up. From the Import/Export Contacts menu, select Export to Device Memory or Export to Storage. The system will create a file with the.vcf extension that contains your entire phone book.
This file can be sent to your email, stored in the cloud, or transferred to your computer. Unlike a SIM card,.vcf supports long names, addresses, emails, and photos tied to contacts.
⚠️ Note: The.vcf backup file may contain personal information. Do not share this file with anyone or post it in public sources without a password.
To recover from a file, simply open it on a smartphone, automatically prompt the user to import the contacts it contains into a previously selected account or phone memory, a universal method that works on any Android device.
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Regular backups in.vcf format and synchronization with Google Account are the gold standard for the security of user personal data.