The switch to a new smartphone, especially the popular Xiaomi, often involves the need to move the entire phone book. SIM-It's a relic of the push-button era, but it's still a practice. MIUI or new HyperOS, this process is implemented as simple as possible, but has its own nuances, which are worth knowing.
The main reason to switch numbers from SIM to device is the limitations of the card itself. The old SIM standards allow you to store only basic information: name and one phone number. Modern Xiaomi smartphones are able to store much more data: multiple numbers, email, address, photo and even a link to a social network. In addition, storing data in the memory of the phone or the Google cloud ensures that data is stored even if the SIM card is physically lost.
In this article, we will take a look at standard import methods that do not require third-party software installation, how to avoid duplicates, how to properly configure sync with your Google account, and what to do if the standard menu does not display the desired options.
Preparation for the transfer of contacts and verification SIM-map
Before you start copying, you need to make sure that SIM-The card is physically correct and correctly defined by the device. Put the SIM in the slot, wait for the network icons to appear on the lock screen and check if you see at least some of the numbers in the standard call. If the card is damaged or the contacts on it were recorded in violation of the encoding, the import process may be incorrect.
An important step is to back up your current data if it is already in your phone’s memory.While the risk of information loss is minimal, reinsurance will never hurt.Make sure your Xiaomi is connected to the internet, as after importing, we will immediately set up sync with Google Contacts, which is the most reliable way to store it.
It’s also worth checking where new records are saved by default. In modern versions of MIUI, the system often suggests choosing an account to save when you first start. If you have two SIM cards, make sure you understand which card you’re going to copy the data from so you don’t get confused about the sources.
☑️ Preparation for import
Import contacts through the standard "Contacts" application
The primary phonebook management tool in Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones is built directly into the system. It is hidden in an app that is usually called Contacts (a yellow icon with a human silhouette) or is available through the dial menu. To begin the procedure, open this app and find a menu button that can be located in the upper right corner (three dots) or hidden in the sidebar.
In the menu that opens, select "Import/Export contacts" and the system will suggest selecting a data source. SIM-If you have one SIM, the choice is unequivocal. If you have two Mi cards, you have two Mi cards. SIM Or a normal pair, the phone will ask which card to read the data from.
Once you select a source, the system will suggest you specify your destination, and it's critical to choose your Google account instead of your Phone, which will automatically synchronize and save all contact fields that were not in the SIM card memory, and if you select Phone, the contacts will only be linked to that particular device.
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When importing a large number of numbers (more than 500), the process can take up to 2-3 minutes.
Use the "Mi Migration" application for full transfer
If you’ve just bought a new Xiaomi and want to move contacts from an old Android smartphone along with all the photos and settings, standard import with SIM may not be enough.For this purpose, the company has developed a special Mi Migrate (Mi Migration) app that transfers data over Wi-Fi directly between devices.
This method is especially useful if your contacts are stored in local memory or in a service from another manufacturer (such as Samsung or Huawei), and allows you to select specific types of data to transfer. You can only mark Contacts so that you do not overload the new phone with unnecessary garbage from the old device.
The process is as follows: on both phones you need to open the application (on the new it is often preinstalled in the Tools folder, on the old you need to download from the Play Market or through the new one). QR-The new phone creates the hotspot, the old one connects to it, and the data transfer begins. The speed of copying thousands of contacts takes literally seconds.
What if the Mi Migrate can't see an old phone?
Set up sync with Google Contacts
Once the numbers are moved from the SIM card, you need to make sure they are securely stored in the cloud. Google Contacts is the “gold standard” for Android users. Checking your sync settings ensures that when you lose your phone or buy a new Redmi or POCO model, your phone book will recover automatically.
Go to your phone's settings, search for Accounts and Sync (or just "Accounts"). Select your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If the slider is off, turn it on and click Sync. The system automatically checks your local database with the cloud.
You can check the result through the browser on your computer by going to the website contacts.google.com. If everything went well, you will see there all the numbers that have just copied from the website. SIM-It's also a handy way to edit contacts from the big screen, add avatars, and categorize people.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Phone memory | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of fields | Name and number only | All fields (address, email) | All fields + photos + notes |
| Risk of loss | High (physical wear and tear) | Medium (when resetting settings) | Minimum (cloud storage) |
| Limit of symbols in a name | Restricted (often 10-15) | No restrictions. | No restrictions. |
| Access from other devices | Only if you have a card. | Only on this phone. | From any device with the Internet |
Solving duplicate problems after copying
A common problem when transferring numbers from a SIM card to Android Xiaomi is the appearance of duplicates. This happens if you previously saved some numbers to Google, and now copied them from the SIM, where they could be written in a slightly different format (for example, without a country code or with an eight instead of a plus).
MIUI has a built-in tool for combining: Open the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner and select Contact Management, then Combine Repeated. The phone will prompt you to automatically find matches and merge them into one record, saving all numbers in one contact profile.
If the automatic merger didn't work perfectly, you can use the web version of Google Contacts, and there's a "Combine and Correct" feature that works in more detail and allows you to manually control the process of merging records, which is especially true for business contacts, where data accuracy is important.
⚠️ Note: Before mass contact combinations, it is strongly recommended to export the current phone book to the.vcf file. This will allow you to roll back changes if the algorithm mistakenly combines different people with similar names.
Export and backup to VCF file
Even with cloud computing, having a local copy in a universal VCF format (vCard) is a good practice, and it is supported by all smartphones, regardless of brand, and you can create such a copy on Xiaomi via the same Import/Export menu, selecting Export to Storage.
The contacts.vcf file will be saved in your phone’s memory, can be sent to your messenger, saved to a flash drive, or sent to an email. In case your Google account gets blocked or synced, you can restore the entire phone book in a couple of clicks by simply opening it on any Android device.
It is recommended to do this backup once every six months or before any major changes to the system, such as rooting or flashing the device, which will take less than a minute, but save the number recovery hours.
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The VCF format is a universal standard that allows you to transfer contacts not only between Android, but also to iPhone (iOS) or button phones.