Moving to a new smartphone is often accompanied by a desire to quickly start using the device without wasting time manually entering hundreds of numbers. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices can face a situation where the phone book is empty and all important records are stored on an old SIM card. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the Android operating system provide built-in tools for instant data transfer.
The copying process does not require connecting to a computer or installing third-party applications. All the necessary functions are already built into the standard Contacts application, which is a system component. However, despite the simplicity, there are nuances that depend on the firmware version and device model that are important to consider for successful completion of the operation.
In this article, we will discuss the algorithm of actions, consider possible errors and explain why storing numbers in the memory of the phone or the cloud is preferable to storing them on plastic media. Proper organization of contact data is a guarantee that you will not lose touch with loved ones and colleagues when replacing your gadget in the future.
Preparation of SIM card and device for transfer
Before you start technical manipulation, you need to make sure that the medium is physically healthy. SIM-The cards may have worn contacts or microcracks, making it difficult for the phone to read the data. If the card is worn out, the phone may not see the records stored on it, and the import procedure will end in an error.
It's also important to check if the card is properly installed in the tray. Modern Xiaomi smartphones use combined trays, and improper installation can cause the device to identify the network but not be able to read the phone book. Make sure the card sits tightly in the nest and the contacts match the guides.
⚠️ Note: If the SIM card is of a non-standard size and has been cut by hand, there is a risk of damage to the phone's reading mechanism.
Another critical point is battery power. Although the copying process takes a little time, suddenly turning off the device while writing data to memory can cause software failures. Make sure the battery is at least 20-30% in charge for the operation.
☑️ Pre-import checks
Import contacts through the standard application
The main way to transfer records is to use the built-in functionality of the MIUI shell. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the system, but the logic of actions remains the same for all models, whether it is a budget Redmi or flagship Xiaomi.
To start, open the Contacts app, which usually has a green icon with a human silhouette, and in the upper right corner of the screen is a menu represented by three dots or vertical bars, and clicking on this element, you will see a drop-down list of available actions.
In the menu that opens, select "Import contacts" and the system will select the source of the data. SIM-Once the source is selected, the phone will scan the card memory.
You can check individual numbers with check marks, or you can select "Select All" if you plan to move the entire phone book, which is especially useful when the number of entries is in the hundreds.
Once the records are selected, the system will ask where to store them, and it is recommended to choose a Google account or device memory, but not the SIM card itself, which will ensure that the data is synchronized with the cloud and protect it from loss.
Selecting a Save Place: SIM, Phone or Google
One of the most important steps is to identify the intended storage, which many users tend to save back to the SIM card, considering it a universal solution, but modern smartphones and ecosystems offer more reliable and functional options.
Storage for SIM-The map has some significant limitations, and first, the format of the map entry is often cut down, and the contact name can be cut down to the point where the name of the contact is not used. 10-15 And the second number or email may not be saved at all. 250 note-book.
Keeping the phone in memory ("Device") is convenient for speed, as access to contacts is instantaneous. However, if the phone is lost, stolen or disassembled, it will be impossible to restore numbers without a preliminary copy. This local storage does not have a default backup.
The preferred option is synchronization with Google Contacts, which combines the benefits of speed and security: Your numbers are saved in the cloud, linked to an account, and automatically appear on any new device after you enter your login and password.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Phone memory | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limit of records | ~250 contacts | Depends on free memory. | No restrictions (15 GB) |
| Additional fields (Email, photo) | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Synchronization | No. | No (no backup) | Automatic. |
| Security | Low (physical carrier) | Medium | Tall. |
| Recommendation | Only for temporary storage | For frequently used rooms | Main vault |
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Using Google cloud storage ensures that your contacts are not lost even if your Xiaomi smartphone is completely lost or broken.
Working with duplicates and combining records
Once data is imported from a SIM card, users often face the problem of duplication, which occurs if some numbers have already been stored in the phone's memory or synchronized from other sources before, and the MIUI shell provides a powerful tool to solve this problem.
In the Contacts app, go to the settings or management menu, and you will find the item "Combine Repeated Contacts," and the system will automatically analyze the phone book, find the entries with the same numbers or names, and suggest that they be combined.
This process allows you to create a single contact card that collects all the known data: work and mobile numbers, email addresses, links to social profiles and photos, which makes managing connections much more convenient.
⚠️ Warning: When you automatically merge, always check the result. Sometimes the system can mistakenly combine different people with the same names if the phone numbers don't match.
Manual editing is also available. You can open a specific card, click on the edit button (usually a pencil), and manually remove extra fields or add missing information, such as as assigning a number a job or home label.
Using cloud synchronization Mi Cloud
Xiaomi smartphone owners have access to the company’s own cloud service, Mi Cloud, an alternative or add-on to Google services that is deeply integrated into the system. Synchronization through Mi Account allows you to store backups of not only contacts, but also messages, notes and settings of the system.
To activate the function, you need to log into your Mi account3unt via the phone settings menu. In the “Mi Cloud” section, you should activate the Contacts switch. After that, all changes made to the phone book will be automatically downloaded to the server.
The convenience of using the Mi Cloud is that you can recover data even from the web interface. If you lost your phone, just go to i.mi.com, log in and upload a contact list in.vcf format, and then import it to a new device of any brand.
How do you turn on autosynchronization?
Solving problems when copying
Despite the smoothness of the process, there are sometimes errors, and one of the common problems is the message "Can't import contacts", which is often associated with overflowing memory of the SIM card or the presence of corrupted records that the phone can't read correctly.
If the import is interrupted in the middle, try to perform the procedure selectively. Instead of selecting all, mark the contacts in groups of 50, which will help identify the specific record causing the failure and bypass it.
Another situation is that contacts were imported but displayed incorrectly (crankies instead of letters) This is an encoding problem. In the language and input settings, try changing the system language or display encoding, although this is rare in modern versions of Android.
- 📱 Make sure that the SIM card does not have a password (PIN-code, or enter it immediately after the phone is turned on.
- 🔄 Restart the device before the procedure to close the background processes blocking access to contacts.
- 💾 Check the free space in the internal storage of the smartphone, although the contacts take up a minimum of space.
In rare cases, cleaning the cache of the Contacts app helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory and click Clear Cache. It is important not to confuse it with Clear All Data, otherwise you may lose the current phone book if it is not synced.
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If the import is not working through the menu SIM-Try pasting the card into another phone, exporting the contacts to the.vcf file to the memory card, and then importing that file to Xiaomi.