Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the need to move data when changing devices or simply want to back up contacts on a physical card. MIUI (or HyperOS) has its own features of working with the address book, which can confuse the user, accustomed to "pure" Android. SIM-The card is a reliable way to transfer the base between different brands of phones without using cloud services.
The copying procedure does not require complicated manipulation or installation of third-party software, since all the necessary tools are already built into the system application Contacts. However, it is important to consider the technical limitations of the format of storing data on the SIM chip, which is significantly outdated compared to modern cloud storage. In this article, we will discuss a detailed algorithm of actions, as well as answer questions arising when working with the phone book on Redmi devices.
Preparation for data portability and format verification
Before any subscriber database transactions are initiated, it is strongly recommended to make sure that the original records are correctly displayed in the phone’s memory. If you plan to transfer from another device, import the.vcf file first or sync your Google account so that all entries appear on the list.
It is worth remembering that SIM-The card has a limited amount of memory and supports only text data (name and number), all additional fields such as addresses, email, photos and ringtones of the call, when saved to the SIM card will be permanently deleted. This method is ideal for rapid migration, but is not suitable for long-term storage of archives.
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Before mass export, make sure that there are no duplicates in the contacts, otherwise on the SIM-The map may cause confusion with names.
Make sure your SIM card is installed in the slot and is defined by the system. If you use a dual-sim device, select the card you want to record. In some cases, if the card is very old or damaged, the phone may not see its file system, which will make the procedure impossible without replacing the carrier's media.
Instructions: Export contacts from phone memory to SIM
The main copying process is done through the standard application Contacts, which is a system component of MIUI. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic of actions remains the same for all models of Redmi Note and Xiaomi.
Click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the screen (or the "More" button) to open the list of options. Find the item "Import / Export contacts. From the menu that opens, select the action "Export" on the "Import" option. SIM-If you have two SIM cards, the system will suggest you to select the target slot.
☑️ Pre-export verification
Once you select a point, the system will suggest you mark specific numbers or copy them all at once. To select all entries, click on the highlight menu icon (usually a square with a dot or three dots) and select Select All. Confirm the action with the OK button or Copy. The process will go quickly, but on older SIM cards it can take up to a minute.
⚠️ Note: During the copying process, do not remove the SIM card or restart the smartphone. Interrupting the recording can damage the SIM card file table, after which it will cease to read in any device.
Import contacts from SIM-cards in the memory of the smartphone
The reverse procedure, when you need to read data from a SIM card and write it to Redmi memory, is done in a similar way, but with the opposite direction of transfer. This is true when you buy a new phone or restore data after resetting. Open the Contacts app and go to the settings menu through three dots.
In the Import/Export Contacts menu, select the Import option with SIM-The system will automatically scan the media and show you a list of numbers available for transfer, so you can select specific records or click "Select all" to transfer the entire phone book.
The important step is to choose the destination: the system will offer to save data to Google account, Mi Account or device memory. It is recommended to choose Google Account, as this provides automatic synchronization and protection against data loss in the event of a phone breakdown.
Why are some contacts not copied?
Working with two SIM-maps and source selection
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often feature two SIM card slots, which creates nuances when dealing with contacts. When exporting or importing, the system always asks for clarification of which card to read data from or write it to. Be careful when choosing a slot, especially if different groups of contacts are stored on different cards.
If you want to combine databases from two different SIM cards, you have to do the procedure twice. First, import from the first card to the phone's memory, then repeat the operation for the second card, and then the device will have a single list in the memory that can be sorted or cleaned of duplicates.
Contact settings can specify which sources to show in the general list. In the Contacts app, go to Settings → Contacts Displayed, and check the boxes against the SIM cards and accounts to see the whole picture or to hide the extra picture.
Table of comparison of methods of storage of contacts
Understanding the differences between storage methods will help you choose the best option for your needs. Below is a comparative description of the main methods of saving a phone book on Redmi devices.
| Parameter | SIM-map | Phone memory | Google Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo preservation | No. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Length of name | Limited (up to 20 SIMV) | No restrictions. | No restrictions. |
| Synchronization | Absent. | Only on the device. | Automatic. |
| Risk of loss | High (physical wear and tear) | Medium (when broken) | Low (cloud) |
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Google Account is the most reliable and functional way of storing photos, addresses and instantly recover data on any Android device.
Solving problems when copying
Users may experience a situation where the export button is inactive or the process ends in an error, most often due to overflowing memory of the SIM card. Old cards can hold only 250 records. If there are more contacts, the system will prompt to select only a part of them or will give an error.
Another common problem is name encoding, where you can transfer Russian names from an iPhone or other system to a SIM card, and it can turn into a set of characters or question marks, and it's a GSM format limitation that you can't get around software, so you can use exporting to a.vcf file through your contacts settings.
⚠️ Note: If contact names are not displayed correctly (in krakozyabs) after export, don’t try to edit them directly on the SIM card. copy them back to your phone’s memory, correct names and use cloud sync instead of a SIM card.
It’s also worth noting that some carriers block the recording of their branded SIM cards with write protection, leaving only one option – using cloud services or saving to a file on an internal drive.