Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the need to transfer the phone book when changing the device or resetting the settings to the factory. Local storage of the phone is convenient, but it is vulnerable to breakage of the gadget, whereas SIM-The card remains a physical medium that can be easily moved to any other device, making backing up numbers to the operator’s chip a universal solution for those who don’t want to depend on cloud services or the stability of the Internet connection.
However, the MIUI import and export procedure has its own features that can be confusing to the inexperienced user: the Contacts app interface hides some important features, and the logic of working with the device’s memory is different from the pure Android. Below we will discuss in detail how to properly organize data backup so that no important number is lost during the migration process.
Keep in mind that the storage capacity of modern SIM cards is limited and they do not support the storage of additional fields, such as email addresses or photos of the subscriber. However, the basic functionality of transferring names and numbers remains a critical skill. Proper preparation of data before changing the phone ensures that you stay in touch with close and business partners without unnecessary time.
Features of data storage in MIUI
The MIUI shell, which is installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, uses its own contact management system, different from the standard implementation of Google. By default, all new records are often saved to a Mi Account or Google account, which provides synchronization, but makes it difficult to directly access files to transfer to the SIM card through standard file managers.
It's important to distinguish between copying and moving. When you copy, the original record stays in the phone's memory, and a duplicate is created on the SIM card. When you move, the record is deleted from internal storage after you successfully write to a chip. For most users, it's safer to use the copy method to have a backup in two places at once. This is especially true if the SIM card has a limited resource of overwriting cycles.
⚠️ Note: SIM card does not support long name retention (more 10-15 When exporting, a long name may be cut off and some data may be lost.
Also worth noting is the difference in support for number formats: Older SIM cards may not properly display numbers in an international format, adding extra zeros or skipping the country code. Before mass transfer, it is recommended to conduct a test operation with one contact to ensure that the data is correctly displayed on the target device, which will avoid a situation when the numbers become inactive after reshuffling the map.
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Always check where the new contact is saved: in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-Map or cloud. The default system often selects a Google account.
Preparation for the relocation of contacts
Before you start taking action, you need to make sure that the original data is in good condition and readable. If you just updated your firmware or phone from a backup, it may take a few minutes for the system to index the records, during which time an attempt to export may result in an error or partial data transfer.
It's also important to check the status of the SIM card itself. Make sure the chip is not damaged, the contacts are not oxidized, and the card is correctly identified by the system. → SIM-The card and mobile networks must display the operator's name and signal level, and if the SIM card is not readable, the export operation will not be possible, and the system will issue an appropriate warning.
☑️ Pre-export verification
Another important aspect is to clean up duplicates: when using a smartphone, the phone book often accumulates repetitive entries. When transferring to a SIM card, which has tight entries limits, each extra contact takes up valuable space, and it is recommended to combine duplicates in advance or remove unnecessary numbers to ensure that everything important is placed on a new medium.
Step-by-step: export from the phone memory
The process of transferring numbers from the internal memory of a Xiaomi smartphone to a SIM card is performed through the standard Contacts app. Despite the visual differences in different versions of MIUI, the logical chain of actions remains unchanged. Open the Contacts app on the home screen or in the Tools folder.
In the interface that opens, find the menu button, which is usually represented by three dots in the upper right corner or the Settings button (cog icon). In the list that appears, select Import / Export contacts. The system will offer several options for action, among which we are interested in "Export to the United States". SIM-If this item is inactive, check whether the SIM card is selected for export if two cards are used.
Then the system will suggest selecting contacts to transfer. You can mark individual records manually or use the Select All feature at the top of the screen. Once the selection is confirmed, the copying process will begin. Runtime depends on the number of records and the speed of the device memory. Do not interrupt the process or turn off the smartphone screen until the notification of completion appears.
| Action. | The way is on the menu | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Opening menu | Contacts → Three points. | Drop-down menu |
| Choice of function | Import/Export of contacts | Data management menu |
| Type of operation | Exports to SIM-map | Launch of the transfer master |
| Confirmation | Choose all. → OK. | Copying records |
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Exports take a few seconds, but with hundreds of contacts, the process can take a long time.
Import contacts from SIM-cards to a new phone
Once you have moved the saved SIM card to your new Redmi smartphone, you need to do the reverse, import, and this action will transfer the recordings from the operator chip to the internal memory of the device, making them available for synchronization and full use with all fields. Open the Contacts app and go back to the Import/Export Contacts menu.
This time, select the option Import with SIM-The system will ask where to store the imported data, and it is critical to choose the right account: Google or Phone, and the choice of Google account is preferable, as this will provide automatic synchronization and protection against data loss in the future. The phone will save contacts locally in the device memory.
After selecting the target storage, confirm the import. The system can warn you that some data (such as additional numbers or long names) may be lost or cropped because the SIM card format is less functional. Accept the warning and wait for the process to end. Now your contacts are available in full.
⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-You can create duplicates if some numbers have already been in the device's memory. Use the "Combine Duplicates" function after you complete the import.
What to do if the import is interrupted?
Working with limitations and formats
The main technical limitation of SIM cards is the storage capacity and the format of string storage. A standard SIM card can store 250 to 500 contacts, but this number can be less if the card is old or used before. In addition, the length of the contact name is often limited to 10-14 characters. If the name "Alexander Sergeevich" does not fit, the system can save it as "Alexander S." or trim it to "Aleksandr Se".
Another problem is character encoding, and Cyrillic names can be misrepresented on some devices, turning into a set of incomprehensible characters, because of differences in GSM encoding. To minimize the risks, after importing a new device, be sure to go through the list and check the readability of the names. If necessary, edit them manually.
Also worth mentioning is the number format. SIM card stores the number in an international format. When imported to a Xiaomi smartphone, the system automatically adapts the format to regional settings. However, if you transfer contacts between phones from different regions, there may be nuances with adding the country code. Check that the numbers start with the correct prefix (for example, +7 for Russia), otherwise there may be problems with the number ID.
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For mass editing of names after import, use the web version of Google Contacts (contacts.google.com) – it is more convenient to work with large lists and fix formatting errors.
Alternative backup methods
While a SIM card is a reliable medium, modern cloud storage methods offer greater flexibility and security.The Google Contacts service allows you to store thousands of records with photos, addresses and notes that are instantly synced when you log in to an account on any device. To activate, just go to the settings → Google → Set-up and reset → Sync and make sure the Contacts switch is active.
The second option is to use the Mi Cloud, a native solution for the Xiaomi ecosystem that allows not only to save contacts, but also to make full backups of the system. The advantage is deep integration with the MIUI shell. However, to recover data on another brand device (for example, Samsung or iPhone) will require additional software installation or browser input, which is less convenient than universal Google.
The third way is to export to.vcf. You can save all contacts to one file and send it to your email or save it to file storage. This method is good for creating cold backups that are stored for years. Contacts.vcf can be opened on any smartphone, tablet or computer, making it the most versatile format for long-term archiving.
⚠️ Note: The backup file (.vcf) contains all your personal data. Do not share it with anyone or store it in public folders without a password.
The choice of method depends on your goals. SIM card is ideal for quick migration between phones "here and now", cloud services are better for everyday use and protection against device loss. File backup is insurance against account locks or technical server failures. Combining these approaches ensures maximum security of your phone book.