Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to clear the phone’s memory or transfer data to a new device. SIM-The standard import procedure may not seem obvious, especially for those who have previously used devices from other brands with a different interface.
The process of deleting or migrating records directly affects synchronization with a Google account and the convenience of continuing to use MIUI or HyperOS. If you leave numbers on a SIM, you risk losing them when you break your card or switch to a new tariff plan, which is why competent management of the phone book is a basic skill for any user of modern technology.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the contact steps, look at hidden menu features, and answer frequent questions, learn not only to delete the extra, but also to structure data correctly so that it is always at hand.
Why it’s important to move your contacts to the cloud or phone
Storage of numbers directly on SIM-The map is a relic of the past, with many limitations and risks. Modern smartphones have a huge memory, and there is no technical need to sacrifice functionality to save a few kilobytes. Moreover, the SIM card has strict limits on the length of the name and the number of characters in the number, which often leads to data cropping.
By moving records to internal memory or a Google account, you can access expanded fields: you can add an email, address, photo, birthday and social networks, which turns a simple phone book into a full-fledged database of your friends, and cloud storage ensures that if you lose or steal a gadget, you instantly restore all connections on the new device.
⚠️ Note: When removing contacts from SIM-cards without prior copying the data will be lost irretrievably. SIM-The card does not have a basket for deleted files.
Also worth noting is the speed of the phone book, which is integrated into the system, works much faster and allows you to use smart search by names and numbers. In contrast, reading data directly from the SIM card chip can take longer and put additional stress on the communication controller on each call.
Preparation for cleaning: checking the storage source
Before you start actively deleting, you need to determine exactly where your numbers are stored. In the Xiaomi interface, it often happens that contacts from different sources (SIM, phone, Google, Mi Account) are displayed in a single list. If you start deleting indiscriminately, you can accidentally erase important data from the cloud.
To start, open the standard Contacts or Phone app. At the top of the screen or in the side menu, find a display filter. Make sure you select all source view mode to estimate the total volume of records, which will help you understand the scope of the work and the need for backup.
It's recommended that you back up important numbers in advance, and even if you're confident in your actions, the human factor hasn't been reversed, and simply copying to Google's acc-unt will take a couple of minutes, but it will save you from potential disaster.
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Use the Favorites feature in the contacts to mark the most important numbers before you start cleaning – so you won’t lose them in the sorting process.
Step-by-step: how to remove contacts with SIM on Xiaomi
The process of transferring and deleting SIM card records in MIUI and HyperOS is implemented through built-in import tools. You don't need third-party apps or root rights. All actions are performed through a standard interface that is understandable even for beginners.
First, you need to open the Contacts app. Then go to the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or bars in the corner of the screen. Select Import/Export contacts. Here the system will suggest you choose the direction of data travel.
☑️ Algorithm of action
After selecting the source «SIM-map" and destinations "Phone" or "Google", the system will request confirmation. Select all contacts or check only the ones you need. Once the import is complete, the originals will remain on the SIM, so they will need to be removed separately.
To delete, go back to the Import/Export menu and select Delete Contacts. From the source list that appears, select «SIM-The system will warn you that the action is irreversible, confirm the selection, and the SIM card memory will be cleared, and the numbers will remain in the previously selected storage.
| Action. | The way is on the menu | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Imports | Settings → Import / Export → Import with SIM | Copy of numbers in the phone memory |
| Removal | Settings → Import / Export → Delete SIM → | Cleaning up SIM card memory |
| Exports | Settings → Import / Export → Export to.vcf | Creating a backup file |
| Display | Settings → Contact Filter | Configuring visible sources |
Working with duplicates and combining records
Once the contacts are transferred, users often face the problem of duplication. The same number can be displayed twice: once as a recording from the SIM card (if it is not already deleted) and a second time as a copy from the phone's memory. Xiaomi's system has a built-in tool to solve this problem.
In the Contacts app, go to the settings and find the item “Combine Repeated Contacts.” The algorithm automatically analyzes the database, finds matches by phone number or name, and suggests combining them into one card, which allows you to save the entire history of calls and additional data in one record.
Manual control is also possible. Once you have a specific contact, you can see the associated records. If the system didn't offer the association automatically, you can do it manually through the edit menu. This is especially useful if the contact has multiple numbers written in different formats (for example, +7 and 8).
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Automatic take-to-takes combination is a safe procedure, but always check the result so you don’t lose unique numbers (such as one person’s home and work phone).
Display settings and contact filters
To make a phone book look neat and contain only current data, it is important to properly configure display filters. By default, Android can show contacts from all connected accounts and SIM cards at the same time, which creates visual noise and makes it difficult to search.
Go to the contact app settings and select Contacts to Display (or similar). SIM-If you've already moved your data, and you're just leaving your Google account or your device memory, it will instantly remove all the old records that are technically still on the SIM, but you don't need to share the list.
You can also customize sorting by name or surname, and choose the order of display (name-name or surname-name). For Russian-speaking users, the format “Family, Name” is often more convenient, since it corresponds to the alphabetical order in paper directories.
⚠️ Note: Hiding contact with SIM-The filter does not physically remove the cards. To completely clean the SIM card memory, you must perform the deletion procedure described above.
Synchronization with Google: Data Security Guarantee
The most reliable way to store contacts on Xiaomi is sync with a Google account. Unlike local storage, a cloud profile is not tied to a specific physical device or SIM card. Even if the phone falls into the water or is stolen, you can restore all numbers just by logging into your account on any other smartphone.
To enable synchronization, go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts button is activated, and then all the new records you create will automatically be saved to the cloud. SIM-Choose your Google account as your destination.
You can check the sync status through the web version at contacts.google.com. If your numbers are displayed there, then the process was successful. It also allows you to edit contacts from a computer, which is much more convenient when making mass changes.