How to transfer contacts with SIM cards Xiaomi phone memory

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to migrate data when switching to a new device. The most critical information has always been phone numbers, which by default can be stored on an old SIM card. Modern operating systems, including Android and the MIUI shell, offer flexible tools for managing a notebook, but the import process is not always obvious to beginners.

Storing numbers directly on plastic is considered outdated because of the limited memory capacity of the chip and the risk of data loss if the card breaks. Moving records to internal storage or a Google cloud account ensures that they are safe even if you completely replace your smartphone. In this guide, we will detail the algorithm of actions to safely copy all your connections.

Preparation for data transfer and verification of the SIM card

Before you start any operations with the phone book, you need to make sure that the SIM card is correctly identified by the system. Plug the card into the slot of your Xiaomi device and wait for the network signal to appear. If the screen displays a message that the card is missing, the import procedure will not be possible.

It's important to understand the difference between storage formats. Older cards could only support text names and short numbers, while modern standards allow you to save additional fields. Make sure there are indeed records on the card that you plan to move.

To check the content, open the standard Contacts or Phone app. In some versions of HyperOS or MIUI firmware, the interface may be different, but the basic functionality remains the same. If you just turned on the phone after you bought, make sure you logged in to your Google account, as this is your preferred storage location.

Import through the standard Contacts app

The basic method of data transfer is built directly into the system communication management application, which is the most reliable and does not require the installation of third-party software. The algorithm of actions is the same for most models, including the Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi series.

To start the procedure, open the Contacts app. In the upper or lower right corner of the screen (depending on the interface version), find a menu icon, often designated by a three-dot or gear. Click on it to reveal the list of available operations.

In the menu that opens, select "Import/Export Contacts" or simply "Import." The system will prompt you to select a data source. In the list of available options, find your operator's name or item"SIM-Once the source is selected, the system will automatically scan the chip for records.

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If you have two SIM cards, the system will suggest you choose a particular slot, and be careful not to import duplicates from both cards if the numbers are the same.

In the next step, you will be asked to choose your destination, and it is strongly recommended that you choose a Google account or a Phone account, but not the SIM card itself, and that Google account will sync your data to the cloud, and that the copying process will begin after the selection confirmation process, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of numbers.

Using Google Services for Synchronization

Google’s ecosystem provides the most advanced backup tool. Unlike on-premises storage, the cloud service allows you to restore contacts on any device after you enter your login and password, especially when you switch from iOS to Android or when you buy a new Xiaomi smartphone.

To activate sync, go to your phone's settings. Find Accounts and Sync or Users and Acca. Select your Gmail email address. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated.

If you have previously saved numbers on a SIM card of another device, you can download them through the Google Contacts web interface from your computer. Once uploaded to the cloud, they will automatically appear on your Poco or Redmi phone when you have Internet access, this method eliminates the risk of data loss if the card is physically damaged.

Transfer data through the Mi Mover application

For users who change one Xiaomi smartphone to another, the company has developed a utility Mi Mover, which allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications and system settings.

Run the app on both devices. On the new phone, select "I'm the recipient" and on the old one, "I'm the sender." Scan QR-The creation of a Wi-Fi access point will allow you to establish a direct connection between gadgets without using the Internet.

In the data transfer list, make sure to check "Contacts" and you can select a specific SIM card if there are more than one, and the speed of transmission via Mi Mover is much higher than with classic import, since direct communication is used.

Once the transfer is complete, the data will be automatically distributed to the selected storage facilities, usually the system offers to save it to a Mi or Google account, which is the best option for those who want to clone their old phone one-to-one.

Solution: Duplicates and Import Mistakes

During the transfer process, users often experience duplicate records, which occurs when the same number is stored on the SIM card, in the phone's memory, and in the cloud, and the MIUI shell has a built-in tool to address this problem.

Go to the Contacts settings and find the "Joint Duplicates" option, and the system will analyze the database and suggest combining the repeated records, which will help clear the phone book and make the search for the right person faster.

⚠️ Warning: Before mass merging records, make sure you have a backup.Automatic merging can mistakenly combine different people with the same names if the numbers differ in one digit.

It's also possible that when you import names, they don't show correctly or characters instead of letters, which is a problem of encoding that's common with very old SIM cards, and you might need to manually type names after you move numbers.

Below is a table of comparison of storage methods, which will help to determine the best option for your case:

Removal of contacts from SIM card after copying

After successfully migrating data, many users want to clear the SIM card to avoid confusion in the future, but it is worth remembering that standard Android tools often only import data, but not delete it directly from the card.

To delete entries from the SIM card on Xiaomi, you may need to use a special engineering test menu or third-party applications if this option is hidden in the interface.

To hide the numbers from the card, open the display settings in the Contacts app"SIM-Now the phone book will only show the records that are stored in the device memory or the cloud, which will visually clear the list, even if the physical data on the map remains.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to format the SIM card through third-party programs unnecessarily.This may result in the card being blocked by the carrier and you will have to go to the salon to replace it.

If you still decide to completely clear the card, use the Contact Management menu -> Delete with SIM. This feature is not available in all versions of the firmware, as smartphone manufacturers are gradually abandoning the functionality of writing to the card chip.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The most reliable way to keep contacts is to sync regularly with your Google account, which happens automatically in the background.