The transition to a new smartphone, especially in the Xiaomi ecosystem, is always accompanied by the need to transfer personal information. The most valuable asset of the user is often a phone book containing hundreds of important numbers. Owners of Mi and Redmi devices may face a situation where old records are stored exclusively on the plastic card of the old phone, and not in the device memory or the cloud.
The procedure for copying data in the system MIUI HyperOS is a very convenient, but very detailed solution, and the wrong source or purpose of saving can lead to loss of data or chaos in the address book. SIM-Xiaomi cards, avoiding common mistakes.
It’s worth noting that modern smartphones allow you to not just copy numbers, but also automatically combine duplicates, making the phonebook clean and structured. Understanding how the standard Contacts app works and syncing with your Mi Account will save you time in the future.
Preparation of SIM-card and compatibility check
Before proceeding with active transfer actions, it is necessary to ensure the physical and software compatibility of the medium. SIM-cards may have limitations on the amount of memory and character encoding, which is especially true for Russian-speaking names. 15-20 symbols, when transferred, they can be cut off.
It's also important to check the status of the card itself. Mechanical damage to the contacts or oxidation of the chip can cause the smartphone to be unable to read the data or the import process to interrupt in the middle.
⚠️ Attention: If SIM-The card is very old and was released more than 10 years ago, it may not support storing long names or additional fields (email, addresses.
Make sure that your Xiaomi device has an up-to-date phone book application installed. The standard solution is MIUI Contacts or Google Contacts, depending on the firmware region. It is recommended to update the app through the GetApps store or Play Market to work properly.
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Use an adapter to SIM-If your card is not the same size as your smartphone tray, don't try to insert the card by force, it will damage the reader.
Standard method of import through the Contacts app
The basic method of data transfer is built directly into the interface of the standard application, it does not require the installation of third-party software and works on all current versions of the MIUI shell. To begin, open the Contacts app on the home screen or in the Tools folder.
The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the system, but the logic of the actions remains the same. You need to find the settings menu, which is usually hidden behind the icon with three dots or a gear, and this is where the database management functions are.
- 📱 Click on the menu button (three dots) in the upper right or lower corner of the screen.
- 📂 Select the item "Import and export contacts».
- 💾 In the list opened tap on the option "Import with" SIM-map».
- 📲 The system will choose SIM-card if there are two of them on the phone, or immediately start searching for records.
Once you have selected the source, the system will scan and show you a preliminary list of the records found, at which point you can deselect from the numbers you don't need, or select all at once, followed by a request to select a location for saving.
☑️ Pre-import checks
Selecting a location to save: Google, Mi Cloud or phone memory
The critical thing to import is to choose the storage you want, and it depends on whether your data will be saved when your phone breaks, when you reset or when you lose your device, and it will offer you a few options: a Google account, a Mi Account, internal phone memory, or the device itself. SIM-Card (which is meaningless when importing).
The most reliable option is to sync with cloud services. Google Contacts provides cross-platform: you can access numbers from any device just by logging in to your account, which is especially handy if you plan to change your phone again in the future.
The alternative is Mi Cloud, which is ideal for users who are deeply integrated into Xiaomi’s ecosystem, allowing you to quickly recover data on new devices of the brand without having to sign in to a Google account, but requires a separate authorization Mi Account.
| Storage area | Advantages | Deficiencies | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | Autosynchronization, access from PC, protection against loss | Demands the Internet. | Main option |
| Mi Cloud | Deep integration with MIUI, fast backup | Fewer features outside of Android | Additional copy |
| Phone memory | It works without the internet, fast. | Risk of loss on discharge | Only temporarily. |
| SIM-map | Universality for button phones | Small volume, no photo | Not recommended |
If you choose to save to internal memory, the file will be created locally, which is acceptable if you don't have access to the Internet right now, but immediately after the procedure, it is recommended to back up this file or export the data to the cloud.
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Always choose to save to the cloud (Google or Mi) so that your contacts will never disappear even if your smartphone is completely broken.
Working with duplicates and combining records
A common problem with data transfer is the appearance of duplicates, which happens if some of the numbers have already been stored in the memory of the phone, and you add them to the same phone. SIM-Xiaomi has built-in tools to solve this problem, but sometimes manual intervention is required.
Once you have finished importing, go to the Contacts settings and find the "Combine Duplicates" option, and the algorithm will analyze the database, find the records with the same numbers or names, and suggest that they be merged, which will clear the phone book of visual noise.
In some cases, automatic pairing may not work if the numbers are written in different formats (e.g., +7 and 8). Then you have to act manually.
⚠️ Warning: Before mass amalgamation of duplicates, make sure you have a fresh backup.The mistaken merger of different people with similar names can lead to confusion in the future.
Cleaning the phone book regularly is a good habit: Remove old, unnecessary numbers and empty records that often remain after import from incorrectly filled out SIM-This will speed up the application and find the right subscriber.
Import via File Manager (VCF format)
There is an alternative method that often helps if the standard import works incorrectly or you need to transfer data from another device through a file. SIM-cards in.vcf file format (vCard).
To do this, select the option “Export to Export” in the “Import and Export” menu. SIM-card" (if available) or, more likely, copy contacts from another phone to a file first, and then transfer this file to Xiaomi. the contacts.vcf file can be transferred via Bluetooth, Mi Share or messenger.
The route for manual import:
Contacts → Menu (three dots) → Import/export → Import from storage → Select file.vcfThe good thing about this method is that the.vcf file is a universal standard, and it can be opened on a computer, edited in a text editor (with caution), or sent by email as an archive, and it creates an additional, physical copy of your phone book.
What happens if the VCF file is not opened?
Problem Solving: Contacts are not imported or displayed by Krakozabras
Users sometimes find that after importing, instead of names, they display incomprehensible characters or question marks. SIM-Cards often use encoding GSM 7-bit or UCS2, which may conflict with UTF-8, used in modern smartphones Xiaomi for Cyrillic.
In this case, it is recommended to use an intermediate link. SIM-cards to your computer via a special card reader or an old phone, export them to your computer CSV or VCF It's encoded correctly, and then imported into the phone, and a third-party contact management app from Play Market can also help.
- 🔍 Check if the contacts are displayed correctly in the app «SIM-map.
- 🔄 Try updating the Contacts and Google Play Services app».
- 🗑️ If the problem is duplicate, use the “Clear Data” function of the application (pre-made backup!).
Another common problem is that contacts were imported but not visible in the call list. Go to the display settings in the Contacts app and make sure that the “All Contacts” check box is ticked or the correct account is selected to display.
Synchronization for the future
So, to never again wonder how to move numbers, set up automatic synchronization, and that eliminates the need to work with the computer. SIM-data-carrying. SIM-The card should be used only for identification in the operator’s network, not for data storage.
Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Select your Google account and make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. Do the same for Mi Cloud if you use this service. Now every new number addition will instantly be saved to the cloud.
⚠️ Please check contacts.google.com or i.mi.com regularly to make sure that the sync is successful and your data is safe.
Using cloud technology makes it a matter of minutes to upgrade to Xiaomi’s new phone, just entering your username and password, and your entire communication history will be accessible instantly, without any physical manipulation of your maps and files.