How to import contacts to SIM-Xiaomi map: all working methods

Transfer of contacts to SIM-Xiaomi maps may seem like trivial tasks, but in practice, users face a lot of nuances, from the lack of an option on the menu to errors in exporting. SIM It was always at hand, modern smartphones (including the Redmi line, POCO and Mi) hide it deep in the settings – or even remove it in new versions MIUI. This article will not only list the ways, but also explain why some methods stopped working after the 2023-2026 updates, and how to get around the restrictions.

It's important to understand: SIM-These cards have strict limits on the number of contacts (usually 250-500 entries) and do not support fields such as email or addresses. If your goal is to back up or move to a new phone, consider syncing with a Google Account or exporting to a.vcf file. But if you want to transfer to the SIM (For example, for use in a second device without the Internet, read more.

Why does Xiaomi not have a “Export to SIM” button?

Starting with MIUI 12 and later, Xiaomi removed the direct option of exporting contacts to SIM from the interface of the Contacts app.

• 📱 Google: Android restricts access to apps SIM-Card for security reasons (starting with Android 10).
• 🔄 Outdated technology: SIM-The cards store contacts in a format that does not support modern fields (for example, several numbers per contact).
• ☁️ Previous articlePriority of cloud services: Xiaomi and Google promote sync through accounts, not local storage.

However, workarounds remain. Below are the current ways for MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS) tested on the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 and others.

Method 1: Through the standard Contacts app (for MIUI up to 12)

If your smartphone is running MIUI 11 or older (e.g. Redmi Note 9, Mi 9), you may still have access to the classic export menu.

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Select Contact Management.
3. Go to Import/Export Contacts → Exports to SIM-map.
4. Select the contacts you need (or click “Secret All”) and confirm the export.

On smartphones with MIUI 13+, this path is not available — Google’s Contacts app replaces the standard one, and the option disappears.

Make sure that SIM-The card is inserted into slot 1 (main card)

Check the space available on SIM (via ##4636## → “SIM Information”)

Turn off sync with Google (Settings → Accounts → Google → disable Contacts)

Charge your phone at least 30% (to avoid crashes)

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Method 2: Export via Google Contacts (for new MIUI versions)

If standard export is not available, use the Google Contacts workaround, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires an internet connection:

1. Open contacts.google.com in your browser on your phone or PC.
2. Select the contacts you need to move (or click Contact Management → Export).
3. Select the Google CSV (or vCard) format and save the file to the device.
4. Download the SIM Contacts Manager application from Play Market (e.g. Simple Mobile Tools SIM Card).

⚠️ Attention: Management applications SIM-Contacts often request access to messages and calls. Install only verified programs with a rating of 4.5+ and the number of downloads >1 million.

Method 3: Using a VCF file (for mass transfer)

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal way to transfer contacts between devices, to import contacts to SIM via VCF:

1. Export contacts to.vcf file: 📱 On the phone: Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Export to file. 💻 On PC: via Mi PC Suite or Google Contacts.

.vcf

Downloads

Play Market

) and follow the instructions:

Open the application → Select the VCF file → Click "Import on SIM" → Confirm

🔹 Advantage of the method: you can edit contacts in VCF before import (e.g. removing unnecessary fields).

🔹 Disadvantage: Some apps are paid or contain advertising.

💡

If a VCF file doesn't open, check its encoding. Use a text editor (like Notepad++) and save the file in UTF-8 format without a BOM.

Method 4: Manual input through the engineering menu (for advanced)

This method works if you have few contacts and no Internet access, and it uses Xiaomi's hidden engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##3646633## (some models may require ##4636###).

⚠️ Note: The engineering menu is designed to test the network. Do not change other settings (for example, Band Selection) so as not to disrupt mobile communication.

Method 5: Transfer from another phone (via Bluetooth or NFC)

If the contacts are stored on another phone (not even Xiaomi), they can be transferred directly to:

• 📲 via Bluetooth: On an old phone: Contacts → Share. → Bluetooth. On Xiaomi: Accept the file and select Save to SIM».
• 🔄 Through NFC: Turn it on. NFC On the old phone, select the contact. → «Share» → touch Xiaomi. On Xiaomi, confirm your retention on SIM.

🔹 Limitation: only one contact is transmitted at a time. Use methods 2 or 3 for mass transfer.

💡

Bluetooth and NFC transmit contacts in vCard (.vcf) format, but not all applications on Xiaomi are able to save them directly to SIM. In this case, first save the contact in the memory of the phone, and then use the "Copy to SIM" from the Play Market.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you migrate your contacts to SIM, you're going to have a typical problem, and here's how to solve them:

If none of the methods worked, check: