How to import contacts with SIM-Xiaomi Redmi 9 maps: a complete guide with pictures and tips

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Smartphone cards are a challenge faced by every new Xiaomi Redmi owner 9. Despite the apparent simplicity, the process has nuances: from the limitations SIM by number of records to the features of the shell MIUI 12/13, Many users lose hours searching for the import menu or encounter the error "Contacts not found", although they are on the map.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods of transfer — from standard import through settings to workarounds using a Google account and third-party applications. SIM, How to transfer numbers with double SIM-maps and what to do if photos of contacts are lost after importing, instructions are adapted to the latest firmware version and take into account the specifics of working with nano-SIM in this device.

If you are switching from a button phone or other Android smartphone where contacts were stored on the phone SIM, This guide will help you avoid data loss. MIUI for exporting contacts in format VCF directly SIM-Maps are not even written about in official Xiaomi documentation.

1.Preparation for import: what to check before the penos

Before you start importing, make sure your SIM-The card is compatible with Redmi 9. The device supports nano-SIM (4FF) It has a hybrid slot, but there are important limitations:

🔹 Contact Storage Format: Old SIM-cards (especially from operators Beeline and MTS until 2015) can use an outdated storage format, which is a very expensive and expensive one. MIUI It doesn't recognize. In this case, only transferring through a third-party application will help.

🔹 Number of records: Maximum number of contacts SIM — 250-500 (If you have more, break them into groups or use alternative methods.

🔹 Double. SIM: Redmi 9 can only import contacts from the main line. SIM-card (slot 1). For the second SIM (slot 2) will need to temporarily change their places in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using SIM-map USIM-a chip (e.g. from Tele2 or Yota), a standard import may not work. In this case, use the method through Google Contacts (section 3).

Check the visibility of contacts on SIM:

1. Open the phone application → Contacts.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right → Settings → Imports/Exports.
3. If the option Import with SIM-Cards are active – the card is correctly recognized.

If there is no item, remove it. SIM, Clean your contacts of dust (especially the gold tracks) and reboot your phone, which solves the invisibility problem in 30 percent of cases.

2. Standard import via MIUI settings

The easiest way to do this is to run 90% of Xiaomi Redmi 9 devices with original firmware.

📌 Step 1: Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen).

📌 Step 2: Press three points (⋮) top-right → Select Settings.

📌 Step 3: Go to Import/Export Contacts → Import with SIM-map.

📌 Step 4: Choose SIM-card (if there are two) and tick the desired contacts (or click Select all.

📌 Step 5: Tell me where to keep your contacts:

• 📱 Device – contacts will be stored in the phone memory (editing will be available).
• ☁️ Google – synced with your account (recommended for backup).

⚠️ Note: If contacts are duplicated after import, go to Settings → Contacts → Combine duplicates. MIUI automatically locate and combine repeating records.

🔧 If the import button is inactive:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
• 📶 Check if the mobile network is on (sometimes the system blocks access to the mobile network) SIM netless).
• 🛠️ Update Contacts through Play Store (sometimes bugs are fixed in new versions).

Check visibility. SIM network-setting

Make sure that the contacts are on SIM (Call from another phone)

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up sync (if you import it to Google)-->

3. Import via Google Contacts (if the standard method does not work)

This method is universal and works even with "problematic" SIM-The main condition is the presence of a Google account and a stable Internet.

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• ☁️ Contacts are automatically synced to the cloud.
• 🔄 You can recover data when resetting your phone.
• 📱 Photos and additional fields are supported (unlike the other ones). SIM).

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Open Google Contacts in your browser on your phone or PC.
2. Sign in with the same account as Redmi 9.
3. Press Import. → Select the file (if there is a backup) or C SIM-cards (if connected to the PC via card reader).
4. On the phone: open Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize contacts and turn it on.

⚡ An alternative path for MIUI:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory. → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export on SD-Map (contacts.vcf file saved).
3. Open the file through Google Contacts and import.

4. Use of third-party applications (for complex cases)

If the standard methods don't work, apps from the Play Store will come to the rescue. 10 programs and selected the top-3 Xiaomi Redmi 9:

📌 Instructions for SIM Contacts Manager:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Select Import with SIM → mark the necessary contacts.
3. Click Save to Phone or Export to VCF.
4. To transfer to Google, select Sync with your account.

⚠️ Note: Applications will need access to Contacts and Warehouse. SMS or a call log if they are not needed for the task.

🔧 If the app does not see SIM:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
• 📌 Check if the access is blocked. MIUI Optimization (disable in the developer settings).
• 🛠️ Try another application from the table.

Standard import through MIUI|Google Contacts|Party of annex|Manual input|Another way.-->

5. Transfer of contacts with double SIM-map

Xiaomi Redmi 9 supports two nano-SIMs, but import contacts is only possible from the main card (slot 1). SIM, follow this instruction:

📌 Method 1: Reposition of priority SIM:

1. Go to Settings → SIM-cards and mobile networks.
2. Select Control. SIM-map → swap SIM 1 and SIM 2.
3. Restart the phone and repeat the import.

📌 Method 2: Manual copying:

• 📞 Put the second in. SIM In a different phone (or use a micro-SIM adapter).
• 📱 Export contacts to.vcf file.
• ☁️ Send the file to your mail or messenger.
• 📲 Open the file on Redmi 9 and import contacts.

🔧 If the contacts are second SIM not displayed:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone with the second one on. SIM.
• 📶 Check if the mobile network is active on the second SIM (sometimes MIUI Blocks access to data without a network).
• 🛠️ Update the firmware: in older versions MIUI 11 was a mistake with reading second SIM.

💡

If you have two. SIM-cards from one operator (for example, two "MegaFon"), before importing temporarily disable one of them in the settings.

6. Solving common problems

Even with the right actions, Redmi 9 users are faced with errors, and we have collected typical cases and ways to solve them:

🔴 Problem: Contacts were imported, but without names (numbers only).

🟢 Decision:

• 📱 Check the encoding. SIM: old cards keep names in 7-bit, non-supported MIUI. Use it. SIM Contacts Manager for manual editing.
• ☁️ Import through Google Contacts – there is more correct encoding.

🔴 Problem: Contact photos missing after import.

🟢 Decision:

• 🖼️ Photo on SIM They're not stored -- they're tied to a Google account or a phone. Restore them from a backup.
• 🔄 Sync your contacts with your Xiaomi account (if you’ve previously used Mi Cloud).

🔴 Problem: Mistake "Impossible to read" SIM-map".

🟢 Decision:

• 🔧 Clear the contacts. SIM alcohol (especially gold tracks).
• 📶 Check the card on another phone - if it doesn't read there, contact the operator for a replacement.
• 🛠️ Update. MIUI before the latest version (in firmware older than 2021 there were bugs with reading) SIM).

💡

If none of these methods worked, try temporarily disabling the function. MIUI Optimization in the developer settings. It sometimes blocks access to the developer. SIM third-party.

7. Backup of contacts after importation

After successfully transferring contacts, it is important to back up so you don’t lose data when your phone is reset or broken. Redmi 9 has built-in tools for this:

🔹 Method 1: Through MIUI:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export.
2. Select Export on SD-card or.
3. The contacts.vcf file will be saved in the Download folder.

🔹 Method 2: Through Google Account:

• ☁️ Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 🔄 Turn on automatic synchronization.
• 📱 Check backup at contacts.google.com.

🔹 Method 3: Through Mi Cloud (if you use a Xiaomi account):

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable backup of Contacts.
3. 📲 Data will be available at i.mi.com.

⚠️ Note:.vcf can be opened on any device, but it does not store the history of changes. + backup.

8. Alternative methods (for advanced users)

If you are not afraid of experimentation, these methods will help you to transfer contacts in unusual situations:

🔧 Method 1: Through ADB (tech-savvy):

If the phone can't see SIM, But it works in other devices, so you can try to extract contacts through the ADB:

adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/simcontacts --projection display_name:number

📌 Step-by-step:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
2. Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command above.
3. Copy the output to the.csv file and import it to Google Contacts.

🔧 Method 2: Through the card reader:

• 📱 Extract. SIM-And put it in a map. USB-cardreader.
• 🖥️ Connect to your PC and use PhoneBook Reader to read your contacts.
• ☁️ Export data to.vcf and upload it to your phone.

🔧 Method 3: via Bluetooth (if you have a second phone):

1. On an old phone, send contacts over Bluetooth in vCard format.
2. On Redmi 9, accept the file and import through Contacts.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions