Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi Redmi 9 cards: all ways and life hacks

Why is the transfer of SIM contacts to Redmi 9 a question?

Smartphones Xiaomi Redmi 9 still remain one of the most popular budget devices, but their owners often face an unexpected problem: how to transfer contacts with the company. SIM-It's not like the old button phones, where the contacts were automatically saved to the phone's internal memory. SIM, Modern Android devices by default offer synchronization with a Google Account or MI-This leads to confusion, especially for those who are switching to a smartphone for the first time.

The main difficulty is that MIUI (Xiaomi firmware does not always intuitively offer the option of importing from the SIM. In some versions, the menu is hidden in the depth of settings, and in others it requires pre-setting the account. SIM-The card has a limited volume (typically up to 250 entries and only 11 characters per name), making them inconvenient for long-term storage.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods of transferring contacts with the SIM Redmi 9, including hidden features MIUI, squash SIM-You will also learn how to avoid data loss when changing your phone and why it is better to store contacts in the cloud rather than on physical media.

Method 1: Standard import through the Contacts app

The easiest method is to use the built-in Contacts app (also known as People or Contacts depending on the version). MIUI). This method works on all Redmi 9 regardless of the firmware version, but requires that the SIM-The card was correctly recognized by the system.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
• ⚙️ Click on the three dots (menu) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
• 🔄 In the menu, tap Import/Export contacts → Import with SIM-map.
• 📋 Choose. SIM-card (if there are two) and tick the necessary contacts (or click Allocate all the necessary contacts).
• 💾 Click Import and specify the save location: device, Google Account or MI-Account.

If the item Imports with SIM-The map is not on the menu, so yours is not on the menu. SIM-The card is not supported (for example, too old) or not recognized by the phone.

⚠️ Note: If you import contacts to a Google Account, make sure your phone is synced. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.

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

Make sure your SIM contacts are not empty (check on another phone)

Battery charge > 20% (in case of freeze)

Turn off Do Not Disturb mode (may block import notifications)-->

Method 2: Import through system settings (for MIUI 12 and later)

In MIUI 12 and above, developers have moved some import features to system settings, a method that is useful if the Contacts app does not display the import option or does not work properly.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Import / Export.
2. Select Import with SIM-map.
3. Indicate. SIM-card (if there are two) and wait for the contact scan.
4. Mark the required records or click Allocate.
5. Click Import and select the target storage: 📱 Device – Contacts will only be saved on this phone. ☁️ Google – sync with your account (recommended). 🔗 MI-Accounts – saved in the cloud Xiaomi.

If you don’t have Memory in your settings, try the alternative path: Settings → Additional → Import/Export Contacts. In some regional versions of MIUI, the menu may be called differently.

Nana SIM-map

On Google Account

In MI-Account.

In the memory of the phone

Another way.-->

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (if standard ones don’t work)

If embedded tools MIUI They refuse to import contacts, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and they're especially useful for old ones. SIM-map (SIM 2G), Which modern smartphones do not always recognize.

Top.-3 checked import applications:

How to use SIM Contact Backup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select Import with SIM.
3. Mark contacts and click Save on the device.
4. Exported contacts will appear in the folder Download/SIM_Backup.vcf.
5. Open the.vcf file and the system will prompt you to add contacts to the phone book.

⚠️ Note: Some applications require permission to access contacts and SMS. Before installing, check reviews - there is a risk of running into advertising software.

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If the app does not see SIM-Try restarting your phone or temporarily disabling the second card SIM (if there is).

Method 4: Manual transfer via export to VCF file

This is a method that's suitable for people who want to have a file-based backup of their contacts, and it's universal and works even if the phone doesn't recognize them. SIM-map.

Instructions:

1. Put it in. SIM-card to an old phone (such as a Nokia or Samsung button) where contacts are displayed correctly.
2. Export your SIM contacts to the.vcf file (the option is usually in the old phone’s contact menu).
3. Flip the file to Redmi 9 via Bluetooth, USB, or the cloud (e.g. Google Drive).
4. On Redmi 9, open the.vcf file and automatically prompt you to add contacts to your phone book.

The advantage of this is that you get backup contacts that you can store on your computer or in the cloud, VCF-files support not only numbers, but also additional fields (email, addresses, etc.) that are used in the SIM-card is usually lost.

Solution: Why are contacts not imported?

Even with the right actions, importing SIM contacts to Redmi 9 can end up in error.

Problem 1: The phone doesn't see the contacts on the phone. SIM-map

• 🔌 Check if it is inserted correctly SIM-map (the chip must be pointed upwards).
• 📶 Make sure that SIM-Card active (catch the net).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t recognize SIM post-insertion.
• 🛠️ If SIM old-fashioned (2G), Try trimming it to nano-SIM or using an adapter.

Problem 2: Imports are interrupted or frozen

• 🔋 The battery should be charged. > 30% (at low charge, the system can suspend background processes).
• 🧹 Clear the cache of the application Contacts in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Clear the cache.
• 📴 Turn off mobile internet at the time of import (sometimes background synchronization interferes with the process).

Issue 3: Contacts are imported but not displayed

• ☁️ If you have imported to a Google Account, check the sync in Settings → Accounts. → Google.
• 👤 Make sure that the Contacts app selects all contacts (click on three dots) → Display contacts → All contacts).
• 🔄 Restart the Contacts app (close it in multitasking and reopen it).

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If none of these methods work, the problem is most likely the problem. SIM-Try transferring contacts to another device and then exporting them to a file. VCF.

How to avoid losing contacts in the future?

SIM-A card is an unreliable store of contacts, it can fail, get lost or simply not be read by a new phone:

1. synchronize your contacts with the cloud

• ☁️ Google Contacts: automatically backs up and syncs data between devices. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 🔗 MI-Account: Alternative for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem.Configured in Settings → Xiaomi account → Synchronization.

2. Regularly create backup copies

• 💾 Use the built-in function MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 📁 Export contacts to a.vcf file once a month and save it to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Disk).

3. Avoid storing contacts only on SIM

• 📵 SIM-The card has a limit on the number of contacts (usually a maximum of 250 entries) and does not support additional fields (email, photos, birthdays).
• 🔄 When changing the phone, contact with SIM You will have to transfer it again, while the cloud data is synchronized automatically.

4. Check duplicates

Multiple import/export contacts may result in duplicates to remove:

1. Open Contacts → Contact Management → Combine Duplicates.
2. Click Scan and confirm the same records.

FAQ: Frequent questions about importing contacts on Redmi 9