How to import contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi phone: 3 working ways

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi smartphone cards are a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or changing operator. Despite the apparent simplicity, the process can cause difficulties due to the features of the firmware. MIUI In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to import contacts, including hidden system functions, avoidance of typical errors and nuances for dual-SIM devices.

It is important to understand that modern SIM-cards (especially nano-SIM) have a limited amount of memory, usually up to 250 So, not only is it convenient to transfer to your phone, but it's also necessary to make full use of your address book. We tested all the methods on the latest versions. MIUI 14/15 We guarantee their efficiency for 95% brand.

If you have previously tried to import contacts and have received errors like "Impossible to read" SIM-Map" or "Contacts not found" -- there's a section in the article that addresses these problems, and we'll also compare manual importation to automatic importation through Mi Cloud and explain why the second option is preferable for backup.

Preparation for import: what to check before transfer

Before you start importing, make sure your SIM-The map contains current data, and many users are faced with a situation where the contacts on the map are outdated or partially erased:

• 📱 Check the model. SIM-Cards: Old Mini-SIM cards (2FF) It may not be supported by modern smartphones. Xiaomi is relevant nano-SIM (4FF) eSIM (for models with support).
• 🔍 Make sure you have contacts: insert SIM to another phone (such as a Nokia button) and check if the entries in the address book are displayed.
• 🔋 Battery charge: the import process can take up to 5 minutes – make sure the phone charge is above 20% to avoid interruption.
• 📶 Operator network: some cards block access to contacts when there is no network. SIM slot SIM1 (basic) for stable employment.

Xiaomi’s Critical Feature: If Your Phone Supports Two SIM-cards, import contacts is possible only from the card that is installed in the slot SIM1 (Slot is usually the top slot. SIM2 does not provide access to contact data.

It is also important to note that the contacts SIM-the card is stored in encoding GSM 7-bit, If the names of contacts use Russian letters, they can be displayed as???? or иван. We will discuss this issue in the section on manual import.

Method 1: Standard import via contact menu

This is the simplest method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 12 and later. The instructions are relevant for models from Redmi 9A to Xiaomi 14 Pro:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner (⋮) and select "Contact Management".
3. Go to the section "Import / Export contacts" → "Import from SIM-card".
4. Select SIM1 (if you have two cards) and tick the contacts you want (or click "Select All").
5. Click Import and confirm the action. Contacts will be saved to your Google account or device (depending on your settings).

If the import button is inactive or missing, check:

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes system processes block access to your phone SIM.
• 📌 Update the Contacts app via Google Play (even on the MIUI It can be updated separately).
• 🛠️ Clear the app's cache: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Insert the SIM into the SIM1 slot

Check the battery power (>20%)

Update the “Contact” annex

Clear the app's cache

Reboot the phone-->

An important nuance: By default, contacts are imported into a Google account if it is linked to a phone, so that they can be stored locally on the device before importing:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Turn off contact sync for Google.
3. Return to the import menu and select the "Phone" option (or "Local Storage").

Method 2: Import through system settings (for older versions of MIUI)

If you have Xiaomi on MIUI 11 or older (such as Redmi 8 or Mi A3), the standard path through the Contacts app may not be available.

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Additional → Import / Export contacts.
2. Select "Import with" SIM-map".
3. Specify the target storage: “Google Account” for sync with the cloud; “Device” for local storage; "SIM-map – if you need to transfer contacts to another SIM (rarely).

Confirm the import and wait for the process to be completed.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI for the global market), the path may be different:

Settings → Google → Settings for applications → Contacts → Import SIM- maps

If the “Import/Export” section is missing, this may mean:

• 📱 You have the Chinese version. MIUI without Google services (solution – install Google Contacts from the APK).
• 🔄 SIM-The card is not recognized by the system (check it on another device).
• 🛠️ No rights to read contacts (reinstall system updates).

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If the contacts are displayed by Krakozabra after import, try changing the encoding manually: export the contacts to the VCF file, open it on a PC in Notepad and save it with UTF-8 encoding, then import back.

Method 3: Manual copying via VCF file (for power users)

This method is suitable if the standard methods do not work or you need to save additional contact fields (for example, photos, notes), it requires a little more action, but gives you complete control over the process:

1. Export SIM contacts to another phone: Insert SIM into an old phone (such as a Samsung or iPhone). Export contacts to a.vcf file (usually via the Contacts → Settings → Export menu).

Import VCF to Xiaomi

• Open the.vcf file on your phone (the system will prompt you to import contacts automatically).
• Select your target account (Google or device).

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ All contact fields (including photos and additional numbers) are saved).
• ✅ There is no limit to the number of contacts (unlike the number of contacts). SIM-map).
• ✅ You can edit the.vcf file before importing (e.g., fix name encoding).

For editing VCF-use the file:

5. Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, Xiaomi users may encounter errors, and we have collected the most common problems and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If contacts are duplicated after import, do not manually delete them! Use the merge function in Settings → Contacts → Manual deletion can lead to data loss.

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Reset the settings of the “Contacts” application: Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Reset the settings
2. Update MIUI to the latest version (new firmware fixes SIM errors).
3. Use third-party software, such as Sim Contacts Backup (available on Google Play).

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If Xiaomi can’t see it, SIM-The problem may be in the physical slot or antenna module, in which case the import of contacts is not possible until the device is repaired.

6. How to avoid future contact loss

Transferring your SIM contacts to your phone is just the first step. To avoid data loss when you change your device or reset your settings, set up automatic backups:

• ☁️ Sync with Google: Open Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Turn on the "Contacts" switch. Press "Sync".

Contacts will now be automatically copied to the cloud and available on any device after logging in to your account.

Local backups

1. In the "Contact" app, select ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to device.
2. Save the.vcf file to a safe location (e.g. Mi Cloud or Google Drive).

Periodic exports

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Professional advice: if you use Xiaomi with dual SIM-By map, set up separate profiles for each card:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Select "Names" SIM-Cards" and assign them unique labels (for example, "Worker" and "Personal").
3. In the "Contacts" application, you can filter numbers by SIM-cards.

For owners of POCO and Redmi with limited memory, we recommend storing contacts exclusively in Google Account – this will free up space on the device and simplify the transfer of data when changing the phone.

7. Comparison of import methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your Xiaomi model, MIUI version and import goals.

Selection recommendations:

• 📱 If you're on Xiaomi MIUI 14/15 — Use the standard import method (the method) 1).
• 🔄 For older models (Redmi) 5/6, Mi A1) — Importation through settings (method) 2).
• 💼 If you need to save all data (photo, email) — VCF-file (mode 3).
• 🛠️ If nothing works, third-party apps (e.g. Sim Contacts Backup).

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For Xiaomi models with eSIM (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite), import contacts is only possible through the cloud or through the cloud. VCF-file, as a virtual file SIM Does not support maintaining contacts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about importing contacts on Xiaomi