How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi phone: all ways

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi smartphone cards are a challenge that every new owner of the device faces, and despite their apparent simplicity, the process can cause complications from the lack of visibility of contacts on the map to errors when importing. In this article, we will analyze all current methods of copying - from standard tools. MIUI Up to workarounds for old models.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have a customized MIUI shell that sometimes hides the standard Android features. For example, in some versions of the firmware, the contact import option is hidden in the depth of the menu, and in others, it requires pre-setting the Mi Account account. We took into account all the nuances and prepared universal instructions that work on devices from Xiaomi Mi 8 to Redmi Note 13 Pro+.

Important: Before starting the procedure, check if yours supports your SIM-Contact storage card (usually Mini-SIM or Micro-SIM cards of the old model) Modern Nano-SIM often do not have memory for the phone book.

1. Standard import through the “Contacts” app

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background), which works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the latest versions of HyperOS. The main advantage is that you do not need an Internet connection or additional programs.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search through the swipe search down).
• ⚙️ Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select “Contact Management».
• 🔄 In the section "Import / Export" tap "Import with" SIM-map».
• 📋 Tick the necessary contacts (or click "Select all») → «Imports».
• 💾 Specify the location of the save: “Device” (internal memory) or “Google Account».

If the item “Imports with” SIM-The map is not on the menu, so yours is not on the menu. SIM It doesn't contain contacts or it's already been copied. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [yours SIM] → Contacts SIM.

Check for contacts on SIM through settings

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

Close all background applications for stable operation

Connect the charger (in case of a long process)-->

2. Import through system settings (alternative method)

In some versions MIUI (Like Redmi. 9A or POCO M3) Import option is hidden in system settings, which is suitable if the standard Contacts app does not display SIM-contact or make an error.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Import / Export contacts.
2. Select "Import with" SIM-map».
3. Wait for the map scan (it can take up to 30 seconds).
4. Mark the contacts for transfer and click "Done".
5. Select your target account: “Locally” (to your phone) or “Google”.

If you don’t have Memory in your settings, try the alternative path: Settings → Apps → Contacts → Memory → Import. On some devices (Xiaomi Mi 11 and later), this section may be called Backup and Reset.

3. Transfer contacts through Google Account (for backup)

If you plan to not only copy your contacts to your phone, but also back them up in the cloud, use Google Account Sync, a method that ensures that your contacts are available on any device after you log in.

How it works:

• 🔗 First, import contacts from the SIM by telephone (any of the above methods).
• ☁️ Then go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google → [your account].
• 🔄 Turn on the switch "Contact Synchronization».
• ⏳ Wait for the synchronization to complete (check progress in the status bar).

The advantage of this method is that it automatically restores contacts when you drop your phone or buy a new device, but remember that synchronization requires a stable Internet connection. If you have limited traffic, use Wi-Fi.

Through the "Contact" app

Through system settings

Synchronization with Google

Other methods-->

4. Problem Solving: Frequent Errors and Corrections

Even when following instructions, Xiaomi users sometimes face difficulties, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them.

Critical information: Some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro) lose contact photos and additional fields (like “Birthday”) when importing with SIM. To keep the full data, export the contacts to the VCF file on the old phone first, and then import it to Xiaomi.

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If contacts are SIM They are displayed in characters, meaning they are stored in unsupported encoding. Solution: transfer them to a phone that supports old encoding (e.g. Samsung on Android 7), then export them to the phone that supports old encoding (e.g. Samsung on Android 7), VCF-file.

5. Transfer of contacts using third-party applications

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, use third-party tools, and we tested a few apps and selected the most reliable ones.

Top.-3 importation SIM:

• 📲 Copy My Data (from Avast) – Transfers contacts, photos and calendars over Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 SIM Card (from) SIM Tool Manager – specializes in working with SIM-Supports old formats and supports old formats.
• ☁️ Google Contacts – the official application for managing contacts with the import / export function.

Instructions for Copy My Data:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select “Copy contacts from SIM”.
3. Follow the tips of the import master.
4. Select your target account (local or Google).

Warning: Before using third-party apps, check their permissions. The app should only request access to contacts and storage. If it requires access to SMS, geolocation or microphone, it is suspicious.

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The app side is handy, but always check reviews and rankings on Google Play.Apps rated below 4.0 stars and less than 10,000 installs may not be secure.

Manual export/import through VCF-File (for experienced users)

This method is suitable if you have access to another phone where SIM contacts are displayed correctly.The essence is to back up contacts in.vcf (vCard) format and then import them to Xiaomi.

Step-by-step:

1. On an old phone, export your SIM contacts to the file: Contacts → Settings → Export to a memory card (VCF)
2. Move the resulting file (usually contacts.vcf) to Xiaomi via Bluetooth, email, or cloud storage.
3. On Xiaomi, open the file through Contacts or any file manager (such as Google Files).
4. Confirm the import and select an account to save.

The advantage of this method is to save all contact fields (including photos, notes, and additional numbers), but it requires a second device. If it is not available, try exporting contacts directly to the SIM via your computer using MyPhoneExplorer.

7. Features of import on different models Xiaomi

The process of transferring contacts may vary depending on the phone model and the version of MIUI, and we analyzed the most popular devices and identified key differences.

On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the import interface has become more intuitive, but some users note that the system automatically suggests saving contacts to Mi Cloud instead of local storage. To avoid this, turn off sync with Mi Account in the settings before importing.

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On older models (for example, Xiaomi Mi). A1/A2 With pure Android, use Google's standard Contacts app, which offers more reliable import than you can import. MIUI-version.

8 How to avoid future contact loss

Transferring your SIM contacts to your phone is just the first step, so you don’t lose important data when you reset or break your device, follow these guidelines:

• ☁️ Regular sync with Google: enable automatic sync in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📱 Local Backup: Export contacts to the Internet once a month VCF-file through Contacts → Management → Exports.
• 🔄 Mi Cloud usage: If you have a Mi Account, activate backup in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts.
• 📝 Double check: after importing, compare the number of contacts on the SIM and in the phone (in the application "Contacts" the counter is displayed).

If you change your phone frequently, keep the main copy of your contacts on Google or Mi Cloud. SIM-The card is only suitable for temporary storage – its memory is limited, and data can be damaged by frequent retrieval.

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Never keep your contacts only on the SIM-This is the most unreliable way: the card can break, get lost, or stop being supported by new phones.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions