How to transfer contacts with SIM-Xiaomi phone cards: all working methods

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi smartphone cards are a challenge faced by every new device owner or user who decides to upgrade their phone, and despite the apparent simplicity, the process can cause complications, from the lack of visible options on the menu to import errors. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer contacts for phones to the Internet. MIUI 14/15, including the Redmi Note models 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 others.

The main problem is that modern SIM-The cards (especially nano-SIM) have a very limited amount of memory, usually up to 250 contacts with a minimum set of fields (name and number only). Xiaomi phones also support the storage of contacts in internal memory, Google account or Mi Account, which allows you to save additional data: email, addresses, birthdays and even photos. SIM, It also protects data from loss when changing the card.

It's important to consider that the procedure may vary depending on the firmware version and the device model. For example, in MIUI 15, the contact menu interface was redesigned, and some older methods (like importing through Settings → System) no longer work. We tested all methods on current devices and collected only working solutions.

Why you should move your SIM contacts to Xiaomi

Keeping contacts on SIM-The map is a relic of the past that persists only because of habit or ignorance of alternatives:

  • 📱 More contact fields: on SIM You can save only your name and number, while on the phone - up to 20+ fields (including social networks, position, notes).
  • 🔄 Device Sync: Contacts in Google Account or Mi Cloud automatically update across all your gadgets.
  • 🛡️ Protection against loss: SIM-The card is easily damaged or lost, and a backup in the cloud will recover on any new phone.
  • ⚡ Quick search: contacts are indexed in the phone, which allows you to find them by a fragment of a name, number or even by notes.

Many users also face the fact that when resetting SIM-The contacts are duplicated or displayed incorrectly, because different devices read the encoding of names differently. SIM. The phone fixes this problem once and for all.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-Xiaomi cards, each of which will have to be moved separately, and the system does not automatically combine them.

Preparation for transfer: what to do in advance

Before you start the transfer, follow a few simple steps to avoid data loss:

  1. Check the number of contacts on SIM. Go to Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → SIM contact management and count the records. If there are more than 200, break the transfer into parts.
  2. Clear duplicates. Use the built-in merge function in Contacts → Settings → Combine duplicates.
  3. Back up. Export your SIM contacts to your computer via Mi PC Suite or save them to a.vcf file.

Pay special attention to name encoding. If the SIM contacts are saved with Cyrillic and the phone is set to Latin (or vice versa), after importing, "crackers" may appear. To avoid this, change the system language to the one used when saving the contacts on SIM before transferring.

📊 How do you usually keep your contacts?
Only on the SIM-map
On the phone and in the cloud.
Only on Google Account
I use third-party apps.

Method 1: Standard import via the Contact Menu (MIUI 14/15)

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on all modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. Instructions are relevant for MIUI firmware 14 and newer:

  1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
  2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner (or swipe right to left to open the side menu).
  3. Select Settings → Import / Export contacts.
  4. Press Import with SIM-map.
  5. Choose. SIM-card (if there are two) and tick the contacts for transfer (or click Select all).
  6. Specify the location of the save: Phone (internal memory) or Google (account).
  7. Confirm the import with the OK button.

It takes from a few seconds to a minute depending on the number of contacts, and when it's done, it'll show you a report of the number of records that have been successfully imported.

Checked the number of contacts on SIM|Duplicate cleared|Backup on the computer.|The language of the system corresponds to the encoding of names-->

⚠️ Note: If after importing contacts are displayed as empty entries or with incorrect characters, try repeating the procedure by previously changing the region of the phone to Russia or Ukraine (depending on the language of contacts) in Settings → Additionally. → Region.

Method 2: Transfer over Phone Settings (alternative method)

In some versions of MIUI (especially older models like Redmi 9 or POCO M3), the import option can be hidden in the main settings menu.

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Contacts.
  2. Slip on Import/Export contacts.
  3. Select Import with SIM-map.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen, similar to the first method.

If your menu does not include Import/Export, it means that the function has been moved to the Contacts app itself (see Method 1). Also, on some firmware, the path may look like: Settings → System and Device → Additional → Import / Export contacts.

This method is convenient because it allows you to choose a specific SIM-Import card if you have two cards on your phone, for example, you can only transfer contacts from the phone. SIM 1, leaving SIM 2 untouched.

What to do if there is no import option?
If the menu does not include Import C SIM-This may mean: 1. your card. SIM-The card does not support the storage of contacts (for example, virtual eSIM). 2. SIM protected PIN-code - unlock it in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Lockdown SIM. 3. The firmware of the phone is modified (castom), and the function is removed.In this case, use Method 3 or Method 4 from this article.

Method 3: Export contacts to VCF file and import to Xiaomi

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to a firmware failure), you can manually transfer contacts through the.vcf file. This method is universal and suitable for any device, including Xiaomi:

  1. Exports with SIM On another phone: Put it in. SIM-map to an old phone (or any other phone where contacts are displayed correctly). Export contacts to a.vcf file via the contacts menu. Flip the file to Xiaomi via Bluetooth, email or cloud.

Imports to Xiaomi

  • Open the.vcf file on your Xiaomi (it will open in the Contacts app).
  • Click Import and select a save location (Phone or Google).

Mi PC Suite allows you to not only transfer contacts, but also edit them directly to the PC, which is convenient for mass changes, for example, you can quickly add prefixes to numbers (+7 instead of 8) or fix the formatting of names.

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times on version, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).

2. Install drivers manually from the Xiaomi site.

3. Use another USB-cable (preferably original).-->

Solving Common Mistakes When Transferring Contacts

Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

  • 🔴 Contacts are not imported: Check if they are blocked SIM-map PIN-Reboot the phone and try again. Try to retrieve and repaste. SIM-map.
  • 🔴 Names displayed by Cracosabra: Change the region of the phone to the country where it was released SIM-Use Method 3 (file) VCF) And edit the coding manually.
  • 🔴 Duplicate contacts: Delete all contacts from your phone's memory before importing. Use the "Unite duplicates" function in contact settings.
  • 🔴 No import option in the menu: Update your firmware to the latest version MIUI. Use alternative methods (VCF or Mi PC Suite).