How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Why SIM contacts are better stored on your phone

SIMs are still backups for phone numbers, but they are extremely limited. A standard SIM can hold no more than 250 contacts, and you can't save photos, extra fields (email, address) or notes. Going to storage in a smartphone or the cloud solves these problems: you get unlimited records, you can sync between devices and backup.

On Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines), it takes less than a minute to transfer contacts from SIM to internal memory if you know the correct algorithm. However, many users face typical errors: duplication of records, loss of data or the inability to find the import function in new versions of the MIUI shell. In this article, we will examine all the current methods, from standard tools to bypass solutions for older models.

It is important to consider that modern Xiaomi on Android 12+ may not support import with SIM directly through the contact menu, in which case the workaround through Google Contacts or third-party applications will help. We tested all methods on devices with MIUI 14 and HyperOS - instructions are relevant for 2026.

Method 1: Standard import through Contacts (MIUI)

This is the simplest method that works on most Xiaomi models up to and including MIUI 13. On newer versions of the shell, the feature can be hidden or removed - in which case, move to Method 2.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app** (human silhouette icon).
• ⚙️ Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select Contact Management.
• 🔄 Tap Import/Export Contacts → Import with SIM-map.
• 📋 Choose where to save contacts: Device (internal memory) or Google (cloud).
• ✅ Confirm the import and wait until it is completed (usually takes 5-10 seconds).

If the item Imports with SIM-The card is not on the menu, so your model uses a different logic, for example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS, the function is transferred to the settings of the Google account. Sometimes you need to hold your finger on any contact for 2-3 seconds to create a context menu with additional actions.

⚠️ Note: When importing on dual-use devices SIM (Dual SIM) Choose the slot from which you want to transfer contacts. SIM, The system may show an error: No contacts for import".

Method 2: Import via Google Contacts (for MIUI 14 and HyperOS)

Starting with MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has made it easier to synchronize contacts through Google Account, a method that works even if standard import is not available, and the main condition is the availability of an Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Contacts** → click on the profile avatar in the upper right corner.
2. Select Google Account Management → Contact Synchronization.
3. Activate the Contacts slider (if it is off) and wait for the synchronization to complete.
4. Return to the main menu “Contacts” → Settings (three points) → Import / Export.
5. Select Import with SIM-Maps and Targets – Google.

Once imported, the contacts will appear in your Google Account and automatically sync with your phone, and the advantage of this is that even if you reset your phone or replace your SIM, all the numbers will remain in the cloud. To check the result, go to contacts.google.com from your computer.

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If contacts don’t show up after importing, try manually updating the data: open Contacts → swipe down for an update or restart the phone.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on custom firmware or very old Xiaomi models), third-party software will help.

• 📲 Copy My Data (from Media Mushroom) – transfers contacts, calendar and photos between devices over Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 SIM Card Contacts Backup – Specializes in working with SIM, Supports exports to.vcf.

Instructions for Copy My Data:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select Copy Contacts to This Device.
3. Follow the hints: the app will automatically find contacts on SIM and offer to transfer them to the memory of the phone.
4. Once completed, check the contacts in the standard Contacts app**.

Important: When using third-party applications, never give them access to SMS or call histories - these are excessive permissions for transferring contacts. Uninstall the application after you have completed the operation, if you do not plan to use it further.

Method 4: Manual export to.vcf and import to Xiaomi

This method is suitable for users who want to have a backup of contacts as a file..vcf (vCard) format is supported by all modern smartphones, including Xiaomi. The process consists of two stages: export from SIM and import to the phone.

Step 1: Export with SIM to another phone (unless your Xiaomi does not support direct export):

1. Insert the SIM into an old phone (like Nokia or Samsung).
2. Find the option Export to memory card or Save as vCard in the contact menu.
3. Save the contacts.vcf file to SD-card.

Stage 2: Import to Xiaomi:

• 📁 Transfer the contacts.vcf file to your Xiaomi (via Bluetooth, email or cable).
• 📥 Open the file through any file manager (e.g., Google’s Files).

This method is universal and works even on devices with damaged SIM-The main disadvantage is the need for a second phone to export. Alternative: use a card reader to read SIM on a computer (programs like this) SIM Card Reader).

Method 5: Transfer over a computer (for advanced users)

If you have access to a computer, you can use it. ADB-This method is suitable for technically savvy users, because it requires the inclusion of debugging on the Internet. USB The advantage is that you have complete control over the process and the ability to automate.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Xiaomi: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Download Android SDK Platform-Tools and unpack the archive.
5. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and do:

adb devices

(Your device should be displayed)

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db

(This is a backup of all contacts)

For importing c SIM Use specialized services ADB-commands or applications SIM Card Manager from Google Play, which is more complex than the others, but gives you the most flexibility, for example, you can choose which contacts to transfer.

⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB Incorrect commands can lead to data loss or system failure. /data/data/ backup!

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When moving contacts, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🔍 Contacts are not imported: Check that SIM-The card is not locked with a PIN. On some models (Redmi Note 10 and older), import is blocked if the Safe function is enabled. SIM mobile network settings.
• 📵 Empty contact list on SIM: Make sure the numbers are actually saved on the card, so insert it into another phone and check the contents.
• 🔄 Duplicate contacts: Clear your phone memory of old records before importing. Use the option to Remove duplicates in the Contacts settings».
• 🌐 Not synced with Google: Make sure there is enough space in your Google account and sync enabled. Sometimes deleting and re-additioning your phone account helps.

If after importing some contacts are displayed incorrectly (for example, Cyrillic characters are replaced by question marks), the problem is encoding. SIM-The decision:

1. Export your contacts to.vcf on another phone.
2. Open the file in the text editor and replace the encoding with UTF-8.
3. Import the corrected file to Xiaomi.

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Before any contacts transfer, back up! Use standard export to.vcf or specialized applications like Super Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi