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

Why SIM contacts don’t show up on Xiaomi and how to fix it

You just put a new one in. SIM-The card is your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but the phone doesn't see the contacts that are stored on it, or do you have to move the numbers from the old SIM to the new device? MIUI — Unlike old "calls", modern Xiaomi smartphones do not always automatically read contacts from the phone. SIM-maps, and manual import is hidden in the depths of settings.

In this article, we'll look at all the current ways to transfer contacts, from standard import through the Contacts app to workarounds for cases when the phone stubbornly does not see the SIM, how to avoid duplication of records, why some numbers may not be copied, and what to do if photos of contacts disappear after transfer, and also a unique method for devices with MIUI 14, where the Import/Export item from the Contacts menu disappeared.

Method 1: Standard import through the "Contacts" application

The most obvious and quickest method is to use the built-in import feature in the standard Contacts app (or Google Contacts if you use it), which works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models running MIUI 12-14, but there are nuances.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Slip along three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper left corner to open the side menu.
3. Select Contact Management → Import/Export of contacts.
4. Press Import with SIM-maps and choose where to save contacts: on the device or in the account Google/Mi.
5. Check the necessary contacts (or click Allocate) and confirm the import.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14 (e.g. on Xiaomi 13 Lite) Import/Export may not be on the menu.In this case, try the 3 or 4 of this article.

SIM card correctly inserted into the tray (chip up)

There is a free place for operations on the SIMK.

The phone recognizes the SIM (there is a network)

Contacts are actually saved on SIM (check on another phone)

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Method 2: Import via system settings (for MIUI 13 and later)

If the standard import doesn’t work or the item disappears after the update, try an alternative path through System Settings, which is especially relevant for owners of Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and other models with MIUI 13/14, where the interface of the Contacts app is simplified.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Contacts and select the system application.
3. Slip on the Warehouse → Management → Import / Export contacts.
4. Select Import with SIM-maps and follow the clues.

💡 If this method didn’t work, try temporarily resetting the Contacts app (in the same Warehouse menu) to return hidden menu items, but won’t delete the contacts themselves.

Xiaomi 13/13T/14 Series

Redmi Note 11/12 Series

POCO X5/F5 Series

Redmi 10/9 Series Series

Another model

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Method 3: Transfer contacts through Google Account (most reliable)

If you don’t just need to move your contacts to SIM-And you can back up your maps, and you can sync them to your Google account, and this method ensures that your contacts are accessible on any device and not lost when you drop your phone.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select your Google account (or add it if you are not already connected).
3. Activate the Contact Synchronization switch.
4. Return to the Contacts app, click on your profile in the top right corner and select Contact Management → Import with SIM-map.
5. When importing, specify saving to Google account.

⚠️ Note: If you previously synced contacts with another account (e.g. Mi Account), importing to Google may create duplicates. Before transferring, check the contact list for repeating entries through the Google Contacts web version.

Method 4: Use of third-party applications (for complex cases)

If embedded tools MIUI refuse SIM-The map or the import is interrupted with an error, and third-party utilities will come to the rescue:

• 📱 Sim Contacts Backup – Simple import/export with support for.vcf and.csv formats. Suitable for older SIM cards with a 250 pin limit.
• 🔄 Copy My Data – Transfers Contacts, SMS And photos between devices over Wi-Fi, useful when switching from an iPhone or other Android.
• 📁 Super Backup & Restore — backups contacts, messages and call logs, can export data directly to Google Drive.

🔧 How to use it:

1. Install one of the apps from Google Play.
2. Open it and provide access to contacts and SIM-map.
3. Select the option of importing with SIM (usually Import from SIM).
4. Save contacts in your phone memory or Google account.

Method 5: Manual transfer via VCF file (for power users)

If you need to migrate your SIM contacts to Xiaomi without being tied to cloud services, you can export them to a.vcf file and then import them into your phone. This method is useful if you want to edit contacts before porting or combine multiple SIM cards.

Step-by-step:

1. Put it in. SIM-A card to any phone that can export contacts (even to an old "bell ringer").
2. Export contacts to contacts.vcf (usually via the Contacts menu → Import/Export).
3. Flip the file to your Xiaomi via Bluetooth, USB or cloud.
4. On Xiaomi, open the contacts.vcf file and the system will automatically prompt you to import contacts.
5. Choose where to save: to your device or to your Google/Mi Account.

💡 Useful tip: You can open a.vcf file on your computer in Excel or Google Tables for mass editing (for example, to add a country code to numbers.

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The VCF file is a universal format for transferring contacts between any device, including iPhones and computers, and can be edited manually, removing duplicates or correcting errors before importing.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if the instructions are followed correctly, Xiaomi users have problems with transferring contacts, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them:

• ❌ "No item Import/Export" → Update the Contacts app via Google Play or use method 2 (via system settings). MIUI 14 This item may be hidden – try resetting the app settings.
• ❌ "Contacts are imported without names" → This is what happens when SIM Solution: edit contacts on another phone before transferring.
• ❌ "Reading error SIM-map" → Check if your SIM supports contact storage (some operators, such as Tele2, turn it off.
• ❌ "Duplicate contacts" → Before importing, clear the contact list on your phone or use the Duplicate Contacts app to delete copies.

⚠️ Note: If photos of contacts disappear after transfer, this is due to the fact that the SIM-The cards only store numbers and names, not images. To recover photos, sync your contacts with Google or Mi Account where they may have been saved before.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions