How to transfer contacts with SIM-Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 cards: all working methods

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 cards are a challenge that every new smartphone owner or user who decides to change their device faces. Despite the apparent simplicity, the process can cause difficulties: MIUI It hides some options, and standard Android methods don’t always work correctly on customized firmware. In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to import contacts, including hidden features. MIUI, workarounds SIM and recommendations for backup.

Features of the Redmi Note 10 (model mojito/sunny) The manufacturer has limited the functionality of the SIM-This means that the classic import through Settings. → Contacts may be unavailable or error-proof. We tested all methods on firmware. MIUI 12.5–14 (Android 11–13) And they've highlighted the ones that are guaranteed to work even on unofficial assemblies.

Important: If yours SIM-The card was released before 2015, and it can use an outdated standard for storing contacts (up to 256 bytes per record), which leads to cropping of names or no Cyrillic support. SIM.

Method 1: Standard import via MIUI settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in import feature, but in Redmi Note 10 it is hidden deeper than in the stock Android.

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner → select Contact Management.
3. Go to Import/Export Contacts → Import from SIM-card.
4. Select the right contacts (or click Select All) → confirm the import.

⚠️ Note: If the item Import with SIM-There's no card, so your firmware uses a simplified version of the menu, in which case you go to Method 2 or Method 3.

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

Make sure your SIM contacts are not empty (call from another phone)

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

Connect your smartphone to charging (for long-term operations)

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Once imported, the contacts will be stored in the phone’s local memory, so that they sync with Google, do:

1. Open Settings → Google Accounts.
2. Select your account → Contact Sync → Turn on the switch.

Method 2: Import via the Phone application

The alternative is to use the built-in Phone app, which works even on customized firmware, where the standard import is removed:

1. Launch the Phone app.
2. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three-point) → Settings.
3. Select Import/Export Contacts → Import from SIM-card.
4. Specify the target folder: Device (for local storage) or Google (for the cloud).

Critical nuance: If the menu does not have an import option, update the Phone app via Google Play. Xiaomi sometimes rolls back functionality in older versions of system utilities.

Nana SIM-map

Google account

In the memory of the phone

In a third-party cloud (iCloud, Yandex, etc.)

I don't know/no follow.

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The advantage of this method is that you can choose specific contacts to import, rather than transfer everything, which is true if you have old or duplicate records on the SIM.

Method 3: Manual transfer via export to VCF file

If the automatic methods don't work, you can export your SIM contacts to a.vcf file and then import it into your phone, which is universal and works on any firmware:

1. Insert the SIM into another phone (like an old Nokia or Samsung) that has an export feature.
2. Export contacts to contacts.vcf (usually the option is in Settings → Contacts → Export).
3. Flip the file to Redmi Note 10 via Bluetooth, Email or the cloud.
4. Open the file on Xiaomi – the system will automatically prompt you to import contacts.

⚠️ Attention: Files VCF They have a size limit -- if the contacts are more than 500, break the export into multiple files. UTF-8, Otherwise, the "Cracose Girls" will appear».

Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, third-party tools will come to the rescue, and we tested 5 popular apps and selected the two most reliable ones:

• 📱 Sim Contacts Backup – Exporting Contacts with the SIM into VCF/Excel, It supports package imports. Plus: it works without the Internet.
• 🔄 Copy My Data — transfers Wi-Fi contacts from one device to another, plus: saves photos of contacts. Minus: requires a second phone.

Instructions for Sim Contacts Backup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start it and give access to the contacts.
3. Select Import from SIM → specify your target account (device or Google).
4. Confirm the import and wait until it is completed.

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Before using third-party apps, check the reviews for the last month – some utilities after updates stop supporting new versions of MIUI.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Super Backup or Contacts Backup may request excessive permissions. SMS, Refuse such requests - they are not needed to import contacts.

Method 5: Transfer through Google Account (for advanced users)

This method is suitable if you plan to sync contacts with other devices, it requires pre-configuration, but it guarantees the safety of the data:

1. Export your SIM contacts to another phone (as in Method 3).
2. Import them to a Google account on this phone: Open Google Contacts → Settings → Import. Select a.vcf file and confirm the download.

Redmi Note 10

Settings → Accounts

Important: If you have two-factor authentication in Google, create an app password (in your account security settings) before syncing.

Solving problems with SIM-contact

If SIM contacts are not displayed or are imported with errors, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🛑 Outdated. SIM — cards older than 2010 often do not support Cyrillic and are limited to 200 contacts.
• 🔒 Locked-in SIM — the operator may restrict access to the card memory (relevant for corporate tariffs).
• 📵 Damaged data – contacts are stored in incorrect encoding (e.g, KOI8-R instead UTF-8).

For diagnosis:

1. Check the SIM on another phone – if the contacts there are also not readable, the problem is in the card.
2. Contact the operator for a replacement SIM New (usually free) modern USIM-The maps support up to 250 contacts with full data.
3. If names are displayed by Krakozabra, use an encoding converter (e.g., iconv to Linux or online services).

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Before replacing the SIM, be sure to export the contacts to the file - the operator is not responsible for data loss when transferring to a new card.

Backup of contacts on Xiaomi

After successful import, it is recommended to create a backup copy. MIUI It's done this way:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
2. Select Local Backup → Mark Contacts.
3. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed.

The backup file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder, which can be copied to the PC or the cloud, for automatic synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
2. Enable Contact Synchronization and specify frequency (daily/weekly).

⚠️ Attention: Backup copies MIUI If you reset your phone to factory settings, you can only recover it through the same Mi Account that created the copy.

FAQ: Frequent questions