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

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi cards are a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device or changing operator, and while seemingly simple, the process can cause difficulties, from the lack of visibility of contacts in the phone book to errors in importing. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer contacts with the SIM on the Redmi, POCO or Mi-managed MIUI 14/15, including hidden functions and avoiding common errors.

Xiaomi devices feature integration with Mi Account and Google, which opens up additional synchronization opportunities. SIM-We'll show you how to avoid data loss when you move, if contacts are duplicated or displayed in hieroglyphics, and how to automate the process for future transfers between devices.

Preparation: verification SIM-Maps and contacts on Xiaomi

Before transferring contacts, make sure your SIM-The card is correctly installed and recognized by the system. On Xiaomi devices with a hybrid slot (for example, Redmi Note 12 or X-ray). POCO X5) SIM-The card must be inserted into the slot SIM1 — He's the one who keeps the contacts running. SIM2 It is often limited to phone calls and the internet.

To test visibility SIM-contact:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Slip on three points in the upper right corner → Contact management.
3. Select Import/Export Contacts → Import from SIM-card.
4. If the button is inactive, your SIM is not supported or has no contacts.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra) have contacts with the SIM They only show up after you reboot your phone. If the list is empty, pull it out and paste it in. SIM-map.

Also check the format of the SIM contact storage:

• 📱 Standard contacts: name + Number (supported by all devices).
• 🔢 Extended contacts: additional fields (email, address) – may not be transferred completely.
• 🌐 Unicode symbols: if names contain emoji or Cyrillic, they may appear as if they were imported????.

Method 1: Standard import through the Contacts app

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI functionality. It is suitable for most models, including the Redmi 10C, POCO F4 and Xiaomi 13T. Instructions are relevant for MIUI firmware 12-15:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management.
3. Select Import/Export Contacts → Import from SIM-card.
4. Tick the required contacts (or click Select All).
5. Specify your target account to save: 📱 Device: Contacts will only be saved on the phone (without synchronization). ☁️ Google: Contacts are synced to Gmail. 🟠 Mi Account: Contacts will be linked to Xiaomi account (available on other devices of the brand).

Import

If the button Import from the SIM-card is missing:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Check if it's active. SIM-map in settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks).
• 🛠️ Update the Contacts app through Play Market.

Method 2: Export contacts to VCF file and import to Xiaomi

If standard import does not work (for example, on Xiaomi Black Shark or custom firmware), use intermediate export to.vcf. This method is universal and suitable for transferring contacts between different brands.

Step 1 Export with SIM to another phone (if any):

1. Put it in. SIM-card in any phone (even on Android 5.0 or iOS).
2. Export contacts to file: On Android: Contacts → Settings → Export (save to phone memory). On iPhone: use iCloud or Contacts app → Exports SIM-contact.

contacts.vcf

Xiaomi

Bluetooth

Telegram

Step 2. Import VCF to Xiaomi:

1. Open the.vcf file on Xiaomi (the system will prompt you to import contacts automatically).
2. If the automatic importation does not work: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import from file. Select contacts.vcf from your phone's memory.

Google

⚠️ Note: If importation is required VCF contacts are duplicated, before the procedure, make a backup of current contacts through Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud. Once imported, duplicates can be removed manually or with applications like Duplicate Contacts.

Method 3: Sync through Google Account (for long-term storage)

If you use Google contacts, migrating from SIM to Xiaomi can be combined with backup, a technique that is suitable for users who change phones frequently or want to have access to contacts from any device.

Instructions:

1. Import SIM contacts to any phone (see Method 1).
2. Export them to Google Account: Open Google Contacts (install from Play Market if not available). Slip to your account avatar → Account Management → select your Google. Click Sync (if contacts are already on your phone, they will automatically upload to the cloud).

Xiaomi

Google account

Settings → Accounts and sync → Add an account → Google

Settings → Accounts and sync → Google → Synchronize contacts

Advantages of the method:

• ☁️ Contacts are automatically updated on all devices.
• 🔄 You can roll back changes in 30 days via Google Contacts.
• 📱 Additional fields (dates of birth, addresses) are supported).

💡

If contacts don’t show up after syncing, check the filter in the Contacts app: click on three points → Display Contacts → select your Google account.

Method 4: Transfer over Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi account holders)

Mi Cloud allows you to synchronize contacts between Xiaomi devices, but has a limitation: contacts must first be imported into the phone book and then uploaded to the cloud.This method is suitable for users who are actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem (for example, together with the Mi Band or Mi Home).

Step-by-step:

1. Import SIM contacts to Xiaomi (see Method 1 by selecting save on Device).
2. Upload contacts to Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts and sync → Mi Cloud → Contacts → Sync
3. On the new Xiaomi device, log in to the same Mi Account and enable sync.

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 🚫 Contacts are not synced with non-Xiaomi devices.
• 📶 Requires a stable Internet connection for first synchronization.
• 🔒 When you change your Xiaomi account, your contacts will remain on your old profile.

Method 5: Manual copying through an engineering menu (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., custom firmware like Pixel Experience), you can use Xiaomi’s engineering menu, which requires caution, as incorrect actions can lead to failures.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the block. SIM-map and click Update (this forcibly reads data from the SIM).
4. Return to Contacts and try again to import.

Alternative code for accessing advanced SIM settings:

##7465625##

⚠️ Warning: The engineering menu contains parameters critical to network operation. Do not change settings unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, changing the settings of the Preferred network type can lead to loss of communication.

💡

Engineering menus are the last resort, and 90 percent of the time, the problem is solved by standard import or reboot.

Problem Solving: Contacts are not portable or displayed in hieroglyphics

If after importation the contact:

• 🔍 Not displayed: Check the filter in the Contacts app (three dots) → Display contacts → select all accounts).
• 🤯 Turned into hieroglyphs: the problem in the coding SIM-Try importing them on an old phone (like Nokia or Samsung on Android 7) and then exporting them to your old phone. VCF.
• 👥 Duplicate: Use the Duplicate Contacts Remover app (available from Play Market).
• 📵 Not imported at all: try inserting SIM In a different slot (if the phone supports Dual) SIM).

For contact with hieroglyphs (????):

1. Install the SIM Card application from the Play Market (e.g. SIM Contacts Manager).
2. Open the contact list on SIM through this app.
3. Copy each contact manually into the Xiaomi phone book.

If the problem persists, it may be yours. SIM-The card uses an outdated standard for storing contacts (SIM Application Toolkit version 1.0. In this case, contact the operator for a replacement. SIM new (e.g. new, USIM).

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to Xiaomi