How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi phone to SIM-map: full guide

Transfer of contacts from smartphone to SIM-The card is a task that can be required in a variety of situations: when buying a new phone, resetting settings or switching to a device of another brand. Xiaomi owners often face difficulties when trying to export contacts, since the interface is not a good idea. MIUI It's not always intuitive, and some features are hidden in the depths of the menu. In this article, we'll look at all the current ways to transfer contacts to the bottom of the menu. SIM-map, including nuances for different versions of firmware and smartphone models.

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to insert SIM-And the card to the new phone, and all the contacts automatically pull up, and in practice, this only works if the contacts are initially saved to the new phone. SIM, If you've never exported contacts to a map, you'll have to transfer them manually, and fortunately, Xiaomi provides several tools to do this, although their location and functionality may vary depending on the version. MIUI (for example, MIUI 12-14 The algorithm is different from older versions).

Why Contacts Are Not Transferred to SIM-map?

The main reason is the differences in storage formats, as modern Xiaomi smartphones by default keep contacts in one of three places:

• 📱 Device Memory – Contacts are tied to the phone and are not synced to the cloud.
• ☁️ Account. Google/Mi — synchronized with servers, but not available without the Internet.
• 📶 SIM-Map – limited number of records (usually up to 250), with no support for photos and additional fields.

SIM-The cards have strict restrictions: they only support basic data (name). + The number is lost, and fields such as email, address or birthday are lost, and many operators block the entry to the email address. SIM-card through software restrictions, especially if the card is issued after 2018 (so-called "Card "USIM-In such cases, transfer is possible only through bypasses.

Another common problem is that there is no export option in the contact menu, as is the case with MIUI 13/14 firmware, where developers have simplified the interface by removing rarely used features, but can be returned through hidden settings or third-party applications.

⚠️ Attention: If yours SIM-Nano-SIM card (smallest), to transfer contacts may require an adapter to micro-SIM or standard SIM. Some older Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 4A or Mi A1) Not supported by recording on nano-SIM without an adapter.

Method 1: Standard export via MIUI settings

This is the most reliable method that works on most Xiaomi devices (except for the newest models with MIUI 14 and above).The algorithm may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the general logic is maintained:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the Import/Export Contacts section.
4. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
5. Check the contacts you want to transfer (or click Select All).
6. Confirm the export and wait for the process to be completed.

If the export items SIM-The map is not on the menu, try an alternative path:

Settings → Applications → Contacts → Permissions → Memory (include)

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

Check the space available on SIM (maximum of ~250 contacts)

Disable sync with Google/Mi during export

Charge your phone at least 30% (in case of hanging)

-->

On some models (e.g. Poco X3 or Redmi Note 10), the export option may be hidden behind an optional menu.

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → About the phone and 5 times click on the version MIUI, activate the developer mode.
• 🔧 Return to the main settings, open the advanced settings → For developers.
• 📱 Find Old Contact Settings and Enable It.

⚠️ Note: After export, check the contacts on SIM-card via another phone or special application (for example, SIM Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11) may show false confirmation of successful exports when the data was not actually recorded.

Method 2: Use of the Google Contacts app

If the standard method didn’t work, you can use the Google Contacts app, which is often pre-installed on Xiaomi smartphones, which is suitable for devices with MIUI 12-14 and allows you to bypass the firmware restrictions:

1. Open the Google Contacts app (an icon with the colored "G" logo).
2. Click on your avatar in the top right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to Export and select the.vcf format (contact file).
4. Save the file to your phone’s memory (for example, in the Downloads folder).
5. Install the SIM Card Manager app (or similar) from Google Play.
6. Import the saved.vcf file to the application and export the contacts to the app. SIM-map.

The advantage of this method is that you can selectively export and pre-edit contacts, for example, you can delete duplicates or unnecessary numbers before transferring them.

💡

If the SIM Card Manager app doesn’t see your card, try rebooting your phone with the SIM removed and re-inserted.

Method 3: Transfer over a computer (for advanced users)

This method is suitable if the first two methods did not work or you need to transfer a large number of contacts with additional data. PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi) or Android Studio for working with ADB.

Instructions via Mi PC Suite:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website.
2. Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable (turn on debugging by USB developer-setting).
3. In the program, select Contacts and export them to the.vcf file.
4. Copy the file to another phone or use SIM Card Manager to import to the card.

For experienced users, the method is available via ADB (requires USB debugging enabled):

adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/data --where "mimetype_id=5" > contacts_backup.vcf

This team exports all phone numbers to the file contacts_backup.vcf, which can then be transferred to SIM-map.

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB There is a risk of accidental deletion of data. Before executing commands, back up contacts through Settings → System system → Backup.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often face problems.

• 🚫 "Export option inactive" → Check that SIM-The card is inserted into the main slot (usually the Slot 1).Some Xiaomi models block the entry to the card in the second slot.
• ❌ "Not enough memory for SIM" → Remove old contacts from the card or use another one SIM. Maximum number of records – usually 200-250.
• 🔄 "Contacts were exported but not displayed" → Try to read it. SIM-The card is on another phone, and the format compatibility may be a problem.
• 📵 "Phone freezes when exporting" → Extract. SIM-If the problem is repeated, use the.vcf method.

The error deserves special attention "SIM-The card does not support the record. It originates in modern times. USIM-cards (for example, from MTS or Beeline after 2020:

• 🔄 Ask the operator to replace it. USIM standard SIM (Sometimes it's possible for free).
• 📱 Use a micro-SIM adapter – some phones only allow you to write data to old-style cards.
• ☁️ Transfer contacts to your Google account and sync them to your new device without any need to SIM.

💡

If you SIM-The map is newer than 2018, and it probably doesn't support recording contacts, so the only reliable way to do this is to sync through Google or export to a.vcf file.

Alternative ways: cloud services and third-party applications

If the transfer is SIM-This card is not possible for technical reasons, consider alternatives:

• ☁️ Google sync: Export your contacts to your Google account, and on your new phone, just log in to the same account.
• 📱 Transfer Files app (from Google): Allows you to wirelessly transfer contacts to another phone without having to send them to another phone SIM-map.
• 🔗 SMS-Export: Some applications (such as Super Backup) can send contacts over the Internet. SMS different room.
• 💾 Local Copy: Save contacts to a.vcf file on a memory card and transfer it to a new phone.

For users who change phones frequently, the best solution is to sync with Google, eliminating the need for manual data transfers every time they change their device, so that they can sync:

Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Contacts (enable)

If you prefer to store contacts locally (without the cloud), use apps like Simple Contacts or Contacts+, which allow you to back up your device and restore them in one click.

Safety tips for transferring contacts

Contact transfer is a manipulation of personal data, so it is important to take precautions:

• 🔒 Check Apps: Install only high-ranking programs (4.5)+ stars and a large number of downloads (from 1 million).
• 📴 Avoid public Wi-Fi: When transferring contacts over the cloud or messengers, use mobile internet or secure network.
• 🗑️ Delete Temporary Files: After transferring, clear the Downloads folder of.vcf files if they are no longer needed.
• 🔄 Check the integrity of the data: After export, compare the number of contacts on the SIM-map and phone.

Pay particular attention to application permissions, for example, if you install a SIM Card Manager, check what rights it requests:

If an application requests unnecessary permissions (such as access to SMS or location), refuse to use it. There are many analogues with a more transparent privacy policy.

💡

Before installing third-party contact software, check reviews on 4PDA or XDA Developers, which often discuss hidden features and potential vulnerabilities.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions