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

Transfer of telephone numbers from SIM-Xiaomi smartphone cards are a challenge that every new owner of the device faces, and despite their apparent simplicity, the process is often accompanied by typical problems: duplicate contacts, loss of numbers, or incorrect display of names in Cyrillic. In this article, we will discuss all current transfer methods (including hidden functions). MIUI 14/15), Compare their reliability and speed, and tell you how to avoid common mistakes.

Xiaomi phones are a feature of close integration with Google services and its own Mi Cloud, which opens up additional synchronization opportunities, but also requires attention to privacy settings. For example, when importing automatically, the contacts can be duplicated in three places: SIM-We'll show you how to control this process and leave only relevant data.

Importantly, if you use a dual-sim smartphone (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro), the transfer algorithm will be different – you will have to choose which SIM to copy numbers from, and we will explain this in detail in the corresponding section.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before import

Before you start copying contacts, follow the necessary preparatory steps, which will take 2-3 minutes, but save hours on correcting errors:

• 📱 Check the version. MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. The methods of importation differ in MIUI 12/13 and MIUI 14/15.
• 🔋 Battery charge: make sure the charge level is above 30%.If the process is interrupted due to discharge, the contacts may be partially preserved.
• 📶 Network: for cloud methods (Google/Mi Cloud needs stable Internet. Use Wi-Fi if you have a weak signal.
• 🔄 Backup copy: if SIM store unique numbers, copy them to paper or take a photo of the screen with a contact list.

Pay special attention to the coding SIM-Older cards (issued before 2015) often use encoding. GSM 7-bit, And that's not Cyrillic, and that's the result of contact names being displayed as????? or Abracadabra:

⚠️ Note: If after importing the names of contacts are displayed in hieroglyphics, replace them with a new name. SIM-The alternative is to manually enter names after the number has been moved.

2. Method 1: Standard importation through “Contacts» (MIUI 14/15)

The simplest method that works on all Xiaomi models - from the budget Redmi A2 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Instructions are relevant for the firmware MIUI 14 and newer:

1. Open the Contacts app** (a human silhouette icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner → select Contact Management.
3. Go to the section Import / Export contacts → Import from SIM-card.
4. Choose. SIM-card (if there are two) and tick the necessary contacts (or click Select all).
5. Specify the location of the save: Phone (local memory) or Google (cloud).
6. Confirm the import with the OK button.

The process will take 10 seconds to 1 minute depending on the number of contacts.

• 🔍 Open the contact list and make sure all numbers are in place.
• 📌 Scroll through the list to the end – sometimes the last 5-10 contacts are “cut off” when imported.
• 📇 Check the doubles: if one number is saved and SIM, In the phone memory, delete the extra copy.

If contacts don't show up after importing, try restarting your phone.In 10% of cases, MIUI doesn't update your contact list in real time.

Method 2: Import via Google Account (for sync with other devices)

This method is suitable if you use multiple Android devices (like a phone and tablet) and want your contacts to automatically sync.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Sign in to your account (or create a new one if you don’t have one).
3. Activate the Contacts switch in the account sync section.
4. Return to the Contact Appendix»** → Contact management → Imports/Exports.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization with other devices.
• 🔒 Backup in the cloud (contacts will not be lost when you reset your phone).
• 📱 Access to contacts via the web version of Google Contacts.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Contacts are made available to Google (privacy issue).
• 📶 Requires a stable Internet for first synchronization.
• 🔄 In conflicts (e.g., the same names) duplicates may be created.

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If you sync with Google and duplicate your contacts, use the built-in merger function: open Contacts → three points → Contact Management → Combine Doubles.

4. Method 3: Export via Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi account holders)

Xiaomi’s own cloud, the Mi Cloud, offers an alternative way to move contacts, which is useful if you don’t use Google services or want to save data in the Xiaomi ecosystem.

1. Sign up for Xiaomi account (or sign up if you don’t).

Mi Cloud offers 5GB of free storage, enough for tens of thousands of contacts.

Important: If you plan to sell the phone, pre-disable sync with Mi Cloud and delete your Xiaomi account in the settings, otherwise new owners will be able to see your contacts when you restore data.

5. Method 4: Manual transfer for complex cases

If the automatic methods do not work (for example, due to damage) SIM-You have to move the contacts manually, it's time-consuming, but it guarantees 100% results:

1. Open the phone app** (not "Contacts!").
2. Go to the Contacts tab → SIM-map.
3. Slip on the first contact and hold your finger for 2 seconds until the tick appears.
4. Make sure you have all the contacts you need (or choose one).
5. Click on the Copy icon (usually at the bottom of the screen).
6. Select the location of the save: Phone or Google.

To speed up the process, use the mode of selecting several contacts:

• 📋 Click on the pencil icon (edit) in the upper right corner.
• 🔘 Check all contacts on the page (usually displayed at 20-30 pieces).
• 📤 Click Copy and select the target storage.

If there are more than 100 contacts, break the process into stages of 20-30 numbers to avoid hanging the Contacts app.

Method 5: Transfer via VCF file (for advanced users)

The method is suitable for those who want to have a backup of contacts in the form of a file.

Instructions:

1. Export your SIM contacts to your phone (by any of the methods described above).
2. Open Contacts** → Contact Management → Import/Export → Export to File.

To import contacts from VCF back:

1. Place the file in the phone's memory.
2. In Contacts**, select Import/Export → Import from the file.

The VCF file can be opened on the PC using:

• 🖥️ Microsoft Outlook (File tab» → «Open and export»).
• 🌐 Online services like VCF Viewer.
• 📱 Android applications, such as Contacts+.

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The VCF file is a universal format for transferring contacts between different brands (Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone), the main advantage is that you control data and are not dependent on cloud services.

7. Features of the transfer to two-sim Xiaomi

If your Xiaomi supports two of your SIM-Cards (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G or POCO F5), When importing contacts, an additional step will appear - the choice of the SIM. There's nuances here:

• 📱 Primary SIM (Slot 1) is usually used by default to import. SIM, Choose it manually.

To avoid confusion:

1. Transfer the contacts from the first SIM to the phone’s memory.
2. Remove the doubles (if they appear).
3. Repeat the process for the second SIM.
4. Combine the same contacts through the function Combine doubles.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) There's an option to control. SIM-In the settings where you can assign labels (for example, "Worker" and "Personal"), this will help not to confuse when importing.

8.Typical errors and how to fix them

Even when following instructions, users face problems.

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the Contacts app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find “Contacts” and open its settings.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Restart the phone and repeat the import.

⚠️ Note: Clearing the Contacts app data will delete all locally saved numbers (but won't affect contacts in Google or Mi Cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer