How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi Redmi 4X: all ways of 2026

Why Redmi 4X owners lose contacts when porting – and how to avoid it

Old but proven Xiaomi Redmi 4X It's still a workhorse for thousands of users, thanks to its robust hardware and custom firmware support, but it has one hidden problem: it's not a neat way to move contacts around. SIM-Some of the numbers may disappear permanently, because of the outdated format of data storage on the phone. SIM (limitation 250 contacts and lack of support for the Russian alphabet in names and features MIUI 8/9, run by Redmi 4X delivered out-of-box.

In this article, you’ll find 5 working ways to move contacts, from standard MIUI tools to workarounds for cases where the phone “can’t see” SIM or gives an error “Not enough memory.” We’ll also break down Redmi 4X’s unique problem with duplicate contacts when importing and show how to clean the phone from garbage after transfer. All instructions tested on current versions of MIUI 12.5 and Android 7.1.2 are the ones that are on most Redmi 4X in operation in 2026.

Method 1: Standard import via "Contacts" (fastest)

If you have Xiaomi Redmi 4X recognize SIM-It's a card, it displays the contacts in the phone book, and it takes less than a minute, and the key is not to interrupt the process, otherwise some of the numbers may remain damaged.

Open the Contacts app (the icon with the silhouette of a person on the home screen). In the upper right corner, click three dots. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-The system will automatically scan the map and show the number of contacts available:

• 📱 Device – contacts will only be stored in the phone’s memory (risk of loss when resetting).
• ☁️ Google – synced with the cloud (the most reliable option).
• 🔄 Mi Account – This is a good idea if you are actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem.

After selecting an account, click Import and wait until completed.Caution: If the SIM stores contacts with Cyrillic names, they can show as????.In this case, use Method 3 (through export to VCF).

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

Check the memory balance on your phone (needs at least 5MB)

Turn off the "Do Not Disturb" mode during the transfer

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

-->

Method 2: Transfer through Settings (if there is no Contact icon)

On some Redmi 4X firmware (especially custom ones), the standard Contacts app can be removed or replaced with Google Contacts, in which case the import is done through system settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Contacts → Storage.
2. Click Import/Export → Import from SIM-card.
3. Select your target account (we recommend Google for backup).
4. Confirm the import and wait for the notification of success.

If the menu does not include the item "Import / Export", then your firmware uses an alternative launcher (for example, POCO Launcher).

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware for Redmi 4X (LineageOS 14.1) does not support imports from the SIM In this case, use Method 4 (Annex) SIM Card Contacts).

Method 3: Export to a VCF file (for backup)

This method is suitable if you want to back up your contacts in front of a penos or if the phone doesn’t display names in Cyrillic correctly.VCF (vCard) is a universal format that can be imported into any smartphone.

Instructions:

1. Install the SIM Card application from Google Play (Simple Mobile Tools developer).
2. Start it and select Contact Export → VCF format.
3. Specify the folder to save (for example, Downloads).
4. Open the contacts.vcf file through the standard Contacts app and confirm the import.

The advantage of this method is the ability to edit contacts before import (for example, fix name transliteration), and the VCF file can be sent to mail or saved to the cloud.

Standard import through “Contacts”

Exports to VCF followed by imports

Google Play apps (such as SIM Card)

Manual input (copying numbers)

Another way.-->

Method 4: Applications for SIM (if the phone can’t see contacts)

If you're Redmi. 4X does not display contacts with SIM-maps in the standard interface, the problem may be hidden in the:

• 🔌 A faulty slot. SIM (especially relevant to slots SIM2, often used in memory cards).
• 🛠️ Damaged module firmware RIL (liaison SIM).
• 📵 An outdated standard SIM (Mini-SIM cards may not be read correctly).

In these cases, SIM Card Contacts (the developer of WJK Apps) can help, bypassing the limitations of MIUI and allowing:

• 🔍 View contacts even if they are not displayed in the standard phone book.
• 📤 Export them to VCF, Excel or TXT.
• 🔄 Sync with Google Contacts to bypass system constraints.

Important: Before using third-party apps, check their permissions. Legitimate programs (like SIM Card Contacts) only request access to Contacts and Warehouse. If the application requires access to SMS or Calls, this is a reason to be wary.

💡

If after importing in contacts appeared duplicates, use the built-in function of the merger in the MIUI: Open "Contacts» → ⋮ → «Contact management» → «Combine the takes».

Method 5: Transfer over ADB (for advanced users)

This method is suitable if:

• 🔧 You have custom firmware installed without import support from SIM.
• 📱 Phone doesn't recognize. SIM-The map, but it works on other devices.
• 💻 You are ready to use the computer and command line.

Procedure:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on Redmi 4X USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on version, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/simcontacts --projection display_name:number This will give you a list of contacts with SIM. To export them to a file, use: adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/simcontacts > contacts.txt
4. Edit the resulting contacts.txt file (remove service characters) and import through Google Contacts.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They require a superuser's rights on some firmware. If you get a permission denied error, it's your version. MIUI block access SIM through ADB. In this case, only reflashing with an unlocked loader will help.

What to do after transfer: cleaning and optimization

After successfully importing contacts, follow these steps to avoid problems in the future:

1. Check duplicates: In MIUI, duplicate contacts can appear if you imported them from both SIM and Google. Use the Combine Doubles feature in the Contact Management menu.
2. Set up sync: Go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync and turn it on. This will protect your numbers when you reset your phone.
3. Clean it up. SIM-If the contact is no longer needed SIM, delete them through contact → Management → Remove from SIM. This will make room for new rooms.
4. Check the encoding: Open a few contacts with Russian names - if instead of letters, the signs????, repeat the import through VCF (Method 3).

We also recommend installing Contacts Optimizer (a developer of Simple Mobile Tools) to automatically clean your phone book of empty fields and incorrect characters, especially for Redmi 4X, where MIUI 8/9 features often leave “junk” after import.

💡

After you move your contacts, make sure they are linked to a Google or Mi Account – this is the only way you can guarantee to save them if your phone breaks or your settings are reset.

FAQ: Frequent Problems and Solutions