How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi Redmi 8/8T/Note 8: 3 proven ways

Why it is better to keep your contacts on your phone instead of on your phone SIM-map

SIM cards are convenient for fast transfer of numbers between devices, but they have critical limitations. First, the memory capacity on SIM usually does not exceed 250-500 contacts, and without the ability to store additional information (email, addresses, birthdays). Second, Xiaomi Redmi 8/8T/Note 8 does not support editing contacts directly to SIM - they can only be viewed or copied. Finally, if the card is lost or damaged, all numbers will be lost without the possibility of recovery.

Moving contacts to the phone solves these problems: you get unlimited storage, cloud sync, backup, and easy search, and MIUI automatically links contacts to Google or Mi accounts, making it easier to restore them when you change your device, but how exactly to move data without loss? Let's look at all the current ways.

⚠️ Important: Before starting the procedure, make sure that SIM-The card is correctly inserted into the Slot tray 1 (main slot - Redmi 8/8T/Note 8 You may not be able to read the Slot contacts. 2 (hybrid slot SIM microSD).

Method 1: Standard import via MIUI settings

The most reliable method, which does not require third-party applications. 8 (olive), Redmi 8T (willow and Redmi Note 8 (Ginkgo on any version MIUI (including MIUI 12/13/14). The instructions are relevant for custom firmware based on Android 9–12.

Algorithm of action:

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
2. Slip along three horizontal lines (☰) top-left → Select Contact Management.
3. Go to Import/Export Contacts → Import from SIM-card.
4. Check the necessary contacts (or click Select All) → confirm the import.
5. Specify your target account to save: Device (locally) or Google/Mi Account (for sync).

✅ Pros of the method: does not require the Internet, works on any version MIUI, Preserves the formatting of names (for example, "+7 (XXX) XXX-XX-XX").

❌ Cons: If the contacts are more than 200, the process can take 2-3 minutes (don’t interrupt it!).

Check the balance. SIM-cards (some operators block access to contacts with zero balance)

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

Connect your phone to charge (with a lot of data)

Make sure your phone has enough memory (at least 50MB free)

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Method 2: Export through Google Account (for backup)

This is a good method for not only migrating contacts to your phone, but also syncing them to the cloud, especially for users who change devices frequently or fear data loss, and you’ll need an active Google account (if you don’t have one, create one in advance).

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account (or add a new one) → turn on the Contacts slider.
3. Return to the Contact Appendix»** → ☰ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.

🔍 How to check if syncs are successful? Go to contacts.google.com from a computer or other device - all contacts should be displayed there.

1) Internet connection (better to use Wi-Fi)

2) Date and time on the phone (incorrect settings block synchronization)

(3) Permissions for the Contacts app (Settings → Applications → Contacts → Permissions)

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⚠️ Note: When importing contacts with Google SIM This may be duplicated if you have already synced them with another account before importing, and to avoid this, do the Cleanup of Duplicates in the Google Contact settings before importing.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work (for example, because of a damaged SIM or outdated firmware), you can use third-party utilities. We tested 3 applications that are compatible with Redmi 8/8T/Note 8:

📌 Recommendation: For Redmi 8/8T/Note 8 The best choice will be SIM Card Contacts – it works well with the MIUI It supports Russian characters. Download it from the Play Market and follow the instructions:

1. Launch the application → give access to contacts and SIM-card.
2. Select Import from SIM → select the necessary contacts.
3. Specify the save format: Phone Storage (locally) or Google Account.
4. Confirm the import and wait for the notification of success.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following the instructions, Redmi 8/8T/Note 8 users face typical problems.

• 🔄 Contacts are not fully imported: Check if the memory limit is exceeded SIM (Typical 250 contacts. Break up imports into 100-150 contacts.
• 📵 The phone can't see. SIM-Card: Clean the slot contacts with a soft brush (dust or oxidation may disrupt the connection). SIM in settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks).
• 🔍 Contact names are displayed in characters: This is an encoding error. Before importing, change the regional settings of the phone to Russian or English (USA).
• ⚡ The process is stuck in the copying phase: Close all background apps and try again. If it doesn't work, restart your phone and use another method (e.g. Google sync).

Critical information: On the Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia model), when importing contacts through the MIUI settings, there may be an error “Insufficient memory”, even if the phone is free of more than 1 GB. In this case, be sure to use Method 2 (Google account) or third-party applications.

Standard import through MIUI

Synchronization with Google

Part of the annex (specify which in the comments)

Manual input

I couldn't stand contacts.

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How to check the success of the transfer

After importing, it is important to make sure that all contacts are copied correctly. Here are 4 steps to check:

1. View in the Contacts app: Open the contact list and scroll through it to the end – if there are fewer contacts than on the SIM, repeat the import.
2. Search by name: Enter a rare name or number in the search bar – if the contact is not found, it has not been copied.
3. Check through Google Contacts: Go to contacts.google.com and compare the number of contacts you have with your phone.
4. Test call: Try calling one of the imported numbers - if the call passes, the data is transferred correctly.

⚠️ Note: If you imported contacts into the Device (locally), they will not be available after the phone is reset to factory settings. To avoid loss, export them to the file VCF:

Settings → System → Backup → Local Backup → Contacts

Additional tips for managing contacts on Xiaomi

To optimize your phone book experience on Redmi 8/8T/Note 8, use these tips:

• 📊 Contact Grouping: Contacts** create groups (e.g. Work, Family) for quick access. → Change. → Groups.

💡 Useful Lifehack: If you frequently call abroad, in your contact settings (☰ → Settings → Number format) select International. This automatically adds the country prefix (+7, +1, etc.) when recruiting.

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Always import contacts into your Google account, not just your device, and this will protect you from data loss when your phone is stolen, broken or dumped.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions