How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi Redmi 9A: all ways of 2026

Maintaining contacts SIM-The map is a relic of the past that is still relevant for many users, and the issue of data transfer is especially acute when buying a new smartphone, for example, Xiaomi Redmi. 9A. This budget device, despite its modest features, supports all modern ways of migrating contacts, but each method has nuances. SIM? First, the limitation of the 250-500 Second, there are no email fields, addresses and photos, and third, the risk of data loss if the card is damaged.

In this article, we will discuss 3 reliable ways to transfer contacts with the SIM on the Redmi 9A: through standard phone settings, Google Contacts and through export/import VCF-We'll focus on common errors, like why some numbers might not be copied or duplicated, and we'll also learn how to automate backups so you never lose important contacts again.

If you have just purchased Xiaomi Redmi 9A or you're planning to change SIM-This guide will save you hours of manual numbering. MIUI 12/13/14 (For convenience, we have added screenshots of the interface and video instructions at the end of the article.

Preparation for transfer: what to do before the start

Before you start copying contacts, follow a few mandatory steps to avoid data loss or failures in the process.

1. Check the space available on your phone. Although contacts are memory-consuming, it can take up to 50-100 MB to back up (if you export them to a file). Go to Settings → About Phone → Storage and make sure there is at least 200 MB of free space on your internal memory.

2. Update the Contacts app. Older versions of MIUI had import/export bugs. Open the Google Play Store, find the Contacts app (from Xiaomi) and update it if a new version is available.

3. Connect to stable Wi-Fi. If you plan to sync your contacts with a Google Account, a weak mobile internet may interrupt the process.

4. Check. SIM-You can insert it into another phone and make sure that all contacts are displayed correctly. SIM-Cards (especially Mini-SIM) may have damaged memory sectors, which is why some numbers are not readable.

Checked free space on the phone|Updated annex “Contacts"|Stable Wi-Fi connected|SIM-The card was tested on another device|Backup of contacts (optional)-->

⚠️ Attention: If yours SIM-The card is issued before 2010, it can only support 9-digit numbers (without the country code). 9A numbers will remain without prefix +7 or 8, which then leads to problems with outgoing calls, so the solution is to manually edit the format of the numbers after the transfer.

Method 1: Standard import via phone settings

The simplest method, which does not require additional applications, is suitable for transferring contacts to the internal memory of the phone or directly to Google Account.

Step 1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).

Step 2. Slip on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner and select Contact Management.

Step 3. In the window that opens, click Import/Export contacts → Import with SIM-map.

Step 4: Choose where to keep your contacts:

• 📱 Device – Contacts will only be stored on the phone (internal memory).
• ☁️ Google – Contacts sync to your account and will be available on all devices.

Step 5: Tick the contacts you want (or click Allow) and confirm the import with the OK button.

Step 6: Wait until the process is complete, and a notification will appear on the screen with the number of successfully imported contacts.

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If some contacts are duplicated after import, go to Contact Management → Combine contacts and follow the system’s prompts.

⚠️ Note: If you choose to save to your device instead of Google, your contacts will be linked to your phone, you will have to reset or change your device, and you should use the Google option even if you don’t have any other Android devices.

Method 2: Sync with Google Account

This method is suitable for those who already use Google services or plan to switch to other Android devices in the future, the main advantage is automatic backup and access to contacts from any gadget.

Step 1. Make sure your phone has added a Google Account. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. If you don’t have an account, click Add Account and follow the instructions.

Step 2. Return to Contacts, open the menu (three lines) and select Contact Management → Import/Export of contacts → Import with SIM-map.

Step 3: When selecting a save location, select Google (instead of Device).

Step 4: After importing, activate automatic synchronization:

Settings → Accounts and sync → Google → [your email] → Sync contacts (enable)

Step 5: To check that contacts have been successfully uploaded to the cloud, open contacts.google.com and log in to the same account.

Important: If you use two-factor authentication on Google, make sure you have backup codes or access to a trusted device before transferring contacts. Otherwise, if you reset your phone, you may lose access to your account and contacts.

Method 3: Export/import through VCF-file

This method is universal and works even on custom firmware phones, allowing you to back up contacts in VCF format (virtual business card) that can then be imported to any smartphone, including iPhones or iOS devices.

Step 1. Export contacts with SIM-file-card:

1. Open Contacts → Contact Management → Import / Export → Export to Storage.
2. Choose. SIM-map as a source and specify a folder to save (for example, Downloads).
3. Name the file (for example, contacts_backup.vcf) and press Save.

Step 2. Import. VCF-phone-file:

1. Return to Import/Export and select Import from storage.
2. Find the saved file. contacts_backup.vcf and confirm the importation.
3. Select your target account (device or Google).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 You can transfer contacts between different OSes (Android) ↔ iOS).
• 💾 Create a backup copy that can be stored on the cloud or flash drive.
• 📊 All fields (phones, email, addresses, photos) are saved).

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ More action is required than standard importation.
• 📱 Phones with small memory may not have enough space for large VCF-file.

Standard import through settings|Synchronization with Google|Exports/imports through VCF-file|Manual input|Another way.-->

Solving common problems

Even when following the instructions, Xiaomi Redmi 9A users sometimes encounter errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Contacts are imported without names (numbers only).

Reason: On the old SIM-The names are stored in the code that MIUI It doesn't always recognize correctly.

Decision:

1. Try importing contacts to another phone (such as a Samsung or iPhone) and then exporting them to another phone. VCF-file.
2. Use third-party apps like SIM Card (available on Google Play).

Problem 2: Not all contacts have been transferred.

Reason: Limitation SIM-Number of records (usually) 250-500) or damaged sectors of memory.

Decision:

• 🔍 Check the remaining contacts on SIM via another phone.
• 📱 If some numbers are missing, try to transfer them in small batches (on the basis of the number). 50-100 piece).

Problem 3: Duplicate contacts after importation.

Reason: The phone already has previously saved numbers that match the numbers imported.

Decision:

Contacts → Contact Management → Contacts → Automatic Connection

Problem 4: Numbers are saved without a country code (+7 or 8).

Reason: Old SIM-cards store numbers in format 9XXXXXXXXX (prefixed).

Decision:

1. After importing, edit the numbers manually by adding +7.
2. Use the Truecaller app to automatically format numbers.

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If contacts are not displayed in the call list after the transfer, check the display settings: Contacts → Settings → Contacts for display → All contacts.

Automation of contact backup

To never lose contacts again, set up automatic backup. On Xiaomi Redmi 9A, you can do this in two ways:

Method 1: Through Google Account

As mentioned earlier, enable sync in Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google → Sync Contacts. Google Cloud will automatically update your backup each time you add or edit a contact.

Method 2: Through MIUI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If you have a Mi Account, you can use the built-in cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in or create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Enable the option to sync contacts.
4. Click Backup and create a new copy.

Comparison of backup methods:

Additional advice: Once in a while 3-6 For months, export your contacts to VCF-file and save it to Google Drive or flash drive. This insures against data loss when blocking a Google or Xiaomi account.

Video Instructions and Additional Materials

If you’re more comfortable watching than reading, we’ve prepared a step-by-step video with the transfer of contacts to the Xiaomi Redmi 9A. The video shows all three ways, including solving typical errors:

🎥 Watch the video instructions on YouTube

Useful links:

• 🔗 Google Contacts – Managing Contacts in the Browser.
• 🔗 Mi Account – Registration and Recovery of Xiaomi Account.
• 🔗 Contacts app for Xiaomi – Update to latest version.

Recommended applications for working with contacts:

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer