How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T: all ways of 2026

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Smartphone cards are a challenge that every user faces when buying a new device. - Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T, Despite its age (the model was released in 2019), it is still a popular choice thanks to balanced characteristics and support for current versions. MIUI. However, many owners have difficulty trying to import old contacts: the system does not see SIM, synchronization errors or duplicate records.

In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of transferring contacts – from standard tools. MIUI You'll learn how to avoid data loss, why some numbers may not be copied, and what to do if the phone doesn't recognize it. SIM-And also unique life hacks that are not in the official documentation of Xiaomi.

Note: Redmi Note 8T runs on MIUI 12-14 (depending on region and updates), and the algorithm for transferring contacts may vary slightly. If your phone has not been updated for a long time, we recommend that you first check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. This will help to avoid incompatibility with some methods.

1. Standard import via the contact menu

The easiest way is to use the built-in import feature in the Contacts app, which is suitable for most users and does not require additional software.

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Put three points on it (⋮) in the upper right corner and 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 contacts you want to copy.

It takes a few seconds. Once complete, the contacts will appear in the Device (local phone memory) section. Importantly, if you have a microSD card installed, MIUI may suggest saving the contacts to it - opt out to avoid synchronization problems.

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

Check that SIM contacts do not exceed 250 entries (MIUI limit)

Disable VPN or proxy – they can block access to the SIM

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

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If some contacts are not displayed after import, check:

• 📱 Format SIM-maps: Redmi Note 8T It only supports nano-SIM. If you have an old mini-SIM, it needs to be trimmed or replaced.
• 🔍 Hidden contacts: Some records may be labeled as “hidden” – they are only visible in advanced viewing mode.
• 🔄 Reboot: Sometimes it helps to just restart the phone and repeat the import.

2. Transfer through system settings (alternative method)

If the standard method didn’t work, try importing contacts through system settings, which bypasses some of the limitations of the Contacts app and is suitable for MIUI 12 firmware and later.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Import / Export.
2. Select Import with SIM-map.
3. Specify your target storage: Phone memory (don’t choose Google or Mi Account unless you’re planning to sync).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

The advantage of this method is that you can choose contact encoding (UTF-8 or standard). If the names in your phone book contain Cyrillic or special characters, choose UTF-8 to avoid "pretty jabs."

Standard import through the "Contact" appendix"|Through system settings|Synchronization with Google/Mi Account|Manual input|Another option-->

⚠️ Note: If contacts are duplicated after import, check the sync settings in Settings → Accounts: Your contacts may have already been uploaded from Google or Mi Cloud and now there is a overlay of records.

3. Export of SIM contacts to your computer (for backup)

If you're afraid of losing contacts during the transfer, export them to PCs first. SIM-The card is old or damaged:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS
• 📱 Cable USB (Best Original from Xiaomi)
• 🛠️ Programme Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi)

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 8T to your computer and allow debugging over USB (when a request appears on your phone).
3. In the program, go to the Contacts section → Import / Export.
4. Select Export from SIM-card and save the file in.vcf format (business card).

You can open a.vcf file in Excel, Google Contacts, or any text editor, and it's a universal format that all modern smartphones support. If you choose to switch to another phone (like the Redmi Note 12), it can be easily imported.

4. sync with Google Account (for automatic reservation)

If you use Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Play Market), the most reliable way to sync your contacts to your account is not only to transfer them from SIM to your phone, but also to back up in the cloud.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Choose your account (or add a new one if you don’t have one).
3. Activate the Contact Slider.
4. Return to the Contacts app, click ⋮ → Contact management → Import with SIM-Maps, but now choose Google as your target storage.

After that, all contacts will be available on any device where you log in to the same Google account.

• 🔄 Automatic update when changing numbers.
• 🌐 Access from any device, including PC via contacts.google.com).
• 🛡️ Data loss protection (even if your phone breaks down).

⚠️ Note: If you have two-factor authentication on Google, make sure that the phone has the correct time and date set before syncing.

5. Use of third-party applications (for complex cases)

If embedded tools MIUI They do not work (for example, they cannot be seen). SIM-We've tested 3 reliable applications that run on the Redmi Note. 8T:

1. Sim Contacts Backup (free, no ads) 📌 Exports contacts to.vcf and.csv. 🔍 Shows hidden records on SIM. 🚫 Doesn't require root rights.
2. Copy to SIM Card (for retransfer) 🔄 Allows you to edit contacts before copying. 📱 Supports dual-SIM support.

Contacts Optimizer

• 🧹 Remove Repetitive and Empty Recordings.
• 🔧 Optimize the format of numbers (for example, +7 instead of 8).

To speed up the process, use voice input:

• 🎤 Click on the Name or Phone field and select the microphone icon on the keyboard.
• 🗣️ Dictate the data (for example: Ivan Ivanov, mobile, eight nine hundred twenty-three forty-five seven»).
• ✅ The system automatically recognizes and breaks down information by field.

Voice input works best on MIUI 13/14 thanks to improved speech recognition algorithms. If you have an older version, upgrade your firmware or use Gboard for accurate recognition.

7. Problem Solving: Why are contacts not transferred?

Even when following the instructions, Redmi Note 8T users sometimes encounter errors, and consider typical scenarios and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔧 Updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest version.
• 📶 Network operator: sometimes problems with SIM Try moving in the safe zone.
• 🛠️ Resetting: in extreme cases, reset the network settings (Settings) → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings).

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If the contacts on SIM are stored in ADN format (obsolete standard), they cannot be transferred by standard MIUI means. Use third-party applications or contact the operator for a replacement SIM with a new one.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contact transfer