How to transfer contacts from SIM-card to Xiaomi Redmi 10: all ways

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi Redmi 10 cards are a challenge that many users face after buying a new smartphone or changing operators. Despite the apparent simplicity, the process can cause difficulties: from lack of visibility SIM-In this article, we'll look at all the current modes of transfer, from standard tools. MIUI to workarounds for problem cases.

Feature of Redmi 10 (model 2021/2022, Redmi 10 2022, Redmi 10C/10A) is MIUI, Where the path to importing contacts may be different from other Android devices, we'll take into account all the nuances of the limitations of the Internet. SIM-maps (e.g. only 200 If you've tried to move contacts before and you've got an error like "Import failed" or "Contacts not found" here, you'll find solutions.

This article will be useful for those who are planning to back up contacts before resetting their phone, and those who want to sync them with Mi Account or Google, all of which are tested on MIUI 12.5-14 firmware (Android 11-13).

Preparation for transfer: what to check before import

Before you start transferring, make sure your SIM-The card and the phone are ready for the procedure, and skipping these steps often leads to errors like, "No contact at all." SIM" or "I couldn't read the map".

Key points:

  • 📱 Check the model. SIM-Redmi 10 supports nano-SIM (4FF). If you have a micro-SIM (3FF) standard SIM, You'll need a cropping or an adapter. Put the card in Slot 1, which is more stable for reading contacts.
  • 🔍 Activate the display SIM-contact: default MIUI You might be hiding them in the list. → ☰ (menu) → Settings → Display contacts and enable the option "SIM-map".
  • 🔋 Battery charge: the import process can take up to 5 minutes (at 500)+ Make sure the charge is at least 30% to avoid interruption.
  • 📶 Network operator: some SIM-cards (such as MTS or Beeline) block the reading of contacts without an active network signal.

If you use two of them SIM-Dual-SIM cards, import is only possible from the one installed in Slot 1. To transfer contacts from the second card, temporarily change their places.

⚠️ Attention: Contacts to SIM-The card is stored in vCard 2.1 format and has a limit on the number of characters in a single field (for example, no more than 30 characters in a name).If your contacts contain long entries (for example, notes with addresses), they can be cropped when imported. We recommend pre-exporting them to PC via another phone.

📊 What? SIM-You are using the card in Redmi 10?
Nano-SIM (4FF)
Micro-SIM (3FF)
Standard SIM.
I don't know.

Method 1: Standard import via the Contacts menu

The easiest way is to use the built-in function. MIUI. It is suitable for most users if SIM-The card is correctly determined by the system.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
  2. Press three horizontal lines (☰) top-left → Select Contact Management.
  3. Go to Import/Export Contacts → Import from SIM-card.
  4. Select SIM1 or SIM2 (depending on the slot) and the system will display the number of contacts available.
  5. Tick the necessary contacts (or click Select All) → Import.
  6. Specify the target storage: 📱 Device – contacts will be stored in the phone’s memory (without synchronization). ☁️ Google – account login (synchronized with the cloud). 🔄 Mi Account – synchronization with Xiaomi account.

Confirm the import and wait until the completion (the progress indicator will appear at the top of the screen).

If the button Import with SIM-The card is inactive or absent, which means that:

  • SIM-The card is not recognized (check the slot or restart the phone).
  • There are no saved contacts on the card (outdated SIMs can reset data).
  • Activated mode "Only 4G/5G" in the network settings (switch to "3G/2G" temporarily).

Check visibility. SIM-maps in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks

Make sure that contacts are displayed in the list (menu) ☰ → Settings → Display contacts)

Choose the right slot (SIM1 or SIM2)

Battery charge of at least 30%

Turn it off. VPN (may block access to SIM-data)-->

3. Method 2: Import via the “Settings of the Phone”

An alternative way is to use Redmi 10 system settings, which is useful if the Contacts app is unstable or not on the menu.

Algorithm of action:

  1. Open Settings → scroll to the App section.
  2. Select Contacts → Import/Export of contacts.
  3. Press Import with SIM-Follow the instructions (similar to Method 1).

In some versions of MIUI, the path may be different:

Settings → Memory → Additional → Import of contacts

If the section is missing, update the Contacts app via Google Play or Mi App Store.

Advantages of the method:

  • 🔄 It works even if the Contact icon is hidden or removed from the main screen.
  • 🛠️ Allows you to select the import format (for example, VCF export).

⚠️ Note: When importing through Settings, the default contacts are saved to your phone’s local memory, not your Google account.To avoid data loss when reset, sync them manually after importing: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.

Method 3: Transfer through a VCF file (for power users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to damage) SIM-You can export contacts to a.vcf file via another phone and then import it to Redmi 10.

Instructions:

  1. Exports from old phone: Insert SIM-card to another smartphone (such as Samsung or iPhone) Export contacts to contacts.vcf (via the Contacts menu) → Settings → Move the file to Redmi 10 via Bluetooth, Telegram or cable USB.

Imports to Redmi 10:

  • Open the Contacts app → ☰ → Contact management.
  • Select Import/Export → Import from.vcf.
  • Specify the path to the file (e.g. Downloads/contacts.vcf) and confirm the import.

Advantages of the method:

  • ☁️ Automatic backup to the cloud.
  • 🔄 Synchronization between devices (for example, with Redmi 10 on a tablet).
  • 🔍 Recovery of contacts after resetting or breaking the phone.

⚠️ Note: If you previously synced contacts with another Google account, new data may overwrite old data. Before importing, check the contents of your account on contacts.google.com and back up if necessary.

What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
If the sync process is not completed (the indicator rotates for more than 30 minutes), follow the following steps: 1. Turn off and turn on sync again in your account settings. 2. Check your Internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data). 3. Clear the app cache Contacts: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Memory. → Clear the cache. 4. Reboot the phone and try again.

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

If embedded tools MIUI They do not work (for example, they cannot be seen). SIM-Contacts or import failures, third-party applications will come to the rescue:

Top.-3 contact-transfer applications:

  • 📱 Copy My Data (Transfer Media & Contacts) - Wi-Fi transfer between devices. SIM-Maps and local contacts.
  • 🔄 Super Backup & Restore – Backup of contacts in the format XML or VCF post-reconstruction.
  • ☁️ My Contacts Backup – Export contacts to file and send them to email.