How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi Mi phone to SIM-map: full guide

Transfer contacts from the smartphone Xiaomi Mi to SIM-You may need a card in a variety of situations, such as buying a new phone, resetting your settings, or wanting to back up important numbers, even though modern cloud services like Mi Cloud or Google Contacts offer more convenient synchronization options, SIM-The card remains a reliable physical carrier that does not require Internet access and works on even the simplest phones.

In this article, we will discuss three working methods for transferring contacts with Xiaomi Mi (including Mi models). 11, Mi 10T, POCO X3 and others on the base MIUI 14/15) on SIM-We'll also show you how to avoid common mistakes, and we'll focus on the limitations of the map. SIM-cards (for example, limit on the number of saved numbers) and compatibility with different operators (MTS, Beeline, Television)2, MegaFon).

Why? SIM-The card is not the best, but sometimes necessary option

Before proceeding to the instructions, it is worth honestly assessing the pros and cons of storing contacts on the Internet. SIM-This method is inferior to cloud solutions in a number of parameters:

• 📌 Limited number of records: most SIM-cards are supported by no more than 250-500 contacts (depending on the operator).
• 📱 No field: on SIM You can save only your name and number, without email, addresses or notes.
• ⚡ Slow access: Reading contacts with SIM It takes longer than the memory of the phone.
• 🔄 Problems with synchronization: changes to SIM not automatically displayed on other accounts (e.g. Google Contacts).

However, there are situations where the transfer to SIM-card:

• 🔄 Transferring to a new phone without internet access (for example, roaming).
• 📱 Using a second phone without Mi Account or Google.
• 💾 Backup “just in case” (e.g. before traveling abroad).

If your goal is just backup, consider exporting contacts to a.vcf file or syncing to Mi Cloud, but if you want to migrate to SIM, read on.

Method 1: Standard export through “Contacts” (MIUI 14/15)

The easiest method is to use Xiaomi’s built-in Contacts app, which works on all Mi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO s MIUI 12 and newer. The main condition is yours. SIM-The card must be inserted into the phone and recognized by the system.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Contacts app (a human silhouette icon).
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Contact Management".
3. Go to the section "Import / Export contacts".
4. Select "Export to" SIM-map".
5. Check the contacts you want to transfer (or click "Select All") and confirm the export.

The process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the number of contacts, and once completed, you will see a notification of successful export.

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

Check the free space on SIM (via ##4636##)

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

Connect your phone to charge (in case of a long process)

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⚠️ Note: If you have duality SIM-The system will suggest choosing which one to export contacts to. note that some Xiaomi models (for example, Mi 11 Lite) support export only to the same destination. SIM first-slot.

Method 2: Transfer through phone settings (alternative method)

If for some reason the standard export through Contacts does not work (for example, due to MIUI glitches), you can use an alternative way through system settings.

How to do this:

1. Open Settings and go to the Applications → Application Management section.
2. Find the "Contacts" list and tap it.
3. Select "Storage", then "Space Management".
4. In the menu that opens, find the “Export Contacts” option and follow the system’s prompts.

This path is a little longer, but it sometimes helps if the main Contacts menu doesn't display the export option, and you can see how much space the contacts take up on the phone's internal memory.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Mi 11 Global), the Contact Space Management section may not be available in the settings. In this case, go back to Method 1 or use Method 3.

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

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, you can use third-party apps from Google Play, such as "Copy to SIM Card" or "SIM Contacts Manager." These utilities offer advanced features such as:

• 🔍 Filtration of contacts by groups or alphabet.
• 📤 Package exports/imports.
• 📊 View of the occupied seat on SIM.
• 🔄 Automatic backup.

How to transfer contacts using the "Copy to SIM Card":

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to contacts and storage.
3. Select contacts for export (you can use search or filters).
4. Click on “Copy to SIM” and wait for the process to be completed.

The advantage of this method is flexibility, for example, you can only export contacts with a specific letter or those that have been added in the past month, but beware: some applications may contain advertising or request unnecessary permissions.

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Before installing third-party software, check reviews and rankings on Google Play. Apps with a score below 4.0 stars and less than 10,000 downloads are best bypassed.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Transfer of contacts to SIM-The map seems like a simple operation, but Xiaomi users often face problems:

1. Mistake "SIM-card does not support the operation"

This error occurs if:

• 📱 SIM-The card is not inserted or inserted incorrectly (check the slot).
• 🔄 SIM locked with a PIN code (unlock it in the settings).
• 📶 SIM damaged or too old (try another card).
• 📱 The phone doesn't support recording on SIM (relevant to some models POCO Android Go).

2. contacts are not fully exported

If only a part of the numbers has been moved, check:

• 📌 Limit SIM-maps: there may be no space on the map (remove old contacts).
• 📱 Number format: SIM-The cards do not support special symbols (+, -, Before export, edit the numbers, leaving only the numbers.
• 🔍 Filters: Some firmwares only export contacts with phone numbers by default (no email).

3. After the transfer, the contacts are not displayed on another SIM-map

This may be due to:

• 📱 Format incompatibility: some operators (e.g. Tele2) use unique storage standards.
• 🔄 Reading errors: Try restarting your phone or retrieving/pasting SIM freshly.
• 📶 Problems with firmware: on custom ROM (For example, LineageOS may not support the work with SIM-contact.

How to check if your contacts are successfully transferred to SIM

After export, it is important to make sure that the data is actually recorded on the SIM-There are two ways to do this:

Method 1: Viewing through Contact Settings

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Slip on the three-point menu (⋮) and select "Settings".
3. Go to "Show Contacts" and turn on the option "SIM-map".
4. Return to the main contact list – now you will see all the numbers saved on the SIM (they are usually marked with a special icon).

Method 2: Checking through the Engineering Menu

For advanced users, there is a way to check the number of contacts on the SIM through the hidden menu:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636##.
2. Go to the "Phone Information" section.
3. Scroll down to the block "SIM-Map – the number of recorded contacts will be indicated.

If neither method shows contacts, repeat export or try another. SIM-map.

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Always back up your contacts to.vcf before exporting to SIM, which will allow you to recover your data if something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)