How to transfer numbers from SIM-Xiaomi phone cards: all ways 2026

The switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone is always exciting, especially when it comes to keeping your contacts safe. SIM-But modern Redmi, Poco, or Black Shark devices offer much more convenient tools for managing contacts, from synchronizing with a Google Account to cloud services Mi Cloud.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to transfer numbers from SIM You will learn how to avoid duplicate contacts, why some numbers may not be imported, and what to do if the phone can not see SIM-And then there's a unique life hack for device owners. MIUI 14+ Quick transfer function that saves up to 70% of the time.

Why you should not keep contacts on SIM-map

SIM-Cards were the primary storage of phone numbers in the age of button phones, but today this method is outdated for several reasons:

• 🔹 Limited volume: standard SIM It only holds 200-250 contacts, while the Xiaomi phone book supports tens of thousands of records.
• 🔹 No field: on SIM You can’t save email, address or photo of the contact – only name and number.
• 🔹 Risk of loss: if the card is damaged (for example, after falling into water), all numbers will be lost without the possibility of recovery.
• 🔹 No synchronization: Contacts for SIM Not synced with clouds or other devices.

Moreover, modern Xiaomi (starting with MIUI 12) by default hide the import option with SIM in the main contact menu, it has to be searched in the depths of settings, we will show you where.

Method 1: Standard import through the Contacts app

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (or Contacts on global firmware), which works on all Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 12, Poco X5 and Black Shark 5:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Import/Export Contacts section.
4. Select Import with SIM-map.
5. Check the necessary contacts (or click Select All) and confirm the import.

Import: If the option Import from SIM-card is not in the menu, check:

• 📱 Whether inserted SIM-slot-card SIM1 (Some Xiaomi models don’t see contacts in the second slot).
• 🔄 Is the firmware updated to the latest version (in) MIUI 14 Way to Settings Has Changed).
• 🛠️ Is access to contacts for the Contacts app disabled in Settings → Annexes → Permits.

Method 2: Transfer through Google Account (for synchronization)

If you plan to use Google Contacts as your primary storage, you can import SIM numbers into your phone first and then sync them to your account.This method is suitable for Xiaomi owners on Global ROM:

1. First, import contacts with SIM according to the instructions from Method 1.
2. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
3. Turn on the contact sync switch.
4. Wait until the process is complete (it can take up to 5 minutes with a large number of records).

The advantage of this method is that contacts will be automatically accessible on all devices where you sign in to the same Google Account (including tablets and computers via contacts.google.com).

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If contacts double after synchronization, use the Google Contacts merge tool: go to the site, select Duplicates from the menu on the left and click Combine All.

Method 3: Using Mi Cloud to Backup

For users with Chinese firmware (China ROM) or those who prefer the Xiaomi ecosystem, the best solution is Mi Cloud, which not only saves contacts, but also reserves SMS, photos and notes.

1. Import SIM contacts to your phone (see Method 1).
2. Open your Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud
3. Activate synchronization for the Contacts section.
4. Click Sync Now and wait until it is completed.

Mi Cloud only saves 5 GB of data for free by default. If you have thousands of contacts with photos, you may need to expand storage (from 100 rubles / month).

Method 4: Rapid transfer through the Cloning function (MIUI 14+)

Exclusive method for Xiaomi owners on MIUI 14 and newer: Quick Portability allows you to copy contacts (including SIM) to a new device without manual import.This works even when switching from Android to Xiaomi or between brand models:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → About Phone → App Cloning (or Data Migration on some firmware).
2. Select Send Data and enter Contacts in the list of transmitted information.
3. On the new Xiaomi, select Get Data and Scan QR-screencode.
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until the completion (contacts with SIM will be automatically imported into the phone book).

This is the fastest way to transfer data, taking 1-2 minutes, and all data (including photos of contacts) remain structured.

• 📶 A stable Wi-Fi connection (or mobile internet on both devices).
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 30% on both phones.
• 📱 MIUI 14+ on the receiving device (check in Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI).

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The Cloning feature in MIUI 14+ is the only way to transfer contacts from SIM to Xiaomi without pre-import manually.

Method 5: Manual export/import via VCF file

For advanced users who want to have a backup of contacts in a file, the.vcf (vCard) export method is suitable.

1. Import SIM contacts to your phone (see Method 1).
2. Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to file.
3. Select a save location (e.g., Internal Memory → Download) and confirm.
4. Transfer the.vcf file to a new phone (e.g. via Bluetooth, email, or cloud).
5. On the new device, import the file through Contacts → Settings → Import from the file.

Advantages of this method:

• 📁 The.vcf file can be opened on any device (including an iPhone or computer).
• 🔄 Ability to manually edit contacts before importing (e.g., delete unnecessary numbers).
• 🔒 Reliable backup – the file can be stored on a flash drive or in the cloud.

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If, on importation, VCF-If the file is in an error "Impermissible format", try to open the file on the PC via Excel: contacts will be saved as a table that can be edited and re-exported to the PC. VCF via online converters.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, Xiaomi users have difficulty transferring contacts, and we will discuss common errors and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If after importing the contacts are displayed in hieroglyphics, the problem is encoding. SIM-Solution: export contacts to VCF-File (Method 5) and import it back – this normalizes the encoding.

If none of these methods worked, check:

• 📋 Format SIM-cards: older Mini-SIMs may not support the storage of contacts. Try moving the card to another phone and exporting contacts from there.
• 🛡️ Operator blocking: some mobile operators (e.g. Tele2) block access to contacts on the Internet SIM. The solution - to contact the salon of communication.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with HyperOS (new firmware after the MIUI) The way to import contacts has changed: Contacts → Profile → Settings → Contact management → Import/Export: Not to be confused with the classic menu!

FAQ: Answers to popular questions