How to transfer phone numbers to SIM-Map in Android-smartphones Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Transferring contacts from phone to phone SIM-The map in Xiaomi devices is often a headache for users. Despite the apparent simplicity of the operation, standard tools are used to create a new card. MIUI It's not always intuitive, and some features are hidden in the depths of the menu, and this is especially true when you switch to a new phone, reset your settings, or use two different options. SIM-Maps, when you need to quickly sync numbers without linking to a Google account.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to export contacts to the SIM in Redmi smartphones, POCO And Mi, from official methods to workarounds for older versions of Android, you'll learn why some numbers don't carry over, how to get around character limits on recordings. SIM, And what if the phone doesn't see the contacts after the import, we'll focus on the nuances of the work with the phone. MIUI 12/13/14, where the contact transfer interface has undergone significant changes.

Why does standard SIM transfer work in Xiaomi?

Many users are faced with a situation where the contact menu simply does not have the option of exporting to the user. SIM-The reasons for this lie in Xiaomi policy and the features of Android:

• 📱 Limitations MIUI: Starting with MIUI 12, the company removed the direct export button in the interface, leaving it only in the hidden menu.
• 🔄 Mi Account Sync: By default, contacts are tied to Xiaomi’s cloud account, not to Xiaomi’s SIM-map.
• 📇 Storage format: Modern smartphones store contacts in format VCF (vCard, which is incompatible with an outdated format SIM.
• 🚫 Operator restrictions: Some SIM-Cards (especially virtual eSIMs) do not support the storage of contacts.

Besides, SIM-Cards have strict restrictions: the maximum length of a single contact is 140 characters (including number and name), and the total number of records rarely exceeds 250, which means that long names, additional fields (email, address) or notes simply will not carry over.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Dual SIM In Xiaomi, make sure you choose the right slot to export. A mistake in choosing a slot will lead to data loss on the wrong one. SIM-map!

Method 1: Standard export via contact menu (MIUI 14 and later)

In the latest versions of MIUI, the contact transfer function is hidden, but still available.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the Import/Export Contacts section.
4. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
5. Tick the necessary contacts or click Select all.
6. Click Export and confirm your choice SIM-cards (if two of them).

The process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute depending on the number of contacts, and after completion, a notification will appear with the number of successfully transferred records.

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

Check the space available on SIM (maximum 250 contacts)

Disable sync with Mi Account to avoid conflicts

Close all background applications for stable operation-->

If the export items SIM-The map is not on the menu, so your version is not on the menu. MIUI It uses an alternative path. Try method 2.

Method 2: Alternative path through settings (for MIUI 12–13)

In MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, the path to the port function has changed, and here's how to find it in these firmwares:

1. Open the phone settings.
2. Go to the Appendix section → Application management.
3. Find the contact list and tap on it.
4. Choose Warehouse.
5. At the bottom of the screen will appear the button Import / Export contacts – click it.
6. Follow the standard export procedure on SIM.

This method works even if the Contacts option is not available in the application itself. If the function is not available here, the reason may be:

• 🔐 Operator restrictions: Some SIM-Cards (for example, from virtual operators) block the recording of contacts.
• 📵 Damaged. SIM: Physical defects of the card may prevent the recording.
• 🛠️ Castom firmware: Unofficial versions MIUI frequently remove this function.

MIUI 14

MIUI 13

MIUI 12

Older version (MIUI 11 or lower)

I don't know.-->

Method 3: Transfer via VCF file (for any version of Android)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use a workaround by exporting contacts to a.vcf file and then importing them to SIM. This method is universal and suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 and Mi 11.

Step 1: Export contacts to VCF file

1. Open Contacts. → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export to File (or Export to Storage).
3. Check the contacts and confirm the export. The file will be saved in the Internal Storage/MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.

Step 2: Import VCF to SIM via a third-party application

Unfortunately, standard Android tools don’t know how to import VCF directly to SIM. This will require the Sim Contacts Backup app (available on Google Play):

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Select Import from VCF and specify the path to the exported file.
3. Press Export to SIM and confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: Applications for working with SIM-Contacts often request access to SMS and call logs, deny unnecessary permissions to avoid data leakage!

Method 4: Transfer through Google Contacts (if SIM does not support recording)

If you SIM-The card does not allow you to record contacts (for example, eSIM or cards of some virtual operators), you can use Google Contacts as an intermediary storage. MIUI Global and linked Google account.

Instructions:

1. Open Contacts. → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export to Google (or Sync with Google).
3. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync).
4. Put the target in. SIM-card to another phone (for example, an old Nokia or Samsung with support for recording on the phone) SIM).
5. On the second phone, import contacts from Google to SIM via the standard menu.

This method requires an additional device, but it is guaranteed to work even with "non-recordable" SIMs. The alternative is to use Bluetooth to transfer contacts to a supported phone.

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If you don't have a second phone, you can use the services of communication salons. Many operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) transfer contacts between the two for free. SIM-cards upon presentation of the passport.

Method 5: Manual copying through an engineering menu (for power users)

For advanced users willing to work with ADB or engineering menus, there is a method of forced export of contacts, which is risky and requires caution, but can save in situations where other methods do not work.

Step 1: Enable debugging over USB

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging on USB.

Step 2: Use it ADB-export

Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools and execute the command:

adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/contacts --where "display_name NOTNULL" --projection display_name:phone_number

This command will display a list of contacts. Exporting to SIM will require an additional script or application like SIM Card Manager (available on XDA Developers).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This method is recommended only for users with experience with development tools!

Solving common problems when transferring contacts

Even following the instructions, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

• 🔍 Not all contacts have been moved: SIM-cards do not support fields other than name and number.
• 📵 The phone doesn't see any contacts on SIM: Restart the device or check it out. SIM Maybe the card's damaged.
• ❌ Mistake "failed to export": Make room for SIM (Remove old contacts or try exporting in smaller batches (50 contacts each).
• 🔄 Contacts duplicate: Clear before export SIM from old records through contact → SIM-map → Delete everything.

If the problem persists, check:

• 📋 Room format: Make sure the numbers are kept in an international format (e.g, +79123456789, not 89123456789).
• 🛡️ Application permissions: Give Contacts access to storage and SIM-map in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: Outdated firmware versions may contain bugs. Check for updates in Settings → Updating the system.

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Before transferring contacts, always back up your contacts via Mi Cloud or Google Drive, which will allow you to recover data in the event of a crash.

FAQ: Frequent questions about moving contacts to SIM in Xiaomi