How to copy contacts with SIM to Xiaomi Redmi 10: detailed instructions with pictures

Why it’s important to transfer your SIM contacts to Redmi 10

Transfer of contacts with SIM-Xiaomi Redmi 10 is a challenge that every new owner of the device faces, unlike the old button phones, where the address book was stored exclusively on the phone. SIM, Modern smartphones offer much more convenient ways to manage contacts: synchronize with Google Account, backup to the cloud and integration with instant messengers. SIM-map – due to habit, fear of losing data or simply because of ignorance of alternatives.

The main problem with this approach is limited memory. SIM-cards (usually no more than 250 contacts) and no way to save additional information: email, addresses, birthdays. SIM They are not synchronized between devices, and their loss when the card is damaged becomes irreplaceable. MIUI It offers several ways to transfer contacts, but each of them has nuances - from format limitations to potential errors in importing.

In this article, we will discuss three working methods for copying contacts with SIM on Xiaomi Redmi 10: 1 standard import through phone settings, 2) synchronization with Google Account (for backup), 3) use of third-party applications (for advanced features).

Each method is illustrated with screenshots and is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, taking into account the features of MIUI 12/13/14.

Method 1: Standard import of contacts via Redmi 10 settings

The easiest and most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI contact import feature, which does not require an internet connection and works even without a Google Account attached, but has a limitation: contacts will only be copied to the phone’s local memory, without automatically syncing to the cloud.

To start importing, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Press three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper left corner to open the side menu.
3. Select Contact Management → Import/Export of contacts.
4. In the window that opens, tap on the option Import with SIM-map.
5. Tick the contacts you want to copy (or click Select All) and confirm the action with the Import button.

It takes a few seconds, depending on the number of contacts, and when it's done, it'll tell you to choose where to save your data: your phone account (locally) or your Google account (if it's connected), and you'll want to choose both options for reliability.

Make sure that SIM-Card inserted into Redmi 10 slot (Nano-SIM and Micro-SIM with adapter supported)

Close all background applications to avoid crashes

Check the space in the phone’s memory (minimum required) ~1 MBB)

Turn off the energy saving mode (may interrupt the process)-->

What to do if contacts are not imported?

Sometimes users experience import errors, and here are the most common reasons and solutions:

• 🔴 Mistake "SIM-map not found": Reboot the phone or remove/paste SIM If the problem persists, check the card on another device, it may be damaged.
• 🔴 Imports interrupted at half: Close all apps through Recent and try again. VPN (if used).
• 🔴 Contacts are duplicated: Before importing, delete existing copies in your phone via Contacts → Management → Delete duplicates.
• 🔴 Cyrillic symbols not displayed: This is related to encoding SIM-The solution is to use the method with Google Account (described below).

⚠️ Note: If you import contacts to your phone account, they won’t automatically sync with other devices.To avoid data loss, be sure to back up through Settings → Memory. → Backup.

Method 2: Synchronize your SIM contacts with your Google Account

This is a method that works for people who want to not only copy contacts to Redmi 10, but also back them up in the cloud, with the advantage of automatic synchronization between all devices linked to a single Google Account, but require a stable Internet connection.

Step instructions:

1. Open your phone’s Settings and go to Accounts and Sync (or Google, depending on the MIUI version).
2. Select your Google Account (if not, add it through Add Account).
3. Activate the slider opposite Contact to enable synchronization.
4. Return to the Contacts app, open the menu (☰) and select Import/Export → Import with SIM-map.
5. As a place of preservation, specify Google Account and confirm the import.

Once the import is complete, the contacts will appear in your Google Contacts (available at contacts.google.com) and are now protected from loss even when the phone is reset to factory settings.

⚠️ Note: If you previously synced contacts with another Google Account, new data may overwrite old ones. Before importing, check which contacts are already in the cloud, through the web version of Google Contacts.

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Before importing your Google Account, export your current contacts from the cloud to a CSV file (via contacts.google.com) to help you recover your data if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Transfer contacts using third-party applications

If the built-in MIUI tools fail (for example, Cyrillic names are not displayed correctly or there is no import option), you can use third-party applications.

• 📱 Copy My Data (from Media Mushroom) – Transfers contacts, photos and calendars over Wi-Fi or over the cloud.
• 📱 SIM Card Contacts Backup – Specializes in working with SIM-Circuit support, supports export to CSV/VCF.
• 📱 My Contacts Backup – Creates backups of contacts in the format VCF, You can then import it into Redmi 10.

Let’s look at the example of Copy My Data:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the program and select Copy Contacts to This Device.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen: the application will prompt you to select the source (SIM-map and purpose (phone memory or Google Account).
4. Confirm the transfer and wait until it is completed. Unlike standard import, it supports extended fields (email, addresses, etc.).

The advantage of third-party applications is flexibility of settings and support for old ones SIM-However, be careful: some programs request excessive permissions (for example, access to the Internet). SMS Check reviews and rankings on Google Play before installing.

What to do after transferring contacts to Redmi 10?

Simply copying your SIM contacts to your phone is not enough, and to avoid future data loss, do a few additional steps:

1. Check duplicates: Open Contacts → Manage → Combine duplicates. MIUI will automatically find and suggest combining the repeated records.
2. Configure the display: By default, contacts can be displayed in the format "Name Name". To change the order, go to Contacts → Settings → Name format.
3. Export backup: Create a VCF file via Import/Export → Export to file and save it to the cloud (e.g. Google Drive or Mi Cloud).
4. Activate Sync: If you use a Google Account, make sure that sync is enabled in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync.

Important: After transferring contacts with SIM Remove them from the map to avoid confusion at the next import.This can be done through the same Import / Export menu, select Remove from the map. SIM.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss or incorrect display of contacts.

• 🚫 Import without backup: Always export contacts to file VCF This will save the data if the process is interrupted.
• 🚫 Ignoring Encoding: If contact names are displayed by Krakozabras, use Google Account to import – it automatically corrects the encoding.
• 🚫 Multi-account sync: If you have multiple Google Accounts connected, contacts may be duplicated. Before importing, turn off sync for unnecessary accounts.
• 🚫 Use of unofficial apps: Only download programs from Google Play or AppGallery. APK Unknown sources may lead to data leakage.

Another common problem is contact loss after resetting, so to avoid this, check regularly if syncing with Google is enabled.

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select your Google Account.
3. Make sure that the slider opposite Contact is active (lit in blue).

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Regular sync with Google Account is the only way to ensure the safety of contacts when your phone breaks or resets to factory settings.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions