How to copy contacts from Xiaomi Redmi phone to SIM-map: all working methods

Transferring contacts from phone to phone SIM-The map may seem like an archaic procedure in the era of cloud services, but it is still in demand, and owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones face this challenge when buying a new device, resetting settings, or quickly transferring numbers to another device without access to the Internet. Unlike the iPhone, where the function of exporting SIM Android platform is not available (including MIUI) This is a possibility, but with nuances.

The main problem: modern SIM-cards (especially nano-SIM) have limited memory, usually 250-500 Only names and numbers are saved (photos, emails and notes are lost). MIUI 14+ The standard export function in the Contacts menu can be hidden, you have to activate it through additional settings. In this article, we will discuss all current methods, including workarounds for new versions of the firmware.

If you are using Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13T, The algorithm will be identical, only the menu items will differ. 4A) All methods will work, but the interface may look different. SIM-Contact Record Card (some operators block this feature).

1. Standard method: export through the “Contacts” application

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (or Google Contacts, if it is installed by default), but in recent versions of MIUI, this option is hidden deep in the settings.

Open Contacts → Click on the three dots (menu) in the upper right corner → select Contact Management. In some firmware, the path is different: Settings → Import / Export Contacts. If there is no item Export to SIM, then the function is disabled by default.

Make a backup of your contacts in your Google Account|Check the vacant space on SIM-map|Make sure that SIM inserted into slot 1 (main)|Disable two-factor authentication for contacts (if enabled)-->

Once you select Export to SIM, you can select the contacts to copy, and here's the catch: MIUI only shows the numbers stored in your phone's memory by default. To export your contacts from your Google Account or Mi Account, pre-copy them into your local memory:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select Google → disable contact sync.
3. Contacts → Contact Management → Import / Export → Import with Google.

⚠️ Attention: If SIM-The card already has contacts, they will be overwritten without warning.We recommend that you first copy them back to your phone (option "Import with the phone") SIM»).

2. Alternative method: through system settings

If the standard method didn’t work (for example, because of cropped firmware), try to bypass the restrictions through system settings.This method is suitable for Xiaomi on MIUI 12-14 and does not require root rights.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Contacts app (or com.android.contacts) → Permissions.
3. Activate the Warehouse permission (if disabled).
4. Return to Contacts and try again to export.

If there is no item “Export to SIM” anyway, use the developer mode:

1. Activate it: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the USB debugging option and turn it on.
4. Connect your phone to your PC and use it ADB-Command: Adb shell am start -n com.android.contacts/.activities.PeopleActivity This will force you to open a hidden contact menu.

3. Use of third-party applications

If the built-in tools don't work, Google Play apps will come to the rescue. Xiaomi/Redmi:

• 📱 Sim Contacts Manager is a simple interface that supports batch export/import.
• 🔄 Copy to SIM Card – works on newer versions of Android, but requires permission to access contacts.
• 📇 Contacts Backup & Restore – allows you to save contacts to a file first VCF, and then move them to SIM.

The algorithm for Sim Contacts Manager:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Click Export to SIM → select contacts (you can mark everything).
3. Confirm the export. The app will show the number of successfully copied numbers.

The advantage of third-party utilities is that they bypass the limitations of MIUI and often support the VCF format for backup, for example, you can first export contacts to a file and then import them to another SIM through the same application.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Super Backup) request access to the app. SMS You don't need permissions to move contacts.

Through Google Account|Directly on SIM-map|With third-party applications|I'm using a backup. VCF|Another way.-->

4. Move over Google Account (if SIM is not supported)

If you SIM-The card does not allow you to record contacts (for example, virtual eSIM), the alternative is synchronization through Google Contacts. This method is universal and works on any device, including iPhone.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Make sure the contact switch is on.
3. Wait for the sync to complete (check in Contacts → Settings → Accounts).
4. On the new phone, add the same Google Account and enable sync.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 All data is stored: numbers, email, photos, notes.
• 🌐 Access to contacts from any device.
• 🔒 Automatic backup.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Internet is required.
• ❌ Not suitable if you need to transfer contacts to a phone without Google services (for example, to Huawei without Google services). GMS).

💡

If you frequently switch between devices, set up automatic contact sync on Google. → Settings → Contact management select Sync automatically and specify frequency (e.g. once a day).

Manual contacting of the SIM-map

If all the automatic methods don't work, then the manual method is the long one, but it's reliable, and it's suitable for transfer. 10-20 number-one.

How to add contact to SIM manually:

1. Open the Contacts → Press + (Add Contact) application.
2. In the "Save in" field, select SIM-map (if no option, see section 2 on system settings).
3. Fill in the name and number. → keep.

Features of the manual method:

• ✅ It works even on locked or faulty phones (if you have a phone that is locked or broken). SIM recognizable).
• ❌ It takes a lot of time with lots of contacts.
• ❌ There is no possibility of mass copying.

To speed up the process, use voice input:

1. Open the creation of a new contact.
2. Click on the “Name” field → select the microphone icon.
3. Dictate the name and number (e.g., “Ivan Ivanov, eight nine twenty-one...”).

6. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To determine the best way, we will evaluate each of them according to the key criteria:

The choice depends on your situation:

• 🔥 We need to be fast and without the internet. → Third-party applications or standard export (if available).
• 🌍 Completeness of data is important. → synchronization through Google.
• 🛠️ NIUI 14+ And nothing works. → ADB or.

💡

For most Xiaomi Redmi users, the best option is a combination of Google Contacts (for reserve) + export to SIM through the Sim Contacts Manager app (for offline access).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When transferring contacts to SIM, Xiaomi users face typical problems.

Error 1: “I failed to export contacts to SIM”

• 🔹 Reason: SIM-The card is overflowing or blocked by the operator.
• 🔹 Solution: Check the free space (in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks. SIM From Tele2 or Yota, contact support – some virtual operators block the recording.

Error 2: Contacts were exported but not displayed on the new phone

• 🔹 The reason for this is that the new phone does not read the contacts with SIM (Especially relevant for iPhone or Huawei without Google).
• 🔹 Solution: Import contacts with SIM Back to your phone and then sync through Google or Mi Account.

Mistake 3: Cyrillic names disappear when exported

• 🔹 Reason: Encoding SIM-cards do not support Russian symbols (rarely, but occurs on old ones) SIM).
• 🔹 Solution: Restore contacts with Latin transliteration (e.g., "Ivan Ivanov" instead of "Ivan Ivanov»).

⚠️ Note: If contacts are duplicated after transfer, use the "Contacts Unite" function in the Contacts menu. On Xiaomi, it is in Settings → Contact management → Combine duplicates.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions