How to keep contacts on SIM-Map in Xiaomi smartphones: all ways and nuances

Maintaining contacts SIM-The map in Xiaomi smartphones seems to be an easy task, but many users face difficulties: the lack of an option in the menu, errors in exporting or format incompatibility. MIUI (Starting from the 12th, this feature is hidden from the main interface, and some models (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro) hide this feature from the main interface.+ or POCO X5 Pro) do not support recording at all SIM chip-bound.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer contacts to the SIM-You will learn how to avoid data loss when changing your phone, what formats are supported (and why vCard 3.0 doesn’t always work), and what to do if the phone doesn’t see contacts after transferring. We will pay special attention to the nuances for dual-SIM models and phones with eSIM.

Important: If you are using Xiaomi based on Android 13/14 with MIUI 14+, standard export via Contacts may not be available, in which case an alternative method using an engineering menu or third-party applications will be required – we will describe each step in detail.

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Why Xiaomi doesn’t have a “Export to SIM” button?

Many users notice that the menu “Contacts” on Xiaomi does not have the option to save on the site. SIM-map, although on older phones (e.g. Redmi) 4X or Mi A1) It was. It's because of three key changes:

1. Google policy and Android restrictions.Beginning with Android 9 Pie, Google has tightened the rules for working with the Android user. SIM-Applications (including the standard Contacts) now require additional permissions to write data to the SIM, Xiaomi simplified the interface, removing the “extra” functions.

Producer restrictions SIM-Modern nano-SIM (especially from operators MTS, Beeline, Tele2) often have protection from recording, as originally designed only for storing numbers in the format ADN (Abrieviated Dialing Number with a limit of 255 characters per contact, making it impossible to keep the full data (name, postal address, address).

3.Moving to cloud services. Xiaomi is actively promoting synchronization through Mi Account or Google Contacts, where data is stored in encrypted form and is available on any device. SIM-A map in this ecosystem is considered an obsolete carrier.

However, the SIM save feature still works on most devices, it's just hidden, and then we'll show you how to find it.

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Method 1: Standard export through "Contacts" (MIUI 12 and older)

If you have a MIUI 12, 13 or 14, try this method first.It works on most models, including the Redmi Note 11 Pro, POCO X4 Pro, and Xiaomi 12T.

Step 1. Open the Contacts app (a human silhouette icon).

Step 2. Slip three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Import/Export of contacts.

Step 3. In the Export section, select SIM-If this option is not available, proceed to Method 2.

Step 4: Tick the contacts you want (or click Select All) and confirm the export, which takes 10 to 30 seconds depending on the number of records.

⚠️ Note: If the error "Can not keep contact" appears during export, check:

• 🔄 Format SIM-Cards: must be nano-SIM (micro-SIM may not be supported).
• 📱 Memory volume SIM: at least 10-15 records should be free on the card (maximum 250-500 contacts).
• 🔒 Permits: c Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Permits to enable access to the Warehouse and SIM-map.

Check the vacant space on SIM-map

Make sure that SIM free-lock PIN-code

Update the Contacts app on Google Play

Restart your phone before exporting-->

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Method 2: Engineering menu (for MIUI 14 and new models)

If standard export is not available, use the hidden engineering menu, which works even on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 Pro, but requires caution.

Step 1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination:

##4636##

You'll see a Test menu. Choose Phone Information.

Step 2. Scroll down to the section SIM-And you can tap on it, and it'll show you your data. SIM, including supported recording functions.

Step 3: Go back to the main engineering settings menu and select Settings SIM-map → Contact management should be available here. SIM.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose! SIM-map.

Critical: On some models (e.g. Redmi K50 Gaming), the engineering menu may not display the export option.

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Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If none of the previous methods worked, installing specialized software is the way to go, and we tested 5 applications and selected the two most reliable ones:

1. SIM Contacts Manager (free, no advertising)

Download from Google Play, open and select Export → On SIM. The app will automatically determine the free space on the map.

2. Copy to SIM Card (paid version - 99) ₽)

⚠️ Warning: Before using third-party apps, disable battery optimization for them in Settings → Battery → Optimization of the battery, otherwise the export may be interrupted.

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Method 4: Manual transfer via vCard file (for power users)

This method is suitable if you need to save contacts on SIM, but the phone does not support direct export.

Step 1. Export your contacts to the file:

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
2. Select the vCard format (.vcf) and save the file to internal memory.

Step 2: Send the file to another phone (where there is SIM recording support) or use SIM Contacts Manager to import.vcf directly to the SIM.

Step 3: If you transfer contacts to a new SIM, paste it into your old phone (where there is a write feature), import.vcf, and then export it to SIM.

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If contacts are not placed on the SIM due to character restriction, shorten the names (e.g., "Ivan Ivanov" → "Ivan I.") or remove unnecessary fields (mail, address) before exporting.

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Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you save your contacts on SIM, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:

1. Mistake: "SIM-The card does not support contact recording"

• 🔧 Solution: Check the type SIM. eSIM format maps or USIM (for 4G/5G) Try a regular nano-SIM from another operator.
• 🔧 If SIM new, activate it (call or send it) SMS), Sometimes this unlocks the recording function.

2 Contacts are saved but not displayed

• 🔧 Restart your phone and check the display settings: Contacts → ⋮ → Settings → Display contact → SIM-map.
• 🔧 If the contacts are only visible in the Phone app, and not in Contacts, this is a feature. MIUI. Use the standard Calls app to view.

3. Not all fields are saved (no mail, addresses)

• 🔧 SIM-The cards only keep the name. + Additional data (mail, birthday) will only be stored in vCard format on your phone or in the cloud.
• 🔧 Use the cloud backup (Mi Cloud or Google Contacts) for a full backup.

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If you SIM-The card refuses to accept contacts, most likely the problem is its type. USIM-cards (for 4G/5G), Ask the phone to replace it with a standard nano-SIM.

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How to transfer SIM contacts to a new Xiaomi phone

If you saved your contacts on SIM and now want to upload them to the new Xiaomi (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), follow this instruction:

Step 1. Insert. SIM-contact card in a new phone.

Step 2. Open the Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.

Step 3: Select the contacts to import (or click Select All) and confirm. The data will be saved to your phone memory or to your Google/Mi Account (depending on your sync settings).

⚠️ Note: If contacts are duplicated after import, delete duplicate entries via Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Combining and correcting.

For reliability, we recommend that you create a backup copy immediately after import:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Choose Local Backup or Mi Cloud.
3. Make sure that the list for backup marked Contacts.

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FAQ: Answers to popular questions