How to keep contacts on SIM-Xiaomi map: the complete guide with pictures

Why contact us SIM-Xiaomi card is a reliable reserve?

Modern Xiaomi smartphones store contacts in the cloud, internal memory or Google account. SIM-The card is a universal backup, and it doesn't depend on the Internet, or system failures, or resets, and if the phone is stolen, it breaks, or you buy a new phone, contacts on the phone. SIM will remain available on any device that supports the standard GSM.

However, this method has nuances: SIM-cards of the nano-SIM format (used in most modern Xiaomi) do not physically support the storage of contacts - this function only works through software emulation in MIUI. So it is important to export data correctly so that it does not disappear after extracting the card. In this article, current methods for MIUI 12/13/14 and all models of Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi 11/12/13/14.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Phone model: on the old Redmi 4/5 new Xiaomi 13 Ultra algorithm differs from.
• 📇 Type SIM: Only Micro-SIM and Mini-SIM have physical memory for contacts (up to 250 entries).
• 🔄 Version. MIUI: firmware MIUI 10 Export Menu Hidden Deeper.

Method 1: Exporting contacts directly to SIM via MIUI

The fastest method is to use the built-in export feature in the Contacts app.It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 11 and newer, but requires pre-preparedness.

Step instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) top-right → Select Contact Management.
3. Go to Import/Export Contacts → Exports to SIM-map.
4. Check the necessary contacts (or click Select All) → Export.
5. Wait for the notification of successful completion (usually takes 10–30 seconds).

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

Check the space available on SIM (maximum 250 contacts)

Turn off sync with Google during export

Close all background apps (especially messengers)

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⚠️ Note: If after exporting contacts are not displayed on another phone, check:

• 🔍 Format SIM: Nano-SIM does not support physical storage – data is stored in virtual memory. MIUI.
• 📵 Device compatibility: some budget models (e.g. Redmi) A1) don't read contacts with SIM.
• 🔄 Re-export: Try to delete old records from the SIM beforehand.

💡

If the export is suspended during the "Preparation" stage, extract SIM-You can restart your phone and repeat the procedure, and that often solves the problem of sticking around.

Method 2: Transfer contacts through Google Account (if SIM is not supported)

If your Xiaomi uses nano-SIM without physical memory, you can get around the restriction through intermediate exports to Google.This method is versatile and works even on the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T.

Algorithm of action:

1. Export contacts from your phone to Google Account: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Export to file. Select the.vcf (vCard) format) → Save the file to internal memory.
2. Import.vcf to Google: Go to contacts.google.com → Import → select a file. Wait for sync (can take up to 5 minutes).

• Put it in. SIM new-up → Open your contacts. → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM.

⚠️ Note: When using Google Contacts, make sure that:

• 🔒 Synchronization is enabled on the phone (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts).
• 📡 There is a stable Internet (Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi) 4G/5G).
• 📱 The new device has the same Google account as the old one.

Save it for SIM-map

I use a Google Account.

Exporting to.vcf file

I trust the Xiaomi cloud

I don't make backups.-->

Method 3: Backup through MIUI Backup (for advanced)

If you need to save not only contacts, but also a call log, SMS or app settings, use the built-in Backup feature in MIUI. This method creates a full system snapshot that can then be restored on another Xiaomi phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Create Backup → tick Contacts (and other data if necessary).
3. Select a place of preservation: Internal memory for temporary storage. SD-Card – if you need to transfer to another phone.

Wait until it is completed (it can take 5-15 minutes).

Settings → Data recovery

✅ Advantages of this method:

• 🔄 Keeps the entire phone book, including contact photos and linked accounts.
• 📱 It works on all Xiaomi models, even without support. SIM-storage.
• 🔒 Encryption: Backups can be password protected.

⚠️ Attention: Local backups MIUI not compatible with other brands (such as Samsung or iPhone.

Problems and Solutions: Why are contacts not saved on SIM?

Even when following the instructions, Xiaomi users encounter errors, and consider typical scenarios and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: When exporting, a message appears "SIM-The card does not support the storage of contacts".

Decision:

• 📲 Check the type SIM: nano-SIM has no physical memory. Use micro-SIM or mini-SIM (via adapter).
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: in older versions (up to) MIUI (10) emulation function SIM-memory was unstable.
• 🛠️ Install a third-party application (for example, SIM Contact Manager from Google Play).

Problem 2: Contacts were exported but not displayed on another phone.

Decision:

• 🔍 Make sure that the new device has a display enabled. SIM-Contacts: Contacts → ⋮ → Settings → Display contacts → SIM-map.
• 📵 Reboot both phones - sometimes cache MIUI block list update.
• 📎 Try to import contacts manually: Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM.

Problem 3: Duplicate records are required for import.

Decision:

• 🧹 Before importing, remove old contacts with SIM: Contacts → SIM-map → Delete everything.
• 🔄 Use the “Combine Duplicates” option in Google Contacts settings.
• 📊 Export contacts to.vcf, edit the file to a PC (e.g. Excel), then import back.

💡

If none of the methods work, check your physical condition. SIM-maps: wipe the contacts with a stripe or replace the map with a new one. Often the problem lies in the oxidation of metal sites.

How to check if your SIM contacts are still in place?

After export, it's important to make sure that the data is actually recorded.

Methods of verification:

1. Contact Menu: Open Contacts → in the top panel select SIM-Map (near Phone and Google) If the records are displayed, the export was successful.
2. On another phone: Insert SIM into another device (not even Xiaomi). Open contacts → check the SIM or Map partition.

Through USSD-team

• Dial ##4636## → Phone information → scroll to the SIM block.
• If you have the Contacts: X/250 string (where X is the number of records), the data is stored.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI contact SIM They only show up after you restart your phone. If you don't have any records, repeat the export.

Alternative methods: Xiaomi cloud and third-party applications

If SIM saving is impossible or uncomfortable, consider alternatives:

1. Xiaomi Cloud:

• 📱 Automatic synchronization: Settings → Xiaomi account → Synchronization → Contacts.
• 🔒 Access to any device via i.mi.com.
• ⚠️ Cons: Linking to Xiaomi account – if you forget the password, access will be lost.

2. Backup applications:

• 📲 Super Backup & Restore – saves contacts, SMS and call logs in.xml.
• 📲 My Contacts Backup – export to.vcf with email.
• 📲 SIM Card Manager – Advanced contact management SIM.

Manual export to file:

• 📄 Save contacts in.vcf or.csv → Send the file to the mail or messenger.
• 💾 For reliability, store copies on Google Drive or Yandex Drive.

FAQ: Frequent questions about keeping contacts on Xiaomi SIM