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

Maintaining contacts SIM-The map in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a challenge that users face when changing their device, resetting their settings, or wanting to back up important numbers. Despite the fact that modern phones sync contacts with Google or Mi Account accounts, recording a new card with a new user is a very important card. SIM It's still relevant for fast data transfer between devices without access to the Internet. MIUI (12 and later) this feature is often hidden or works with limitations.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for different Redmi models (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others), understand the nuances of the storage format (SIM-card supports only name + number without additional fields), and learn how to avoid common errors like “insufficient memory on SIM” or “contacts are not displayed.”

Why keep in touch with the people SIM-The map is still relevant in 2026

In the era of cloud services, contact recording SIM-The map may seem anachronistic, but this method has significant advantages:

• 🔄 Universal transfer: SIM-The card can be inserted into any phone (including buttons or devices of other brands) and immediately access the numbers.
• 🛡️ Autonomy: No Internet, Google account or Mi Account – ideal for traveling abroad or changing carriers.
• 📱 Older device compatibility: Relevant for backup phone owners or those who switch from Redmi to devices without support MIUI.
• 🔒 Privacy: Data is stored locally, without the risk of leakage through the cloud (important for corporate or personal contacts).

However, the method also has limitations:

• ⚠️ SIM-The card only keeps the name. + Number (maximum 255 characters per contact), no photos, email or addresses.
• ⚠️ The amount of memory is limited - usually 250-500 contacts depending on the operator (MTS / Beeline / Tele2 limit may differ).
• ⚠️ When transferring to another phone, there may be problems with encoding (Cyrillic names can be displayed by cracossies).

Preparation: What to do before saving contacts on SIM

Before you start the transfer, follow a few mandatory steps to avoid data loss or errors:

⚠️ Note: If you are using Redmi with two SIM-cards (Dual) SIM), Make sure you choose the card you want to keep your contacts on. By default, the system can offer the main card. SIM (slot).

1. Check the vacant space on SIM: Go to Contacts. → Settings → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Exports to SIM-If there's not enough space, delete the old numbers from the SIM (via Contact → SIM-map).
2. Clear duplicates: Go to Contacts → Settings → Combine and fix to avoid entries of the same number multiple times.
3. Sync accounts: Open Settings → Accounts and make sure contacts from Google or Mi Account are uploaded to your phone.This ensures you carry relevant data.

If you are planning to move your contacts to a new one SIM-Note that some operators (e.g. MegaFon) block the recording of nano-SIM cards older than 2018, in which case you will have to use an adapter for micro-SIM or contact the salon for a replacement.

Check the vacant space on SIM-map|Remove duplicate contacts|Synchronize accounts Google/Mi|Choose the right slot SIM (for Dual SIM)|Check compatibility. SIM recorded-->

Method 1: Save contacts through the standard MIUI menu

This is the simplest method that works on most Redmi models (including the Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi, and Redmi). 10C, POCO X3 The instructions are relevant to MIUI 12–14:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Contact Management section → Imports/Exports.
4. Select Export on Export SIM-map.
5. Check the contacts you want to keep (or click Select All).
6. Click Export and wait for the process to be completed. A successful save notification will appear on the screen.

If the export items SIM-No map, then no map:

• 📵 Yours. SIM-The card does not support recording (often with virtual operators like Tinkoff Mobile or SberMobile).
• 🔧 In the settings of the phone disabled function of working with SIM-Contacts (solved by resetting the settings of the application Contacts).
• 📱 You have custom firmware installed (like LineageOS) where the function is disabled.

Method 2: Using the Google Contacts app for workarounds

If the standard method didn't work, you can use the Google Contacts app, which is often pre-installed on Redmi, which allows you to export contacts to a.vcf file and then import them to SIM through third-party utilities.

1. Open the Google Contacts app (if not, download from the Play Market).
2. Click on your avatar in the upper right corner and select Contact Export.
3. Select the contacts for export (or all) and click Export in file.vcf.
4. Save the file to your phone’s memory (for example, in the Downloads folder).
5. Install the app SIM Card Contacts (available in Play Market) and import a.vcf file to the SIM-map.

Important: When importing through third-party apps, there may be errors in encoding Cyrillic names. To avoid Krakozyabr, change the encoding to UTF-8 before exporting to Google Contacts (you can do this in the export settings).

Method 3: Manual contacting of the SIM-Card (if the automatic export does not work)

If none of the above methods work, then there is a manual method, which is suitable for a small number of contacts (up to 50-100 numbers).

1. Open the Contacts app and go to the tab SIM-map (usually displayed next to tabs All contacts and Frequent).
2. Click Add Contact ("+" icon).
3. Please note that email, address or photo fields will not be available.
4. Keep in touch. He'll automatically sign up for SIM-map.

Tip: To speed up the process, you can copy the number from the main contact list (hold your finger on the number → Copy), and then paste it into the input field on SIM.

⚠️ Note: When manually entering, avoid using special characters in names (e.g. *, #, %). SIM-The cards do not support their display and the contact may remain empty.

Typical errors and their solutions

When maintaining contacts on SIM, Redmi users often face the following problems:

1. Mistake "Insufficient memory on the SIM-map"

Reason: There is no free space on the card (standard SIM stores ~250 contacts).

Decision:

• 🧹 Remove old numbers from SIM: Contacts → SIM-map → Picking out unnecessary → Delete.
• 🔄 Use the new one. SIM-Card (refer to the operator for replacement).
• 📎 Break contacts into pieces and save 50 to 100 numbers at a time.

2 Contacts are not displayed after transfer to a new phone

Reason: Different coding SIM-cards and phones (especially when switching from Redmi to iPhone or push-button phone).

Decision:

• 🔤 Before transferring, change the encoding of names to the Latin alphabet (for example, instead of "Ivanov" specify "Ivanov").
• 📱 In the new phone, check the settings for displaying contacts: Contacts → Settings → Display contacts with SIM.

3. It is not possible to save contacts on SIM in Redmi Note 12 or later

Reason: In the latest versions of MIUI 14, the export function on the SIM can be disabled by default.

Decision:

• 🔧 Put the debugging on. USB and use ADB-Adb shell content insert --uri content://com.android.contacts/raw_contacts --bind name:"Test" --bind account_name:"SIM" --bind account_type:"com.android.sim (requires Android Debug Bridge knowledge).
• 📲 Install the old version of the Contacts app (for example, from MIUI 12) through APK-file.

💡

If you often migrate contacts between devices, back up in.vcf and store it in the cloud (like Google Drive or Mi Cloud). SIM-map.

Alternative methods of backup contacts

If SIM storage is impossible or uncomfortable, consider other methods:

• ☁️ Sync with Google Account: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize contacts. Turn on the option and wait until sync is complete.

Plus.

Minus.

Google

Export to VCF file

1. In the Contacts app, select Settings → Export/Import → Export to file.
2. Save the file to your device or to the cloud.
3. 🔗 Backup apps: We recommend Super Backup & Restore or Contacts Backup from Play Market.They allow you to backup in.vcf,.xml formats or even send them to email.

Please provide accurate information to the operator or through USSD-request *111#.

💡

If standard SIM exporting doesn’t work, use a workaround: export to.vcf via Google Contacts + import through third-party apps. This is more reliable and stores all data (unlike SIM).