How to keep contacts on the phone, not on the phone SIM-Xiaomi Redmi card: 5 working ways

Maintaining contacts directly to SIM-The card is a relic of the past, which is still found in users of Xiaomi Redmi, such a decision is fraught with loss of data when changing the card, a limitation on the number of records (maximum 250 on most of the cards). SIM) And the lack of synchronization with the cloud. 9A Up to Redmi Note 13 Pro+) offer flexible tools for managing contacts – from built-in memory to MI Cloud and Google Account.

Complicating the problem, MIUI is regularly updated and contact settings can be hidden in different menus depending on the firmware version.This article covers current ways to transfer contacts for MIUI 12-15, including hidden features and workarounds for older models.We will also discuss how to avoid duplication of records and why some contacts “obstinately” return to SIM after rebooting.

If you're faced with a situation where the phone automatically saves new numbers to SIM instead of to the device's memory, it's not a bug, it's a default setting feature that can be fixed in 2 minutes, but it's important to understand the nuances: for example, contacts imported with SIM can be duplicated when synchronized with Google Contacts. To avoid chaos, follow the instructions in order.

Why are the contacts kept on SIM-card, not phone?

Xiaomi Redmi offers to save a new contact or SIM-card Google/Mi. Choice SIM This often happens automatically when:

• 📱 You first set up your phone and missed the authorization step in MI Cloud or Google Account.
• 🔄 Contact settings have priority SIM (older-style MIUI 10).
• 📶 The phone is purchased with rooted firmware or custom software, where the synchronization settings are down.
• 🔧 You manually changed the save location in the Contacts app, but the system “forgot” your choice after the update.

Key point: SIM-The card does not support email fields, addresses or extra numbers — just a name and one phone — and this restriction forces many users to look for alternatives, such as when transferring contacts from an iPhone to Redmi via a phone. SIM 40% of data is lost (photos, notes, additional fields).

Another trap is duplicate contacts, where if you previously synced your phone to Google and then imported your SIM contacts, the system can create copies of the same records across different accounts, leading to a phone book chaos where one person is displayed 2-3 times.

Method 1: Change the default save location

The easiest way is to set up your phone so that new contacts are automatically stored in the memory of your device or account.

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 Save Contacts (or Contact Management in MIUI 14+).
4. In Save New Contacts in select Phone or Google (recommended).

Important: If the phone option is not available, then your firmware is tied to your Mi or Google account, in which case select one of the accounts - the data will still be stored in the device's memory, but with the ability to synchronize.

Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (for synchronization)

Check the free space in the phone memory

Remember the current location of the contact

Disable Power Saving Mode (may block background synchronization)-->

Once the settings are changed, all new contacts will be saved to the selected location, but the old records imported from the SIM will remain on the map. To transfer them, use Method 2 or Method 3.

Method 2: Manual export of SIM contacts to phone memory

If your SIM already has contacts, you can transfer them to Redmi’s memory manually:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export.
2. Select Import with SIM-map.
3. Specify the target location for saving: Phone, Google or Mi Account.
4. Tick the desired contacts (or click Select All) and confirm the transfer.

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Note: When importing contacts with SIM They don't get deleted, they copy. If you want to clean it up, they're copied. SIM, Do it separately through the settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Contacts SIM → Delete.

In MIUI 14/15, the interface may differ:

• 🔍 In some versions, the import option is hidden behind the contact management button.
• 📎 If your contacts are not displayed, check if yours is active. SIM in settings (Settings) → SIM-map → SIM1/SIM2).
• 🔄 After importing, it is recommended to restart the phone so that the changes apply.

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Before importing, back up your contacts to your computer via Export to a VCF file (option in the same menu) and this will protect your data if something goes wrong.

Method 3: Sync with Google Account (recommended)

The most reliable way to store contacts is to link them to a Google Account.

• 🔒 Automatic backup.
• 📱 Access contacts from any device (including PCs via contacts.google.com).
• 🔄 Synchronization with other services (Gmail, WhatsApp, Telegram).

To set up synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account (or add a new one).
3. Activate the Contact Switch.
4. Return to Contacts → Settings and set up saving new contacts in Google.

If the contacts are not synchronized:

• 🔌 Check your internet connection (synchronization only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔄 Manually update the data: Settings → Google → Synchronization of the account → More (⋮) → Synchronize now.
• 📵 Make sure that the Power Saving or Background Limitation mode for the Contacts app is not active.

Method 4: Using MI Cloud (for Xiaomi users)

MI Cloud is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage that offers 5GB for free. To save contacts here:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account in new versions).
2. Sign in or create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Go to MI Cloud → Sync and enable Contacts.
4. Return to Contacts → Settings and select to save new contacts in Mi Account.

The advantages of MI Cloud over Google are:

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Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings without a Mi Account waiver, access to MI Cloud will be blocked for 72 hours (anti-theft protection).Be sure to log out of your account in the settings before resetting!

Method 5: Transfer contacts through a VCF file (for advanced)

If you need to move contacts between phones or make a backup, use the.vcf (vCard) file.

1. Export contacts with SIM: Contacts → Settings → Imports/Exports → Export to the device Select SIM-card as a source and save the file in the memory of the phone.
2. Import the file back: Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Import from the device Specify the target – Phone or Google.

This method is useful if:

• 📲 You are switching from an iPhone or other Android to Redmi.
• 🔄 You need to connect with several people. SIM-map.
• 💾 Want to make a backup before resetting your phone.

Note: The.vcf file can be opened on a PC in Excel or Notepad++ for editing (for example, to delete duplicates or correct numbers).

💡

The VCF file is a universal format for transferring contacts between any device, including iPhone, Samsung and even old button phones.

Problem Solving: Contacts are saved on SIM

Sometimes, after changing the settings, contacts begin to be saved again on SIM.

• 🔄 Resetting settings: After the update MIUI Contact settings may reset. Check them again.
• 📱 Account conflict: If you have both Google and Mi Account active, the system can get confused.
• 🛠️ Firmware error: On some models (Redmi) 7/8) There is a bug when contacts are saved SIM And the solution is to update. MIUI last-minute.
• 🔧 Third-party apps: Launchers like Nova Launcher or contact managers like Truecaller can override settings.

If the problem persists:

1. Make a backup of your contacts via Export to VCF.
2. Delete all contacts with SIM (Settings → SIM-map → Contacts SIM → Delete everything).
3. Reset the application settings Contacts: Settings → Applications → Application management → Contacts → Storage → Clear data
4. Restart your phone and set up your contacts again.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contacts on Xiaomi Redmi