Losing contacts is one of the most frustrating situations for a smartphone owner, especially if you're not sure where they're stored: SIM-It depends on whether they can recover from resetting, changing the phone or reinstalling the firmware. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to verify the location of the contacts, including hidden settings. MIUI, Let’s explain why some methods may not work on new models.
Many users mistakenly believe that contacts are automatically duplicated and SIM, In fact, by default, Xiaomi Redmi only stores them in the device's memory unless otherwise configured. SIM-maps (maximum 250 contacts, no fields for email or address) and policies MIUI Next, you will learn how to accurately determine the storage location and what to do if contacts “disappear” after the update.
Modern. SIM-Nano-SIM (eSIM) cards are almost never used to store contacts, but their main function is now to identify them on the network. 4A or Redmi Note 3) This option could still work if you have a new model (like the Redmi Note). 12 or Redmi 10C), Most likely, all contacts are stored in the phone’s memory or synchronized with the phone. Google/Mi Cloud.
1. Verification through the Contacts app (the fastest way)
The easiest way to do this is to use the standard Contacts app (or Contacts in global firmware), which shows the source of each contact, if it's configured correctly. Here's how to do this:
1. Open the Contacts app on your Xiaomi Redmi.
2.Shoot at any contact to open his card.
3. Scroll down to the Source field (or Account in English).
- SIM-card (if the contact is saved on it),
- Telephone (local memory),
Google or Mi Account (if synced).
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Note: If the Source field is missing, the contacts are stored in the phone's default memory, which is typical for MIUI 12+ firmware, where the SIM saving option is hidden.
- 📱 Local memory: Contacts are only available on this device, and when reset, they will be deleted if a backup is not made.
- 📶 SIM-Map: 250 pins, no photos or extra fields, not supported on all models.
- ☁️ Cloud (Google/Mi Account: The most reliable option is to restore contacts when you log in to your account.
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If the contact list shows duplicates (e.g. the same number from different sources), use the "Connect Contacts" function in the app menu to avoid confusion.
2. Verification through account settings (for synchronized contacts)
If you use a Google Account or Mi Account, your contacts could automatically sync to the cloud, and you can check this in your system settings:
1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync (or Passwords & Security → Privacy → Special app access → Contacts in the global version).
2. Select Google or Mi Account (depending on which service you use).
3 Make sure the Contacts switch is on. If so, all contacts are duplicated in the cloud.
🔍 How to distinguish cloud from local contacts?
Cloud contacts are displayed in the Contacts app even after deletion SIM-Cards or phone resets (subject to login) Locals will disappear.
| Source of contact | Where they're stored | Are they still after dumping? | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM-map | On a SIM chip. | Yes. | Max. 250 contacts, no photos. |
| Local memory. | Inside the phone (/data/data/com.android.providers.contacts) | No. | Removed upon discharge or breakdown |
| Google Account | Google Cloud | Yes. | Requires the Internet for synchronization |
| Mi Account | Xiaomi's Cloud | Yes. | It may not work in some regions. |
Export of contacts for analysis (advanced method)
If the previous methods didn't give a definitive answer, you can export contacts to the file and analyze it, which will help identify hidden sources.
1. Open Contacts → ⋮ (menu) → Contact management → Exports/Imports of contacts.
2. Select Export to Device (or Export to Storage).
3. Save the file in.vcf format (business card).
4. Open the file through any text editor (e.g. Notepad++ or VS Code).
In the.vcf file, look for lines of the form:
X-SIM: 1If there is a line, contact with SIM-If not, it's from a phone or a cloud.
What to do if the export does not work?
Checking through the engineering menu (for experienced users)
On some Redmi models, especially on the MIUI 10-11) You can use the engineering menu for diagnostics. SIM-This method is suitable if you suspect that the contacts are saved on the SIM, but not displayed in the interface.
1. Open the Phone application and enter the code:
##4636##2 Go to the section Phone information.
3. Scroll down to the SIM Status block. If there's a non-zero Phonebook item on the SIM, there are contacts on the SIM.
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Note: Not all versions of MIUI support this code. On newer models (Redmi Note 11 and later), the engineering menu can be blocked. Alternatively, use the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek-based devices only).
5: Why Contacts Can "Gone" and How to Fix It
Xiaomi Redmi users’ problem is the sudden disappearance of contacts after the update MIUI substitute SIM-Here are the main reasons and solutions:
- 🔄 Update MIUI: New firmware versions can reset sync settings. Solution: Go to Settings → Accounts and manually enable contact synchronization.
- 📱 Factory reset: Local contacts are deleted.Solution: Restore them from the backup of Mi Cloud or Google.
- 🪪 Replacement SIM-If the contact was only on the old SIM, Solution: Use the Import/Export function in the Contacts app.
- ☁️ Sync error: Contacts are not updated in the cloud.Solution: Delete your account and add it again in the settings.
Critical information: On models of Redmi with MIUI 13+ option to keep contacts on SIM-The map is completely removed from the interface, even if you move the contacts to the interface. SIM Redmi won't display them through the old device, but the only way out is to use the cloud or local memory.
Check all possible sources (SIM, phone, cloud)
Enable synchronization in account settings
Try importing contacts from backup
Install a third-party recovery app (such as Contacts Backup & Restore)
Contact Xiaomi if there is a problem after the update MIUI-->
6. How to transfer SIM contacts to your phone (and vice versa)
If you find that the contacts are not stored where they are, you can move them, and here are the step-by-step instructions for different scenarios:
SIM to phone:
- Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
- Select Import with SIM-map.
- Specify where to save (for example, in Google Account or local memory).
- Confirm the import.
From phone to SIM:
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Note: This option may not be available on MIUI 12+, so use third-party apps like SIM Card Contacts from Google Play.
1. Install an application to work with SIM-Contacts (e.g. Copy to) SIM Card).
2. Give him access to contacts and SMS.
3. Select contacts for export and confirm the transfer.
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On the new Redmi models (2021 and later), it is not possible to transfer contacts to SIM via standard means. Use cloud services (Google or Mi Cloud) for backup.
7.Alternative methods: ADB and backup copies
For advanced users, there are methods using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or MIUI backups. These are useful if the standard methods don't work.
Method 1: Viewing through ADB
1. Enable Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For Developers.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command:
adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/dataIn the conclusion, look for the field raw_contact_id — It'll point to the source.
Method 2: Recovery from the MIUI backup
1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the last backup and restore only Contacts.
📌 Important: Backups MIUI If you reset your phone to factory settings, it's impossible to recover contacts from the local backup without saving the encryption key first.