How to transfer all contacts Xiaomi Redmi to SIM-Map: A complete guide with nuances

Maintaining contacts SIM-The map in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones seems like a simple task – as long as you don’t face the limitations of the game. MIUI Many users lose hours looking for hidden settings or encounter an error called "Can't export contacts" without realizing that the problem lies in the type of information they use. SIM-map.

In this article, we will discuss all working methods of transferring contacts to the SIM — from standard export through Settings to workarounds for devices with MIUI 14+. We will pay special attention to the limitations (for example, SIM-The card only supports 250 contacts with names up to 14 characters and alternative backup solutions.

If you’ve never saved a SIM contact or your last attempt failed, this guide will help you avoid typical errors. We’ve tested the methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C and POCO X5 with different versions of MIUI, so we cover most scenarios.

Why are contacts not kept on SIM-map: 5 main reasons

Before we get to the instructions, it's important to understand why standard export might not work. Here are the key reasons Redmi owners face:

🔹 Limitations SIM-Most modern nano-SIMs support no more than 250 contacts and field lengths are limited:

• 📛 Name: Up to 14 characters (Latin) or 7 characters (Cyrillic)
• 📞 Number: up to 20 digits (without spaces and special characters)
• 📌 Additional fields (email, address): not saved

🔹 MIUI It removed the export function. MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has hidden the option of saving contacts on the SIM This is due to the transition to cloud storage (Mi Cloud).

🔹 Contacts are linked to a Google account. If sync with accounts.google.com is active, the system defaults to keep contacts in the cloud, not on the cloud. SIM.

🔹 Two-factor authentication (2FA). On some tariffs of mobile operators (for example, MTS Smart or Beeline Business) SIM-Card blocks data recording due to corporate policies.

🔹 A damaged file system, if you have previously interrupted the export process or retrieved SIM During writing, the card may be marked as "read-only".

⚠️ Before exporting, check if your company supports you. SIM-To do this, insert it into another phone (such as Samsung or Nokia) and try to save the test contact.

Method 1: Standard export through MIUI settings (works on 80% of devices)

This is the basic method that works on most Redmis with MIUI 11-14, but the path to settings may be different in the latest firmware versions.

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Contacts app (an 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. Select all contacts (or click Select All) → confirm export.

If the export items SIM-map:

• 🔄 Try an alternative path: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Exports to SIM.
• 🔍 Make sure that SIM-The card is inserted into slot 1 (on some Redmi models, the export works only with the main slot).
• 📱 Restart your phone and try again.

What if the process is frozen? If after pressing "Export" nothing happens for more than 5 minutes:

1. Extract. SIM-card and put it back in.
2. Clear the Contacts app cache (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Clear the cache).
3. Try exporting contacts at 50 grand at a time.

⚠️ Attention: Don't pull out SIM-This can result in the loss of some contacts or damage to the file system of the card.

Method 2: Export through the Engineering Menu (for advanced users)

If the standard method doesn’t work, you can use a hidden engineering menu, which is suitable for Redmi based on Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro, POCO F4).

📌 Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the block. SIM Information and tap on yours. SIM-map.
4. Find the option Export Contacts to SIM (could be called Copy to SIM).

⚠️ Warnings:

• 🛑 On some firmware, this method removes existing contacts from the SIM pre-export.
• 🔧 If the menu doesn’t open, your model uses a Mediatek processor (e.g. Redmi). 10A). Only Method 3 is suitable for such devices.

Alternative code for devices on Mediatek:

##36446337##

Then, select Connectivity → SIM Management → Export Contacts.

Method 3: Manual transfer via the Google Contacts app

If your contacts are synced to a Google account, they can be exported to a.vcf file and then imported to SIM via a third-party app. This method is universal and works even on Redmi with custom firmware.

📌 Step 1: Export contacts to file:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or in your phone browser.
2. In the left menu, select Export → vCard (for iOS) → Export.
3. Download the contacts.vcf file to your phone.

📌 Step 2: Import to SIM via:

• 📱 Install the app ES conductor or SIM Contact Manager.
• 📂 Open the downloaded contact.vcf file through the application.
• 🔄 Select the Import option on SIM and confirm the action.

Important: When imported through third-party applications, contact names can be cut to 14 characters, and special characters (for example, "-", " ") can be replaced with spaces.

💡

Before mass import, export 1-2 test contacts to check the correctness of the display of names and numbers.

Method 4: Use ADB-Teams (for technically savvy teams)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to your computer and turning on the developer mode.

📌 Preparation:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap 7 times to the MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Download ADB Tools to your computer.

📌 Export of contacts through ADB:

adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/contacts --where "display_name NOTNULL" --projection display_name:name,number:phone_number


adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.INSERT -t vnd.android.cursor.dir/contact -e name "Name" -e phone "1234567890"

🔹 Explanation of teams:

• The first team will list all contacts.
• The second command adds the contact to SIM (replace the name and 1234567890 with real data).

⚠️ Limitations of method:

• 🐢 Manual process – each contact is added by a separate command.
• 🔧 Requires root rights for mass export (on non-rooted devices only works on one contact).

💡

ADB-It's only good for power users. For mass transfer, it's easier to use Method 3 with apps from the Play Market.

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even if you follow the instructions, you may encounter errors, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

🔴 "We were unable to export contacts":

• 📶 Check if the mobile network is active (on some firmwares, exports are blocked without a network connection).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
• 📱 Update the Contacts app through Play Market.

🔴 "SIM-card does not support":

• 🆔 Make sure that SIM not blocked by PIN code.
• 🔄 Try another one. SIM-card (for example, from another operator).
• 📞 Contact the communication salon to check the card for recording (possibly this is the case). USIM, which does not support the storage of contacts).

🔴 "Contacts were exported but not displayed":

• 🔍 Check the contacts via another device (insert) SIM old-phone).
• 📱 In the settings Contacts → Display contacts select SIM-map.
• 🔄 Restart your phone - sometimes MIUI Do not update your contact list immediately.

⚠️ Note: If you use eSIM, it is not possible to keep contacts on it – this format is only intended for storing operator profiles.

Alternative methods of backup contacts

If the SIM portability fails or you are not satisfied with the format limitations, consider alternative options:

🔹 Cloud services:

• 🌥️ Mi Cloud: automatically syncs contacts with your Xiaomi account. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📧 Google Contacts: More Reliable Than SIM, It supports an unlimited number of records. Synchronization is enabled in Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.

🔹 Local storage:

• 📄 Export to a.vcf file (as in Method 3) and save to a memory card or internal memory.
• 💾 Backup apps: Super Backup or Contacts Backup allow you to backup in a single file.

🔹 Physical carriers:

• 📀 Recording of contacts SD-.vcf or.csv card.
• 🖨️ Print the contact list through Google Contacts (in the export settings, select Print).

Comparison of methods:

| Method | Max. contacts | Cyrillic support | Accessibility without internet | Automatic update |

|---------------------|-----------------|--------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

| SIM-map | 250 | Partially. | Yes. | No. |

| Mi Cloud | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes |

| Google Contacts | Unlimited | Yes | No | Yes |

| File.vcf | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | No |

If your goal is just backup, not transferring to another phone, Google Contacts or Mi Cloud will be more reliable. SIM-map.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions