How to transfer numbers from SIM-maps on Xiaomi

The switch to a new Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone is often accompanied by the need to migrate data, and the most important of these is contacts. SIM-And as a reliable way to do this, today's operating systems offer more flexible and secure solutions. MIUI HyperOS is as simplified as possible and does not require the installation of third-party software.

In this article, we will take a look at how to correctly copy SIM contacts into your phone’s internal memory or Google’s cloud service, not only freeing up space on your carrier’s chip, but also allowing you to synchronize data between devices, keeping them safe even when your device is physically broken, and learning about the nuances of working with a phone book in the Xiaomi ecosystem and avoiding common import errors.

Preparation for the transfer of contacts to Xiaomi

Before starting the import procedure, you must make sure that SIM-The card is correctly defined by the system and ready to read.Put the card into the corresponding slot of your Redmi smartphone or POCO And wait for the network icons to appear at the top of the screen. SIM-maps, make sure you know exactly which one you need to copy data from, so as not to confuse subscribers of different operators.

It is worth noting that the old SIM-The cards may have limitations on memory and the length of the names they write, and when transferred to modern Xiaomi smartphones, long names can be cut off and special characters can be replaced with spaces. It is recommended to check the contact list on another phone in advance, if possible, and to reduce the entries too long for correct display.

⚠️ Attention: If yours SIM-The card is very old (mini-SIM or damaged), it may not be readable or error-readable, so it is better to transfer the contacts to another phone first, and then sync them through a Google account.

Also, before you start, make sure that your phone has a lock screen or fingerprint unlock so you don't accidentally interrupt the process or delete the data. Although the risk is minimal, device stability is a key factor in successful importation. Make sure that the battery is at least 20-30%, although the process of copying the numbers consumes minimal energy.

Import contacts through the standard application

The easiest and fastest way to move numbers is to use the built-in Contacts app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, which does not require an Internet connection and works even in air mode, since all data is transmitted locally inside the device, and the algorithm for actions is the same for most versions of the MIUI shell.

To start, open the Contacts app (a green icon with a human silhouette) on the home screen or in the Tools folder. At the top of the interface, you'll see three vertical dots or a menu button that will open the drop-down action list, and that's where the key function of managing the phone book is.

In the menu that opens, select Import Contacts, and the system will tell you to choose a data source, in our case, this is the source of the data «SIM-If there are two active SIMs on the phone, you will be asked to select a specific one (SIM 1 SIM After selecting the source, the system will request confirmation of the action.

Next, you need to specify your destination. For maximum security and ease of use of smart features Xiaomi is best to choose a Google account or Phone. The choice of Google account is preferred, as this provides automatic synchronization. Once confirmed, the copying process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records.

Using Google Cloud Sync Sync

Using a Google account is the gold standard for Android users, so you can forget about manual backup. SIM-Maps are directly in Google account on Xiaomi, you create a digital copy of them in the cloud.This means that even if you lose the phone or break it, all numbers will be saved and will be available from any other device after logging in to the acc.

The sync process is automatically done after import. To check its status, go to Settings of your smartphone, look for Accounts and Sync (or just Google). Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If sync is successful, you will see a green tick or the time of the last update.

The advantage of this method is that you can edit contacts from a computer, you can go to contacts.google.com, fix bugs, add photos, emails and addresses, and all the changes will automatically show up on your Xiaomi, which turns a simple phone book into a full database of customers and friends.

It is important to understand the difference between local storage and cloud storage. When choosing a Phone, data is stored only in the device’s memory, and it will not be possible to restore it after resetting the settings without first creating a local copy. Google accounts relieve this headache by making the data independent of the physical medium.

Transfer through the Mi Mover app

For users who are switching from an old Android smartphone (not necessarily Xiaomi) to a new Redmi or POCO, the ideal solution will be the proprietary Mi Mover utility. This application allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also messages, photos, applications and system settings over Wi-Fi Direct, which is much faster than Bluetooth.

Install the Mi Mover app on both devices (on the new Xiaomi it is already built into the Tools section or available in the settings when you first turn on). Run the program on both phones. On the old device, select the role of “Sender”, and on the new Xiaomi – “Recipient”.

After the scan. QR-If you have a code or manual connection to the Wi-Fi network created by the recipient, you will be asked to select the types of data to be transmitted. tick Contacts and, if necessary, System Contacts or SIM-The app will automatically unload all numbers from the old device and write them in the memory of the new one, offering to immediately link them to a Google account.

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When transferring a large amount of data (over 10 GB) over Mi Mover, keep both phones charged or connected to a power bank, as the Wi-Fi module’s intense operation consumes battery power quickly.

This method is especially good because it retains the structure of contacts, including binding to specific messengers, if such a feature is supported by the OS version. In addition, Mi Mover is able to combine duplicates if you previously copied contacts in different ways, creating a single clean database.

Management and cleaning of duplicates

After the number transfer from SIM-Users often face the problem of duplicate records, this happens if the same contact was saved on the SIM, in the memory of the phone, and in the Google account. MIUI has a built-in tool to solve this problem that does not require the installation of third-party cleaners.

Open the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner, and select Contact Organization (or Contact Management). In this menu, find Combine Repeated Contacts. The system will analyze the phone book, find matches by phone number or name, and suggest combining them into a single card.

You can choose to automatically combine all the duplicates you find, or you can view them one by one, controlling the process, which is especially useful when the contact has multiple numbers (mobile, home, work) that could split into different entries after importing.

Also available in this section is the cleaning function: you can delete all contacts from the SIM-This is an important hygiene procedure that speeds up the phone book and prevents confusion in the future.

Comparison of methods of storage of contacts

The choice of location of the contacts affects the usability and security, and below is a comparison table that will help you decide where to move numbers on your Xiaomi device.

As you can see from the table, the storage SIM-The most archaic and least functional way to map a contact book is the most archaic and the least functional way. Redmi smartphones allow you to unlock the full potential of the contact book only when using cloud services. Google Account is the most universal choice, especially if you use the company services.

However, if you are actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem (tablets, watches, laptops), then syncing through Mi Account will also be a great choice, providing a seamless experience.

Recovery of contacts from backup

There are times when contacts need to be reset and restored after a reset or loss of your phone. If you have previously made a backup to Google or Mi Cloud, the recovery process will take minutes. When you first start a reset Xiaomi system will offer to restore data from the cloud.

If you don't have automatic recovery, you can run it manually. Go to Settings -> About Phone -> Advanced Settings -> Restore from Mi Cloud (or a similar path for Google). Select the latest available backup, make sure (check) is opposite Contacts, and start the process.

⚠️ Note: When you restore from a backup, all current contacts on your phone can be replaced or supplemented with backup data. If you added new numbers after you created a copy, they can get lost if you don't configure the correct sync.

For users who are used to exporting contacts to a.vcf file, the process is also simple: Place the export file in the phone's memory, open the Contacts app, select Import Contacts -> From the file.vcf and specify the path to the file. The system counts the file and adds all entries to the selected account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The most reliable way to save your contacts on Xiaomi is synchronization with a Google account, which guarantees their safety and availability from any device in the world.