How to transfer contacts from one SIM to another on Xiaomi

Replacement SIM-cards in smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO It often becomes an inevitable procedure, whether it’s switching to a new carrier, buying a card with a high rate, or simply replacing a damaged chip. The biggest challenge in this process is not physically installing the new module, but keeping all the phone numbers that have accumulated over the years. Users often face a situation where contacts are stored directly in the memory of an old SIM card, and they need to be quickly and losslessly moved to a new one.

Modern operating systems based on Android, including the proprietary shell MIUI Or the newer HyperOS, which provides built-in tools for data migration, you don't have to search for third-party apps or connect your computer, because the basic functionality of the phone allows you to copy the phone book in just a few touches of the screen. SIM-The card has technical limitations on the volume and format of the stored data, so it is better to carry out the transfer in the correct order.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods of copying numbers, look at the nuances of working with different versions of firmware and give you an idea of how to avoid common errors, learn how to use standard tools of the system for importing and exporting records, and learn why storing contacts in the cloud is a more reliable option for the long-term security of your data.

Preparation for the transfer of contacts to Xiaomi

Before you start actively copying data, you need to make sure that the device is ready for the procedure. SIM-The card is correctly installed in the slot and is determined by the system. → The phone. → General settings → SIM-maps and make sure that the status of the new card is displayed as "Active".

The critical thing is to know where your numbers are right now, and if they're stored in an old chip, it's like importing from the computer. SIM. If they're already on the phone, but you just need to re-write them to a new SIM for backup, the algorithm will be reversed. SIM-Cards often have a limit on the number of characters in the contact name (usually before the contact name is used). 10-15 signs) and do not support the retention of additional numbers or email addresses for a single record.

⚠️ Note: Before any contact transactions are initiated, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup to your Google account or memory card, and this will prevent you from accidentally losing data in the event of a system failure or import error.

It’s also worth making sure your Xiaomi smartphone has a battery charge of at least 20-30%.Although the process of copying contacts is not energy intensive, suddenly turning off the device while writing data to a chip can damage the phone book’s file structure.Make sure the phone screen is clean and responsive to touch, as you’ll have to perform precise taps on the menu.

Import contacts from SIM-cards in the memory of the phone

The most common scenario is to transfer numbers from an old SIM directly to the smartphone’s memory to free up the card and have access to full versions of names. The standard Contacts app in the MIUI shell lets you do this very quickly. Open the app and find the menu button or settings that are usually hidden in the top or bottom corner of the screen.

In the menu that opens, select Import Contacts. The system will suggest selecting a data source. SIM-map (it may be indicated as"SIM 1" or"SIM 2" depending on the slot. " After selecting the source, the system will suggest the destination: select Phone or Google account.

The copying process will take anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the number of records. During this operation, a progress indicator may appear on the screen, do not switch to other applications or lock the screen until the process is complete. Once completed, you will see a notification of successful import, and all numbers will appear in the general phone book.

It is important to note that when importing SIM-Duplicates may occur if some numbers have already been saved. Xiaomi system often offers to automatically combine duplicates, but it is better to check the list manually after the procedure is completed. Duplicates can interfere with the normal operation of the number determiner and contact search.

Exporting contacts from phone to new SIM-map

If your goal is to write numbers to a new SIM card (for example, to use a button phone or create a physical backup), you will need to perform an export operation. SIM-The card is limited, so you can’t copy thousands of contacts – the limit is usually 250 to 500 records.

To do this, reopen the Contacts app and go to settings. Select Export Contacts. Specify Phone or Google Account as your source, and select your new destination. SIM-The system will warn you that some data (photos, additional numbers) may be lost due to limitations in the format of the map.

Confirm the action and wait until the process is complete. SIM-And then you put it in another phone to see if the numbers are read correctly, and sometimes when you export them to a card, names can be cropped or displayed in different encoding than usual, which is normal behavior for old chip-based storage standards.

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Tip: When exporting to SIM, copy only the most important numbers. The space limit on the map is small, and modern smartphones allow you to store an unlimited number of contacts in the cloud.

Please note that in some versions of HyperOS, direct export to SIM may be hidden or require confirmation through system permissions. If you do not see this option, make sure that the Contacts app has all the necessary access rights in the Settings section → Applications → Contacts → Permissions section.

Using Mi Mover to migrate to the new Xiaomi

If you mean the purchase of a new Xiaomi smartphone by replacing a SIM card, the best tool will be the proprietary Mi Mover utility. This application allows you to transfer not only contacts, but also photos, applications, system settings and even placement of icons on the desktop from the old device to the new one.

To get started, install Mi Mover on both phones (the new models already have it built into the system), run the program on both devices, select I'm the recipient on the new phone, and I'm the sender on the old phone, and the devices create a local Wi-Fi network for data transfer.

Once connected, select Contacts category from the data transfer list. You can deselect from all the other items if you only need phone numbers. The speed depends on the amount of data, but the contacts are usually copied instantly.

The main advantage of this method is that contacts immediately go into the correct format in the memory of the new phone and automatically sync with your Google account if it is entered. SIM-maps and guarantees the preservation of all fields, including avatars and addresses.

Syncing through Google Account as the best method

The most reliable and modern way to manage contacts on Xiaomi is synchronization with Google services, which completely eliminates the need for physical data transfer through the Internet. SIM-The card is the most unreliable medium, and when you use cloud sync, your numbers are tied to your account, not to a particular device or chip.

To activate this feature, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the switch opposite the Contacts item is activated. If you change your phone or SIM card, just log in to your Google account on the new device and the entire phone book will load automatically.

Using the cloud allows you to manage contacts even from a computer through contacts.google.com. You can edit, delete and restore deleted numbers from the cart within 30 days, making synchronization with Google the preferred method for users of the Android ecosystem.

Also, if you reset your phone to factory settings or it breaks, your contacts won't be lost if they're synchronized, just type in your login and password on any other device, and the phone book will be restored in full in seconds.

Solving and restoring data

Xiaomi users may encounter various technical difficulties in the process of transferring contacts, one of the common problems being the appearance of “empty” contacts or entries without names, which often happens when incorrect imports from old SIM cards, where the text encoding was different from the system.

To solve this problem, you can use the Unification and Cleaning function. Go to Contacts, open the settings and find the Cleanup Duplicate or Combine Repeated Contacts. The system will analyze the database and suggest correcting errors. If the names are displayed by cranks, try changing the system language or font in the phone settings.

⚠️ Note: If the names are missing after the transfer, but the numbers are still there, don't rush to delete the records. Try exporting them to a.vcf file and then importing them back by selecting the encoding. UTF-8. This often helps to restore the readability of the text.

Another common situation is that contacts don't show up on the call list, although they are in the phone book. Check the display settings in the Contacts app. Make sure that the check box is boxed against All Contacts or the selected account. Sometimes the filter hides the numbers saved on the phone. SIM-map, if only the display from the cloud is selected.

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The most common reason for losing contacts is lack of sync with the cloud. Always keep autoboot enabled in Google or Mi Cloud.

In rare cases, it may be necessary to clear the cache of the Contacts and Contact Storage app. This is done through Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory → Clear. This operation will not delete your numbers, but will reset the display and indexing settings of the database, which can solve search problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)