Transfer of contacts between SIM-maps on Xiaomi

Changing carriers or switching to a tariff with a new SIM card often puts the user in front of the need to migrate the phone book. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices can face the nuances of the MIUI or HyperOS interface, where the contact management menu is hidden deeper than in the stock Android.

Modern smartphones offer many synchronization scenarios, but direct copying between physical media (SIM-It is important to understand the difference between importing (downloading to a phone's memory) and copying (moving data between media) and changing devices without access to the Internet. Incorrect action choices can lead to duplicate records or complete loss of records.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods, from standard system tools to the use of specialized utilities from the manufacturer, and learn how to safely transfer numbers, save names and avoid the typical errors when working with a phone book on Chinese brand devices.

Preparation of the device and compatibility check

Before you start manipulating data, you need to make sure that the cards and slots are physically healthy. Older Mini-SIM or Micro-SIM SIM cards, cropped under Nano, can have unstable contact, which will lead to read errors during copying. Make sure that both the original and the target cards are correctly installed in the tray of the device.

Shell interface MIUI It can vary depending on the Android version and regional firmware (Global, China, EEA). In some cases, the management menu SIM-The cards are placed in a separate section, while in others it is integrated into the general communication settings. Before the procedure, it is recommended to make a backup of current contacts to have a rollback point.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove the SIM card during the process of writing or reading data.This can damage the file system of the card and lead to irreversible loss of the phone book.

Standard GSM cards often have a limit of 250 or 500 entries, with the length of the contact name limited to 14-20 characters. If your phone book is extensive, a full transfer may not be technically possible without losing some data or truncating names.

Direct transfer through the system menu of contacts

The most reliable way to do this is to use the built-in functionality of the Contacts app, which does not require an Internet connection or third-party software. The algorithm may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi devices.

You first open the Contacts app and go to the settings, which are usually hidden under the three-dot or gear icon at the top of the screen. SIM-Import/export data, where the system will ask you to choose the source and recipient of the information.

• 📱 Select the option “Import with” SIM-cards, if you need to first upload numbers to the phone memory.
• 💾 Use the item "Export to" SIM-card" to record data from the phone's memory to a new SIM.
• 🔄 In some versions MIUI The function "Copy contacts" is available, allowing you to select two cards for direct migration.

Once you have selected the source, the system will scan and suggest that you mark the contacts to be transferred, so you can select all the records at once or mark only the ones you need. SIM-The card’s long names can be cropped and additional fields (email, address) will be lost as the format is cut off. SIM-The cards don't support them.

Using the Mi Mover app for migration

For users who are changing the entire device or want to create an intermediate backup, Mi Mover is the perfect utility. This native application is pre-installed on most Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, which allows you to transfer data not only between phones, but also effectively manage their structure.

While the main function of Mi Mover is to transfer data over Wi-Fi Direct between devices, it also works with local backups. SIM-It's a way to repaint the card to your phone, and then replace the card to restore it to a new one, which is a safer way than copying it directly, because the data is digitized first.

Launch the application and select the device role (Sender or Receiver). In the transmission settings section, make sure that the data type “Contacts” is selected. The process is fast and does not consume mobile traffic using a local wireless link between Wi-Fi modules.

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Mover to transfer to a new phone, make sure that the target device already has a new one installed. SIM-card if you plan to immediately save data to it, although by default they are stored in the account or memory.

Syncing through Google Account as an alternative

In the cloud age, physical transfer of contacts between SIM cards is becoming less relevant, giving way to sync through Google Contacts. This is the most reliable way to save data, since it is tied to your account, not to a physical medium that can be lost or damaged.

To use this method, make sure that in the phone settings (Settings) → Accounts and syncs) Contact sync activated. SIM-You need to import the maps to your Google account first. SIM-The card is simply enough to enable synchronization, and all the numbers will appear in the phone book automatically.

The advantage of this method is that you can edit contacts from any device through a browser, you can combine duplicates, add photos and distribute contacts into groups. For owners of the Xiaomi ecosystem, it also opens up the possibility of accessing numbers through the i.mi.com web interface.

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Use the “Joint Duplicates” feature in Google Contacts app to clear the list of repetitive entries after importing from the SIM card.

Solving Typical Import Problems

The data transfer process is not always smooth. Users often experience reading errors, process freezes or incorrect display of names (crackers instead of letters), these problems are usually associated with encoding or damage to the memory sector on the very same site. SIM-map.

If the names are not displayed correctly when importing, the problem lies in the difference in encoding (GSM 7-bit vs. UTF-8). In this case, it is recommended to first copy the contacts to a text file (.vcf) on a computer via Bluetooth or USB, check the encoding, and then download the corrected file back to the phone, distributing it to a new SIM card.

If the system is writing “Memory” SIM-The cards are full, even though there are a lot of places, try to clear out unnecessary entries, sometimes there are dead cells from remote contacts on the map, formatting the SIM card through the phone menu (if this option is available in your version). MIUI) It may help, but it will delete all current data.

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If direct copying causes encoding errors, use the intermediate format.vcf (contact file) to guarantee the preservation of all characters and names.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)