Many users, when purchasing new brand devices Xiaomi, are faced with the need to transfer the phone book from an old device or directly from SIM cards. Despite the development of cloud technologies, physical storage media still remains a popular way to store numbers, especially when changing an operator or purchasing a budget model.
The process of data migration in the shell MIUI or new HyperOS is implemented intuitively, but is hidden in non-obvious sections of the settings, which often causes confusion among beginners. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods for copying entries so that you can quickly restore your address book.
You should not postpone this procedure, since storing contacts exclusively on plastic risks losing them if the card is damaged or you switch to a tariff with a different format. USIM. Modern smartphones allow you to combine records from different sources into a single database, available for synchronization with your account.
Preparing a SIM card and checking capacity
Before starting the import procedure, you need to make sure that your SIM card is correctly detected by the system and is not full. Older cards have limited memory capacity, typically holding between 250 and 500 entries, which may not be enough for a modern phone book.
If you are using a dual-SIM device, the system will prompt you to select a data source. It is important to understand that the on-chip storage format is outdated: it often does not support long names, Cyrillic in some encodings, or additional fields such as email and addresses.
⚠️ Attention: When importing from a SIM card, long contact names may be truncated to 10-15 characters due to technical limitations of the on-chip data storage format.
It is recommended to check the list of numbers in advance through the engineering menu or the standard “dialer” to identify potential duplicates. This will save time on subsequent cleaning of the database after the transfer.
Standard method through the Contacts application
The easiest and most reliable way to transfer data is built directly into the system phone book management application. The interface may differ slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic of actions remains the same for all devices Redmi.
First, open the application Contact and go to the settings menu. It is usually hidden behind the three dots or gear icon in the top corner of the screen. Here you will need to find the section responsible for data management.
☑️ Action algorithm
In the import menu, the system will ask for confirmation of the action. After selecting a SIM card (if there are two), the reading process will begin. It is worth noting that in new versions MIUI this function is sometimes moved to the general system settings.
If the standard path does not work, try an alternative route through the phone settings. Go to Settings → Applications → System application settings → Contacts. This section also provides functionality for transferring data between media.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may change after updating the firmware. If you do not find the “Import” item, check the “Contact Management” section in the general settings of the device.
The copying process takes from a few seconds to a minute, depending on the number of entries. Upon completion of the operation, the system will notify you about the successful import or report errors if some numbers could not be read.
After import, immediately create a backup copy of the new phone book to your Google account to avoid repeated data loss in the future.
Import through system settings and accounts
In some software builds, the transfer function moved to a separate account management menu. This is done for the convenience of synchronizing data between various services and the local storage of the smartphone.
Go to the section Settings → Passwords and security or Accounts and synchronization. There may be an item “Transfer data from another device” or a specialized migration wizard that supports working with SIM cards.
Using system tools allows you not only to copy numbers, but also immediately distribute them into the necessary groups or accounts. This is especially convenient if you want to separate personal and work contacts at the transfer stage.
| Data source | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| SIM card | Versatility, does not require Internet | Name length limit, no photo |
| Google Account | Auto-sync, full information | Network connection required |
| .vcf file | Fast bulk transfer | Need file on device |
Choosing the right data source is critical to maintaining the integrity of the information. If you have the opportunity, it is better to use cloud synchronization, but for a one-time transfer from an old card, the method through the system settings is quite effective.
Using the Mi Mover application for migration
For users moving from an old smartphone to a new one Redmi, the company has developed a utility Mi Mover. Although it is focused on transferring data between phones, in some scenarios it also helps when working with external media.
Launch the application Mi Mover and select the data reception mode. Even if you do not connect a second phone, the utility can offer options for restoring from local backups that may have been created previously using the SIM card.
This method is less direct for working specifically with the card chip, but it is indispensable if the standard contacts menu gives an error. The application has deeper access to system resources and can bypass software failures.
⚠️ Attention: The Mi Mover application requires superuser rights or special permissions to access system databases. Provide access only to trusted utilities.
While working, monitor the battery level. Although the operation is not energy-consuming, interrupting the process of writing to the database can lead to damage to the contacts file, which will require resetting the application settings.
Problem solving: contacts are not imported
The situation when the smartphone does not see the numbers on the SIM card or the process ends with an error occurs quite often. The reason may be either physical damage to the chip or a software conflict between Android versions.
Try removing the card and inserting it into another slot if your phone supports two SIM cards. Sometimes the contact in the connector is broken, and the system reads the card incorrectly, ignoring the information recorded on it.
What to do if the card is old?
If your SIM card is more than 5-7 years old, its chip may use an outdated recording standard, which modern versions of Android block for security reasons. In this case, contact the operator's communication store for a free replacement with a new USIM card while keeping the number.
Clearing the cache of the Contacts application and Contacts Storage often helps eliminate software freezes. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the desired service and click “Clear”.
If all else fails, try manually creating one new contact on the SIM card through your old phone, and then check if it appears on Redmi. This will help diagnose whether the phone sees the card in principle.
In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by replacing the old SIM card with a new one in the operator's salon, since physical chips have a limited service life.
Synchronization and saving to the cloud
After successfully importing numbers, it is extremely important not to leave them in local phone storage or SIM card. The local database is vulnerable when the settings are reset, the screen breaks, or the device is lost.
Set up automatic synchronization with your account Google. Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google and make sure that the switch opposite the “Contacts” item is active. This will create a mirror copy of your phone book on the Internet.
You can also use the cloud Xiaomi Cloud, which is integrated into the system. It allows you to restore contacts even in the absence of Google services, which is relevant for some regions. Management is carried out through the menu Settings → Mi Account.
- 🔒 Regularly check the synchronization status in your account settings.
- 📱 Export contacts to a .vcf file every six months for additional insurance.
- 🗑️ Remove duplicates that may have arisen when merging databases.
Using cloud technologies ensures that when you buy your next smartphone you won't have to fiddle with it again SIM cards. Just enter your login and password, and the entire phone book will be downloaded automatically.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer contacts from SIM to Redmi without the Internet?
Yes, the standard import procedure through the Contacts application or system settings works completely offline. The Internet will only be required if you decide to synchronize the data with the Google cloud immediately after import.
Why did contact photos disappear after the transfer?
SIM cards do not technically support storing graphic images. When importing, only text data (name and number) is transferred. Photos must be added manually or restored from a backup of an old phone.
What to do if contact names are displayed in hieroglyphs?
This is an encoding problem. Try changing the system language to English, importing, and then returning to Russian. In extreme cases, you will have to edit the names manually, since the old SIM card could use a non-standard Cyrillic encoding.
Where are imported contacts stored by default?
Usually the system prompts you to select a storage location during the import process. If you haven't selected a specific account, contacts are saved in your phone's local storage (Device). It is recommended to immediately move them to your Google account.