How to transfer contacts from a Xiaomi phone to a SIM card: 3 working methods

Transferring contacts from Xiaomi to SIM card seems like a simple task, but many users encounter unexpected difficulties. Unlike old push-button phones, where this function was available in two clicks, modern smartphones (and especially firmware Android (and especially the firmware MIUI) often hide it deep in the menu or completely remove it from the interface. The reasons for this are limitations of storage formats on SIM, the transition to cloud services and manufacturer policies.

In this article we will look at all current methods exporting contacts to a SIM card for devices Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO, including 2020-2026 models. You will learn how to get around common errors (for example, “not enough memory on SIM”), what data formats are supported, and how the process differs between versions MIUI. And also why it is sometimes easier to use workarounds through Google Account or third-party applications.

⚠️ Attention: SIM cards support storing only basic contact data (name + number). Photos, addresses, emails and additional fields will be lost during the transfer.

Why is Xiaomi hiding the function of transferring contacts to SIM?

Smartphone manufacturers, including Xiaomi, are gradually abandoning support for transferring contacts to a SIM card for several reasons:

🔹 SIM technical limitations. Standard SIM Application Toolkit (STK) allows you to store on the card only 250–500 contacts (depending on the operator) with a minimum set of fields. For comparison: Google Contacts or Mi Cloud support tens of thousands of records with photos, mails and notes.

🔹 Moving to cloud services. Xiaomi actively promotes its own cloud Mi Cloud and synchronization via Google Account. Transfer to SIM is considered an outdated method that can lead to data loss if exported incorrectly.

🔹 Fragmentation of firmware. In different versions MIUI (from 11 to 14) the path to the transfer function changed or disappeared altogether. For example, in MIUI 14 for Redmi Note 12 the option is hidden in a submenu, but in POCO F5 it is not there at all - only through third-party utilities.

🔹 Data security. Storing contacts on a SIM is less secure than in an encrypted cloud. If the card is lost or stolen, it will be impossible to restore the data.

Despite this, the function is still in demand - for example, when changing a phone to a device without Android (feature phone, iPhone without synchronization) or for backup in regions with unstable internet.

Method 1: Standard export through settings Xiaomi

This method works on most devices Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO s MIUI 11–14, but the path to the function may vary. Main condition —your contacts must be saved in local phone memory (not in Google or Mi Cloud).

📌 Step-by-step guide:

1. Open the application Contact (icon with a silhouette person).
2. Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner → select Manage contacts.
3. Scroll down and find the section Import/Export contacts (in some versions - Transfer contacts).
4. Select Export to SIM card.
5. Tick the required contacts (or press Select all) → Export.
6. Wait for the process to complete (may take up to 1-2 minutes for 200+ contacts).

⚠️ Attention: If the option Export to SIM card is missing, then your contacts are synced with Google or Mi Cloud. To make them appear in local storage, disable synchronization in Settings → Accounts.

🔧 What to do if contacts are not exported?

• 📵 Check the SIM card: Make sure it is inserted into the slot SIM 1 (on some models, export only works with the first slot).
• 🗑️ Clear the SIM memory: If the card is full, delete old contacts through the menu Phone → SIM card settings.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone: Sometimes a simple reboot before export helps.

Method 2: Transfer through the Contacts application from Google

If the standard method does not work (for example, to POCO X5 Pro or Redmi K60), use the application Google Contacts. It allows you to export data to a file .vcfand then import it to SIM through third-party utilities.

📌 Instructions:

1. Install the application Google Contacts from Play Market (if it is not preinstalled).
2. Open it and tap on your avatar in the upper right corner → Manage contacts.
3. Select Export to file → mark the desired contacts → Export to .vcf.
4. The file will be saved in the folder Download. Now download from Play Market application SIM Contacts Manager (or similar, for example Copy to SIM Card).
5. Open the utility, select the option Import from.vcf → specify the saved file → Export to SIM.

✅ Pros method:

• 🌐 Works on all models Xiaomi, even if there is no built-in function.
• 📁 Allows you to select specific contacts for export.
• 🔄 You can edit data before transferring (for example, remove duplicates).

❌ Cons:

• 📱 Requires installation of additional applications.
• ⏳ The process takes longer (export + import).
• 💾 The file .vcf may not be read correctly on older SIM cards (this can be solved by updating the card firmware from the operator).

Method 3: Using the engineering menu (for advanced users)

On some models Xiaomi (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the contact transfer function is available via engineering menu. This method is suitable if standard methods do not work, but requires caution - incorrect actions can disrupt the operation of the phone.

📌 How to open the engineering menu and export contacts:

1. Open the application Phone and enter the code:

   ##4636##

   (on some firmware a code may be required ##86583##).

2. In the menu that opens, select Phone information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to section SIM Card and tap on Export Contacts to SIM.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.

⚠️ Attention: The engineering menu contains settings that are critical for the operation of the phone. Do not change other parametersif you are not sure of their purpose, for example, changing the network settings (Network Type) may result in loss of connection.

🔍 Why may this method not work?

• 🔒 On new versions MIUI (13+) access to the engineering menu is limited.
• 📵 Not all operators support recording contacts via STK commands.
• 🛠️ On some models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the engineering menu codes are disabled by the manufacturer.

What to do if the engineering menu does not open?

If nothing happens after entering the code, try:

1. Use an alternative code: ##36446337## (to check the MIUI version).

2. Enable developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → MIUI version, tap 7 times on the build number, then go back to Settings → Advanced → For developers and activate Allow location simulation (sometimes this unlocks hidden features).

3. Install the application MTK Engineering Mode (only for devices with a MediaTek processor).

Limitations and problems when transferring contacts to SIM

Even if you managed to export contacts, you may encounter serious problems. Their reasons lie in the technical limitations of SIM cards and firmware features MIUI.

Problem	Cause	Solution
Not all contacts were transferred	The SIM card only supports numbers in format +7XXXXXXXXXX (without spaces, dashes, additional characters).	Edit the numbers before exporting: remove all characters except numbers and +.
Error "Not enough memory"	The maximum number of contacts is already recorded on the SIM (usually 250).	Delete old contacts via Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → SIM contacts.
Contact names are displayed in hieroglyphs	SIM card encoding does not support Cyrillic (often on older maps).	Update your SIM with your operator or use transliteration (for example, "Ivan" instead of "Ivan").
Contacts are duplicated after import	When transferred to a new phone, contacts from the SIM are merged with existing ones.	Before import delete all contacts from the phone or use the "Replace all" option.

🔹 Additional nuances:

• 📱 On Xiaomi with two SIM cards, export only works on first SIM (slot SIM 1).
• 🔄 After transfer, contacts on SIM become read-only - you can edit them only after importing them back into the phone.
• 🌍 If you use eSIM, transferring contacts to it is impossible - only to a physical SIM card.

How to import contacts from a SIM back to Xiaomi?

If you need to restore contacts from a SIM card to your phone (for example, after resetting the settings), use the reverse process - importIt is available in the same menu as export, but has its own characteristics.

📌 Import instructions:

1. Open the application Contact → ⋮ → Contact management → Import/Export.
2. Select Import from SIM card.
3. Specify where to save contacts:
   • Local phone memory — if you don’t want to synchronize with the cloud.
   • Google Account —if you need backup.
   • Mi Account —for synchronization with other devices Xiaomi.

Click Import and wait for completion.

⚠️ Attention: When importing to a phone with existing contacts, duplicates may appear. To avoid this, before importing:

1. Export current contacts to a file .vcf (backup).
2. Delete all contacts from the phone via Manage contacts → Delete everything.
3. Only after that, import data from SIM.

🔧 If the import does not work:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone and try again.
• 📵 Check whether the SIM card is inserted correctly (contacts should be clean).
• 🛠️ Update the firmware MIUI to the latest version (some updates fix SIM reading errors).

Alternative ways to back up contacts

If transferring to a SIM card is impossible or inconvenient, Consider alternative methods of maintaining contacts. They are more reliable and support more data (photos, emails, addresses).

🔹 1. Export to file (universal format) It can be copied to a computer, flash drive, or sent by mail. .vcf (universal format)

• 📱 Open Contact → ⋮ → Management → Export to file.
• 💾 The file will be saved in the phone memory. It can be copied to a computer, flash drive, or sent by mail.
• 🔄 To import: Import from file → select .vcf-file.

🔹 2. Synchronization with Google Account

• 🌐 Go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact synchronization.
• 🔄 Turn on the option and wait until synchronization is complete.
• 📱 Contacts will be available on any device after logging into the same account.

🔹 3. Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud)

• 📱 Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Contact synchronization.
• 🔒 Data is encrypted and stored on servers Xiaomi.
• ⚠️ Minus: when changing the phone brand (for example, to Samsung), it will be more difficult to restore contacts than from Google.

🔹 4. Third-party applications (for example Super Backup & Restore)

• 📲 Install the utility from Play Market.
• 💾 Create a backup copy of your contacts to the cloud or to a memory card.
• 🔄 If necessary, restore data in one click.

Important: Backup files Copies of contacts (.vcf or application backups) take up less space than it might seem, but it is better to store them in several places (cloud + local storage). A SIM card is the least reliable storage option due to the risk of physical loss or damage.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring contacts to SIM

Is it possible? transfer contacts from SIM to iPhone?

Yes, but not directly. First, import contacts from SIM to Xiaomi, then export them to a file .vcf and send it to iPhone (for example, via AirDrop or mail). On iPhone open the file - contacts will be added automatically.

Why is there no export option to SIM on my Xiaomi?

This may be due to:

• Version MIUI (in 12–14 functions there is no transfer in the main menu).
• Phone model (on some POCO and flagships Xiaomi the option has been removed).
• The fact that contacts are synchronized only with Google or Mi Cloud (they must first be copied to local memory).

Try methods from Method 2 or Method 3.

How many contacts can be stored on a SIM card?

Depends on the type of card and operator:

• Standard SIM: 200–250 contacts.
• USIM (4G/LTE): up to 500 contacts.
• Old SIM (2G): 100–150 contacts.

To find out the exact number, insert the SIM into the phone, open Contacts → Settings → SIM contacts - free space will be displayed there.

Is it possible to transfer contacts from SIM to a computer?

There is no direct way, but you can do it in two steps:

1. Import contacts from SIM to Xiaomi (as described in the import section).
2. Export them to a file .vcf and copy it to your PC via cable or cloud.

File .vcf can be opened in Excel, Google Contacts or Outlook.

What should I do if, after transferring to SIM, the Cyrillic names disappeared?

This is a SIM card encoding problem. Solutions:

• Update your SIM with your operator (new cards support Unicode).
• Use transliteration (for example, "Ivan Ivanov" instead of "Ivan Ivanov").
• Transfer contacts back to your phone, edit names and export again.