Buying a new Redmi or POCO series smartphone is often accompanied by the usual desire to quickly “revive” the device by restoring the phone book. Many users still store numbers directly on the SIM card chip, which is a relic of the era of push-button phones, but remains relevant for many owners of older devices. In the ecosystem Android, especially with a proprietary shell MIUI or HyperOS, the process of data migration is implemented as conveniently as possible, but it has its own nuances that are worth knowing in advance.
The main difficulty lies not so much in the copying process itself, but in the correct format for saving data after the transfer. Modern Xiaomi smartphones offer flexible display and storage settings, which by default can hide certain groups of records. Correct setting At the initial stage, it will help avoid situations where, after a system reboot or update, some numbers mysteriously disappear from the user's field of view.
In this article we will analyze in detail not only the standard algorithm of actions, but also consider typical mistakes that beginners make. You'll learn why storing numbers on a SIM card is considered less reliable today than using cloud services, and how to properly organize your phone book so that no important contacts are lost when you change devices in the future.
Preparing a SIM card and checking compatibility
Before taking active steps in the smartphone menu, you need to make sure that the storage medium is physically and software ready. Old SIM cards, especially those that have been used for more than 5-7 years, may have limited memory capacity and may not support UTF-8 encoding, which is critical for the correct display of Cyrillic names in modern smartphones. If, when removing the card from your old phone, you notice that some names are cut off or displayed with question marks, this is the first signal that you need to check.
It is also worth considering the physical size of the chip. Modern Xiaomi devices use the format Nano-SIM, while old cards can be size Mini or Micro. Mechanical cutting of the card with scissors in the past often led to damage to the contact pad, so it is better to use the service of replacing the card in the telecom operator's showroom, while preserving the number and data recorded on it.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any operations with contacts, it is strongly recommended to make a backup copy of the current phone book to a Google account or to a local file, even if it is empty. This is insurance against software failures during import.
The preparation process also includes checking the condition of the slot itself in the phone. Dust or oxidation of contacts can cause the phone not to recognize the SIM card or, worse, interrupt the data reading process halfway. Gently wipe the chip with a soft, dry cloth before installing it in the device tray.
Basic import of contacts through a standard application
The easiest and fastest way to transfer data is to use the built-in functionality of the MIUI shell. This method does not require an Internet connection and third-party software, working directly with Android system components. First, make sure that the SIM card with the records is installed in the smartphone and is detected by the system.
Open the standard “Contacts” application (icon with a silhouette of a person). The MIUI interface often only displays contacts from your Google account or phone by default, so immediately pay attention to the top of the screen or the side menu. You need to find a display filter or settings menu, which is usually called up by clicking on the three dots in the corner or through the menu button.
- 📱 Click on the "Menu" button (three dots or three stripes) in the application interface.
- 📥 Select "Import/export contacts" or "Manage contacts."
- 💾 In the list that opens, find the option “Import from SIM card.”
- 📂 The system will prompt you to select a storage location: select “Google Account” or “Phone.”
After selecting the source, the system will scan and show a list of found records. At this stage, it is important to be careful: if you have numbers on your SIM card without names or with duplicates, they will all end up in the common database. Confirm the import operation. The process may take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the number of records.
☑️ Import algorithm
Working with duplicates and merging records
One of the most common problems when transferring data is the appearance of duplicates. This happens when the same number is saved in different formats (for example, +7 and 8) or when you have previously synchronized some of your contacts with Google, and now you have added them from the SIM card. The shell Xiaomi has built-in tools to solve this problem, but it does not always work automatically.
For manual control, go to the contact settings and find the “Cleaning” or “Merging duplicates” section. The system will offer to analyze the database and find duplicate entries. The algorithm will offer to combine cards, summing up information from both: for example, taking the name from one record, and the email from another.
| Type of duplicate | Reason of appearance | Recommended action | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full duplicate | Re-import | Automatic merge | Low |
| Different number format | +7 vs 8, presence of country code | Manual check before merging | Average |
| Same name, different numbers | Home and mobile of one person | Merger into one card | Low |
| Source conflict | SIM vs Google vs Phone | Selecting a priority source | High |
Be careful when mass merging. Sometimes the system may mistakenly combine contacts of different people with the same names (for example, “Alexander” or “Service Center”). Visual check before the final confirmation of the operation, it will save your phone book from chaos. It is better to spend 5 minutes checking than to manually sort out mixed up numbers later.
Why do duplicates appear again?
Duplicates may return if you have synchronization enabled with several accounts (for example, Gmail and Outlook) that already have these contacts, or if the messenger application (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) automatically creates copies of contacts in the local memory of the phone. To avoid this, in the synchronization settings, leave only one main account active for storing contacts.
Display settings and filters in MIUI
After successful import, users often encounter a situation where “the contacts seem to be there, but they are not visible.” This is due to display filters. Xiaomi may have a default filter showing contacts only from a specific account or only those with phone numbers (excluding email addresses).
To adjust visibility, open the Contacts application, tap on the three dots (menu) and select Settings → Contacts to display. Here you will see a list of all available sources: SIM card, Phone, Google, other accounts. Make sure that the checkbox next to “All contacts” is selected or the specific sources you need are selected.
It is also worth paying attention to the sorting. In some regions it is customary to sort by last name, in others by first name. You can change this in the same settings menu by selecting “Sort contacts”. This only affects the visual order, but makes searching through a large phone book much easier.
- 👁️ Check the "Contacts to display" filter in the settings menu.
- 🔀 Select the "All contacts" option for a complete list.
- 📇 Set the sort order (First Name/Last Name) under your habits.
- 🚫 Make sure that the “Only contacts with numbers” filter is not enabled if you also need email addresses.
If you use several SIM cards, the system may offer to choose which one to make a call or send a message with. Display settings do not affect the choice of SIM card for a call, but help to understand where exactly a particular contact “comes from” - from an old SIM card or from the cloud.
Synchronization with a Google account as the best method
Storing contacts directly on the SIM card or in the phone memory (“locally”) is today considered an archaic and risky method. The SIM card has a small capacity and does not support long names and additional fields (addresses, birthdays, photos). The phone's memory is vulnerable when the settings are reset or the device breaks down. Gold standard — synchronization with Google.
When you choose to save to your Google Account during import, your contacts are automatically uploaded to the cloud. This provides several key advantages: data security if you lose your phone, the ability to edit from a computer via a browser, and instant recovery on any new Android device simply by entering your login and password.
⚠️ Attention: The synchronization settings interface may differ depending on the version of Android and MIUI. If you do not find the items you need, use the search in your phone settings by entering the word “Synchronization.”
To check the synchronization status, go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Make sure the switch next to Contacts is activated. If it's turned off, your data won't update between devices. You can also start synchronization manually here by clicking on the three dots and selecting “Sync now.”
Use the website contacts.google.com to quickly clear and edit contacts from your computer. It is more convenient to delete duplicates and change names en masse than with your finger on the smartphone screen.
Import through a file manager (VCF format)
There is an alternative, more universal method of transfer - through an export file. This method is especially useful if direct import from a SIM card does not work correctly or if you want to transfer contacts to a phone that does not have a SIM card with records (for example, you are using an eSIM or an Internet-only SIM).
First you will need an old phone or device with a SIM card installed. On it you need to export contacts to a file in the .vcf (vCard) format. This file can be sent to you via messenger, email, or saved to a memory card. The vCard format is an industry standard and is supported by all modern smartphones.
Once you receive the file on Xiaomi, just click on it. The system will automatically offer to open it with the Contacts or Import Contacts application. You will be asked to select an account to save (Google recommended) and confirm the operation. This method is good because the backup file can be stored for years on a flash drive or in cloud storage.
Path to the file after export:Internal memory → MIUI → backup → all_contacts.vcf
(or Download folder if saved manually)
Using the file .vcf also allows you to easily transfer contacts to iPhone or other platforms, since this format is cross-platform. Unlike proprietary Xiaomi databases, vCard will open on almost any device.
The most reliable way to save contacts is not to keep them on the SIM card, but to import them into your Google account. This guarantees the availability of data anywhere in the world if there is Internet access.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What should I do if, after importing, contact names are displayed as questions or gibberish?
This is an encoding problem. Old SIM cards often use GSM 7-bit encoding, which does not support Cyrillic, or have a conflict with UTF-8. Unfortunately, it is impossible to restore the names in this case - they were lost at the stage of recording on the SIM card. You will have to manually rename your contacts. To avoid this in the future, store contacts only in the cloud or phone memory.
Is it possible to transfer contacts if the phone screen is broken and the sensor does not work?
Yes, if the display works (the image is at least partially visible) and there is USB OTG support. Connect a regular computer mouse via an OTG adapter to the Xiaomi charging connector. A mouse cursor will appear on the screen, allowing you to navigate the menu and import contacts. If the display is completely black, but the phone is working, you can try using voice control or connecting a keyboard, but this is more difficult.
How many contacts can a SIM card hold and what to do if there are more?
Usually a SIM card can hold from 250 to 500 entries, and often the contact name is limited to 15-20 characters. If during import you see a message about overflow or some contacts are missing, then the limit has been exceeded. In this case, break up the process: copy some contacts to your phone, delete them from the SIM card, then copy the next part. But it’s better to immediately switch to storage on Google, where the limits amount to thousands.
Will contacts be lost from the SIM card after importing to the phone?
No, the import (copy) operation creates a copy of the records in the phone’s memory or in the cloud. The originals remain on the SIM card. However, if you choose to perform "Move" instead of "Copy", the originals will be deleted from the SIM card. Carefully read the labels on the buttons during the operation.