Introduction: why do you need to transfer data to a new smartphone
The purchase of a new gadget is always accompanied by desire to start using it as soon as possible, but the initial setup process often takes a lot of time. The issue of preserving the phone book is especially acute when old numbers are stored not in the cloud, but physically on the telecom operator’s chip. Device owners Xiaomi and Redmi are often faced with the need to quickly migrate data from an old device or a simple SIM card to a new device with the MIUI or HyperOS shell.
Storing contacts directly on SIM card is considered an outdated method, since the chip has strict limitations by memory capacity and length of recorded names. However, many users continue to use this method out of habit or due to lack of synchronization with Google account in the past. Transferring these records to the internal memory of your smartphone or to a cloud service is a critical step to ensure the safety of your data.
In this article we will look in detail at how to do it correctly Importing contacts on Redmi brand devices, taking into account the features of the proprietary shell. We will consider not only the standard algorithm of actions, but also possible pitfalls that you may encounter when working with different versions of Android.
Preparing a SIM card and checking compatibility
Before proceeding with technical manipulations in the smartphone menu, you need to make sure that the storage medium is in physical condition. If your SIM card is of a non-standard size or damaged on the contact pad, the phone may not read the data correctly. Make sure that the card tray is inserted until it clicks, and the system has detected the telecom operator.
Modern communication standards allow a limited number of records to be stored on the chip, usually no more than 250-500 numbers. At the same time, the length of a contact's name is often limited to 15-20 characters, which is why long last and middle names can be cut off. Before starting the procedure, it is recommended to check whether the numbers are displayed in the basic call list.
⚠️ Attention: If, after installing a SIM card, there is no network icon in the status bar or the message “No SIM card” is displayed, do not try to import contacts. First, solve the problem with recognizing the communication module at a service center or operator.
It is also worth considering that some corporate or special tariff plans may block writing new data to the card, although reading usually remains available. To successfully complete the operation, the phone must have sufficient battery charge, preferably more than 30%, to avoid sudden shutdown during the recording process.
Make sure that the current contact profile is installed on the device. The phone settings may be set to display only certain groups, which may cause the import to appear to have failed even though the data is already there.
The standard import method is through the system Contacts application
The most reliable and fastest way to move numbers is to use the built-in application Contact, which is preinstalled on all Redmi smartphones. The interface of this app may differ slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the operating logic remains the same for the entire Android ecosystem. Open the application by finding it on the desktop or in the list of all apps.
In the window that opens, pay attention to the three dots in the upper right corner or the gear icon, which are responsible for additional settings. By clicking on this element, you will see a drop-down menu where you need to select Import/export contacts. This is where all the tools for managing the phone book are hidden.
After selecting the import item, the system will prompt you to specify the data source. You need to select the option Import from SIM card. If your smartphone has two SIM cards, the system will ask you to clarify which card (SIM 1 or SIM 2) the information should be read from. Select the desired slot.
☑️ Ready for import
Next you will need to specify the destination for the saved numbers. It is strongly recommended to choose Google Account or Phone, but not the SIM card itself. Saving to a Google account will ensure automatic synchronization and protection against data loss when changing devices in the future.
The system will display a list of all found numbers on the map. You can select all contacts at once by clicking the corresponding checkbox, or select only the required entries manually. After confirming the selection, the copying process will begin, which will take from a few seconds to a minute depending on the number of records.
Alternative method through system settings
If for some reason the standard application does not start or does not work correctly, you can use deep settings of the operating system. This method duplicates the functionality of the application, but sometimes helps to bypass software glitches in the interface. Go to the main smartphone settings menu.
In the list of parameters, find the section Applications and select Application settings. Here, in the list of all installed apps, find Contact. By clicking on it, you will be taken to the management menu for this particular application, where import functions may also be available.
However, a more direct path is through the section System applications in the settings. In some versions of MIUI firmware, there is a separate item Import contacts right in the general settings of the phone, in the subsection responsible for working with the phone book. This path may vary: Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Special access → Contacts.
Why may the menu be different?
Different versions of the MIUI shell (12, 13, 14) and the new HyperOS have different menu structures. If you do not find the item in the specified location, use the settings search by entering the word “Import.”
Using system settings is especially important when the contacts application was accidentally deleted or disabled by the user. In this case, activating the function through the settings menu will forcefully launch the necessary system module for processing data from the SIM chip.
Remember that when working through the system settings, you will still need to confirm permission to access the storage and phone book. Without granting these rights, the import operation will be blocked by the Android security policy.
Synchronization with Google account for reliability
Simply copying the numbers to the phone’s internal memory is only half the battle. To prevent data from being lost in the event of a breakdown, loss or reset, it must be linked to cloud storage. Google Contacts they provide a free and reliable service for these purposes, integrated directly into the system.
After you have imported the numbers from the SIM card into the phone's memory, go to your Google account settings. Go to the Synchronization section and make sure that the switch opposite the item Contact is active. If it is turned off, turn it on and wait for the update process to complete.
| Storage location | Advantages | Disadvantages | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM card | Access from any phone | Little memory, no photos, names cropped | Only as temporary storage |
| Phone memory | Quick access, all functions | Risk of loss during reset or breakdown | Not recommended for long-term storage |
| Google Account | Auto-sync, recovery, web access | Requires Internet for initial setup | The best choice for security |
You can check the success of synchronization through a browser on your computer by going to the Google contacts website. If you see your new numbers there, it means the process was successful and your data is reliably protected. This is especially important for Redmi owners who often experiment with firmware.
Use the "Merge Duplicates" function in the Google Contacts application. Importing from a SIM often creates copies of entries that were already on the phone, and this feature will quickly clear the list.
Regularly checking the synchronization status will help you avoid situations where you think that the number is saved, but in fact it remains only in the local cache of the device. Set up automatic synchronization once a day or when connected to Wi-Fi.
Possible errors and ways to resolve them
During the data transfer process, users may encounter various software glitches. One of the common problems is the SIM card reading error message. This may be due to dirty contacts on the chip or a loose fit of the card in the tray.
Sometimes the system displays an error "Contact storage is full", even if there is a lot of free space on the phone. This happens when the limit is reached specifically in the selected storage profile or in the Google account being synced (although Google limits are huge, local failures are possible). In this case, try clearing the Contacts application cache through application settings.
⚠️ Attention: If after importing contact names are displayed in hieroglyphs or question marks, the problem is in the encoding. Try changing the phone system language to Russian, importing, and then returning the desired language.
It happens that the import starts, but the progress bar freezes at 50% or 90%. Don't reboot your phone right away. Please wait a few minutes, as with a large number of entries, the Redmi processor may be loaded with background tasks. If waiting doesn't help, force close the application and try importing contacts in smaller groups.
Another common situation is that contacts have been imported, but are not visible in the call list. Check your display settings in the Contacts app. Perhaps there is a filter that hides numbers saved on the phone, and only contacts from SIM or from other sources are displayed.
Features of working with dual-SIM Redmi models
Most modern Redmi smartphones support two SIM cards at the same time, which adds nuances to the data transfer procedure. When importing, the system always asks you to select a slot, and it is important not to confuse them, especially if both cards have valuable numbers.
If you need to collect a database of numbers from both cards, follow the procedure sequentially. First, import data from SIM 1 into your Google account, wait until synchronization is complete, and only then proceed with import from SIM 2. Simultaneous selection of two sources is usually not provided in the standard interface.
Please note that when you remove one of the cards to move it to another phone, the system may temporarily hide the contacts associated with this slot if they have not been copied to the shared memory. Always copy data to a neutral storage (Google or device memory) before physically manipulating the trays.
⚠️ Attention: Mobile operator interfaces and Android settings may be updated. If the described menu items do not match your screen, check the official user manual for your specific Redmi model on the manufacturer's website.
Owners of models with a hybrid slot (where the second slot can be used either for a second SIM or a microSD memory card) should be especially careful. Make sure that it is a SIM card and not a memory card in the slot before looking for the contact import function.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to transfer contacts from Redmi to iPhone?
Yes, it is possible. The easiest way is to log into your Google account on your iPhone and turn on contact syncing in iOS settings. All numbers imported from SIM to Redmi and saved in Google will automatically appear in the iPhone phone book.
What to do if contacts are duplicated after import?
Duplicates often occur if the number was already saved in the phone and you imported it from SIM. Use the "Merge Duplicates" function in the Google Contacts application or third-party utilities for cleaning the phone book, which are available in the Play Market.
How many contacts fit on a SIM card?
The standard capacity of a SIM card varies from 200 to 500 entries depending on the operator and chip type. However, there is often a limit on the length of the contact name (about 20 characters), so full names may not be saved.
Will contacts from the SIM disappear after importing to the phone?
No, the import procedure creates a copy of the records in the internal memory or the cloud. The originals remain unchanged on the SIM card unless you specifically select the delete function after copying, which some phones offer as an option.
How to restore contacts back to the SIM card?
This is possible through the same menu Import/exportby selecting Export to SIM card. However, remember about the SIM card memory limits: if you have 1000 numbers in your phone, and the SIM card holds 250, only the first 250 entries will be transferred or the system will throw an error.