Owners of Xiaomi smartphones are often faced with the need to transfer the phone book when changing devices or to create a physical backup. Model Redmi 8, running under shell MIUI, has a specific data storage architecture that differs from pure Android. Users may not immediately find the usual export options, since the system by default tends to save all records in the manufacturer’s cloud service or Google account.
Saving numbers directly to the chip SIM-card is a time-tested method that guarantees compatibility with any, even the simplest push-button phones. However, in modern interfaces this function is sometimes hidden or limited by the technical characteristics of the media itself. You will need to carefully follow the steps described below in order to successfully migrate data without losing information.
In this material we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions for Redmi 8, consider possible errors when copying and explain the difference between storage formats. Understanding these nuances will help you avoid situations where, after rearranging the card, the numbers are unavailable or displayed incorrectly.
Technical limitations and storage formats
Before proceeding with the transfer, it is important to understand the physical limitations SIM cards. This chip is intended primarily for subscriber identification on the network, and not for storing large amounts of data. Unlike the internal memory of a smartphone or cloud storage, SIM cards are extremely small.
The main limitation concerns the length of the number and the number of characters in the name. If your phone book contains entries with long names, additional numbers or photographs, this information will be truncated or deleted when exporting to a SIM card. The GSM standard allows you to save only one number per name to a SIM card, and the name length is usually limited to 10-14 characters.
It is also worth considering that Redmi 8 supports two SIM cards, but the operating system MIUI may handle write requests differently for each slot. In some firmware versions, export is only available for the main card inserted into the first slot.
⚠️ Attention: When copying contacts from the phone to a SIM card, the original entries are in the device memory are not deleted. However, if you decide to clear the phone book after the transfer, make sure that the export was successful, as the reverse process (import from SIM card) may not retain additional fields such as email or address.
The on-chip storage format is often called GSM or USIM. and it does not fully support Unicode, which can lead to problems displaying Cyrillic names on older devices. Therefore, before a mass transfer, it is recommended to do a sample test.
Preparing the phone book for export
The process of saving contacts to a SIM card on Redmi 8 requires preliminary data preparation. System MIUI groups records based on where they are physically located. To successfully transfer, you need to make sure that the numbers are in a source available for export.
Open the standard application Contact (yellow icon with a silhouette of a person). At the top of the screen you will see a switch or drop-down menu that shows the current display source: "All Contacts", "Phone", "SIM 1", "SIM 2" or "Google". We need to work with the section Phone or Googleif synchronization is enabled.
If your numbers are scattered across different groups, they need to be combined or selected for copying all at once. In the interface Xiaomi this is done through the control menu. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner or the "More" button to see a list of available actions.
- 📱 Select the "Import/Export contacts" option in the menu that appears.
- 📂 Make sure that the source "Phone memory" or the corresponding account is selected.
- 🔍 Check for duplicates that may take up extra space on the SIM card.
It is important to note that if you have synchronization with Googleenabled, then when you select export, the system may offer to save the backup copy to the cloud. You need to select an option Export to SIM card, which is often located in a submenu or requires confirmation of the action.
Before starting a mass operation, copy 1-2 test contacts to the SIM card, insert it into another phone and check that names and numbers are displayed correctly.
Step-by-step guide for saving on Redmi 8
The shell interface MIUI on Redmi 8 may vary slightly depending on the version of Android, but the main path remains the same. Follow this algorithm to transfer data to the chip.
Go to the application Contact. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal bars or dots) in the top left or right corner of the screen. In the list that opens, find the item Import/Export contacts. The system may request permission to access contacts if you launch the application for the first time - confirm the action.
In the window that opens, you will see several options for actions. You are interested in the button Export to SIM card. If you have two SIM cards, the system will prompt you to choose which of them (SIM 1 or SIM 2) you want to write information to. Select the desired slot.
☑️ Contacts export algorithm
Next a list of all available contacts will appear. You can tick specific numbers or select the option Select all at the top of the list. After selection, press the confirmation button (usually the checkmark at the bottom of the screen or the "OK" button).
The copying process will begin. A progress bar will appear on the screen. Do not turn off the screen or go into other heavy applications during this process, so as not to interrupt the recording of data to the chip.
Working with Google Contacts as an alternative
Storing numbers on a SIM card is an archaic, but sometimes necessary method. However, for owners Redmi 8 it is much more effective to use synchronization with your account Google. This is a modern standard that eliminates restrictions on data volume and format.
Unlike a SIM card, a Google account allows you to store an unlimited number of contacts, link several numbers, email addresses, photos and even notes to them. If your smartphone is lost or broken, just log into your account on the new device, and the entire phone book will be restored automatically.
To set up synchronization, go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization. Select your Google account and make sure the switch next to "Contacts" is active. If it is turned off, turn it on.
| Option | SIM card | Google Account | Phone memory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of numbers per name | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Name length | Limited (10-14 symbol.) | No restrictions | No restrictions |
| Contact photo | No | Yes | Yes |
| Risk of loss | High (physical wear and tear) | Low (cloud) | Medium (at reset) |
The use of a cloud service is especially important for Redmi 8, since this device is often used as a second or backup device, and quick data migration is critical here.
What to do if contacts are missing after a reset?
If you reset your phone to factory settings, but your contacts were synced with Google, they will be restored automatically when you log in to your account. If there was no synchronization, check the website contacts.google.com - perhaps the backup copy was saved there automatically.
Solving common problems and errors
When users try to save contacts Redmi 8 may encounter various system errors. Often the problem lies not in a malfunction, but in the chip's memory being full or a format conflict.
If you see a message that SIM card memory is full, this means that the free space on the chip has run out. Old SIM cards can only hold 250 entries. In this case, you need to delete old unnecessary numbers directly from the SIM card through the contact management menu, selecting the "SIM" source.
Another common problem is that the "Export to SIM card" button is inactive or hidden. In new versions MIUI Xiaomi sometimes hides this feature as it promotes cloud storage. In this case, try updating the Contacts application through the store GetApps or Play Market.
⚠️ Attention: If the “Insufficient space” error occurs during export even if there are free slots, the SIM card may be damaged or have a very old memory standard. Try clearing the contacts on your SIM card completely before making a new entry.
It may also fail when copying names in Cyrillic. If another phone displays question marks or hieroglyphs instead of names, it means that the SIM card encoding does not support the Russian language. In this case, the only option is storage in the phone memory or the cloud.
Import contacts back to the phone
The situations are different: you could buy a new phone or restore data from an old SIM card. The import procedure to Redmi 8 is also simple and is performed through the same menu.
Go to Contact → Menu → Import/Export contacts. Select option Import from SIM card. The system will ask where exactly you want to save the data: to the phone memory, to a SIM card of another operator, or to a Google account.
It is recommended to select the option Google or Phone memory. When importing to a SIM card, you risk losing some of the data (as mentioned above), so this option should be used only for temporary storage or transfer to a push-button phone.
After selecting the source and destination, the system will show a list of found numbers. Confirm the import, and in a few seconds all entries will appear in your phone book.
The optimal strategy for Redmi 8 is to keep the main database in Google, and copy only the 10-20 most important numbers to the SIM card in case of an emergency with a discharged or broken smartphone.
Why is there no "Copy all contacts to" button on Redmi 8 SIM"?
In some versions of MIUI, this button is hidden if the system detects that the SIM card is low on space, or if the contacts contain data incompatible with the SIM format (for example, long names or email). Try selecting contacts manually.
How many contacts can a SIM card hold?
The standard capacity varies from 250 to 500 entries depending on the operator and year of issue of the card. Modern USIM cards can hold more, but the old GSM format is limited to strictly 250 cells.
Is it possible to save a photo of a contact to a SIM card?
No, the technical specification of a SIM card does not provide for storing graphic files. Photos are saved only in the phone memory or linked to a Google/social network account.