How to view contacts on SIM card in Android 8: all working methods

Smartphones based on Android 8.0 Oreo are still actively used, especially in the budget segment or as spare devices. But many users encounter the problem: contacts are saved on the SIM card, and it is not clear how to extract them from there. Unlike modern versions of Android, where the phone book is synchronized with Google accountby default, in Oreo, working with SIM contacts requires separate actions.

In this article you you will find all current ways to view contacts on a SIM card in Android 8, including hidden functions of the standard Contacts application, workarounds through the engineering menu and methods for transferring data to a device or to the cloud. We will also analyze common errors due to which contacts may not be displayed, and give recommendations for backup.

⚠️ Attention: The interface of the Contacts application may differ depending on the manufacturer's shell (Samsung Experience, MIUI, EMUI etc.). If the steps described do not work, check the firmware version in Settings → About phone.

1. Standard method: through the Contacts application

The simplest method is to use the built-in application Contact (or People in some firmware). In Android 8.0 the function of viewing SIM contacts is usually hidden behind additional settings.

Open the application and follow these steps:

• 📱 Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner or the "Menu" button.
• 🔍 Select item Manage contacts or Settings.
• 📋 Find the option Import/Export or Copy contacts.
• 💾 In the list of sources, select SIM card (may be called SIM1/SIM2).

If contacts are displayed, but are not synchronized with the phone, you can import into device memory. To do this:

1. In the import menu, select Import from SIM.
2. Specify the target storage (for example, Device or Google).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete.

2. Alternative method: through the phone settings

Some manufacturers (for example, Samsung or Huawei) duplicate the functions of managing SIM contacts in the system settings. This method is useful if the standard Contacts application does not work correctly.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts (or Users and accounts).
2. Scroll down and find the section SIM card or SIM management.
3. Select your SIM card (if there are several).
4. Click on Contact or Phone book.

Here you will see a list of contacts saved on the SIM. Please note: this menu usually there is no editing function only displays and imports.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with shell MIUI (for example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 on Android 8) the path may differ: Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → [Select SIM] → Phone book.

3. Using the engineering menu (for experienced users)

If standard methods do not work, you can try engineering menu. This method is suitable for devices based on Qualcomm or Mediatek, but requires caution - incorrect actions can disrupt the network.

Steps:

1. Open the application Phone.
2. Enter the combination:

   ##4636##

   or

   ##83781##

3. In the menu that opens, select Phone information or SIM Information.
4. Scroll down to the section Phonebook (Phone Book).

The all contacts saved on the SIM card, including hidden system entrieswill appear here. They can be viewed, but editing is not always available.

What to do if the engineering menu does not open?

If nothing happens after entering the code, then your firmware is blocking access to the engineering menu. An alternative is to use applications like MTK Engineering Mode (only for Mediatek processors) or Shortcut Master to find hidden functions.

4. Applications for working with SIM contacts

If the built-in tools fail, third-party utilities will come to the rescue. We have tested several applications that work reliably on Android 8.0:

Application	Functions	Features
SIM Contacts Manager	View, edit, import/export	Supports dual SIMs, backup copying to CSV
Copy to SIM Card	Copying contacts to SIM and back	Simple interface, but no mass editing
Super Backup & Restore	Backup contacts, including SIM	Saves to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox)

Recommendations for use:

• 🔒 Before installation, check the application permissions (should only be Contact and Storage).
• 📲 After importing contacts from SIM check duplicates —duplicate records often occur.
• 🔄 For backup, select the format .vcf (business card) - all devices support it.

Check the free space on the device|Close all background applications|Disable battery saving|Create a backup copy of current contacts-->

5. Typical problems and their solutions

Often users encounter the fact that contacts on SIM not displayed or are displayed incorrectly Let's consider the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

Problem 1: Empty contact list on SIM

Possible reasons:

• 📵 The SIM card does not support storing contacts (relevant for some nano-SIM or eSIM).
• 🔄 Contacts were deleted during the previous import.
• 🛠️ The SIM file system is damaged (this can be solved by replacing the card with operator).

Problem 2: Contacts are displayed in hieroglyphs

This happens due to encoding incompatibility. Solutions:

• 🔤 Try reading the contacts through another device (for example, an old push-button phone).
• 📱 Use the application SIM Contacts Manager —it will automatically convert the encoding.
• 🔄 Resave contacts to a new SIM card in the operator's salon.

Problem 3: Cannot be edited contacts on SIM

Many smartphones on Android 8 block editing directly on SIM. Workarounds:

1. Copy contacts to the phone memory, edit, then export back.
2. Use Samsung Messages or Truecaller for mass editing.

6. contacts

Saving contacts only on the SIM card - unreliable method: if the card is lost or damaged, the data will be lost. We recommend transferring them to a more secure storage.

Backup methods copy:

• 🌐 Google account: Import contacts from SIM to Google Contacts, they are automatically synchronized.
• 📱 Local file: Export to format .vcf via Settings → Import/Export.
• ☁️ Cloud services: Use Dropbox, Yandex.Disk or iCloud (for iPhone users).

Step-by-step guide for exporting to Google:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Import/Export.
2. Select Import from SIM cards and specify the purpose - Google.
3. Log into your account if prompted.
4. Confirm synchronization in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contacts.

⚠️ Attention: When importing to Google Duplicates are possible. Before synchronizing, clear the list of duplicate entries using the tool Merge and fix in the web version Google Contacts.

7. Features of working with dual SIM

On devices with dual SIM cards (Dual SIM), the process of viewing contacts has nuances. In Android 8.0 each card is considered as a separate storage, and you need to switch between them manually.

How to manage contacts on the second SIM:

• 🔄 In the Contacts application, select Menu → Display contacts and check the box SIM2.
• 📋 To import, specify the source - SIM2, and not SIM1.
• 📱 In the phone settings (SIM cards and mobile networks) you can assign main SIM for contacts.

An important point: some firmware (for example, ColorOS on Oppo) do not support storing contacts on the second SIM. In this case, you will have to use the first card or transfer the data to memory phone.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to recover deleted contacts from a SIM card?

Unfortunately no. SIM cards do not have a "recycle bin" function or change history. If contacts have been deleted, they can only be restored from a backup (if one was made earlier) or through the operator (sometimes call logs are saved).

In the future, use automatic synchronization with Google Contacts or regularly export contacts to a file .vcf.

Why on the new The SIM card does not display old contacts?

Modern USIMcards (4G/5G) often do not support storing contacts in the old format. When replacing a SIM with a new one, the operator transfers only the number, but not the phone book.

Solution: before replacing the card, export contacts from the old SIM to the phone memory or Google account, and then import them back (if the new card supports this function).

How to transfer contacts from SIM to iPhone?

For transfer from Android 8 to iPhone:

1. On Android, export contacts from SIM to a file .vcf.
2. Send the file to yourself by email or via AirDrop.
3. On iPhone, open the file - the contacts will automatically be added to the phone book.

Alternative: synchronize contacts with Google account on Android, then add this account on iPhone to Settings → Passwords and accounts.

Is it possible to edit contacts directly on SIM card?

In most cases no. Android 8 only allows you to view and import SIM contacts. To edit:

1. Copy contacts to the phone memory.
2. Make changes.
3. Export back to SIM (if supported).

Exception: some applications (for example, SIM Contacts Manager) allow you to edit entries directly.

What to do if the phone does not see the SIM card after importing contacts?

This may occur due to a malfunction of the SIM module. Try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone.
• 📶 Remove and reinsert the SIM card.
• 🛠️ Reset your network settings in Settings → System → Reset → Reset the mobile network.
• 🔧 Update the phone firmware (if an update is available).

If the problem persists, contact the service center - the SIM slot may be faulty.