How to add contact in a Xiaomi smartphone: 5 proven ways

Keeping contacts on a Xiaomi smartphone only seems like a simple task – as long as you don’t come across the nuances of the shell. MIUI. Unlike “pure” Android, there are its own features: duplicate records when synchronized with Google, hidden import settings from Google. SIM-maps, and even the interface difference between Redmi models, POCO This article will help you understand all the ways to add contacts, from basic manual input to automatic synchronization through the cloud.

We’ll look at not only standard methods, but also little-known chips: how to save a number straight from the call log, why some contacts are displayed twice, and how to transfer all numbers from the old phone to the new Xiaomi without loss. We will pay special attention to the problems that users face most often: missing entries after resetting settings, sync errors with Google Contacts, and restrictions. SIM-cards by number of saved numbers.

1. Basic method: adding contact through the "Contacts" application

The most obvious method is to use the standard Contacts app (an icon with a person's silhouette on a green background). MIUI 14 and newer interface of the application has undergone changes, so the instruction is relevant for all modern models: from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

To add a new contact:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (if it is not on the home screen, search in the app menu or through a search system).
• ➕ Press the button. + Add in the lower right corner (on some models, the button may be called New Contact).
• 📝 Fill in the fields: Name and surname (required first name only). Phone number type (Mobile, Work, Home) additionally: Email, Address, Birthday (this data is synced with Google if the corresponding option is enabled).
• 💾 Click Save in the upper right corner. By default, the contact will be saved to your Xiaomi account (if you are authorized) or to your device.

Important: If you are not logged in to Mi Account or Google, contacts will only be stored in your phone’s memory and will disappear after resetting. To avoid this, check your sync settings before adding (more on this in Section 4).

Authorization in Mi Account or Google

Selected the correct account to save (not "Device")

The number entered in an international format (+7 for Russia)

Number type (mobile/working)

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2. Quickly save a number from the call log

Often there is a situation when you need to save the number after an incoming or outgoing call. MIUI It's done in two tapas, but there are nuances that few people know about.

Instructions:

• 📞 Open the Phone app (pipe icon) and go to the Journal tab.
• 🔍 Find the number in the list and tap it (not the call button!).
• 📌 In the call card that opens, click Save (or Add to Contacts on older versions). MIUI).
• ✏️ Edit the contact name (the default number can be substituted) and select an account to save.

If there is no Save button, you already have the number in your phone book, check the Contacts tab, and note that some operators (such as MTS or Beeline) may swap real numbers for “beautiful” aliases (such as 1234 instead of 1234). +In this case, keep the original number, which is displayed in the details of the call.

Through the "Contact" app

From the call log.

Import with SIM-map

Synchronization with Google

In other ways.

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3.Import of contacts with SIM-maps: limitations and solutions

Many users still keep their contacts on the SIM-This is a very important method, especially when you're switching from an old phone:

• 🚫 Most of the time. SIM-cards support no more than 250 contacts (some operators limit - 100).
• 📛 Names and numbers are stored in a stripped-down format (e.g., without email or address).
• ⚠️ When transferring to Xiaomi, Cyrillic names can be displayed by Krakozabras (the problem is solved by manual editing).

To import contacts with SIM:

1. Open "Contacts" → press ⋮ (three-point) → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Import with SIM-map.
3. Check the necessary contacts (or click Select All) and confirm the import.
4. Specify your account for saving (Google or Mi Account is recommended).

⚠️ Note: If after importing the names are displayed incorrectly (e.g.???? instead of "Ivan"), this means an encoding problem. SIM-Solution: export contacts back to SIM via the old device, then repeat the import to Xiaomi by selecting the encoding UTF-8 (if available).

4.Sync Contacts with Google and Mi Account: How to Avoid Duplications

One of the most common problems with Xiaomi is duplicate contacts, which happens when the same number is stored on Google, Mi Account, and the device itself.

Steps to set up sync with Google:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google.
• 🔄 Turn on the Contacts switch (if it is turned off, turn on and wait for the synchronization to be completed).
• 📱 Go back to Contacts, press. ⋮ → Settings → Contact management.
• 👥 In the Display Contacts section, check only Google (disable Mi Account and Device if you don’t need them).

To sync with Mi Account:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account.
• 🔄 Activate the Contact option.
• ⚠️ Note that Mi Cloud has a limit on the number of contacts (free – up to 5000).

⚠️ Note: If you use both accounts (Google and Mi), turn off automatic sync for one to avoid duplicates. Manually choose where to keep a new contact when you add.

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Before you edit your contacts massively (such as when you change numbers), turn off sync in both accounts, which will prevent duplicates from being created while maintaining the changes.

5.Moving contacts from your old phone to Xiaomi

When buying a new Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ Xiaomi 14, many people have a problem with moving contacts:

Method 1: Through a Google Account (recommended)

• 📱 On an old phone: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization → Contacts (turn on if turned off).
• ☁️ Wait for the sync to be completed (check at contacts.google.com).
• 🆕 On the new Xiaomi, add the same Google account and enable contact sync.

Method 2: Through VCF-file (export/import)

• 📤 On an old phone: export contacts to a.vcf file (usually via Contacts) → Settings → Exports).
• 📥 Flip the file to the new Xiaomi (via Bluetooth, Telegram or other devices) USB).
• 📥 On a new device: import the file through Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports.

Method 3: Through Mi Mover (only for Xiaomi) → Xiaomi)

• 🔄 Install the Mi Mover app on both phones (available from the App Store for iPhone or Google Play).
• 📡 Connect devices to a single Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions in the app (select Portable Contacts).

6. Solving Common Contact Issues on Xiaomi

Even with the right contacts, Xiaomi users may face unexpected problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

Problem 1: Contacts are lost after the MIUI update

This happens if the contacts were only saved to the device, not to the account.

• Check backups in Settings → Memory. → Backup (if automatic backup is enabled).
• Restore contacts from Google or Mi Cloud if they were there.
• Use data recovery software (like Dr.Fone), but it doesn’t always work.

Problem 2: Duplicate contacts

Doubles occur when synced with multiple accounts to clear:

• 🧹 Open "Contacts" → ⋮ → Contact management → Combine the takes.
• 🔍 The application will automatically find possible duplicates and offer to combine them.
• 🚫 Turn off sync for one of your accounts (e.g., Mi Account if you use Google).

Problem. 3: No contact information is displayed from WhatsApp/Viber

By default. MIUI He hides contacts from messengers to show them:

• 📱 Open "Contacts" → ⋮ → Settings → Display contacts.
• 👥 Enable Contacts from the Applications (or WhatsApp/Viber separately).

Problem 4: You can't edit the contact

If the editing field is inactive, it means:

• Contact saved on SIM-map (editing is possible only after importing the device).
• The contact is synced with an account that does not have editing rights (e.g., a Google Workspace work account).

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Always keep contacts in a cloud account (Google or Mi) rather than on a device or a computer. SIM-This will protect you from data loss when you reset, break your phone or upgrade. MIUI.

7. Additional chips: Groups, selected and contact widget

MIUI It offers several useful features for working with contacts that many people are unaware of:

Contact groups

You can create groups (e.g., "Work", "Family", "Friends") to send messages quickly:

• 👥 Open "Contacts" → Groups → To form a group.
• 🏷️ Give the name to the group and add members.
• 📤 Now we can send it out. SMS email to the entire group at once (via the ⋮ → Send a message to the group).

Selected contacts

To quickly call the most important subscribers:

• ⭐ Open contact. → Click on the star in the top corner.
• 📞 Now it will appear on the tab Favorites in the app "Phone".

Contact widget on the main screen

For quick access to frequently used numbers:

• 🖥️ Click the empty space on the main screen → Widgets.
• 🔍 Find the Contact Widget (usually) 2×2 or 4×1).
• 📱 Drag it to the screen and select contacts to display.

Voice set

V MIUI You can call the contact in voice:

• 🎤 Say “OK Google, Call Your Mother” (If Google Assistant is configured).
• 🗣️ Or use the built-in voice assistant Xiao AI (Chinese-made).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions