Changing the owner of the number or fixing typos in the phone book is a standard task faced by users of Xiaomi smartphones. The interface of the MIUI shell has its own features that differ from stock Android, which sometimes causes difficulties for beginners. Correct naming of records is critical for the correct operation of voice dialing and smart functions of determining the caller.
The editing process can vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific firmware modification. In some cases, changes are not saved due to synchronization conflicts with cloud services. Understanding the logic of the Contacts application will avoid data loss and confusion in the call list.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the algorithm for renaming subscribers, working with duplicates and the features of displaying names in different messengers. You will learn to manage your phone book professionally using the built-in Mi Account and Google Contacts tools.
Standard procedure for renaming through the Contacts app
The basic way to change subscriber data is available immediately after unlocking the screen. To start, you need to run the standard yellow Contacts app, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi devices. In the list that opens, find the desired entry and touch it with your finger to go to the subscriber card.
At the top of the screen, usually on the right or in the form of a pencil icon, there's an edit button. Pressing this interface element puts the system in edit mode. You can change not only the name, but also add a name, a company or change the melody of a call. After you make changes, be sure to click the Save button or the tick in the corner of the screen.
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If the edit button is inactive, check if it is blocked. SIM-PIN card or not "Read Only" mode for selected storage.
It should be noted that when editing, the system can suggest selecting a place to save changes if multiple accounts are authorized on the device, and choosing the right storage ensures that the data does not disappear when you reset the settings.
Editing via Phone Menu and Call History
Often, the need to change the name occurs immediately after an incoming call, when the number is saved incorrectly or not at all. In this case, you do not need to look for an entry in the general list. Open the Phone application (green handset) and go to the Log or Recent tab.
Find the number you want in the call list. Usually, to the right of the number or name is an arrow or an information icon (i). When you click on it, you'll see a short card. If the contact already exists in memory, there'll be an edit button. If the number is not saved, the system will prompt you to create a new record or add it to an existing one.
- 📞 Open the call log and find the number you need.
- ✏️ Click on the information icon or arrow next to the number.
- 📝 Select the option "Edit" or "Create contact".
- 💾 Make changes to the name field and confirm the action.
This method is particularly useful because it allows you to quickly correct errors on the fly, but if the number belongs to an organization or service, the system can block the change of name, as the data is downloaded from the global MIUI database.
⚠️ Note: When changing a name through a call history, make sure you edit the contact rather than creating a duplicate with a new name. Always check the list before saving it.
Mass renaming and working with duplicates
When switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone, users often face the problem of duplication of records, the same subscriber can be recorded several times with different names or spelling variations, and a powerful combination tool is built into MIUI to solve this problem.
Go to the contact app settings (three dots or a gear in the corner). Find the Contact Management or Contact Management section. The system automatically analyzes the phone book and suggests combining duplicates. In the process of combining, you can choose which name to keep the primary and which to data.
For mass renaming, such as changing the prefix of a group of customers, standard Android tools are difficult to use, but if your contacts are synchronized with Google, you can use the web version of contacts, where editing functionality is expanded.
| Action. | MIUI Annex | Google Contacts (Web) | Third-party utilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editing a single contact | Available. | Available. | Available. |
| Combination of takes | Automatically. | Automatically. | Manually. |
| Mass renaming | Unavailable | Partially. | Completely. |
| Recovery of remote | 30 days | 30 days | Depends on the software. |
Account Synchronization and Conflict
Modern Xiaomi smartphones allow you to store data in several places at the same time: SIM-If you change your name, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, if you change your name in your local copy, but you're not syncing, you're not going to see it on your other devices, like tablet, PC.
A common problem is version conflict. You change the name on the phone, but after a few minutes it goes back to the old value, which means that the cloud service overwrites local data with its older version, and to fix this, you need to check the sync status in the system settings.
Settings → Accounts and sync → Google → Contact SynchronizationMake sure the slider is active. It also makes sense to check your Mi Cloud account if you use the Xiaomi ecosystem. Priority is usually given to the account that is selected as the primary one for saving new records by default.
What to do if the name changes by itself?
Use of third-party applications and access management
Many users install alternative phone books from Google or other developers, considering them more convenient. Xiaomi's standard app can be replaced, but this requires access rights. Without them, the system will persistently return you to the native interface.
To allow a third-party app to change names, it needs to provide permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Find your contact manager and select Permission. Make sure that access to contacts is allowed.
- 📱 Open the settings of a particular application.
- 🔐 Go to the "Permissions" section".
- ✅ Activate the "Contact" item".
- 🔄 Restart the application to apply changes.
Third-party solutions are justified if you need advanced functionality, such as integration with instant messengers or corporate databases, but for the basic task, renaming the regular funds is usually enough.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful about giving contacts to unknown apps, which can lead to the leakage of personal information of your acquaintances to advertising databases.
Solving problems with displaying names in messengers
Often users ask why a contact is displayed in the old way or only by number after it is renamed on a phone, WhatsApp or Telegram. Messengers have their own contact caches that are not updated instantly. In addition, some messengers give priority to the name that the user has specified in his profile.
To force WhatsApp to update data, you need to create a new message, click the menu button (three dots) and select Update. Viber and Telegram process is automatic, but it can take time. If the name does not change, try clearing the cache of the messenger itself through the Android settings.
☑️ Checking the display of the name
Also, consider the format of the number: if the number in the contact is written as 8-900... and the messenger requires an international format of +7-900..., the connection between the record and the profile may be lost. Unification of the formats of storage of numbers is the key to order.
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The main rule: Messengers display the name from the phone book only if the number is recorded in an international format and coincides with the number associated with the account of the interlocutor.