Xiaomi’s Redmi series is well-deservedly popular for its excellent price-performance ratio, but MIUI has its own features that can be confusing to a beginner. One of the basic but sometimes unobvious tasks is editing phone book entries, especially when it comes to older but reliable models like the Redmi 5. Users often face a situation where you need to quickly fix a typo, add a patronymic or share combined data, but the usual actions do not lead to the desired result.
With the Android operating system that runs MIUI, contact management can be done through several different destination apps, which creates additional confusion, such as a standard caller, a separate Contacts app, or sync through a Google account. Understanding where the record is stored is key to a successful renaming. In this article, we will go into detail all the possible scenarios and nuances of working with the phone book on your device.
Incorrect display of names can cause inconvenience in everyday use, especially if there are many subscribers with the same names or complex surnames on the list. Proper organization of the directory not only improves the aesthetics of the interface, but also speeds up the search for the right number in an emergency. We will consider not only basic renaming, but also advanced features available to Xiaomi owners.
Preparation for editing records in MIUI
Before you start directly changing the data, make sure you use the right tool to manage records. Xiaomi Redmi 5 smartphones have their own firmware app installed by default, which has more advanced functionality than standard Android. Open the app menu and find an icon with a human silhouette or phone handset signed as "Contacts".
It is important to understand the difference between local storage and cloud sync, and if you are planning a major change, check your Internet connection status and authorization with your Mi Account or Google account in advance, and avoid losing information in the event of an unexpected reset or device replacement in the future.
The interface of the application may vary depending on the version of the installed firmware MIUI, but the logic of the work remains the same for all versions. The main controls are usually located at the top of the screen or hidden in a menu designated by three dots or horizontal stripes.
⚠️ Note: If you see a lock icon next to a contact, it means that the record is protected or hidden in guest mode.
Basic way of renaming through the Contacts app
The simplest and most common method of changing a subscriber's name is to use the application's regular interface, find the person in the list and click on the name line to go to the user card, and it displays all the information available: phone numbers, email addresses, social networks and additional notes.
At the top of the screen, usually on the right or as a floating button, is an editing icon, often looking like a pencil or icon. ✎. Clicking on this element puts the interface in edit mode, allowing you to make changes to text fields. Once you enter a new name, you must always press the Save or Ready button, otherwise all changes will be lost when you leave the menu.
MIUI allows you not only to change your name, but also to structure your data by adding prefixes, suffixes or changing the order of display, which is especially useful for people who are in business correspondence, where it is important to clearly separate by job or company, all changes are instant and displayed in all applications using the phone book.
☑️ Algorithm of Quick Rename
It's worth noting that when editing, you may encounter a character limit, although it's quite large in modern Android versions. If the input field doesn't accept the data, check if the name of the forbidden characters that the system considers to be control codes, usually solved by replacing special characters with standard letters or numbers.
Working with duplicates and linking up
A common problem when switching to a new phone or when you restore data from a backup is the appearance of duplicates. Redmi 5 has a powerful tool for automatically searching and combining repeated records, which makes it much easier to clean up the phone book. The system itself analyzes matches by phone numbers and suggests eliminating them.
To manually work with duplicates, you need to go to the Contacts settings by selecting the appropriate item in the menu, where you will find the option "Combine Repetitive Contacts." The algorithm will suggest you pairs or groups of records that it believes belong to one person, you can accept the system's offer or manually choose which name to leave the main one.
The data merger process allows you to save the whole story: if one contact had only a home number, and the second had only a mobile number and an email, then when you combine all this data into one card under one name, this eliminates confusion and makes the search more efficient.
| Action. | The result | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic merger | The system itself combines obvious duplicates | Settings → Combine |
| Manual association | User selects pairs for merger | Contact menu → Unite |
| Separation of contact | Dividing one card into two independent | Editing → Editing → Separate |
| Removal of the double | Complete deletion of repeated recording | Editing → Removal |
What happens to the call history when you combine?
Editing of contacts linked to SIM-map
Many users still store numbers directly on the SIM-It's a card that creates some limitations. SIM-The card has strict limits not only on the number of characters in the name (usually up to the number of characters in the name). 14-16 And the data format, too. 5 If you try to change this contact, the system may suggest copying it to the phone’s memory for full editing.
If you want to change the name of your contact to SIM-The process will look different when you open a card with a non-copying card, and some fields may not be editable or look different when you open a card with a subscriber. After making changes (if the system allows), the name can be cropped or displayed in the upper case, which is the norm for technology. GSM.
For comfortable use of all functions MIUI, For example, installing an avatar, assigning a unique ringtone or linking an address, it is strongly recommended to transfer the records to the device memory or the cloud. SIM-map".
⚠️ Note: When copying contacts with SIM-The cards may be duplicated if some of the numbers are already stored in the device's memory. Always check the list after importing.
Technical limitations SIM-So if you see a cropped name after renaming it, it's not a smartphone error, it's a storage restriction. In such cases, the only solution is to transfer the record to a Google or Mi Cloud account, where character limits are virtually non-existent.
Use of Google and Mi Cloud Cloud Sync
A modern smartphone is impossible to imagine without cloud technology, and Xiaomi Redmi 5 is no exception. Synchronizing contacts with a Google account is the most reliable way to store data. When you change the name of a contact that is synchronized with Google, the changes automatically apply to all devices where you log in to this account, whether it is a tablet, another smartphone or a computer.
To check sync status, go to your phone's settings, select Accounts and Sync, and click on your Google account. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If sync is disabled, changes made to your phone won't make it to the cloud, and you risk losing data when you reset your settings.
Mi Cloud also offers similar functionality, but with deeper integration into the Xiaomi ecosystem: users can manage their contacts even through the web interface on i.mi.com, which is convenient for mass editing from the computer keyboard.
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Export your contacts to the.vcf file regularly and save them to your computer or flash drive, which will create an additional backup in case of a Google account problem or device lock.
Solution: Why the name is not saved or is it changed back
Sometimes users are faced with an annoying situation where the changes made are not saved or the contact name spontaneously changes back to the old one, most often this is due to a synchronization conflict between multiple data sources. For example, you can have one record in the phone's memory, a second one in Google, and the priority system is configured so that the cloud version constantly overwrites the local one.
Another reason could be a third-party app that has access to the phone book, and messengers like WhatsApp, Viber, or Telegram can upload names from their databases if you give them permission, so changing the name on a standard call will not affect how the subscriber is displayed inside the messenger, and vice versa.
To diagnose a problem, try temporarily shutting down the Internet and changing the name, and if it persists, it means that the problem is sync. Then turn on the network and see if the data is overwritten, and it is also worth checking if the contact is labeled "read only", which sometimes happens when imported from certain sources or corporate profiles.
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The main reason for the old name's return is a version conflict between local memory and the cloud, so you can find the main storage account and edit the contact through it or in the web interface.