Changing a phone book’s name is a seemingly basic task that every smartphone owner faces. However, users of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 9 are often confused when the usual algorithm of actions does not give the expected result. The MIUI shell interface has its own data storage features that can confuse even an experienced user.
In most cases, the problem is not the lack of a function, but rather the system offers you to choose the source of the contact. SIM-If you're mapped or synchronized with a cloud service, you can do something unexpected. Understanding the logic of how an address book works in Android is key to success.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of renaming contacts specifically on the Redmi 9 model. You will learn how to avoid creating duplicates, how to work correctly with a Google account and what to do if the edit button is unavailable or inactive.
We'll also talk about duplication of records, because that's a common cause of confusion, and when a number has three different names in its memory, that person's call can be unpredictable, and let's figure out how to clean up your phone book.
Standard editing procedure in the Contacts app
The most obvious and common way to change a subscriber’s name is to use the regular Contacts app, which is preinstalled on the Xiaomi Redmi 9. It is the main tool for managing the phone book and has the most complete functionality.
Once you've opened your subscriber card, look at the bottom of the screen or the top right corner, where the control buttons are usually located. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. You need to find a pencil icon or a button that says "Change."
Click on the field where your current name is listed and enter new data. It's important to be careful here: sometimes the system may suggest changing not only your name, but also adding your last name, company, or (notes). Once you make changes, be sure to click Save, otherwise all changes will be lost when you leave the menu.
It's worth noting that if a contact is synced to a Google account, the changes will automatically update in the cloud and on your other devices, which is convenient for those who use multiple gadgets. SIM-The map, the synchronization will not occur.
Working with duplicates and combining records
A common problem on Xiaomi smartphones is the appearance of duplicate contacts, which occurs when the same number is stored in different sources: for example, one copy on the phone. SIM-The card, and the other one in the phone's memory, can show up an old or incorrect name when you call.
To fix this, you need to use the unification function. In the Contacts app, go to the settings (usually three dots or a gear) and find Combine duplicates. The system will automatically analyze the database and suggest that similar records be merged into one.
If automatic unification didn't work, you can do it manually. Open the contact, click the menu (three dots) and select the unification option. You'll be asked to select a second contact with the same number that you want to attach to the main one, and then the record will have one name, but all the associated numbers and addresses will be saved.
⚠️ Attention: Before mass contact combination, it is recommended to make a backup copy of the phone book so as not to accidentally lose important data in the event of a system failure.
Once the duplicates are combined, the name change will be correct and will apply to all related numbers, especially for business contacts where a person may have multiple phones (mobile, work, home), but should display a single name.
☑️ Pre-editing checks
Editing via Google Contacts account
Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones are now integrated into Google’s ecosystem, and many users don’t even realize that their contacts are stored in the search giant’s cloud instead of their phone’s memory. If you change your phone name, but it returns to the old one after you reboot or sync, then cloud copy is the priority.
To guarantee a name change, the best way to do this is to use the Google Contacts web interface (contacts.google.com) or a separate Google Contacts app, which allows you to manage your database centrally, and any changes made here are forcibly synchronized with your smartphone.
Log in, find the right caller, and click on the pencil icon. Change your name and save. In a few seconds, check the phone book on Redmi 9 — the name should update. If that doesn't happen, check your sync settings in Settings → Accounts → Google.
Google Contacts also offers the ability to recover deleted or altered records in the past 30 days, a powerful tool that is often ignored, preferring standard but less reliable editing methods directly in the call interface.
What to do if the contact is not synchronized?
Features of changing names to SIM-map
Keeping contacts on SIM-The map is considered an outdated method, but many users of the Xiaomi Redmi 9 still use it, especially when switching from old button phones.This method has strict limitations: the length of the name is often limited by characters, and support for Cyrillic alphabet may not work properly.
To change the name of the contact saved on the SIM, you have to be very careful. MIUI direct editing of names SIM-The system can only offer to copy the contact to the phone's memory for later editing.
If editing is available, the algorithm is this: open the contact, click change, and enter new data into the name field. SIM-maps, long names may be cropped. It is recommended to transfer such contacts to the device memory or Google account.
Technically, SIM-The card has a file system with a limit on the number of characters in the name field (usually up to the 14-20 Trying to write a long name can lead to the fact that it simply will not survive or will remain in a truncated form.
💡
Expert advice: Do not keep important contacts on the SIM-If you lose or break your phone, it's harder to recover it than if you're in a Google or Mi Cloud cloud account.
Managing Contacts with Mi Cloud
Xiaomi device owners have access to their own cloud service, Mi Cloud, which is an alternative to Google that is deeply embedded in the system. If you use Mi Account for synchronization, then this channel can be used to edit contacts.
You can check where the contact is stored by opening the contact card, which will indicate the source: Google, Phone or Mi Cloud. If the contact belongs to the Xiaomi cloud, you can manage it through the browser on i.mi.com. This is convenient if you need to massively rename the contact group.
Sync via Mi Cloud on Redmi 9 runs in the background. Make sure that the settings (Settings → Mi Account → Sync) tick against Contacts. If sync is turned off, changes in the cloud will not affect the device.
The advantage of using Xiaomi’s native cloud is the speed and no problem with encoding names, which sometimes occur when syncing with third-party services.In addition, it makes it easy to transfer the entire phone book to the new Xiaomi smartphone just by logging in.--
💡
Use Mi Cloud for fast sync between Xiaomi devices, but for cross-platform compatibility (Android + iPhone + PC) it is more reliable than Google Contacts.
Solving Typical Problems and Errors
Despite the ease of operation, users of Xiaomi Redmi 9 may encounter a number of difficulties, such as the "Change" button may be inactive (grey), which often happens when the contact belongs to a system application or a secure profile that does not involve editing by the user.
Another common problem is phantom changes, you change your name, but after a while it goes back to its original value, which is a sure sign of a synchronization conflict, and chances are you've got WhatsApp, Viber, or Telegram on, pulling names from their databases and rewriting local phone settings.
To solve the problem with messengers, you need to go to the settings of the application itself (for example, WhatsApp), find the “Privacy” or “Contacts” section and turn off synchronization with the phone book.
Also worth mentioning are access rights: If you have installed a third-party call or contact manager, make sure they have permission to change records. Without the appropriate permissions, Android will block any attempt to modify the data.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision-making |
|---|---|---|
| Name doesn't change. | Contact on SIM-map | Copy into the phone memory, change, delete the original |
| The name comes back. | Synchronization conflict | Disable synchronization in messengers or Google |
| No edit button. | Read-only (Read-only) | Check the access rights of the application or the source of contact |
| Name's cut off. | SIM character limit | Transfer the contact to the device memory or Google |
⚠️ Note: When removing a contact to recreate it with the correct name, make sure you choose the right save source (not the right one). SIM-map) to avoid repeating the error.