Xiaomi’s current MIUI or HyperOS smartphones have powerful tools for managing personal data, but sometimes standard settings can be confusing. Users often face a situation where it is urgent to rename a subscriber, remove unnecessary gaps or fix an error made during the first save. The process seems simple, but the Chinese manufacturer’s ecosystem has its own nuances associated with synchronization and duplication of records.
Changing the name of a contact is a basic feature that affects how you identify the caller and how others see you in messengers when synchronized. Incorrectly stored data can lead to confusion, especially if a person has multiple numbers or accounts. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways of editing, from simple renaming to complex operations of merging duplicates.
We’ll look at the standard caller, Google cloud services, and Mi Account, and the hidden features that help clean up the phone book, which will help you avoid data loss and ensure that information is displayed correctly on the lock screen.
Basic editing through a standard application
The fastest way to change a name is to use the built-in Contacts or Phone app. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same: Open the contact list, find the desired entry and tap it to go to the detailed menu.
At the top of the screen or in the bottom corner (depending on the subject), you'll see a pencil icon or a "Change" button, and clicking on this element puts the interface in editing mode, so you can not only rename the subscriber, but you can also add a surname, patronymic or company.
After making changes, you must click the Save button (usually the tick at the top or the button at the bottom of the screen).If you just go back without saving, the system may suggest saving the changes or canceling them - be careful not to lose the entered data.
- 📱 Open the Contacts app on the home screen.
- ✏️ Click on the pencil icon next to the subscriber's name.
- 💾 Enter a new name and click "Save».
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Use the search feature at the top of your contact list to instantly find the right person without scrolling through the entire phone book manually.
Working with duplicates and combining records
One of the common problems with Xiaomi smartphones is the appearance of duplicate contacts. This happens when the same number is stored simultaneously in memory. SIM-Maps, Google accounts and phone memory, and the system can display them as different records, creating chaos.
To solve this problem, the standard app has a bundle function that allows you to link multiple cards into one, keeping all the numbers and email addresses under a single name, which makes the phone book neat and easy to navigate.
To combine the entries, go to the contact settings menu (three dots or a gear). Select "Combine repeating contacts." The system will automatically suggest options for merging, but you can do this manually by selecting specific entries.
⚠️ Before mass contact combinations, make sure you choose the right records so you don’t mix different people’s data into one card.
Once combined, all calls and messages from that person will be grouped under one name, which is especially useful if you use Favorites frequently or make contacts.
☑️ Pre-unification checks
Setting up the display and sorting of the list
The ease of use of a phone book depends not only on the correctness of the names, but also on how they are sorted. In the settings of the Contacts app on Xiaomi, you can choose the order of display by name or last name, which affects how quickly you find the number you want.
You can also configure the source of the contacts you're displaying. You can hide the numbers you've saved on the phone. SIM-This helps filter out the excess information and see only the actual data from the cloud or memory of the device.
To change your sorting options, go to the app settings (usually three dots in the corner). Find the Sort or Contact Display section. Here you can prioritize "Name, Surname" or "Family, Name."
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Sorting | Order of names on the list | By name (for quick search) |
| Source | Where the contacts are stored (SIM, Google, Phone) | Google Account (for synchronization) |
| Name format | How to display: “Family name” or “Family name” | Depends on personal preference |
| Photo of contact | Displaying an avatar in the call list | Included for visual |
The right settings make it much easier to find the right person in a crowded phone book, especially for users who have hundreds or thousands of numbers.
Synchronization and cloud services
The key to managing your contacts on Xiaomi is sync, and if you change your phone name, it should be updated on other devices that use the same account, such as Google Contacts or the Mi Cloud.
When you work with Google, sync is automatically done when you have the Internet, but sometimes it can get stuck, so the name will only change locally and the other devices will remain old, and you need to check the sync status in your account settings.
Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure that there is a tick in front of Contacts. If sync is disabled, the changes will not be saved in the cloud, and when you reset your phone, you will lose all edits.
Using Mi Cloud also allows you to back up, which is useful if you're planning to change your smartphone or reflash your device, and you can restore all your names and numbers in a few minutes.
⚠️ Note: When switching between accounts (e.g. from Google to Google) SIM) The system can create new duplicates instead of updating existing records.
Regularly checking cloud storage ensures that your phone book is always up-to-date and accessible from any device, whether it’s a tablet or a new smartphone.
What to do if the synchronization is not working?
Editing via Google Web Interface
It's sometimes easier to edit contacts from a computer instead of a phone. Google Contacts provides a more powerful toolkit for massive renaming and error correction, especially if you need to change the names of dozens of people at once.
To do this, go to contacts.google.com from any browser. Sign in with the same account used on your Xiaomi. You will see a complete list of all saved numbers.
Here you can select multiple contacts at once, change their names, add shortcuts and even restore deleted records from the cart (within 30 days), all changes will instantly affect the phone when you have a network connection.
- 💻 Open your browser on your PC and go to the Google Contacts website.
- 🔍 Find the right contact through the search bar.
- ✍️ Make changes to the name fields and click "Save».
The good thing about this method is that it eliminates the random input errors that are common in typing on a smartphone's on-screen keyboard, and it's also easier to spot typos on the big screen.
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The web interface of Google Contacts is the best tool for mass cleaning and renaming contacts, as it is more convenient than a mobile application.
Elimination and recovery of data
During the editing process, users often face problems: names are not saved, cracks are displayed or disappear after a reboot. Most often this is due to conflicting sources of saving or overflowing memory. SIM-map.
If the name doesn't change, check if the app has been blocked from accessing the storage. In rare cases, cleaning the Contacts app cache through the app management menu helps, and make sure the phone has the current time and date set.
If you lose data, you can use the recovery function, Google allows you to roll back your contact state by 30 days, which saves you if you accidentally delete an important post or wrongly rename a whole group of people.
To recover, go to the Google Contacts settings on the site, select Cancel Changes, and specify the time to roll back. The system will return all names and numbers to the state they were in.
⚠️ Note: The rollback feature affects the entire account at once, so on other devices with the same login, the data will also change.
Regularly backing up.vcf is the gold standard of security: Save a file with contacts to your computer or cloud storage once a month to have a point of return in case of critical crashes.