Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which use MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, offer advanced tools for managing the phone book. However, the standard interface often hides some functions under additional menus, which can confuse the user when you first try to edit data. Often there is a need not only to save a new number, but to fully edit an existing record by adding a photo, a second number or changing the name of the caller.
The process of changing contact information may vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific firmware modification. In some cases, the changes are instant, in others, you need to synchronize with your Google or Mi Cloud account. Understanding the logic of the Contacts application will avoid losing important information and help maintain order in the call list.
In this article, we will take a look at all aspects of editing records, from simple name change to combining duplicates, how to properly configure the display of names and what hidden features the standard application provides, and this guide will be useful for owners of any model, from budget Redmi to flagship series.
Basic editing of name and numbers
The most common task is to fix typos in the name or add a new phone number to an existing subscriber card. First, you need to open the standard Contacts app, which usually has a yellow icon with a person’s silhouette, and in the list, find the desired entry and click on it once to open a detailed view.
In the menu that opens, you should look at the bottom of the screen or the top right corner where the edit button is located. It can look like a pencil or have the signature Change. After you press the interface will go into editing mode, where the fields will become active for typing, and you can change any text data, including name, surname and company.
It is important to remember that if a contact is synced to a Google account, the changes will automatically affect all devices that log in to that profile. SIM-If you add a second number, make sure you choose the right type (mobile, work, home) so that the system correctly prioritizes the call.
☑️ Pre-conservation checks
After making all the necessary adjustments, be sure to click the Save button, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the top corner.If you simply close the application without saving, all the changes made will be lost.The system can request confirmation of action if you try to change data that has been recently synced.
Adding and changing subscriber photos
Visual caller identification is a handy feature that allows you to instantly know who is texting or calling you without reading your name. To change or add a photo, go to the contact editing mode, as described in the previous section. At the top of the screen, where the circle with the first letter of the name usually appears, you will see a camera icon or a hint to add an image.
Click on this icon, and the system will tell you to select the source of the image. You can take a new photo right now, select a picture from the gallery or download from the cloud storage. After selecting the image, you will see a framing interface where you can crop the extra parts of the photo, leaving only the face or important object in the center of the circle.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using too dark or blurry photos, as the system may not correctly recognize the face or the picture will be poorly visible on the lock screen.
Once you've cropped, confirm your choice, and the photo will be linked to the contact. If you have a different theme than the standard, the look of the photo change button may be different. In some cases, you'll need to give the Contacts app permission to access the media files, which you can do in the privacy settings to access the gallery.
Managing duplicates and combining records
A common problem with changing phones or recovering from backups is the appearance of duplicate contacts. The same person can be recorded twice: once with a new phone. SIM-Maps, another from Google. Shell MIUI has a built-in tool to solve this problem, which is called "Duplicate Combination".
To access this feature, open the Contacts app and go to settings (usually three dots or a gear). Find Contact Management or Contact Management, then select Combine Duplicates. The system automatically scans the database and suggests a list of pairs that it believes are the same person.
You can either accept an automatic offer or manually choose which records to leak, and when you combine, you store all the unique data: if one record had only a home number, and the other one had a mobile number and an email, then all that information will remain in the final card.
What's going on with the call history?
Manual pairing is also possible via editing mode. In the contact card, find the Link or Combine button. The system will suggest selecting from a list of other contacts to which the current record should be linked. This is useful when the automatic search did not work due to differences in the spelling of names (for example, "Alexander" and "Sasha").
Customization of individual melodies and vibrations
One of the most useful features is to set a unique ringtone or vibration pattern for a specific person, so you can see who is calling without even taking the phone out of your pocket or looking at the screen, and then go back to Change Contact.
In the editing fields list, find Melody or Rington. The default is "Default" or "System." By clicking on this item, you will open the player with a list of available tunes. You can choose one of the preinstalled ones or click the + button to download your audio file from the device's memory.
The vibration is also tuned. In some versions of the firmware, this item is displayed separately, in others it is in the same audio selection menu, you can choose a ready-made pattern (for example, "Pulse" or "Tick-tock") or create your own rhythm by tapping on the screen at the desired pace.
| Parameter | Description | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| The ringing melody | Sound produced by incoming call | Editing → Melody |
| The sound of the notification | Sound when SMS or messages arrive in the messenger | Editing → The sound of the notification |
| Vibration pattern | Vibrator mode of operation when calling | Editing → Vibration |
| Text of the phone | Signature displayed under the name (optional) | Editing → Text of the phone |
💡
Use short and rhythmic tunes for important contacts to recognize them even in a noisy place or when playing music through a Bluetooth speaker.
Working with additional fields and details
The standard phone book on Xiaomi allows you to store much more information than just a name and number. By clicking on the Add field button (often indicated by the plus at the bottom of the field list), you can expand your contact card. This is especially useful for business connections or organizing a family album.
The options available include fields for address, date of birth, website, social media nicknames, and even notes. The Notes field is ideal for recording the context of dating or important details to remember before talking. These data are not displayed on the call screen, but are available when viewing the card.
You can also configure the way you display your name. In the contact app settings, you have the option "Name Name," "Name Name," or just "Name," which affects how contacts are sorted in the shared list and how they're displayed in the call log, and you can change that to apply to the entire phone book at once.
And remember, the "Company" and "Office" fields, if you use your smartphone to do your work, filling in those fields will help you find the right people faster through your search, by typing in the name of the organization, and it indexes all the text fields to make your search as efficient as possible.
Synchronization and backup of data
To make sure that the changes you made on your Xiaomi phone do not disappear when you lose your device or switch to a new model, you need to configure sync. The most reliable way is to use a Google account. Make sure that the phone settings in the "Accounts and Sync" section are ticked against the "Contacts" item.
Xiaomi device owners also have access to the Mi Cloud cloud service, which allows you to create local backups of the phone book, which are stored on the manufacturer's servers. To activate, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and enable contact synchronization. This is convenient if you are actively using the Xiaomi ecosystem.
⚠️ Note: Before major changes, such as mass deletion or import of contacts from a file, it is strongly recommended to make a manual backup in.vcf format. This can be done through the Import/Export Contacts menu in the application settings.
If you notice that contacts are not synced, check the Internet connection and the availability of free space in the cloud. Sometimes forced sync helps: go to your account settings, select Google or Mi Account, click on three dots and select Sync Now.
💡
Regular synchronization with the cloud is the only way to ensure the safety of contacts in case of a screen breakage or complete loss of a smartphone.