Managing a phone book is one of the basic functions of any smartphone, but in the shell MIUI installed on the Xiaomi Redmi 8, this process has its own unique features and nuances. Users often face the need not only to add a new number, but also to edit existing records: fix typos in names, add photos to quickly identify the caller or combine duplicate contacts. Understanding the logic of the standard application “Contacts” and synchronization with a Google or Mi Account helps to avoid losing important data when changing the device.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for editing phone book records on your device, learn how to group data correctly, customize information display and use advanced system features for comfortable communication, and focus on security and backups, which are critical in today’s digital world.
Xiaomi Redmi 8’s interface may seem overloaded for a beginner, but after mastering a few key steps, navigation will become intuitive.We’ll look at both standard methods through the phone’s menu and work through the web interfaces of cloud services, which will allow you to manage your phone book from any device with access to the Internet.
Basic editing of name and phone number
The most common operation users require is to change their name or add a new number to an existing record. To get started, you need to unlock the screen of your Xiaomi Redmi 8 and find the standard Contacts app, which usually has an icon with a human or phone handset silhouette. In some firmware versions, it can be combined with the Phone app, located on the bottom navigation bar.
Once you open the app, you'll see a complete list of saved subscribers, find the desired entry in alphabetical order, or use the search bar at the top of the screen, entering part of the name or surname, tap the finger of the desired contact to go to the page with detailed information about it, and it displays all the associated numbers, email addresses and other related information.
To make changes, look at the editing interface. At the bottom of the screen or in the top corner (depending on the version of MIUI), there should be a button with a pencil or an icon "More" (three dots), in the menu of which you should select "Edit" item.
- 📝 Click on the “Name” or “Family” field to correct typos or change the format of the application.
- 📞 To add the second number, click "Add number" and select the type (mobile, work, home).
- ✏️ Change of the existing number is made by simply clicking on the numbers and entering a new combination.
⚠️ Note: When you change the phone number of an old contact, the system does not create a new record, but updates the existing one. However, if you accidentally delete the number and click Save, the data will be lost without the ability to recover from the basket.
After making all the necessary edits, be sure to click the Save button (usually the tick in the upper right corner or the button at the bottom of the screen). The changes take effect instantly and sync with the selected storage. SIM-Cards, options can be limited to only one name and one number.
☑️ Pre-conservation checks
Work with photos and visual design
Visual caller identification is a handy feature that lets you see who is calling you right away without even reading your name. On Xiaomi Redmi 8, you can set both a static image from the gallery and take a photo directly at the time of editing, which is especially useful for contacts of close relatives or colleagues whose numbers you often dial.
To add or change a photo, go to the contact edit mode as described in the previous section. At the top of the screen, where the initial or standard stub is usually displayed, you will see a camera icon or the Add Photo button. Pressing this element will offer two options: take a picture through the camera or select an image from the device's memory.
When you select a photo from a gallery, the system will suggest framing the image. The square frame limits the area that will be displayed when you call in. It is recommended to choose portrait shots where the face is well lit and occupies the center of the frame. After confirming the choice, the image will be attached to the recording.
Supported image formats
If you want to delete a photo, go back to editing mode, click on the image and select the cart icon or Delete Photo. After that, the contact will return the standard stub with the first letter of the name. Remember that the photos are synced to contacts through the Google account, so the changes will be visible on other devices where you log in to this account.
Managing duplicates and combining records
A frequent problem when switching to a new smartphone or after syncing with multiple sources (SIM-Map, phone memory, different mailboxes) is the appearance of duplicate contacts. Xiaomi Redmi 8 has a powerful tool for automatic and manual combination of such records, which allows you to keep the phone book clean.
To get started with duplicates, open the Contacts app and go to settings (three dots or three bars in the corner of the screen). Find the Contact Clear or Tools section. The system will automatically analyze the list and suggest combining the records with the same names or phone numbers. You can either agree to the system proposal or perform the procedure manually.
Manual pairing is required when the system does not recognize the duplicate, for example, if the numbers are written in different formats (with and without country code).
- 🔍 Open the first contact with a pair of duplicates.
- ⚙️ Click on the “More” menu and select “Merge with another contact».
- 👥 In the list that appears, find the second entry and confirm the merger.
The result is a single record that collects all the numbers, email addresses and other information from both of the original contacts, which is irreversible, so it's recommended that you back up before a mass merger, and duplicates can be too spacey and confusing to search, so regular cleaning is extremely useful.
💡
Use the Preferred Contact feature in the combination settings so that the system knows which record is considered the main one when data conflicts arise.
Sorting, displaying and settings of the list
The comfort of using a phone book depends on how the display of names is configured. In different cultures and personal preferences, users can sort contacts by name or surname. Xiaomi Redmi 8 allows you to flexibly adjust these settings through the app settings menu.
To change the order of sorting, go to the contact settings and find Sort. There are options available: "By name" (standard version) or "By last name." The choice of "By last name" is especially relevant for large phone books, where surname search is more common. You can also customize the display format: "Name name" or "Name name."
Another important setting is the filter of the contacts displayed, and users often lose numbers because the list contains hidden contacts with the user. SIM-maps or, conversely, only they are displayed. In the section "Contacts for display" you can select:
- 📱 All contacts (phone memory) + SIM + accounts).
- ☁️ Only contacts from Google account.
- 💾 Only the contacts saved on SIM-map.
The right setting will eliminate confusion and help you find the right numbers quickly. Remember that sorting only affects the visual representation of the list, but does not change the structure of the data storage. Changes take effect immediately after selecting the appropriate item.
Grouping contacts and working with labels
To effectively manage a large number of numbers, MIUI has a system of groups (or tags) that allows you to send group messages, quickly find colleagues or family members, and set up special modes for certain categories of subscribers.
The new group is created through the Group tab in the Contacts app. Click Add (plus), enter the group name (e.g. Work, Sports Hall, Relatives) and save it. Once you create the group, you can add contacts manually or automatically.
Adding a subscriber to a group is done by editing the contact itself. At the bottom of the edit screen (or menu), find "Add to Group" or "Tags." Select the desired category from the list. One contact can be in several groups at once, which makes the system flexible.
Groups are also used to set up Do Not Disturb or Sleep Mode, so you can set up your phone so that calls from the Family group are even silent while the rest of the calls are blocked, an important digital well-being feature that keeps you from missing an emergency call.
| Type of group | Purpose of | Example of use |
|---|---|---|
| Work. | Separation of personal and work contacts | Fast SMS sending to colleagues |
| Family | Priority access in the mode “Do not disturb” | Calls are made even when the sound is turned off. |
| Friends. | Organization of meetings and events | Joint photo and geolocation |
| Services | Sorting of reference numbers | Taxis, delivery, banks (often without a photo) |
Synchronization and backup of data
Data security is priority number one. Losing a smartphone doesn’t have to mean losing all phone numbers. There are several ways to save and sync contacts on the Xiaomi Redmi 8 that you need to use regularly.
The main way is to sync with your Google account. Make sure that in the phone settings in the Accounts and Sync section for your Google account, the checkmark is placed opposite to Contacts. With the Internet, any changes made to the phone book are automatically sent to the cloud.
An alternative or addition is the Mi Cloud. If you use Mi Account, you can enable synchronization of contacts with Xiaomi servers. This is convenient if you plan to move between smartphones of different brands in the Xiaomi ecosystem. You can check the synchronization status from the Settings menu → Mi Account → Cloud.
⚠️ Note: When resetting your phone to the factory settings (Hard Reset), all data that is not synchronized with the cloud or not stored on the phone is not stored in the cloud. SIM-The card will be permanently deleted. Always check the synchronization status before resetting.
To create a local backup, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Select Internal Memory or Mi Drive, tick System Data → Contacts, and click Start Reservation. The backup file can be copied to your computer for security.
💡
Regular sync with Google or Mi Cloud is the only reliable way to ensure the safety of contacts in case of breakage or loss of a smartphone.