Xiaomi Redmi 9T is often the first device for users moving from button phones or other brands where management of the address book could be significantly different. Proper organization of the call list is not just a convenience, but a necessity for quick communication in emergency situations. In the MIUI shell, which is installed on the Redmi 9T, the number storage system has its own features that require careful attention during the initial setup.
Many owners face a situation where, after switching on a new device, the list of calls is empty or, on the contrary, overflowing with duplicates. To avoid chaos in the phone book, you need to immediately determine the location of data storage. Local storage on the device carries the risk of losing information when a device breaks down, while cloud services ensure data security.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at how you import, export, and sync your phone book, and learn how to combine duplicates, customize name displays, and use hidden features of the Contacts app that are often overlooked by ordinary users.
Primary setting and selection of a conservation location
When you first run a Contacts or Phone app on Redmi 9T, the system can request permission to access data, a critical step because that's where you prioritize your account to save new records. By default, MIUI often offers to save your phone number or Google account, but sometimes the priority shifts to the Xiaomi cloud.
It is recommended to immediately select a Google account as the main storage, this will provide automatic synchronization with Gmail, which will instantly restore all numbers when you switch to any other Android smartphone just by entering a login and password. Local storage ("Phone") should be used only for temporary records.
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To change the default save location, open the Contacts app, click three dots in the corner, select Settings, and find Account to Save. Set up your Google account there.
If you've used an iPhone or other Android device before, don't rush to enter numbers manually, it allows you to quickly migrate the entire database, which saves hours and eliminates dialing errors, and it's important to check if synchronization is enabled in the device's system settings.
Import of contacts with SIM-maps and other devices
The most common scenario when buying Xiaomi Redmi 9T — portability SIM-The import process is simple, but requires certain steps in the app menu. SIM-The card with the saved numbers is installed in the phone and is active.
To start the procedure, you need to open the Contacts app, go to the control menu and select the import function. The system will offer several options for the data source, among which you need to choose the appropriate situation.
- 📲 Import with SIM-Cards: allows you to copy numbers stored on the operator’s chip to the phone’s memory or cloud.
- 📂 Import from.vcf: Used to restore a database from a previously created backup file.
- ☁️ Import from Mi Cloud: relevant if you have previously used Xiaomi smartphones and made a backup in their ecosystem.
- 📧 Import from Google: Automatically upload numbers if they were saved to Gmail on another device.
☑️ Pre-import checks
Once you select the source, the system will preview the records, at which point you can deselect from the numbers you don't need to clog the phone book, and then you can confirm the action, and in a few seconds, all the records will appear on the list.
Working with duplicates and combining records
When using a smartphone, especially when synchronized with multiple sources (WhatsApp, Telegram, SIM, Google), the address book inevitably appears duplicates. The same person can be written as "Alexei", "Alexey Mobile" and "Alex Home." Redmi 9T has a built-in tool to solve this problem.
The merge feature allows you to link multiple cards into one, creating a single point of contact, so when you call or message, you will see all the associated numbers and messengers under one name, which makes navigating the call list much easier.
⚠️ Warning: Before mass contact mergers, make sure you're merging the same person's records. Misconception of different people under the same name will cause confusion, and it'll be harder to fix that than removing the duplicate.
For manual cleaning, go to a specific contact, click the Edit button, and find the option “Combine with another contact” (often indicated by a chain ikon or paperclip).
Automatic removal of duplicates
Display setting and list filtering
The ease of use of the phone book on the Xiaomi Redmi 9T depends on the correct display settings. You can flexibly adjust which contacts will be visible in the shared list and which are hidden. This is especially useful if you use the phone for work and personal purposes at the same time.
In the display settings menu, you can select the display of contacts only from certain SIM-Maps, Google accounts, or just those with a phone number, and you can sort by name or surname, which is relevant for large databases.
Below is a table of the main filtering parameters and their impact on the type of phone book:
| Filtration parameter | Description of action | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Only with numbers. | Hiding profiles of companies and organizations without a direct number | Settings → Contact Filter |
| Accounts. | Selecting specific Google or Xiaomi accounts to show | Contacts → Settings → Accounts |
| Groups | Display only the selected group (e.g., “Family”) | Group Tab → Group Selection |
| Sorting | Change of order: Name-Family or Surname-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family-Family | Settings → Sorting the list |
Using grouping allows you to quickly find the numbers you want, so you can create your own groups, assign unique ringtones to them, and send group messages, and that turns a chaotic list into a structured database.
Synchronization with Google and Xiaomi Cloud
Reliability is a priority for any user, and Redmi 9T runs two major cloud storage systems: Google and Mi Cloud, and understanding the difference between the two will help avoid losing important numbers.
Sync with Google is in the background and consumes little or no traffic, as only text data is transmitted. To activate, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and make sure the slider opposite Contact is enabled.
Mi Cloud offers additional features such as retrieving remote contacts within 30 days, even without a local backup.Mi Account is required to use this feature.This is a unique MIUI feature that allows you to return numbers even after completely cleaning the phone.
⚠️ Note: If you use both clouds at the same time, keep an eye on where the new numbers are saved. Dual sync can lead to duplicates if the accounts are not prioritized correctly.
Check sync status regularly in the web version of Google Contacts (contacts.google.com) and this is the best way to make sure that all data is properly uploaded to the network and accessed from a computer or tablet.
Recovery of remote contacts
Accidentally deleting an important number is a bad situation, but on the Xiaomi Redmi 9T, it is easy to solve. The recovery mechanism depends on where the record was stored and whether synchronization was enabled.
If your contacts are synced with Google, go to contacts.google.com from your computer. From the menu on the left, select Recycle Bin or Restore Contacts. The system allows you to roll back the state of the database at any time within the last 30 days.
- ♻️ Google: Undo Changes Restores Your Condition on a Specific Date.
- ☁️ Mi Cloud: i.mi.com allows you to recover deleted items from the Xiaomi cloud.
- 📂 Local backup: if you have made a backup to SD-Map, use the import function from the file.
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The most reliable way to restore is to regularly check the Google Contacts web interface, which stores a complete history of changes that is not available in the mobile application.
The fewer new operations you do with your phone book after deleting, the better the chances of a successful recovery without losing other data. Don't ignore notifications of a lack of space in the cloud, as this can stop synchronization.