Set up contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: from synchronization to widgets

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is still one of the most popular smartphones in the brand lineup due to its balanced characteristics and affordable price. However, many users face inconveniences when working with contacts: duplicate records, lack of synchronization with accounts or incorrect display in the Phone app. This article will help you understand how to flexibly configure the address book on your device, from basic parameters to hidden MIUI functions.

Unlike iOS or pure Android, MIUI offers advanced contact management tools, but they aren’t always intuitive. Here you’ll find not only standard instructions for adding and editing records, but also unique solutions for Redmi Note 9, such as how to return the old version of the Contacts app or configure Chinese characters in names.

1. Basic configuration of the “Contacts” application

By default, the Redmi Note 9 uses Xiaomi’s standard Contacts app, which is integrated with MIUI firmware. To open it, tap the icon with the person’s silhouette on the home screen or app menu. If the icon is missing, check the Tools folder or search the system (swipe down the home screen and type in Contacts).

The first thing to do is check the main display parameters:

• 📱 Sorting: Go to Settings → Display contacts and select order (by name or surname). For Russian users, the optimal option is the "Name of the surname" option».
• 👥 Name format: in the same menu you can configure the display of Cyrillic symbols (relevant if the contacts are displayed by Krakozabras).
• 🔍 Search: Enable the “Search by Number” option in the settings to find contacts even with partial data.

Please note: if you use Google Contacts as your primary source, some settings (such as groups) may be managed via the web version of contacts.google.com. Sync with Google Account is included in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync.

2. synchronization of contacts with accounts

One of the most common problems with the Redmi Note 9 is the duplication of contacts due to simultaneous synchronization with multiple accounts (Mi Account, Google, WhatsApp, etc.) To avoid chaos, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → Accounts.
2. Select an account (like Google) and disable contact sync if you don’t need one.
3. For Mi Account, go to Settings → Mi Account → Sync and deactivate the Contacts option if you are not using the Xiaomi cloud.
4. If you already have duplicates, use the merge function: open the Contacts app, tap three dots in the upper right corner → Contact Management → Merge Contacts.

⚠️ Note: If you turn off sync with Google, all contacts saved only in this account will disappear from your phone. VCF through settings → Exports/imports → Export to file.

Open Settings → Accounts

Check the synchronization enabled for each account

Delete duplicates through "Contacts"

Export backup copy (VCF)

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3.Configure the display of contacts in calls

By default, Redmi Note 9 shows the contact name when the call is in, but sometimes only the number is displayed instead of the name.

• 📞 Inconsistencies in number formats (e.g, +7 vs 8).
• 🔄 Lack of synchronization with the account where the contact is saved.
• 🛠️ Failure of the “Phone” application».

To fix this:

1. Open the Contacts app and find a problem contact.
2. Put it on him. → «Edit» → Check that the number is saved in an international format (for example, +79123456789, not 89123456789).
3. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Storage and click “Clear Cache”.

⚠️ Warning: If all contacts are lost after clearing the phone cache, don't panic. They're saved in your account (Google or Mi) and will recover after you sync again. Just restart your phone.

For convenience, you can customize color tags for contacts, like assigning green to colleagues and red to important customers.

1. Open contact. → «Edit».
2. Slip on the avatar → choose a color from the palette.
3. Save the changes.

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If the contact is not determined when you call, try adding the number in several formats: with +7, 8 and without a prefix. MIUI will look for matches in all variants.

4. Widgets and quick access to contacts

On the Redmi Note 9, you can add a contact widget to the home screen for quick access to frequently used numbers.

1. Press and hold the free space on the main screen.
2. Select “Widgets” → find the “Contacts” widget (usually 4×1 or 4×2).
3. Drag it on the screen and set up the contacts displayed.

The widget supports several modes:

• 📇 List: Displays a vertical list of favorite contacts.
• 📞 Quick call: large buttons for single-step dialing.
• 👤 Avatars: Shows photos of contacts (if uploaded).

If the widget doesn’t update after adding new contacts, try:

• Remove it and add it again.
• Clear the cache of the Contacts app in the settings.
• Reboot the phone.

A unique feature of MIUI is that the Contacts widget can display not only phone numbers, but also links to WhatsApp or Telegram profiles if they are linked to a contact, and you need to open a chat with a person in the messenger once, and the system automatically connects accounts.

Contact groups and mass actions

Contact grouping is useful for sending messages or filtering incoming calls. On the Redmi Note 9, groups are created like this:

1. Open Contacts → Tap on three points → Contact Management → Groups.
2. Click on “Create a Group” and enter a name (e.g., “Work” or “Family”).
3. Add participants by ticking the necessary contacts.

Features of working with groups in MIUI:

• 📌 Groups created in Google Contacts sync to your phone, but don’t always show up correctly.
• 🔄 When you delete a group, the contacts are not deleted – they are simply removed from the list.
• 📱 For mass mailing SMS select a group → press three points → «Send a message».

If groups are not displayed:

• Check if sync is enabled with the account where they are created.
• Update the Contacts app through the Play Market.
• Reset the application settings to Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Reset settings.

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Groups in MIUI do not support nesting (groups within groups), but you can create an unlimited number of individual groups.

6. Solving contact problems

If contacts are missing, duplicated or not synchronized, use this instruction:

For a deep diagnosis:

1. Check if third-party contact management applications (such as Truecaller or Drupe) are installed that may conflict with the system application.
2. Make sure that your phone has enough free memory (less than 10% of the free space can cause crashes).
3. If the problem has occurred after the MIUI update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version via Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Select the Service Pack.

⚠️ Attention: When resetting the settings of the Contacts app (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Reset settings) all local contacts (not saved in accounts) will be deleted. VCF.

7. Alternative applications for contact management

If the standard Contacts app on the Redmi Note 9 doesn’t suit you, consider alternatives:

• 📱 Google Contacts: Minimalist interface, reliable synchronization, integration with Gmail. Download to Play Market.
• 🔍 Truecaller: It detects spammer numbers, but requires access to your address book, and if you call strangers often, it's fine.
• 📇 Simple Contacts: open source, ad-free, supports cloud backup.

When installing a third-party application:

1. Export your current contacts to the VCF file (via the standard application).
2. Import them to a new app.
3. Turn off sync in the standard Contacts app to avoid duplicates.

⚠️ Note: Some alternative applications (like Truecaller) upload your contacts to their servers for analysis. If privacy is important, use offline solutions like Simple Contacts.

FAQ: Frequent Contact Questions on Redmi Note 9