How to set up a phone book on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality, but the MIUI shell or its more recent version of HyperOS have a specific logic that differs from pure Android. This is especially true for contact management, where beginners often face confusion between local storage and cloud services. Proper organization of the phone book is not just a convenience, but a necessity to avoid losing important data when changing devices or accidentally resetting settings.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to properly configure the display, sorting and synchronization of records so that your phone directory is always on hand in an up-to-date state. You will learn about the hidden features of the system that allow you to manage duplicates and hide unnecessary numbers, making the work with the device as comfortable as possible.

First, you need to decide on the source of storage, and by default, it offers to save entries in your Google account, Xiaomi account, or directly in your phone’s memory, and choosing the right one is a critical step to keep your data safe.

Choosing a source of contact storage

The first step in setting up a phone book is to understand where the new numbers are physically stored. If you don't specify a priority storage, the system can randomly throw records away, which will lead to their loss when you flash them over. In the Contacts app settings or through the Synchronization menu, you can set the main account.

Storing the device in local memory (the “Phone”) is the most unreliable way, and in the event of a motherboard failure or software reset, all data will be lost irretrievably, and this method is only suitable for temporary records that are not a pity to lose.

⚠️ Warning: Keeping contacts only in the phone's memory makes them vulnerable, and when reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset), they will disappear forever unless a separate export was made.

Using cloud services like Google Contacts or Xiaomi Cloud provides automatic backups.This allows you to instantly restore the entire phone book on a new smartphone simply by entering your username and password. Real-time synchronization ensures that changes made from your computer or tablet will immediately show up on your Xiaomi.

To set your priority, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Here you will see a list of connected services. Make sure that the sliders opposite the right accounts are active, and in the settings of the Contacts app itself, the cloud service is the default source.

💡

Check the sync status in the Accounts section regularly to make sure that new numbers are actually saved to the cloud, rather than “hanging” locally.

Interface and sorting of records in MIUI

The MIUI shell provides flexible tools for visually displaying the contact list. Standard sorting may not suit all users, especially those who are used to a certain order of names in paper directories.

To change these settings, open the Contacts app, click on the three dots in the top corner, and select Settings. In the Display section, you will find the Contact Sort and Name Format, and changing these settings instantly rebuilds the entire list, making finding the right subscriber more intuitive.

• 📱 By name: Classical version, where the list is arranged alphabetically by the first word in the record.
• 📖 By surname: convenient for large contacts, where it is important to group people by family ties.
• 🔤 Display format: allows you to choose what to show in the list - "Name Name" or "Name Name».

Also worth paying attention to is the large font function, which is for visually impaired users or for older adults who are targeted by a smartphone, this option makes navigation much easier, and it is found in the general settings of the system in the Screen section or directly in the design theme settings.

The phonebook interface on Xiaomi supports a dark theme that is activated automatically when the system mode is turned on or through the screen settings. This reduces eye strain and saves battery power on devices with AMOLED arrays.

Managing duplicates and combining records

One of the most common problems with changing phones or syncing with multiple sources is the appearance of duplicates. The same person can be displayed twice: once with a mobile number, another with a home number, or with different avatars. Contact pairing is a regular MIUI function that solves this problem.

The system often offers automatic pairing, but manual control gives a more accurate result. To do this, go to the contact settings and select "Combine Repetitive Contacts," the system will analyze the database and suggest a list of pairs that it believes are the same person.

The process of combining requires care, because mistakenly merging different people with the same names will lead to confusion. Always check phone numbers and email addresses before confirming an action. Once combined, all data (photos, numbers, email) are collected into one card.

⚠️ Note: When combining records from different sources (e.g, SIM and Google) cloud data is often given priority. Make sure the current number is not overwritten by the old one.

If the automatic merger didn't work, you can do it manually. Open the contact card, click on the menu (three dots) and select "Combine with another." You'll be prompted to select a contact from the list for the merger. This is useful when the system has not recognized the duplicate due to differences in the spelling of the name (for example, "Alexander" and "Sasha").

Import and export of telephone book

Shifting contacts from an old device or creating a backup is a critical procedure. Xiaomi supports many formats, but the most versatile and reliable is the.vcf format. This file contains all the information: names, numbers, addresses, photos and even ringtones.

To export contacts to the file, go to the Contacts settings, select Import/Export Contacts, and click Export to Drive. The system will create contacts.vcf in the root directory or MIUI folder. This file can be sent to your mail, saved to the cloud, or forwarded to your computer.

Imports are done in a similar way: select “Import from Drive”, specify the path to the.vcf file and confirm the action. The system will automatically allocate contacts to the default storage. When importing from CSV, additional configuration of the encoding and separators may be required if the text is displayed incorrectly.

Hiding numbers and blocking spam

Antispam is built into the MIUI shell and works on Tencent databases or local listings, but users can customize the blacklist themselves and hide certain contacts from prying eyes, especially if children or colleagues use the phone.

To hide contacts, you use Hidden Contacts. To activate it, open the Contacts app, click three dots, and select Settings → Hidden Contacts, and you will be prompted to set a password or use a fingerprint to access this section.

Once you turn on the feature, you'll see a special section in the list that you're protected from, and you can move any numbers, and they'll disappear from the general list, call history, and message history until you enter the unlock code, and that creates an extra layer of privacy.

• 🚫 Blacklist: Blocks calls and SMS from unwanted subscribers.
• 👁️ Hidden mode: Makes contacts invisible in the shared list.
• 🔒 Password protection: Access to hidden data only through biometrics or pin code.

You also need to set up a smart lock, and in the Antispam section, you can enable the blocking of hidden numbers or numbers from other regions, and the system will automatically reset such calls without disturbing you with an audible signal.

💡

Using built-in antivirus and anti-spam from Xiaomi is much more effective than third-party applications, as it has deep access rights to the call system.

Frequent questions and troubleshooting

Even with careful study of the instructions, users may encounter nuances of the system, and the following are answers to the most common questions that will help quickly troubleshoot problems without contacting the service center.

If contacts are lost after the update, first check the display filter. Often the system by default hides contacts with the user. SIM-maps or shows only the selected account. Go to the display settings and make sure that the check box "All contacts" is ticked».

Synchronization problems are often solved by simply re-authorizing. Remove your Google account from your phone settings and add it again. This updates access tokens and forces the process of sharing data with the server.

It only takes a few minutes to set up your phone book correctly on Xiaomi, but saves hours of time in the future. Regularly check sync status, use cloud storage, and don't neglect the dual-merging feature. Your smartphone will be a reliable assistant, and finding the right number will take a fraction of a second.