How to connect contacts with Xiaomi: 5 working ways (including MIUI 14/15)

Xiaomi smartphones have taken a strong lead in the market over the past decade, thanks to a combination of affordable prices and rich features. However, even in MIUI 14/15 firmware, users regularly face the problem of duplicate contacts – especially after synchronizing with multiple accounts (Google, Mi Account, Sim cards).

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to connect contacts on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from built-in MIUI tools to third-party utilities, and focus on the nuances that the manufacturer does not advertise: for example, why some contacts “twin” again after combining, or how to avoid data loss during cleaning, if you are tired of seeing one person on the call list with three different avatars, this guide is for you.

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1.Why do you get duplicate contacts on Xiaomi?

The problem with duplicates arises from the way MIUI works with multiple contact sources, and here are the main reasons:

🔹 Sync with multiple accounts. If you use both a Google Account and a Mi Account, the system creates separate records for one person, for example, Ivanov's contact can be stored in both Google Contacts and in your phone's memory.

🔹 Import with SIM-When you move your contacts from SIM Xiaomi smartphones often create copies, as the system does not recognize them as identical to existing records.

🔹 Application errors: Messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram sometimes add contacts to the phone book automatically, duplicating data.

🔹 Updates MIUI. After major updates (for example, with the MIUI 12 on MIUI 14) the system can "reset" the links between the combined contacts, returning them to their original state.

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Note: If you notice that duplicates appear after you connect to Wi-Fi or mobile Internet, check the sync settings in Settings → Accounts and Sync. Automatic contact backup may be enabled to the cloud that creates copies.

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Method 1: Connection through the standard "Contacts" application

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI feature, which is suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5.

📌 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → select Contact Management.
3. Go to Combine Contacts (or Find and Combine Takes in new versions of MIUI 15).
4. The system will automatically find possible duplicates. Press Consolidate opposite each.
5. Confirm the action by selecting the main entry (for example, one where more fields are filled).

🔍 What to do if the "Combine" button is inactive?

This means that the contacts are linked to different accounts, to fix:

1. Open the duplicate contact.
2. Click Edit → scroll down to the Account field.
3. Change your account to the same one as your primary account (e.g., from your Mi Account to Google).
4. Save the changes and try to reunite.

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If there are hundreds of duplicate contacts, use the source filter. In Contact Management → Display settings, disable unnecessary accounts (such as SIM or WhatsApp) to make it easier to search.

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3. Method 2: Sync through Google Account

If you use Google Contacts as your primary source, you can combine duplicates through the web version of the service, a method that is suitable for Xiaomi owners who want to avoid problems with MIUI-specific bugs.

🔗 Instructions for PC/laptop:

1. Go to contacts.google.com and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Doubly (or Combine and Fix).
3. Google will automatically find the duplicates. Click Combine opposite each take.
4. Once completed, sync contacts on your smartphone: Settings → Accounts and sync → Google → Sync contacts.

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Note: If you previously edited contacts directly on your phone (not through Google), some fields (such as additional numbers or notes) may disappear after syncing.

📊 Comparison of methods of combination:

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Method 3: Use of Third-Party Applications

If the built-in MIUI tools fail, specialized utilities will come to the rescue. We tested 5 popular apps and selected the best ones for Xiaomi.

📲 Top.-3 contact-combination:

• 🔹 Simpler Merge automatically finds duplicates by number, email and name, supports backup before merger.
• 🔹 Contacts Optimizer – can combine contacts even with different number formats (for example, contact formats, +79123456789 and 8(912)345-67-89).
• 🔹 Cleanup: Duplicate Contacts is a simple interface with visual take comparison. The free version is limited to 50 contacts.

⚠️ How to Avoid Fraudulent Applications?

Before installation, check:

• 📌 Rankings on Google Play (should be) ≥4.2).
• 📌 Date of last update (current applications are updated at least 1 time in 3 months).
• 📌 Permissions – the program must not request access to the SMS, Geolocations or Microphones.

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Backup contacts in Settings → System and device → Backup |

Disable sync with clouds (Google, Mi Account) |

Check the reviews on the forums (e.g. 4PDA)|

Run the application in test mode (combine) 2-3 contact before mass cleaning)-->

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Method 4: Manual association through export/import

This method is suitable for advanced users who want complete control over the process, and is especially useful if duplicates are associated with different accounts (e.g. Google + Exchange).

📤 Exports of contacts:

1. Open Contacts. → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select Export to File → specify the.vcf format (or.csv for editing in Excel).
3. Save the file to your device or to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

🔍 Search and removal of duplicates:

Open a.vcf file in a text editor (like Notepad++) or.csv in Excel. Duplicate contacts will have the same TEL (phone number) or FN (name) fields. Delete extra strings by leaving one entry per person.

📥 Import back to the phone:

1. Return to Import/Export → select Import from the file.
2. Specify the edited.vcf file.
3. Select an account to save (we recommend Google or Local).

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Method 5: Resetting the settings of the Contacts app

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be in the cache or the app settings, and the reset would not delete the contacts themselves, but would return the display settings to the factory settings.

⚙️ How to reset the settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Contacts (or Contacts) → Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Cache and Reset Settings (do not delete data!).
4. Reboot the phone.

🔄 What will change after the reset?

• 🔹 Standard contact sorting (by name) will return).
• 🔹 Display filters will be reset (all accounts will be shown).
• 🔹 You may need to re-configure the synchronization with Google/Mi Account.

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If the duplicates disappeared after reset, but then reappeared, the problem is sync with the cloud. Disable automatic contact backup in Settings → Accounts and sync and manually combine them.

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7 How to Prevent the appearance of doubles in the future

To avoid recurring problems, follow these tips:

🛡️ Preventive measures:

• 🔹 Turn off autosynchronization for unnecessary accounts. Just leave one main one (eg, Google).
• 🔹 Import contacts with SIM-The cards are removed once and removed from the card immediately. SIM, avoiding repeated duplication.
• 🔹 Configure messengers: in WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber, disable the option "Add contacts to the phone book".
• 🔹 Check the doubles regularly (once in a week). 2-3 months) through Contacts → Contact management.

📱 Optimal settings for Xiaomi:

We recommend using Google Contacts as the primary source, and Mi Account for backup only.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Turn off contact sync for Mi Account.
3. Turn on sync only for Google.
4. In the Contacts app, select the display of only Google Contacts (Settings → Display Contacts from).

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Note: If you are using MIUI 14/15 on Xiaomi 13/14, note the bug with “ghost” contacts – they may appear after a firmware update.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about uniting contacts on Xiaomi