How to combine contacts on Xiaomi Poco M3: 3 proven ways

Xiaomi Poco M3 — popular smartphone with functional firmware MIUI, But even here, users are faced with the problem of duplicate contacts, which appear after import from different sources: SIM-Maps, Google Account, Viber/WhatsApp Forked records make it difficult to search, take up space and spoil the phone experience.

In this article you will find 3 working method of combining contacts with Poco M3 — From manual merger to automatic Google Contacts, we'll also look at why duplicates occur, how to prevent them from happening in the future, and what to do if standard methods don't work. MIUI 12/13/14 and do not require root rights.

Why do you have duplicate contacts on the Poco M3?

The main reason is multiple synchronization sources. The smartphone automatically pulls up contacts from:

• 📱 Local phone memory (hand-saved)
• ☁️ Google Account (if synchronization is enabled)
• 📶 SIM-cards (when imported)
• 💬 Messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram)
• 🔄 Backup copies (when restored from the MI Cloud or third-party services)

For example, if you added a number to Google Contacts from your computer and then imported the same number from your computer. SIM-So, the messaging system will create two separate records, and the same thing happens with WhatsApp, which is that the messenger stores the contacts to its database, which doesn't always sync with the main phone book.

The second common cause is MIUI malfunctions, and sometimes the firmware doesn't handle contact updates correctly, especially if:

• 🔄 You often switch between Google accounts.
• 📱 Use third-party contact management apps (e.g. Truecaller).
• 🔧 Updated. MIUI with skipping versions (for example, from 12 to 14 at once).

⚠️ Note: If the doubles appeared after the update MIUI, Don't rush to remove them manually. First, check your sync settings in Settings. → Accounts. → Google. It may have just temporarily split the records because of a conflict of versions.

Method 1: Manually linking through the “Contacts” application

The most reliable method is manual fusion, which is suitable if you take a few takes (up to 50 records).

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the section "Connect Contacts".
4. The system automatically finds possible duplicates, and in front of each pair, you'll have a "Combine" button, and you'll press it.
5. Confirm the merger in the window that appears.

If the automatic search does not work:

1. Go back to the main contact list.
2. Find the duplicate record and open it.
3. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Edit.
4. Scroll down and select Combine with another contact.
5. Specify the record from which you need to merge the data, and confirm.

Check the backup of contacts (export to VCF)

Disable sync with Google during the merger

Close messengers (WhatsApp, Viber)

Make sure the battery is charged at more than 30 times%-->

What if the "Unite" button is inactive? This happens if:

• 🔒 Contacts are protected from editing (e.g. system records from the MIUI).
• ☁️ One of the contacts is synced only to Google, and the second is local.
• 📱 Records are linked to different accounts (e.g., one contact from the MI-Account, another from Google).

⚠️ Note: If you combine contacts with different numbers (for example, work and personal), the data from the second record will be lost.

Method 2: Automatically linking through Google Contacts

If you have a lot of takes (hundreds of records), manual merges take hours, and the web version of Google Contacts will help, and only works if your contacts are synced to your Google Account.

Instructions:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Doubles and tips → Combine takes.
3. The system will show all the pairs found. Click "Combine"** opposite each or choose "Combine All" (if you are sure of the accuracy of the merger).

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Fast: Processing 500+ Contacts with a few minutes.
• 🔍 Accuracy: Google analyzes not only names, but also numbers, emails, notes.
• 🔄 Cancellation: If you make a mistake, you can separate the contacts manually.

Limitations:

• 🚫 It does not work with contacts that are only saved on SIM-map or local memory.
• 🔒 Requires a stable Internet (synchronization may be interrupted).
• 📱 On Poco. M3 Autosynchronization should be enabled: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If standard methods didn't work, use specialized utilities. We tested 3 applications that are compatible with Poco M3:

How to use (as in Simpler Merge):

1. Install the app and give access to contacts.
2. Select Find the duplicates → wait for the scan.
3. Check the pairs offered (the app shows the percentage match).
4. Click "Combine"** or mark the necessary manually.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Before using third-party utilities, be sure to export contacts to the file VCF (through settings → Import/Export in the Contact App. Some applications may delete data instead of a merger!

💡

If you've lost contact photos after you've merged, check the DCIM/.thumbnails folder on your phone, and sometimes MIUI caches avatars separately from the main data.

How to Prevent the appearance of doubles in the future

To avoid recurring problems, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Turn off auto-import with SIM-maps: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Import of contacts → Turn it off.
• ☁️ Sync with only one account: choose either Google or Google MI-Account (not both at the same time).
• 📱 Remove Unnecessary Sources: C Settings → Only leave accounts that you actually use.
• 🔧 Update. MIUI: In new versions of firmware improved contact processing (relevant to the MIUI 14+).

Additional advice:

• 📌 When adding a new contact, always specify the number type (mobile, work, etc.) to help the system correctly group the records.
• 🔍 Check the Google Contacts section regularly (every 2-3 months).
• 🚫 Avoid third-party backup apps (like Super Backup) – they often create duplicates.

💡

The most common mistake users make is syncing with Google and MI-Select one primary source and disable the others!

What to do if contacts are not combined?

If none of these methods worked, check out these points:

1. Access Rights: Make sure that the Contacts app allows all permissions (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Rights).
2. Cache and data: Clear the cache of the Contacts and Contact Storage app (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts → Clear the cache).
3. Account Conflict: If a contact is linked to multiple accounts (e.g. Google and Exchange), export it to a single source first.
4. Mistakes. MIUI: Restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button) → «Safe mode") and try again.

The last method is to reset the settings of the Contacts app:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Select Warehouse. → Resetting settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
4. After reset, import contacts again from backup.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting will remove all local contacts (not synced with Google or Google) MI-Account! First export them to the file VCF.

Backup of contacts before merger

Before any manipulation of contacts, make sure to back up. On the Poco M3, there are two ways to do this:

Method 1: Through the Contact Application

1. Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → Contact management.
2. Select Import/Export Contacts → Export to Storage.
3. Specify the location of the storage (for example, internal memory) and confirm.
4. A file with the.vcf extension will appear in the Download or MIUI/backup folder.

Method 2: Through a Google Account

1. Make sure sync is enabled: Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync.
2. Go to contacts.google.com.
3. In the left menu, select Export → specify the format (Google CSV or vCard) → Export.
4. The file will be downloaded to your computer.

How to restore contacts from backup?

• 📱 For.vcf: “Contacts» → ⋮ → Imports/exports → Imports from storage → select the file.
• ☁️ For Google Contacts: click Import and download the saved file.

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If the backup weighs more than 100MB, break it down with VCF Splitter. MIUI may not import large files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about joining contacts on the Poco M3