Why Redmi 9 Notes have duplicate contacts and how to fix it
Xiaomi Redmi 9 Note owners often face the problem of duplicate contacts in the phone book, MIUI, SIM-Maps and messengers that create separate records for the same person, such as WhatsApp’s number that can be displayed separately from the main contact, and data from Gmail that duplicates information from the same person. MI Cloud.
This is complicated if you’ve used other smartphones before and moved contacts via.vcf files or backups, and the phone book becomes a mess of repetitive names, numbers and email addresses. Fortunately, MIUI 12/13 (depending on the firmware version of your Redmi 9 Note) offers built-in tools to combine duplicates, and also supports third-party solutions.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 ways to connect contacts, from standard MIUI features to advanced methods using Google Contacts and apps like Simpler Merge, and how to avoid data loss during a merger and what to do if contacts “disconnect” after a system update.
Method 1: Connecting contacts through the standard Contacts app
The easiest method is to use the built-in merging function in the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette on the home screen), which is suitable if the takes appeared due to synchronization with the main screen. MI Cloud or Google, but do not affect your contacts with Google SIM-map.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Contacts app and click on three points (⋮) top-right.
- 🔍 Select Contact Management → Connecting contacts.
- 👥 The system will automatically find possible duplicates. Click on the group of contacts to be combined and confirm the action with the "Unite" button.
- 🔄 Repeat the process for all proposed take. If the contact is not on the list, use manual search through the magnifier at the top of the screen.
Important: This method only works for contacts saved in a Xiaomi or Google account. SIM-The card must first be transferred to the phone memory (see Method 4).
Backup contacts through Settings → Memory → Backup
Check that all duplicates are displayed in the Contacts app
Turn off temporary sync with Google (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync)
Close all messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) that can block access to contacts
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Method 2: Using Google Contacts for a Deep Merger
If the standard method didn’t work or you want to combine contacts from different sources (e.g. Google + MI Cloud), use the web version of Google Contacts.
Step-by-step:
- Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to contacts.google.com (sign up with the same account as Redmi 9 Note).
- In the left menu, select Doubley, and the system will show all the repeated contacts.
- Click Combine next to each group of takes. For a mass merger, use the Combine All button (it will appear if there are more than 10 takes).
- After the merger, return to your smartphone and update your contacts: Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync.
Critical detail: If you use multiple Google accounts on the Redmi 9 Note, make sure that sync is enabled for only one of them. otherwise, duplicates may reappear after the merger.
In the Xiaomi phone book
At Google Contacts.
In messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)
Nana SIM-map
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Method 3: Third-party applications for contact combination
If the built-in tools don't work, try specialized applications, such as Simpler Merge or Contacts Optimizer, which can find duplicates even by overlapping names or numbers, and are useful if contacts are stored in different accounts or in a non-standard format (such as with country prefixes).
Recommendations for the selection of an application:
| Annex | Advantages | Deficiencies | Link (Play Market) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simpler Merge | Automatic and manual connection, support VCF-file | Advertising in the free version | Download |
| Contacts Optimizer | Removing empty fields, correcting the format of numbers | Paid functions for mass merger | Download |
| Cleanup: Duplicate Contacts | Intuitive interface, working with cloud accounts | Limitation on the number of associations per day | Download |
Before using third-party applications:
⚠️ Attention: Turn off autosynchronization of contacts in Settings → Accounts to avoid creating new duplicates while the program is running. Also check reviews in the Play Market - some apps may request redundant permissions (e.g. access to the app). SMS).
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If contacts are missing after the combination, try to restore them through Google Photos or re-sync your MI Cloud account (Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync).
Method 4: Transfer and Combination of Contacts with SIM-map
Contacts saved on SIM-card, not displayed in the main telephone book MIUI They don't sync to the clouds, and to merge them with the rest of the records, first transfer them to the phone's memory:
How to do this:
- Open Contacts. → Settings (⋮) → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
- Choose to import with SIM-maps and specify an account to save (e.g. Google or Device).
- After importing, use Method 1 or Method 2 to combine duplicates.
It's important: SIM-cards support a limited number of characters in names (usually up to 14 characters).If after importing the names are displayed cropped, edit them manually.
What to do if your contacts are SIM-card not imported?
Method 5: Manual association through export/import VCF-file
If the automatic methods didn’t work, try exporting all contacts to a.vcf file, editing it manually (e.g. via Excel or a text editor), and then importing it back. This method requires accuracy, but is guaranteed to delete all duplicates.
Step-by-step:
- Export contacts: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Export (select.vcf format and save file to device).
- Copy the file on your PC and open it via Excel or Notepad++. The duplicates will have the same FN (name) or TEL (number) fields.
- Remove repeating lines, save file and import back: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports.
For convenience, use services like VCF Merge, which automatically find and delete duplicates in the file. After importing, remember to turn back on sync!
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Exporting to.vcf is the only way to save contacts before resetting the Redmi 9 Note to factory settings. The file can be stored in the cloud or on a flash drive for quick recovery.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When connecting contacts on the Redmi 9 Note, users often face typical problems.
- 🔄 Contacts ‘disconnected’ after merger: This happens if you have combined entries from different accounts (e.g. Google) + MI Solution: Select one primary account to store contacts and disable sync for others.
- 📞 Numbers Missed After Update MIUI: After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 12 on MIUI 13) contacts can fly. Always back up through Settings. → Memory. → Backup before the update.
- 🚫 You can't connect your contacts to WhatsApp: Messenger creates their own records in a separate database. To fix this, open a WhatsApp chat, click on the person's name and select Save to Contacts, so the number will be linked to the existing record.
⚠️ Note: If you are using Dual Apps (app cloning function) MIUI), Contact duplicates may appear because each clone of the messenger (such as the second WhatsApp) creates its own records. → Dual Apps.