Combining contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: 5 ways to remove duplicates

Why do you have duplicate contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 owners often face the problem of repetitive entries in the phone book. This happens for several reasons: synchronization with different accounts (Google, Mi Account, WhatsApp), import from the phone book. SIM-Maps or backups, and errors when you add them manually, for example, if you save a number to Google Contacts and then the same contact is added through Mi Cloud, the system creates two separate records.

Another common scenario is take-ups after changing your smartphone, where when you transfer data through Mi Mover or recover from a backup, Xiaomi may mishandle existing contacts by creating copies, and it's important to understand that duplicate contacts not only clutter up the phone book, but also make it difficult to find the right numbers, and can lead to errors when calling or sending messages.

Before you start combining, we recommend checking which accounts sync contacts on your device. To do this, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Here you will see all the connected services (e.g. Google, Mi Account, Facebook).

Method 1: Connecting contacts through the standard Contacts app

The easiest method is to use Xiaomi’s built-in tools. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette) and follow the following steps:

1. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Contact Management.
2. Tap on Combine Contacts (or Find Doubles depending on the MIUI version).
3. The system will automatically scan the phone book and suggest options for combining, and next to each take will be a "Unite" button.
4. Confirm the action for each contact or click Combine All if you are sure the pairs offered are correct.

Important: Before a mass association, check each take manually. The automatic algorithm can mistakenly link different people with the same names (for example, two Ivanov Petrovichev), and pay attention to the fields Phone, Email and Address - they must match the combined records.

Check sync with accounts

Create a backup copy of your contacts

Make sure you have a stable internet connection (for cloud services)

Close background apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) that can block access to contacts

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Method 2: Using Google Contacts to remove duplicates

If your contacts are synced to a Google Account, it is easier to manage them through the web version of the service, a method that is suitable for users who want to clear the phone book on all devices at the same time.

1. Open your browser on your PC or smartphone and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same account you use on Redmi Note 5.
3. On the left menu, select Doubles. The service will automatically find the duplicates.
4. Click Combine next to each take or use the Combine All option.
5. Once completed, sync contacts on your smartphone: go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync and update data.

The advantage of this method is the ability to edit contacts manually before combining, for example, you can add missing information (additional phone, email address) from one record to another, and Google Contacts saves a history of changes, which allows you to cancel the erroneous association within 30 days.

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If you have lost some contacts after the merger, check the Recycle Bin folder in Google Contacts. The deleted records are stored there for 30 days and can be restored.

Method 3: Contact Cleaning Applications (Top 3)

If the built-in tools didn't work, you can use third-party apps, which offer advanced features like finding incomplete duplicates (like contacts with the same phone but different names) or mass editing. We tested three of the most effective solutions:

Before using third-party apps, make sure to back up contacts. To do this, in the Contacts app, click Settings → Import/Export → Export to file and save data to a memory card or to the cloud. Also pay attention to the permissions that programs request: they should only have access to contacts and storage, but not to SMS or calls.

Method 4: Connecting via Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi users)

Mi Cloud offers its own contact management tools, including the dual merger feature, which is suitable if you are actively using Xiaomi's cloud for sync.

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com. Sign in to your Mi Account.
2. Select Contacts from the menu.
3. Click on the gear icon (Settings) and select Find Takes.
4. The system will show you a list of repeat contacts, and you can combine them one by one or all at once.
5. After completion, update your contacts on your smartphone: Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync.

Important feature: Mi Cloud only connects contacts within its ecosystem. If the duplicates are created because of synchronization with Google, this method will not help - you will need to use Method 2. Also note that Mi Cloud does not have a undo function, so proceed carefully.

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Mi Cloud automatically backs up your contacts before any changes. To recover data, go to Settings → Data Recovery at i.mi.com.

Method 5: Manually Combining Through Contact Editing

If automatic methods don't work (e.g., take different names but the same phones), you can combine the recordings manually, which takes longer, but ensures accuracy:

1. Open the Contacts app and find the first take.
2. Slip on the contact, then click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down and select Link to another contact.
4. In the list, find the second take and confirm the binding.
5. Repeat for all repeated records.

When you manually combine, you can choose which information to store, for example, if one contact shows a work phone and another shows a personal phone, they will be combined into a single field marked "Worker" and "Mobile", which is ideal for contacts with partial matches (for example, the same email, but different phones).

⚠️ Note: If you link contacts from different accounts (e.g. Google and Mi Account), if you disable syncing of one of them, the record may split back. To avoid this, export all contacts to one account before combining.

How to avoid the appearance of doubles in the future?

To avoid recurring problems, follow these tips:

• 📱 Turn off unnecessary synchronization: Go to Settings → Accounts and keep only one contact source active (e.g. Google or Mi Account).
• 🔄 Set up automatic backup: In Contacts → Settings → Import/Export include regular export in file or cloud.
• 📇 Use a single save format: Always choose one account (like Google) when adding a new contact to avoid splitting.
• 🚫 Avoid importing from SIM-map: Transfer of contacts from SIM It's a lot of take, and you'd better manually add the numbers to the main phone book.

We also recommend checking your phone book periodically (every 2-3 months) for duplicates. Open Contacts → Management → Find duplicates. Regular cleaning not only saves space, but also speeds up the Contacts app, especially if you have a large database (1000+ records).

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If you frequently exchange business cards via NFC or Bluetooth, set up Contacts → Settings → Getting business cards with the “Ask Where to Save” option to avoid automatically creating duplicates.

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

When connecting contacts, users of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 often face typical problems.

• 🔍 No duplicates: If a standard search doesn't show duplicate contacts, check if sync with accounts is enabled. Also try manually sorting the list by name or phone - sometimes takes are hidden due to different recording formats (for example, try manually sorting the list by name or phone, «+7» vs «8»).
• 🔄 Once merged, contacts are shared again: This happens if the records are linked to different accounts, the solution is to export all contacts to one account (e.g. Google) and delete the rest of the sources.
• 📱 Contacts app freezes: Large database (5000)+ Lag may occur. Before combining, clear the application cache: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔕 Disappeared contacts after the merger: They were most likely associated with a disabled account. → Accounts and enable synchronization for all sources.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the Contacts app. Go to Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Reset. Attention: this won’t delete the contacts themselves, but it will reset the individual display and sort settings.

⚠️ Note: Do not use the Clear Data feature in the Contacts settings, this will result in the complete loss of all entries on the device.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions