How to completely disable contact synchronization on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Synchronizing contacts on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is often a source of problems: duplicate records, unwanted backup to the cloud or automatic updates to the list of messengers. Many users do not even realize that their phone constantly exchanges data with Mi Account servers, Google and social networks – which not only consumes traffic, but also creates privacy risks.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible ways to disable contact synchronization on Xiaomi devices, from basic settings in the phone menu to hidden developer settings. You will learn how to stop automatic backups, delete already synchronized data and prevent duplicates from reappearing. MIUI 12–14 and HyperOS, where the logic of working with contacts is different.

Before you start settings, check that the problem may lie not in sync, but in the installed messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Viber automatically add contacts from chats). If you use multiple Google or Mi Account accounts, they also have to be set up separately.

1. disable synchronization through the settings of the Xiaomi account (Mi Account)

The main source of automatic sync on Xiaomi is the Mi Account, which even if you didn't use cloud backup consciously, the system could turn it on by default to disable:

Open Settings → Accounts and sync (on some firmware, the path may look like Settings → Memory and Sync → Accounts).
Choose your Mi Account (or your email if linked).
Slip on the item Synchronize contacts and move the slider to the off position.
Confirm the action if the system requests a password from the account.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13), the sync menu may be in Settings. → Users and accounts → Account management: If you do not see the Contact Sync item, update your firmware or use alternative methods in the following sections.

After you turn off, check if the duplicate contacts have disappeared, and if they don't, you're syncing through another service (like Google or Facebook), in which case you move on to the next way.

📊 What account is tied to Xiaomi?

Only Mi Account.

Google + Mi Account

Multiple accounts

Nothing.

2. How to disable synchronization of contacts with Google

If you use Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Play Store), your phone automatically syncs contacts with the Google Contacts cloud, which leads to duplicate records, especially if you previously imported contacts from the Google Contacts cloud. SIM-map or file.vcf.

To stop synchronization:

Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
Choose your account (if there are several, repeat for each).
Turn off the slider opposite Contacts (or People details in English firmware).
Click Delete Data (or Sync now → More → Remove account data) to clear already uploaded contacts from the cloud.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting data from Google Contacts erases it from all devices where you are logged in to that account.If you need backups, pre-export contacts to a.vcf file via the web version of Google Contacts.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, Google sync may resume after rebooting. To prevent this, disable auto sync completely:

Settings → Accounts and Synchronization → Autosynchronization of data (off)

3. Removal of duplicate contacts after synchronization is disabled

Even after the sync is turned off, the phone book can still have duplicates, which can be removed manually or using Xiaomi’s built-in tools:

📱 Through the Contacts app: Open the Contacts app → ⋮ (Menus) → Contact management → Combine and fix. The system automatically finds the duplicates and prompts them to merge.
🔍 Manual search: In the same menu, select Show Takes, which will show all the repeated entries. You can delete the unnecessary ones or combine them into one.
📤 Export and import: Export contacts to a.vcf file, edit it to a PC (like Excel or Google Sheets), and then import back.

If the built-in tools fail, use third-party apps:

Annex	Functions	Reference
Simpler Contacts	Automatic combination of duplicates, backup, cleaning of irrelevant contacts	Play Market
Contacts Optimizer	Search for duplicates by numbers, email and names, support for cloud accounts	Play Market
Truecaller	Removal of duplicates + blocking of spam (requires registration)	Play Market

⚠️ Note: When using third-party contact applications, only give access to the phone book, not all device data. SMS Call logs are excessive for removing duplicates.

Create a backup copy (export to.vcf)

Check your linked accounts (Mi, Google, Facebook)

Turn off autosynchronization

Remove unnecessary cloud copies-->

4. Disable synchronization via messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram)

Many instant messengers automatically add chat contacts to your phone book, even if you've never saved them manually.

💬 WhatsApp: syncs numbers from chats with phone book (setting hidden in Settings) → Account. → Confidentiality → Contacts).
📱 Viber: offers to “enrich” contacts with data from user profiles (disabled in Settings) → Confidentiality → Synchronization of contacts).
⚡ Telegram: does not sync contacts directly, but may offer to add them on the first run.

To stop this function:

Open the settings of the messenger (for example, WhatsApp).
Go to the Account section → Confidentiality.
Find the contact-related item (may be called Sync, Contact Sharing, or Backup).
Turn off all sliders associated with automatic number loading.

If the messenger has already added unnecessary contacts, delete them manually through the Contacts app or using the filter:

Contacts → ⋮ (Menu) → Contact management → Show contacts from [Messaging Name]

⚠️ Note: WhatsApp has a hidden contact backup feature in Google Drive. To turn it off, go to Settings → chat → Backup and uncheck the tick with Enable contacts (if such item is available).

5. Resetting synchronization settings through developer modes

If standard methods did not help, and contacts continue to be duplicated, the problem may lie in the system settings, in which case resetting cache and data of the Contacts or accounts application through the developer mode will help.

Instructions:

Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times in a row)
Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Find the item Do not save actions and turn it on (this will temporarily turn off the background activity of applications).
Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Select Contacts (or Contacts Storage), click Storage → Clear cache and data.
Repeat step 5 for Mi Account and Google Play Services.

Some Xiaomi firmware may require re-assigning accounts after resetting the Contacts app. If the contacts are gone after the reboot, import them from the backup file (.vcf).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use Reset all settings in the developer menu, this will lead to a complete restart of the phone and delete all data, including photos and applications.

💡

If contacts are not restored after reset, check the MIUI/Backup/Contacts folder in internal memory – there may be automatic backups in.vcf format.

6.How to prevent re-synchronization: tips for setting up

To prevent the problem from returning after the synchronization is turned off, follow these recommendations:

🔒 Turn off auto-update MIUI: Firmware updates sometimes reset sync settings. To avoid this, go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings and disable Automatic Boot.
📴 Use local storage: Keep contacts only on SIM-card or internal phone memory (in the Contacts app settings, select Default Warehouse).
🚫 Block background activity: For Mi Account and Google Play Services apps, limit background work in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.
🔄 Check your accounts regularly: Once a month, check your Settings → Accounts and syncs and check if the sync itself is activated (especially after updates).

If you frequently reflash your phone or install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), before each flashing:

Export your contacts to the.vcf file.
Remove all accounts (Mi Account, Google) from the system.
After installing a new firmware, link accounts only after importing contacts.

This will prevent the automatic fusion of old and new data.

What if the contacts are lost after the synchronization is turned off?

If contacts disappear after the synchronization is turned off, check: 1. Local Storage: Contact Contacts → ⋮ → Settings → Import/Export and import backup (if you did). 2. Cloud accounts: Perhaps contacts are now only displayed in the web version of Google Contacts or iCloud (if you used to). 3. Hidden contacts: In the Contacts app, tap the search icon and select Show all contacts – sometimes records are hidden because of filters. 4. App cache: Clear the Contacts app cache (see Section 5).

7.Alternative methods: disabling through ADB and third-party utilities

If none of the methods worked, you can use them. ADB-commands (requires a computer and enabled debugging on the USB). This method is suitable for experienced users.

Instructions:

Enable USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times) Settings → Additional → For Developers → USB debugging (Enable)
Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command to disable sync Mi Account: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.cloudservice For Google Contacts: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts
Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system applications through ADB If you have errors after executing commands (for example, notifications do not work or Mi Cloud), return the settings back:

adb shell pm enable com.miui.cloudservice


adb shell pm enable com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts

To automate the process, you can use utilities like MiXplorer (with ADB) or App Ops (for managing application permissions), but these methods require root rights, which voids the warranty and can disrupt MIUI.

💡

Disabling synchronization through ADB is a last resort: Start with standard methods (sections 1-4), and only if they don’t work, move on to advanced methods.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronizing contacts on Xiaomi

🔹 Why do contacts duplicate even after synchronization is turned off?

This is due to: Multiple Linked Accounts (Mi Account + Google + Facebook); Messengers that add contacts from chats (like WhatsApp or Viber); Residual data in the Contacts app cache (must be manually cleared); Solution: check all accounts in Settings → Accounts and Sync and disable Contact Sync for each. Then clear the Contacts app cache (see Section 5).

🔹 How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi to another phone without syncing?

The most reliable way is to export to.vcf file: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Import/Export. Choose Export to Storage (stored in internal memory). Remove the file to a new phone and import it. Alternatively, use Bluetooth or apps like Send Anywhere to transfer a.vcf file without cloud services.

🔹 Can synchronization be disabled only for individual contacts?

No, MIUI and HyperOS don't have a selective synchronization feature. You can: Create a separate contact group and manually manage it; use third-party applications (like Simple Contacts) that support local storage; if you want to hide individual numbers from synchronization, add them to the Blacklist in Contact Settings (but they will disappear from the general list).

🔹 Why are contacts synced again after resetting?

When reset to factory settings, the phone: Automatically connects to previously used accounts (Mi Account, Google). Restores sync settings from the MIUI backup. Solution: delete all accounts from the system before reset (Settings → Accounts and Sync → Delete Account). After reset, link accounts only after manually importing contacts.

🔹 How to Check Which Apps Have Access to My Contacts?

Go to: Settings → Privacy → App permissions → Contacts Here you will see a list of apps with access to the phone book. Turn off permissions for unnecessary programs (especially for games and social networks). On Android 12+, you can also restrict access to accurate contacts (for example, allow the application to see only names, but not phone numbers).