How to Remove Duplicate Contacts in Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Duplicate contacts in Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — common problem that occurs after synchronization with multiple accounts, importing from SIM-maps or malfunctions MIUI. Repetitive entries not only clutter the phone book, but also make it difficult to find the right numbers, and sometimes lead to errors when calling. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to remove duplicates - from built-in tools to third-party applications, and also explain how to prevent their appearance in the future.

It's important to understand that the reasons for the duplicate contacts may vary depending on the smartphone model and the firmware version. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the contact pooling algorithm works differently than on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal solutions that will work for most of the brand's devices. If you encounter a problem after updating the system or changing your Google account, here you will find the answer.

Why are there duplicate contacts on Xiaomi?

Before we start cleaning, we need to understand the root of the problem.

• 🔄 Multi-account sync: If you add Google, Mi Account, Outlook, or corporate email to your phone, contacts from each source can be duplicated.
• 📱 Import with SIM-Cards: When transferring contacts from an old phone SIM Often copies are created, especially if the numbers were already in the device’s memory.
• 🔄 Update MIUI: after major updates (for example, with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) the system may incorrectly connect contacts.
• 🤖 Third-party app errors: Messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram sometimes create duplicates when synchronizing.
• ☁️ Cloud service failures: If Google Contacts or Mi Cloud are temporarily unavailable during sync, ghost copies may appear.

On devices with hybrid firmware (for example, Xiaomi.eu or custom ROM) duplicates appear 3 times more often due to conflicts between standard and modified versions of the application Contacts.

To pinpoint the source of the problem, open the Contacts app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select Contact Management → Sources. Here you will see all the accounts your contacts are syncing with. If the same number is displayed from different sources (e.g. Google and Device), that is the reason for the duplicates.

Method 1: Combining duplicates through the standard "Contacts" application

The easiest method is to use the built-in merging feature in MIUI. It is suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 and POCO X5.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to Combine and Fix (some firmware may call Duplicate Cleanup).
4. The system will automatically find the repeating entries. Press Combine all or select specific duplicates manually.
5. Confirm the action by pressing Ready.

If the option to combine and fix is missing, update the Contacts app via Google Play or check for MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Make a backup copy of contacts|Check the stability of the Internet connection|Close background annexes|Make sure the battery is charged at more than 30 times%-->

⚠️ Note: In an automatic merger, the system may incorrectly combine contacts with the same names but different numbers (for example, "Ivan Ivanov"). +79991234567 and Ivan Ivanov +79167654321) Before confirming, check that the phone and mail numbers correspond to one person.

If duplicates are left after the combination, try repeating the procedure or move on to the next method.

Method 2: Clean up Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)

If your contacts are synced with your Google account, it’s easier to clear duplicates through the web version of the service, which works even on older models like the Xiaomi Mi A2 (with pure Android One) and ensures data is safe.

Instructions:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in under the same account as you do on your smartphone.
2. On the left menu, select Duplicates (a section may be called Merger and Correction).
3. The system will show all the repeating recordings. Click Combine all or select specific duplicates for manual merge.
4. After processing, wait for synchronization (usually takes 1-5 minutes) and check the result on the phone.

The advantage of this method is that you can undo changes within 30 days, and if you accidentally combine the wrong contacts, close the tab with Google Contacts and reopen it, and the system will prompt you to return the previous version.

If you use Mi Account for sync, you can do the same on i.mi.com in the Contacts section, but Mi Cloud is less user-friendly and the merge feature may not be available on some regional versions.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications

If the built-in tools didn't work, third-party software would help, and we tested a few apps and selected the most reliable ones:

• 📌 Simpler Merge (free, no ads) - scans contacts and offers to combine duplicates with preview. Supports backup.
• 🔍 Contacts Optimizer (paid version) – finds not only duplicates, but also incomplete entries (for example, contacts without phone numbers).
• ☁️ Copy My Data – Useful if the duplicates appear after transferring data from another phone.

We recommend Simpler Merge as the easiest and safest option.

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Start it and give access to the contacts.
3. Press Scan for Duplicates (Scan for Duplicates).
4. Review the pairs found and confirm the merger.
5. Reboot your phone so that the changes apply.

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Before using third-party apps, disable the synchronization of contacts in Settings → Accounts. This will prevent the creation of new duplicates during the cleaning.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Clean Master or DU Speed Boosters promise to clean contacts, but in practice they delete random data or show intrusive advertising. Avoid multifunctional cleaners - use specialized tools like Simpler Merge.

If duplicates are returned after using third-party software, check your sync settings. Contacts may be automatically restored from a Mi Cloud or Google backup.

Method 4: Manual cleaning through export/import

This is a method that is suitable for advanced users who want to have full control of the process, and it involves exporting contacts to a file, editing manually, and importing back.

1. Export contacts: Open Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Export to File. Select.vcf (vCard) format and save the file to your device or to the cloud.

.vcf

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Save the edited file.

• In your phone, go to Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Import from the file.
• Select the edited.vcf and confirm the import.

Once reset, all duplicates will disappear, but you will have to reconfigure sync with Google, Mi Account and other services, a method that is also useful if contacts freeze after a MIUI update (for example, when switching from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra), resetting the Contacts app may cause a sync error with Mi Cloud. In this case, turn off sync to Settings before resetting. → Accounts. → Mi Account.

How to Prevent Duplicate Duplicates in the Future

To avoid recurring problems, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Turn off unnecessary synchronization: Go to Settings → Accounts and keep only one contact account active (e.g. Google or Mi Account).
• 📱 Do not import contacts with SIM-Maps if you already have them on your phone. Use Google Contacts or Mi Cloud to transfer data.
• 🔄 Check duplicates regularly (every 2-3 months) through the built-in app or Google Contacts.
• 📲 Avoid memory cleaners who promise to optimize contacts. They often break the structure of the phone book.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI In new versions, the algorithm of combining contacts improves.