How to remove duplicate contacts on Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

Duplicate contacts in the Xiaomi Redmi phone book are a problem that one in three users encounter, and it occurs after synchronization with a Google account, importing from a phone. SIM-So instead of having a neat list, you get a mess of repeating names, where the same person can be displayed by the same person. 3-5 with different numbers or empty fields.

In this article, we will look at all possible causes of duplicates on Redmi smartphones (including Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others on MIUI 12-14) and provide step-by-step instructions for removing them.

Important: The methods differ depending on where the contacts are stored โ€“ in a Google account, on the website. SIM-We'll look at each case separately so you can choose the best way to do it without risking losing important data.

๐Ÿ“Š Where you keep your contacts?
Only on Google account
Nana SIM-map
In the memory of the phone
Synchronized everywhere
I don't know.

1.Why do you have duplicate contacts on Xiaomi Redmi

The main reason for this duplication is automatic synchronization with multiple sources, for example, when you add a contact manually on your phone and then turn on sync with Google, the system creates a copy. SIM-Cards or other devices via Mi Mover.

Other common causes:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Multiple imports of the same.vcf file (for example, after resetting settings).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Update MIUI with data migration errors (especially relevant for transitions between major versions, for example, with MIUI 12 on MIUI 14).
  • ๐ŸŒ Account Conflict: If multiple Google accounts with the same contacts are linked to your phone.
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Application errors: Some messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) create duplicates when synchronized with a phone book.

Fun fact: Redmi with MIUI 13+ can still get duplicates when you update the Contacts app via Google Play, which is due to a change in the database structure that the system doesnโ€™t always handle correctly.

โš ๏ธ Warning: If you notice that duplicates appear on their own (without your actions), check your phone for viruses.

2. How to find all duplicate contacts

Before you delete duplicates, you need to identify them. MIUI has built-in tools to find duplicate records, but they don't always show all the problems.

Method 1: Through the "Contact" application

  1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
  2. Tap it on three points (โ‹ฎ) top-right โ†’ Select Contact Management.
  3. Go to the Duplicate Contacts section.
  4. The system will show a list of repeated records with the possibility of combining.

Method 2: Manual check (for hidden takes)

  • ๐Ÿ” Sort contacts by Name or Phone Number (click on the column header in the contact list).
  • ๐Ÿ“Œ Note the records with the same numbers but different names (for example, "Ivan Ivanov" and "Vanya").
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Check contacts linked to different accounts (displayed in different colors in different accounts) MIUI).

If built-in tools donโ€™t find duplicates, but youโ€™re sure theyโ€™re there, use third-party apps (more on that in the next section).

๐Ÿ’ก

Before mass deletion of duplicates, back up your contacts via Settings โ†’ Google โ†’ Backup or export them to a.vcf file.

3. Removal of duplicates through built-in MIUI tools

MIUI has a built-in duplicative merging feature, but it doesn't work perfectly. Here's how to use it:

Instructions for combining duplicates:

  1. Open Contacts โ†’ Contact Management โ†’ Duplicate Contacts
  2. The system will show groups of repeating recordings. Tap the group to see the details.
  3. Click Combine โ€“ MIUI will automatically select the main entry and add data from the takes to it.
  4. Repeat for all groups.

Limitations of the method:

  • โŒ Does not find duplicates if the names are written differently (for example, "Ivan" and "Ivan Petrov").
  • โŒ Does not work with contacts linked to different Google accounts.
  • โŒ Maybe miss the take on SIM-map.

If the built-in tool failed, proceed to the following methods.

Make a backup copy|Check sync with Google|Shut down. SIM-map (if doubles are on it)|Close background applications (WhatsApp, Telegram)

-->

4. Delete duplicates via Google Contacts (for synchronized entries)

If your contacts are synced to your Google account, the easiest way to clear them is through the web version of the service, which ensures that the changes apply across all devices.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
  2. In the left menu, select Dubbles (or Flee and Fix in the new version of the interface).
  3. Google will automatically find all the duplicate entries. Click Merge for each group.
  4. For manual check, use a filter: enter duplicate: (without space) in the search bar.

Advantages of this method:

  • โœ… Clears duplicates on all devices linked to the account.
  • โœ… Recover remote contacts within 30 days.
  • โœ… It even works with invisible doubles that MIUI finds.

โš ๏ธ Note: If you have multiple Google accounts on your phone, check each individually.Duplicates may arise from intersections of contacts between accounts.

After cleaning through Google Contacts, wait for sync (usually takes 5-10 minutes) and check the result on Redmi.

5. Clearing out the doubles on SIM-map

Contacts saved on SIM-They're often duplicated when imported into the phone's memory, and they can't be combined, just removed manually.

How to remove duplicates from SIM-map:

  1. Open Contacts. โ†’ press three points (โ‹ฎ) โ†’ Contact management.
  2. Select Import/Export โ†’ Export to your device (to make a backup copy).
  3. Go back to the main contact list and filter it out. SIM-map (top menu).
  4. Manually remove the repeated recordings, keeping your finger on the contact โ†’ Delete.

Important nuances:

  • ๐Ÿ“Œ SIM-The card only stores a name and one number (without additional fields).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ After removing the duplicates, export the contacts back to the SIM-map, if necessary.
  • โš ๏ธ Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) do not support editing contacts on the Internet. SIM Directly, you will need to use another device.

On Redmi, two. SIM-With cards, duplicates can appear when switching between slots. To avoid this, store contacts only in your phone memory or Google account.

Third-party applications for removing duplicates

If the built-in tools didn't work, use specialized apps. We tested a few and selected the most effective ones for Xiaomi.

Top.-3 contact-cleaning:

AnnexAdvantagesDeficienciesReference
Contacts Optimizerโœ… Finds duplicates by numbers and emailโœ… Supports backupsโŒ Advertising in the free versionGoogle Play
Simpler Merge Duplicatesโœ… Automatic and manual mergingโœ… Works with Google ContactsโŒ Paid for extended functionsGoogle Play
Cleanup Duplicate Contactsโœ… Simple interfaceโœ… Free of charge.โŒ No backups.Google Play

How to use (for example, Contacts Optimizer):

    โš ๏ธ Warning: Before using third-party apps, turn off sync with Google (Settings) โ†’ Accounts. โ†’ Google โ†’ Disable contact synchronization. This will prevent the creation of new duplicates.

    What to do if the app does not see the double?
    If the program does not find duplicate contacts, try this: 1. Export contacts to the.vcf file via Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Import / Export. 2. Open the file on your computer in a text editor (for example, Notepad++) and manually find the repeated entries by phone numbers. 3. Delete duplicates in the file, save it and import back to the phone.

    7 How to Prevent the appearance of doubles in the future

    To avoid duplicate contacts, follow these rules:

    Preventive measures:

    • ๐Ÿ”„ Turn off automatic sync with unnecessary accounts (Settings) โ†’ Accounts. โ†’ Select an account โ†’ Synchronization of contacts).
    • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Use one storage source: either a Google account or a phone memory (not both at the same time).
    • ๐Ÿ“ž Set up import with SIM-Cards once and delete contacts from them (Contacts) โ†’ Management โ†’ Import with SIM โ†’ Remove from SIM after importation).
    • ๐Ÿ”’ Check your contacts regularly for doubles (once in a week). 2-3 month).

    MIUI settings to prevent duplicates:

      If you are switching to new devices frequently, use Mi Mover only to transfer contacts, not to migrate data completely, which will reduce the risk of duplication.

      ๐Ÿ’ก

      The most common reason for Redmi doubles is syncing with Google and storing contacts in your phone's memory. Pick one source and stick to it.

      FAQ: Frequent questions about the duplicate contacts on Xiaomi Redmi

      Can I restore contacts if I accidentally deleted the wrong take?
      Yes, if contacts were synced with Google: Go to contacts.google.com. On the left menu, select Recycle Bin. Find remote contacts and click Restore. Recycle Bin shelf life is 30 days. Local contacts (without sync) can't be restored without a backup.
      Why did a lot of takes come to Redmi after resetting the settings?
      When reset (Settings) โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Resetting system restores contacts from all available sources: ๐Ÿ”„ Google account (if synchronization was enabled). ๐Ÿ“ฑ Local phone memory (unless reset to factory settings). ๐Ÿ“ž SIM-To avoid this, before reset: Export contacts to.vcf. Delete all contacts from the phone's memory and SIM-After reset, import only one source (e.g., a.vcf file).
      How to delete duplicate contacts in WhatsApp on Redmi?
      WhatsApp doesn't create its own duplicates, but it can display them if there are repeating numbers in the phone book. To fix: Clear the duplicates in the main contacts (see methods above). Open WhatsApp โ†’ press โ‹ฎ โ†’ Settings โ†’ Contacts. Select Update so that the messenger reloads the contact list. If the problem persists, delete the WhatsApp cache: Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Application management โ†’ WhatsApp โ†’ Warehouse โ†’ Clear the cache
      Why did the MIUI update have duplicate contacts?
      In major updates (e.g., from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), the system may mismigrate contact data. This involves changing the database structure. To fix: Back up contacts. Turn off sync with Google. Delete all contacts from the phone's memory (Contacts โ†’ Management โ†’ Delete all). Import contacts back from the backup. If the problem recurs, reset the Contacts: Settings โ†’ Application Management โ†’ Contacts โ†’ Storage โ†’ Storage โ†’ Reset
      Can you automatically prevent the appearance of doubles?
      It is impossible to fully automate the protection against doubles, but you can minimize the risks: ๐Ÿ”„ Use only one contact source (e.g. Google only). ๐Ÿ“ฑ Install Contacts Optimizer and set up a monthly double check. ๐Ÿ”’ Turn off access to contacts for unnecessary apps. MIUI 14 Autoclean Contacts (in beta) is available to enable: Settings โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ System settings โ†’ Autocleaning Contacts It automatically finds and offers to combine takes once a week.