How to remove double contacts in Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all working methods

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the brand’s most popular smartphones, but even it is not immune to the typical problem: duplicates in the phone book. SIM-maps or malfunctions MIUI. In this article, we will discuss why duplicates occur and how to remove them without losing data – from standard tools to hidden firmware functions.

It's important to understand that simply manually removing each take is not the solution. If the cause is not addressed (e.g., the sync conflict between Google Contacts and Mi Account), the problem will return after the next contact update. We tested all methods on Redmi Note 8 Pro with the latest versions of MIUI 12-14 and identified those that work consistently.

Why do you have double contacts on the Redmi Note 8 Pro?

Duplicates in Xiaomi’s phone book occur for several reasons, and understanding them will help avoid the problem in the future.

• 🔄 Multiple sync: Connecting to a Google Account, Mi Account and local phone book at the same time.
• 📱 Import with SIM-maps: when transferring contacts from SIM There are often duplicates due to differences in storage formats (e.g, +7 vs 8 in rooms).
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: after major firmware updates (for example, with MIUI 11 on MIUI 12) the system may duplicate records due to data migration failures.
• 🤖 Third-party apps: Messengers like WhatsApp or Viber sometimes create their contacts in the background.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the most common take is because of the first item: MIUI syncs contacts with both Google and Mi Cloud by default. If you add a contact manually, and then it automatically pulls up from the cloud, you get two identical numbers with different sources.

Another common situation is that you exported contacts to a.vcf file and then imported them back, and if the file already had duplicates or the format of the numbers was different (for example, with spaces and without), the system will create new entries instead of updating the old ones.

Method 1: Combining duplicates through the standard “Contacts” application

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable if there are few duplicates (up to 50-100) and they have recently appeared.

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner → select Contact Management → Contacts Combine.

This only works for contacts stored in your phone’s local memory or Google Account, and if duplicates are associated with a Mi Account, they must be deleted via Mi Cloud (more on this below).

⚠️ Note: If you want to combine the system to select the "main" contact from the takes, choose the one with more filled fields (for example, there is an email or address.

Method 2: Remove duplicates through Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)

If your contacts are synced with your Google Account, it is easier to clean duplicates through the web version of the service, which will avoid recurring problems after the next sync.

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in with the same account as you do on the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
2. On the left menu, select “Doubley” (or “Combine and fix” → “Find duplicates”**).

The advantage of this method is that Google analyzes not only phone numbers, but also names, emails and other fields, which reduces the risk of missing duplicates, but if contacts are stored only in Mi Cloud or locally, this method will not help.

After clearing through Google Contacts, it is recommended to turn off sync with Mi Cloud for 10-15 minutes to avoid data conflict. To do this, go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync and deactivate the Contacts option**.

Method 3: Cleaning up duplicates via Mi Cloud (for Mi Account users)

If you use Mi Account for backup, duplicates may have appeared due to a failure in the Xiaomi cloud.

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select Contacts (or Data Management → Contacts** in newer versions of the interface).

Important: Mi Cloud doesn’t have a built-in contact merge tool, so you’ll have to manually delete duplicates. If you have a lot of records, use export to the.vcf file (the Export button in Mi Cloud), then edit the file on your computer (for example, via Excel or Notepad++) and import back.

💡

Before you delete your contacts in Mi Cloud, back them up: export them to a file.vcf and save them to Google Drive or your computer.

Method 4: Use of third-party applications (for complex cases)

If the built-in tools failed, third-party software will help. For the Redmi Note 8 Pro, you can:

• 📊 Cleanup: Duplicate Contacts – Analyzes contacts from all accounts (including Mi Cloud and Google).

Instructions for Simpler Merge (the most reliable option):

1. Install the app from Google Play.

Warning: Some applications (like Contacts Optimizer) can remove not only duplicates, but also empty fields in contacts (such as additional phones or addresses).Be sure to back up through Settings → System → Backup before using.

Method 5: Reset and re-synchronize contacts (radical method)

If the duplicates are constantly appearing and no one method works, the last thing you can do is completely reset the sync, which will remove all contacts from the phone, but save them in the cloud (if it's set up).

1. Export contacts first: Open Contacts → Three Points → Contact Management → Import/Export → Export to File (select.vcf format). Save the file to Google Drive or send it to yourself by email.

• In the Contacts app, click three points → Contact Management → Delete all contacts (select Local or All**).

⚠️ Warning: After reset, do not sync with Mi Cloud and Google at the same time - choose one source! otherwise the doubles will appear again.

This method helps in 90% of cases where the duplicates are due to conflict between cloud services, but it takes time to set up and does not guarantee that the problem will not return when the next MIUI update is released.

How to Prevent the appearance of doubles in the future

To prevent double pins from appearing on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, follow these rules:

• 🔗 Choose one sync source: Google or Mi Cloud, and using both results in duplicates.
• 📱 Turn off auto-import with SIM: In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Import/Export Contacts Deactivate Automatic Import.
• 🔄 Clean your contacts regularly: Check your phone book every 2-3 months through Google Contacts or Simpler Merge.
• 📎 Use a single number format: for example, only +79XXXXX It's a lot easier to find takes.

If you often migrate contacts between devices, use export/import via.vcf rather than sync with the cloud, so you control the process and avoid automatic duplication.

💡

The most common reason for doubles on Xiaomi is simultaneous synchronization with Google and Mi Cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about double contacts on Redmi Note 8 Pro