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

The situation when dozens of identical entries are suddenly found in the phone book, familiar to many owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, is not due to a breakdown, but most often as a result of data synchronization between the two. SIM-When you change your phone or restore data from the cloud, the system can perceive old records as new, creating full copies of existing numbers.

Not only does duplicates clutter up the list, they make it much harder to find the right subscriber. In addition, when an incoming call is displayed on the screen, two different names for the same number, which confuses communication. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and standard Android tools offer several effective ways to clean up the notebook without losing important information.

In this article, we'll take a look at all the methods available, from automatic embedded mergers to manual web-based cleaning, and learn how to properly configure your contact display so you can only see the actual data, and learn how to prevent future duplicates, starting with the easiest and fastest way to solve the problem.

Automatic merger of duplicates by means of the system

The fastest way to fix the mess is to use the built-in Merger feature. MIUI-based Android can independently analyze the phone book and find recurring entries. The algorithm compares phone numbers and names, suggesting that similar cards be combined into one.

To start the process, you need to open a standard Contacts or Phone application. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the interface may be slightly different, but the logic of the actions remains the same. You need to go to the control menu, which is usually hidden behind three dots or the settings button in the corner of the screen.

Find a item called Contact Management or Contact Management, and within that menu, the system will suggest batch operations, and if duplicates are found, you will see a button called "Combine Repeated" or "Merger".

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Before you start the merger, make sure you have a stable internet connection, as the system can check data with Google servers in the background.

Once you press the appropriate button, the smartphone will show you a list of pairs found, so you can confirm the merger for everyone at once or choose each pair individually, which is a great option for those who want to quickly clean the list without going into technical details.

Manual removal and editing through the Contacts app

Automation doesn't always work perfectly, especially if numbers are written in different formats (such as country code and no country code), and in such cases, you have to resort to manual editing, which takes longer, but gives you complete control over the contents of your phone book.

Open the Contacts app and scroll through the list. Once you find a duplicate entry, click on it to open the card. At the bottom of the screen or in the menu (three dots), select the option “Delete” or “Merge with another contact.” The second option is preferable if different cards contain different information (for example, in one number only, and in the other – email and address).

When you manually merge, the system will ask you to select a second contact from the list, and after you select, the data will merge: all the fields (number, mail, address) will be combined into one card, and the extra record will disappear, which allows you to save all the important information about the subscriber in one place.

Be careful not to accidentally erase important data that has not been stored elsewhere.

Cleaning up duplicates through Google Contacts

The most reliable and powerful tool for working with contacts is the Google Contacts web interface. Since most Xiaomi users link their devices to a Google account, this is where the “golden” list of your numbers is stored. The web version of the service has a more advanced algorithm for finding duplicates than the mobile application.

Go from your computer or your phone browser to contacts.google.com. Sign in under the same accut used on your Redmi. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu that often displays a notice of duplicates found. If there is no such notification, in the upper left corner, click on the three-bar icon or the association icon.

The service will offer to combine contacts that it believes are copies, you can choose to combine all for mass cleaning or check each pair separately, and once the operation is complete, the changes are automatically synchronized with the smartphone when the Internet is available.

Using a web interface is especially useful if you have a huge amount of takeovers, it is easier to control the process on a large screen, and Google functionality allows you to back up before mass changes.

Display setting: Hiding contacts with SIM and other sources

Often the problem of "double" is visual in nature, the same number can be displayed twice, because one copy is stored on the same page. SIM-The map, and the other one is in the memory of a phone or Google account, and it shows them as different records, even though they are actually one subscriber.

To remove visual noise, you need to set up a display filter. Go to the Contacts app, click on three dots (menu) and select Settings or Display Contacts. Here you will see a list of sources: SIM-Map, Phone, Google, Mi Account and Others.

It is recommended to tick only against the Google account (or the store where you have the main list). SIM-cards are better to pre-copy in the phone, and then hide or remove from the SIM itself, so that they do not cornen your eyes.

Once you change your settings, your contact list will be updated, and the extra copies that just duplicated the main posts will disappear from view, and this does not remove them forever, but only hides them from the general list, making navigation more comfortable.

Import and Export: Radical Cleaning Method

If automatic methods and manual cleaning don't work, you can use "heavy artillery" -- full export and import of contacts -- to create a new, clean file with a list of numbers, getting rid of all the hidden duplicates and trash records.

First, you need to export all current contacts to a.vcf file. This is done through the “Import/Export Contacts” menu in the application settings. Save the file to internal memory or send it to your own mail.

Then delete all contacts from the device (making sure the export file is saved!). After cleaning, import from the saved.vcf file. During import, the system often offers to combine the found duplicates, as the new import is perceived as a fresh database.

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The export/import method is the most reliable way to clean the contact database, but requires you to back up before you delete it.

This is especially effective when the phone book has accumulated “broken” records or contacts with incorrect characters that interfere with the normal operation of the search engine.

Preventing the appearance of duplicates in the future

To keep the problem from returning, it's important to understand why it's happening, and it's common for the duplicates to appear when you move from one phone to another, when you copy the contacts from the other phone. SIM-The maps are not synchronized through the cloud.

Always choose the right account to save new numbers. When you create a new contact, Android asks where to save it. Choose your primary Google account, not your Phone or your phone «SIM-This ensures centralized storage and no conflict.

Also, you need to set up app syncs. Sometimes third-party messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) or social networks (Facebook, Instagram) can create their own versions of contacts. In account settings, turn off contact sync for applications that do not need it.

Following these simple rules will allow you to keep your phone book in perfect order. Regular, at least every six months, checking through the web interface of Google Contacts will be a good habit for any Xiaomi user.