How to remove duplicate contacts on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Duplicate contacts in the Xiaomi phone book are a common problem that occurs after syncing with multiple accounts (Google, Mi Account, SIM-Imports from a backup or a crash in the Contacts app, and the inconvenience doubles when you call multiple names and search for the right number becomes a quest. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to clean duplicates - from built-in tools to third-party utilities, and also tell you how to prevent their appearance in the future.

It's important to understand that the method of deleting depends on the cause of the duplicates. For example, if contacts are duplicated due to synchronization with Google, just clear the cache of the Contacts app and reboot the smartphone. And if the problem is in the damaged contacts2.db file, a more radical solution will be needed. We tested each method on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 models - all instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese versions).

1. Removal of duplicates through the standard “Contacts” application

The easiest way is to use the built-in merging feature in the Contacts app, which is available on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version, but only works with duplicates that the system recognizes as identical (name and number match).

To find and combine repeated contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
2. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to Combine Contacts (or Find Doubles in some firmware versions).
4. The system will automatically scan the phone book and display a list of duplicate records, and there will be a "Unite" button opposite each pair.
5. Click Combine all at the bottom of the screen to merge all the duplicates found at once.

⚠️ Note: If some contacts are missing after the merger, check the Archive folder in the same application. MIUI erroneously archives records instead of deleting. Also make sure that in the synchronization settings (Settings) → Accounts are not disabled main account (for example, Google) to which contacts are linked.

Make a backup copy of your contacts|Check out the active synchronization account|Close all background applications|Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up the process-->

2. Cleanup of duplicates through Google Contacts

If the duplicates have appeared after synchronization with Google, it is more effective to clean them through the web version of the service Google Contacts. This method is suitable for users who use Gmail as their main account. The advantage of the method is the ability to massively delete duplicates according to criteria (name, number, email), which is not in the standard Xiaomi application.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your PC or smartphone and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your Xiaomi.
3. In the left menu, select Dubbles (or Flee and Fix in the new version of the interface).
4. The system will show all the repeating recordings. Press Combine all or select duplicates manually.
5. After cleaning, return to your smartphone, open Settings → Accounts → Google, and turn on/off contact sync to update your data.

💡 Useful tip: If duplicates keep popping up, check if multiple Google accounts are connected to your phone. For example, if you have two Gmail profiles, contacts from both can merge into one phone book, creating chaos. The solution is to leave only one primary account for sync.

Using the standard Xiaomi |Use Google Contacts |I prefer third-party apps |Manual editing in Excel/CSV|I don't follow takes-->

3. Use of third-party applications to remove duplicates

If the built-in tools didn't work, we'll have specialized tools to help, and we've tested 5 popular apps and picked the two most effective ones for Xiaomi:

• 📱 Simpler Merge Duplicates is a free app with a simple interface, supports mass merger and backup. It even works with take-ups from WhatsApp and Viber.
• 🔍 Contacts Optimizer – paid version (≈150₽) Offers advanced filters (by name, number, email) and automatic rules to prevent duplicates.

How to use Simpler Merge Duplicates:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Start it and give access to the contacts.
3. Click Scan takes and the program will find all the repeated records.
4. Select duplicates manually or click Combine All.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: Before using third-party apps, be sure to back up contacts. → System system → Backup and select Contacts. Some utilities (like Contacts Optimizer) can remove not only duplicates, but also useful entries if filters are not configured correctly.

Manual cleaning through export/import CSV

This is a method for advanced users who want to have full control of the process, exporting contacts to a.csv file, clearing it manually (e.g., in Excel or Google Sheets), and then importing it back, with the advantage of being able to delete not only duplicates, but also unnecessary entries (old numbers, spam contacts).

Step-by-step:

1. Export contacts: Open Settings → System → Import/Export. Select Export to file and save contacts in.vcf or.csv format.

Excel

Google Sheets

• Sort the data by column with phone numbers (Phone 1 - Value).
• Use Conditional Formatting → Cell Allocation Rules → Repetitive Values to Quickly Find Doubles.
• Remove the repeating lines, leaving only unique entries.
• Save the file and import it back to your smartphone via Settings → Import/Export → Import from the file.

⚠️ Note: If the contacts are not restored after reset, check:

• 🔄 Is synchronization enabled in the settings → Accounts. → Google/Mi Account.
• 📶 Is there internet access (synchronization requires connection).
• 🔧 Are permissions for the Contact app disabled in Settings → Permits.

💡

If the reset didn't work, try removing updates for the Contacts app. To do this, click three dots in the app settings → "Delete Updates." After the reboot, the system will restore the factory version, which sometimes solves the duplicate problems.

6. Prevent duplication of contacts in the future

To prevent doubles from appearing again, follow these rules:

• 🔗 Sync with only one account. If you use both Google and Mi Account, turn off syncing contacts for one of them (Settings) → Accounts. → [Account] → Synchronization of contacts).