How to record a contact in a Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways + secrets MIUI

Keeping contacts on Xiaomi smartphones only seems to be a simple task – in fact, users are faced with the nuances of synchronization, the choice between the two. SIM-Map and Google account, as well as hidden shell features MIUI. If you’ve just moved from an iPhone or other Android device, the process may seem unobvious: where is the phone book stored, how to avoid duplicates, and why contacts disappear after a reset, POCO Xiaomi flagship models (including Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note 13), as well as reveal life hacks, which are not written in the official documentation.

It's important to understand that the way you save a contact has a direct impact on how it's available. SIM-The card is limited to 200-250 contacts and does not support photos, whereas synchronization with a Google account allows you to recover data even after completely flashing the phone. MIUI It helps to clear the phone book of repetitive entries in a few clicks, then you have step-by-step instructions for each method, a comparison table, and answers to frequent questions.

1. Classic method: through the application "Contacts"

The most obvious way is to use the standard Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background) which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the budget Redmi A2 and the top-end Xiaomi 13T Pro. The main advantage is the ability to immediately attach a photo, specify several numbers and even add a birthday for reminders.

To create a new contact:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search through the swipe search down).
• ➕ Press the badge «+» In the lower right corner (or the button New contact).
• 📝 Fill in the fields: Name and surname (required to be saved) Phone (select type: mobile, work, etc.). 📧 Email, 🏠 Address, 🎂 Birthday (optional).
• 💾 Click Save and select storage location: Device, SIM-map.

The correct storage location (not selected) SIM, If you need photos)|

Country code for international numbers (e.g., country code, +7 for Russia)|

No typos in the name (more difficult to correct later)|

A photo is attached (if necessary).

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One important caveat: if you choose to save to your device, the contact is not synced to the cloud, which means that when you reset your phone or replace it. SIM-For security, we recommend using a Google account, so contacts will be available on any device after you log in to the same account.

2. Quick save from call log

If you have a call from an unknown number and you want to save it to the phone book, you don't have to enter it manually. MIUI allows you to add a contact directly from the call log in 2 clicks, which saves time, especially when you need to quickly write down the number of a courier or colleague.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Go to the Journal tab (watch icon).
3. Find the right number and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, tap Save (or the + icon next to the number).
5. Edit the name and select the storage location (as in the first method).

💡

If the number is identified as spam (lit in red), check it through services like Truecaller before saving it - it may be scammers.

On Xiaomi models with MIUI 14 and later, the call log feature has a feature called Quick Contact Creation: just swipe left on the number and select Save. This works even for missed calls.

3. Maintaining contact with SIM-map: when it is justified

Keeping contacts on SIM-It's an outdated, but sometimes useful, method:

• 🔄 You change phones often and don’t want to set up syncs.
• 📵 You do not have access to the Internet to link a Google account.
• 🔒 You need maximum privacy (data does not go to the cloud).

However, this method has serious limitations:

To keep in touch with SIM-map:

1. Open Contacts. → + → New contact.
2. Fill in the fields (name and number only – the rest of the data will not be saved).
3. In the Save section, select SIM-map.
4. Confirm the retention.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) preserve SIM-The card has a name limited to 15 characters and the number is limited to 20 digits.

4. Sync with Google Account: Reliability and Automation

The most modern and secure way is to keep your contacts in your Google account, which guarantees:

• ☁️ Automatic backup.
• 🔄 Synchronization between all devices (phone, tablet, computer).
• 🔍 Recovery capability even after resetting phone to factory settings.
• 📅 Integration with Google Calendar (Birthday Reminders).

How to set up synchronization:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Choose your account (or add a new one if you don’t have one).
3. Activate the Contact Switch.
4. Now, when you create a new contact, choose Google as your storage location.

If the synchronization is not working:

• Check your internet connection (mobile traffic or Wi-Fi is needed).
• Update the Google Contacts app in the Play Store.
• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Google Contacts → Storage and click Clear Cache.

Nana SIM-map|

Google account |

In memory of the phone |

I use another service (iCloud, Yandex, etc.)

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A critical nuance for Xiaomi users is that if you delete a Google account from your phone, all contacts stored in it will disappear from the phone book (but remain in the cloud), to return them, you just need to re-add the account and enable sync.

5. Hidden MIUI chips for working with contacts

The MIUI shell offers unique features that are not found in Android stock.

Combination of duplicates

If you have repeated contacts (for example, after importing from the SIM-maps and Google), MIUI can unite:

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ (menu) → Contact management → Duplicate.
2. Click Combine next to the repeated entries.
3. Confirm the merger.

2. Quick access to your favorite contacts

You can pin important contacts on the main screen:

• Open the contact you want to secure.
• Press. ⋮ → Fix it on the main screen.
• You will now have a shortcut for a quick call or message.

Grouping of contacts

Create groups (e.g., Work, Family, Friends) for easy management:

1. In Contacts, click Groups → Create a Group.
2. Give me a name and add participants.
3. You can now send messages to the entire group at once.

💡

Function Duplicate contacts in MIUI It only works for records saved on your device or on Google. SIM-The cards must be imported first.

Import and export of contacts: backup

If you’re changing your phone or want to make a backup, Xiaomi offers several ways to export contacts:

Export to.vcf (vCard):

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
2. Choose your contacts for export (you can note everything).
3. Specify the location of the storage (for example, internal memory → Download).
4. A file with the.vcf extension can be sent to the mail or copied to a computer.

Import from.vcf file:

1. Copy the file to your phone (for example, via Explorer or email).
2. In Contacts, select Import/Export → Import from the file.
3. Specify the path to the file and confirm the import.

Sync with MI Cloud:

If you have a Xiaomi account, you can use the branded cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Turn on the synchronization of Contacts.
3. The data will be available on i.mi.com.

⚠️ Note: When exporting contacts to.vcf, photos are not always saved. To ensure that avatars are transferred, use sync with Google or MI Cloud.

7. Problem Solving: Contacts are not saved or are lost

If contacts are not added or disappear, check the following points:

Problem 1: Contact is not maintained

• 🔋 Make sure your phone has enough memory (especially if you save it to your device).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes helps when the Contacts app crashes.
• 📥 Update the Contacts app through the Play Store.

Problem 2: Contacts are lost after MIUI update

This is a frequent complaint from users after major updates.

1. Check if sync with Google is enabled (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contacts).
2. If contacts were on your device, try to restore them via MI Cloud (if sync was enabled).
3. Use data recovery software such as Dr.Fone.

Problem 3: Duplicate contacts

This happens when imported from multiple sources (SIM + Google).

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Duplicate.
2. Click to combine all (or selectively).
3. If duplicates are left, try to disable sync with unnecessary accounts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contacts on Xiaomi