Contact cart in Xiaomi: where to look and how to restore deleted numbers

You accidentally deleted an important contact on a Xiaomi smartphone and now you don’t know where to look for a recovery cart? Unlike photos or files, remote contacts don’t always end up in the obvious storage — their path depends on the version of MIUI, the phone model, and even whether they are synchronized with Google Account or Mi Cloud. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from the standard shopping cart in the Contacts app to hidden MIUI functions that are not covered in the official instructions.

It's important to understand that the contact basket on Xiaomi works differently than on other brands' smartphones. For example, in some versions of MIUI it is not a separate partition at all, and deleted numbers can only be returned through the archive or the cloud. We tested the behavior of the system on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Poco X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra models, the results will surprise you. If you are a Black Shark user, note that there the logic of contact recovery is different because of the customized JoyUI shell.

Where is the basket of contacts in the standard application “Contacts”

On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-14, the contact basket is built right into the standard Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette on a green background).

Open the Contacts app**.
Slip along three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner.
Select Remote Contacts or Recycle Bin (name depends on the version of MIUI).
You will see a list of contacts deleted in the last 30 days (default storage period).

If the item Remote contacts in the menu is not, it means:

📱 Your version. MIUI older than 14th, and the cart moved to Mi Cloud (more on this below).
🔄 Contacts are synced with Google Account, not Mi Account.
⚙️ Recycle Bin function disabled in settings (how to enable – read in the next section).

📊 What version? MIUI you use?

MIUI 12 or older

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

I don't know.

other

In the basket, you can:

🔄 Restore individual contacts (click on the number) → «Restore»).
🗑️ Clean the cart completely (clean everything button in the upper right corner).
🔍 Search by name/number – works even for deleted entries.

⚠️ Note: If you cleared your cart or deleted your contact more than 30 days ago, you can’t restore it through a standard application, in which case only a backup from Mi Cloud or Google Contacts will help.

On some Xiaomi firmware (especially Poco and Black Shark), the cart function is hidden by default.

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
Find the “Contacts” list and tap it.
Select Warehouse and Cache → Data Management.
Activate the switch Save Remote Contacts or Enable the Recycle Bin.

If there is no such item, try an alternative method:

📲 Install the Contacts app update** via Google Play (even if you already have one installed).
🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the shopping cart appears after updating system components.
🛠️ Reset the Contacts app settings (in the same Application Management menu) → Warehouse → Reset).

Make sure your contacts are synced with your Mi Account or Google

Check for backup in Mi Cloud

Update the Contacts app to the latest version

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

On Black Shark models (with JoyUI shell), the contact basket can be called Remote Archive and can be located in the Settings → Accounts → Contacts section. If it is not there, use the Mi Cloud web version (instruction below).

Recover contacts via Mi Cloud (if no shopping cart)

If there is no remote number section in the Contacts app, check out Mi Cloud, Xiaomi’s cloud storage, which automatically backs up contacts (provided you’re logged in to Mi Account).

Open your browser on your phone or PC and go to i.mi.com.
Sign in with your Mi Account (the same as on your phone).
Select the Contacts tab in the left menu.
In the upper right corner, click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings → Basket.
Mark the necessary contacts and click Restore.

In Mi Cloud, contacts are stored for up to 60 days (as opposed to 30 days in the local shopping cart).

📥 Export contacts to.vcf file (in case of phone reset).
🔄 Sync with other Xiaomi devices.
🗑️ Clean the cart completely (without the possibility of recovery!).

Recovery method	Storage period	Internet is required	It works without a Mi Account.
Local basket in "Contacts"	30 days	❌ No.	✅ Yes.
Mi Cloud (i.mi.com)	60 days	✅ Yes.	❌ No.
Google Contacts (contacts.google.com)	30 days	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes (Google Account required)
Backup copy of MIUI	No restrictions.	❌ No.	❌ No.

⚠️ Note: If you delete contact from both sources (from your phone and from your phone) Cloud/Google Contacts, it can only be restored from a backup copy MIUI or through third-party programs like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData, but these methods require root access and do not guarantee that you will not be able to access them. 100% result.

Recovery via Google Contacts (if sync enabled)

If your contacts are synced with your Google Account, they can be returned even after cleaning the shopping cart in MIUI.

Open on your PC or phone the website contacts.google.com.
Sign in with the same Google Account as you do on your phone.
In the left menu, select Cancel Changes.
Specify the time range (e.g., “last 7 days”) and click Confirm.

Google stores your contact history for up to 30 days, and if you deleted your number earlier, try:

🔍 Use archive search (enter name or number in the search bar on Google Contacts).
📥 Import a backup from a.vcf file, if any.
📧 Check emails in Gmail – sometimes numbers are saved in the history of correspondence.

If you delete a contact from Google Contacts and then sync your phone, the number will disappear from MIUI. Always check both sources!

What to do if your cart is empty or your contacts are long gone

If standard methods don’t help, try these methods (from simple to complex):

Check MIUI backup: Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backups. Choose the latest copy and restore data (including contacts).
Use third-party programs: 📱 Dr.Fone (Android) – Restores contacts without root, but requires a PC connection. 🔧 Tenorshare UltData – Works with Xiaomi, but may not support the latest models.

⚠️ Note: Data recovery programs often require Mi Account to be disabled and can only work on unencrypted devices. On Xiaomi, with Bootloader locked, the odds are minimal.

Please contact Xiaomi for support:

If the contacts were linked to Mi Account, support can restore them on request (access to the account and proof of ownership of the phone).
Write to support@mi.com or via official chat.

How to check if there is a backup of contacts in MIUI?

Open Settings → Memory → Backups. If there are files with the.bak extension or the MiuiBackup folder, then there is a copy. It can be restored through Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset.

On Xiaomi models with pure Android (such as Xiaomi A3 or Mi A2), the contact basket works according to the logic of Google Contacts. There is no separate section “Remote” – all changes are canceled through the web version.

Why your contact basket might not work for Xiaomi

If you don’t find a cart or it doesn’t restore contacts, the reason could be one of these factors:

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
The basket is not on the menu	Disabled in settings or the old version of MIUI	Update the Contacts app or enable the function manually (see section above)
Contacts are not being restored.	Expired storage period (30-60 days)	Try backup or third-party utilities
The basket is empty, although the contacts have been removed.	Contacts are synced with Google, not Mi Account	Check out Google Contacts
Recovery error	Damaged data in Mi Cloud	Clear the cache of the Contacts app and try again

Another common problem is sync conflict, and if you're syncing with both Mi Cloud and Google, contacts can be duplicated or lost, to avoid this:

🔄 Choose one primary source (for example, only Mi Cloud).
⚙️ Turn off automatic synchronization in Settings → Accounts. → Google/Mi Account → Synchronization of contacts.
📱 Make manual backups regularly through Settings → System system → Backup.

💡

If you lose contacts frequently, set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud: go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup device and enable contact option.

How to Protect Your Contacts from Accidental Deletion in the Future

To avoid looking for a contact basket, follow these tips:

Enable archiving in Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Activate Contact Sync and Automatic Backup.
Export contacts to the file: Open Contacts» → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to storage. Save the.vcf file to Google Drive or send it to your own mail.
Use duplicate applications: 📱 Install Google Contacts as your primary call app. 🔄 Set up sync with Google Account in Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization.

Block editing contacts:

In some versions of MIUI, you can prevent changing contacts without a password. To do this, install the AppLock application and block access to Contacts.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid losing contacts is through dual sync (both with Mi Cloud and Google) + regular export to.vcf.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the contact basket in Xiaomi

Can I restore contacts that were deleted more than a year ago?

Standard means MIUI — No. Maximum storage time in the cart: 30 days (locally) or 60 days (in Mi Cloud). If more time has passed, try it: 🔍 Search for backups in Settings → Memory. → Backup copies. 📧 Check old Gmail emails or instant messenger messages (numbers could be saved there). 🛠️ Contact Xiaomi Service Center – sometimes engineers can extract data from the memory chip (root and payment required).

Why are the contacts duplicated after recovery from the basket?

This is due to a synchronization conflict between Mi Cloud and Google Contacts. To eliminate duplicates: Open Google Contacts. On the left menu, select Duplicates → Combine. In MIUI, go to Settings → Accounts and temporarily disable sync for one of the sources. If the duplicates are left, export the contacts to a.vcf file, delete all records and import back.

Where is the contact basket on Xiaomi with Global ROM?

On the global versions MIUI (For example, Redmi Note 11 Global, the cart is called Trash and is in the same place: Open Contact» → ☰ (menu) → If there is no item, update the app via Google Play. on Chinese firmware (China) ROM) Recycle bin may not be available – recovery only works through Mi Cloud.

Can I restore contacts after resetting the phone to factory settings?

Yes, but only if: ✅ You made a backup copy of the MIUI (Settings → Backup). ✅ Contacts were synced with Mi Cloud or Google. ✅ You have a.vcf file with the exported contacts. After reset: Log in to the same Mi Account/Google Account as before.Restore data from backup or import.vcf. ⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone without a Mi Account waiver, the Mi Cloud Lock may be triggered after recovery, in which case you will need to enter a password from your old account.

How to transfer contacts from the old Xiaomi to the new?

There are 4 reliable ways: Through Mi Cloud: On an old phone: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Contact sync (enable). Sign in to the same account on your new phone, contacts will be automatically connected. Google Account: Check sync in Settings on your old phone → Accounts. → Google → On your new phone, add the same Google Account. On your new phone, use.vcf: Export contacts on your old phone: Contacts» → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Export to your device. Transfer the file to a new phone (e.g., via Xiaomi Share or Google Drive). On the new phone, import the file: "Contacts» → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import from the device.

Through SIM-card (if the contacts are saved):

Insert the SIM into the new phone.
Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.

The quickest way is Mi Cloud, but if you have a lot of contacts, it’s best to use a.vcf file (it saves all fields, including photos and notes).