Previous articleDisappeared all contacts on Xiaomi Redmi: how to restore in 5 minutes

You opened a phone book on your Xiaomi Redmi, and instead of hundreds of saved numbers, you had a blank screen? MIUI, reset, change SIM-The good news is that 90 percent of the time, the data can be returned, and the bad news is that if you've never set up sync, it can take longer.

In this article, we will analyze all working ways to restore contacts on the Redmi Note. 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models - from basic (check hidden folders) to advanced (use of the software) ADB). We pay special attention to specifics MIUI, And if you haven't backed up, don't panic, because you still have a chance to get back numbers.

1. Check sync with Google account

The first thing to do is make sure that contacts are not hidden in the cloud. Xiaomi by default links the phone book to a Google account, but after a crash, sync may turn off.

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Google accounts → Managing a Google Account.
• 🔄 Go to the Data and Personalization tab → Contacts.
• 🔍 Check if Contact Sync is enabled (green slider should be on fire).
• ⏳ If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait 5-10 minutes – contacts should appear automatically.

If the contacts are not returned, try to force the data to be updated:

1. Go to the Contacts app.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Contact management.
3. Choose Sync and wait for the process to be completed.

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If duplicate contacts appear after synchronization, use the built-in MIUI merge function: Settings → Combine contacts

⚠️ Note: If you recently changed your Google password or deleted your account from your phone, the sync may have reset.In this case, contacts may be stored in the cloud under your old account - check all associated emails in Settings → Accounts.

2. Recovery via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

MI Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically saves contacts if the feature is activated. Even if you don’t remember whether you’ve enabled backup, it’s worth checking:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
• 📁 In the Cloud section → Contacts check for backup copy.
• 🔙 If you have contacts, click Restore and select the last reservation date.

On the phone, recovery through MI Cloud looks like this:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → MI Cloud.
2. Activate the Contact Slider (if it is turned off).
3. Click Recover Data and select the desired copy.

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings without a Mi Account waist, access to the MI Cloud can be blocked. In this case, first unlock the device through the official website.

3. Search for local backup (.vcf file)

MIUI automatically backs up contacts in.vcf (vCard) format and stores them in the phone's internal memory, which can be called contacts.vcf, backup.vcf or MIUI_Contacts_Backup_[Where to look:

• 📂 folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup (old-form MIUI).
• 📂 folder /storage/emulated/0/Download or /storage/emulated/0/Backup.
• 🔍 Use the built-in Explorer (Menu) → Categories → Files) and enter in search *.vcf.

If a file is found, import it:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap it on three points. → Settings → Import/Export of contacts.
3. Select Import from.vcf and specify the path to the backup.

Critical detail: If you use dual-SIM (two SIM cards), MIUI can separate contacts by account. Check the tabs "Phone", "SIM 1", "SIM 2" and "Google" in the "Contacts" app - maybe the numbers have simply moved to another category.

4. Recovery through SIM-card (if the contacts are kept on it)

If you have manually copied your contacts SIM-The card, which can be returned even after the phone has been completely reset. SIM No more than 250 contacts are placed and only names are saved. + numbers (without photos, emails and other fields).

• 📱 Put it in. SIM-card to your phone (if not, use an adapter for the micro/nano-SIM).
• 🔄 Open the "Contact» → Settings → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
• 📋 Choose where to save your contacts (such as your Google account or phone book).

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse imports with SIM and export SIM. The second option is to overwrite the data on the map – if there were old contacts, they will disappear!

If the phone can't see SIM-card or makes an error when importing:

1. Try inserting SIM into another phone (not even Xiaomi) and exporting contacts from there.
2. Use an adapter to read SIM on your PC via a card reader (programs like SIM Card Recovery can help).

5. Use of third-party programs (if other methods have not worked)

If the contacts are not synced to the cloud and there are no local copies, then the option is with data recovery software, which scans the phone's internal memory for deleted files.

• 🛠️ Dr. Fone (Wondershare) - Supports MIUI, Restore Contacts, Messages and Photos.
• 🛠️ Tenorshare UltData – works without root rights, but requires USB-debugging.
• 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver – Free version restores up to 2 contacts (for the test).

The following is a step-by-step guide for Dr.Fone:

1. Install the program on your PC and connect Redmi to USB (turn on USB-debugging → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the assembly number → return to → For developers).
2. In the program, select Data Recovery Android → Contacts.
3. Follow the instructions (root access may be required).
4. After scanning, mark the desired contacts and click Restore.

Turn it on. USB-phone-debugging

Install Xiaomi drivers (download from en.miui.com)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Disable antivirus on PC (can block the program)

Backup of current data (if any)-->

Important: Recovery programs only work if the data has not been overwritten by new files, and the less you use your phone after losing contacts, the better the chances of success.

6.Manual recovery via ADB (for advanced users)

If you’re familiar with the command prompt, you can try extracting contacts via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method works even if the phone isn’t turned on (but should be determined by a PC in Fastboot mode).

Procedure:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder on your PC.
2. Connect Redmi to your PC and turn it on USB-Debugging (see previous section).
3. Open the command line in the ADB folder and type in: Adb devices (the name of your device should appear).
4. Download contacts to contacts.vcf: adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db adb shell "content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/data" >.txt contacts
5. Convert the resulting file to a readable format using online tools (e.g. Recovery-Android).

⚠️ Attention: Method C ADB Requires root rights on some versions MIUI. If the adb pull command gives you a Permission denied error, try rooting through Magisk first or use an alternative method: adb backup. -f backup.ab com.android.providers.contacts (the phone will have a backup request – confirm it).

7. Contact Xiaomi Support

If none of the methods worked and contacts are critical (e.g., customer numbers for business), contact Xiaomi’s official support.

• 📞 Call me on the phone. 8 800 775-65-65 (free-for-all).
• 📧 Write to the chat on the site mi.com/ru/support.
• 🏢 Find a service center on the map.

What will be required for the application:

• IMEI phone (you can find out via *#06# or on the box).
• Mi Account details (email and associated number).
• Check or warranty card (if the phone is guaranteed).

Support can recover contacts from server logs, but only if:

• The device was tied to the Mi Account.
• It has been no more than 30 days since the data was lost.
• You can prove ownership of the phone.

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Xiaomi’s official support DOES NOT recover data if the phone was dropped via Fastboot, in which case the chances of getting contacts back drop rapidly.

FAQ: Frequent questions about reconnecting