Duplicate contacts in the phone book are a common problem for Xiaomi Redmi Note users, especially after syncing with multiple accounts (Google, MIUI, SIM-This is a map, or a data transfer from an old device. The disparate records of one person not only clutter up the list, but also make it harder to find the number you want. In this article, we'll look at all the ways that we can connect contacts on Redmi Note smartphones, from standard tools to the standard ones. MIUI Up to Manual Methods for Complex Cases.
Itโs important to understand that the process depends on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14), the phone model (Redmi Note 10/11/12, etc.) and the source of contacts (Google, local, SIM). We tested each method on current devices and identified the only reliable way for contacts associated with different accounts, which you will find in the section about Google Contacts. If you encounter an error โfailed to combineโ, at the end of the article there is a block with solutions.
Why are contacts duplicated on Xiaomi Redmi Note?
Before we start to combine, we will understand the causes of the appearance of duplicates, which will help prevent the problem in the future:
- ๐ Sync with multiple accounts: Google is connected at the same time, MI-account SIM-Each card has a copy of the contacts.
- ๐ฑ Transferring data from an old phone: when migrating through Mi Mover or backups, repeated records are often created.
- ๐ Update MIUI: after major updates (for example, with MIUI 12 by 14) the system may duplicate contacts due to changes in the storage structure.
- ๐ Manual input: Users accidentally create new contacts instead of editing existing ones (for example, when saving a number from a userโs computer). SMS).
On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and later, take-ups often appear due to the MIUI Contact feature, which automatically imports numbers from instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) as separate records. You can turn this off in the Contacts settings โ Contact Management โ Contact Sources.
Method 1: Automatically connect via the Contacts app
The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tool, which works for contacts stored in a single source (e.g., only in Google or only in the phoneโs memory).
- Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
- Tap it on three points (โฎ) top-right โ Select Contact Management.
- Go to the "Connect Contacts" section (some firmware called "Find and Combine Doubles").
- The system will automatically find possible duplicates. Click Combine next to each pair or choose Combine all.
- Confirm the action by pressing Ready.
If the Connect Contacts button is inactive or not available:
- ๐ Check that duplicate contacts are from the same source (e.g. both on Google).
- ๐ Update the Contacts app via Play Market (if you use Google version).
- ๐ฑ Reboot your phone โ sometimes helps with crashes MIUI.
Check out the MIUI version (Settings โ About the phone)
Make sure your contacts are not linked to different accounts
Disable VPN (can block sync)
Make a backup of contacts (Settings) โ Google โ Backup)-->
โ ๏ธ Note: If you combine contacts with different photos, the system will only save one (usually the one created later).To avoid loss, pre-export photos through Contacts โ Edit โ Save the photo.
Method 2: Manually Combining Through Editing
The automatic method does not always cope with doubles, especially if they have minor differences (for example, "Ivan Ivanov" and "Ivan I."). In such cases, manual combination will help:
- Open the contact you want to keep as your primary.
- Tap it on three points (โฎ) โ Edit.
- Scroll down and find the Linked Contacts section (or Combine with...).
- Select a duplicate contact from the list and confirm the association.
If there is no Linked Contacts section:
- ๐ Try another contact โ sometimes the option is only available for records from a specific source.
- ๐ง Install an alternative contact app (such as Simple Contacts) that supports extended connection.
On the Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14, this method is more stable than the automatic one, but it takes longer, but you control what data (numbers, email, addresses) will be stored in the final record.
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If duplicate contacts have different names (such as โMamaโ and โAnna Petrovnaโ), edit them first to make sure the names match โ this will make it easier to automatically or manually combine.
Method 3: Connecting through Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)
If your contacts are synced to Google, the most reliable way is to use the web version of Google Contacts, which works even for records from multiple sources (e.g., one contact on Google, another in your phoneโs memory).
- Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in with the same account as Redmi Note.
- In the left menu, select Doubles (or Combine and Fix โ Find Doubles).
- The system will show all possible takes. Click Combine next to each pair.
- After the combination, wait for synchronization (usually takes 1-5 minutes) and check the result on the phone.
Advantages of this method:
- ๐ It works for contacts from different sources (Google, phone, SIM).
- ๐ More accurate algorithm for finding duplicates than in MIUI.
- ๐ฑ Changes apply to all devices linked to a Google account.
| Combination | Suitable for | Implementation time | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic in MIUI | Contacts from a single source | 1-2 minutes | Low. |
| Handheld in MIUI | Any contact | 5-15 minutes (depending on the amount) | Medium (if you make the wrong choice) |
| Google Contacts | Any contacts synced with Google | 3-10 minutes | Minimum |
| Third-party annexes | Complex cases (many sources) | 5-20 minutes | High (risk of duplication) |
โ ๏ธ Note: If you have duplicates left on your phone after you have merged via Google Contacts, check your sync settings: โ Accounts. โ Google โ Contact synchronization. Sometimes you need to manually start synchronization by pressing three points (โฎ) โ Synchronize now.
Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications
If the built-in tools of MIUI and Google failed, you can use third-party utilities, and we tested some popular applications and identified two of the most effective ones:
- ๐ฑ Contact Editor & Backup: allows you to combine contacts from different sources, edit batch and clear duplicates. Supports backup before changes.
- ๐ Simpler Merge: specializes in finding and combining duplicates, including those that Google doesn't find. There's a phone number merge feature (even if the names are different).
Instructions for Contact Editor & Backup:
- Install the app from the Play Market and give access to contacts.
- Go to the Merge Contacts section.
- Select the criteria for searching for duplicates (by name, number, email).
- Click Find Duplicates, tick the desired pairs and tap Merge.
- Confirm the changes and wait for the process to be completed.
Warnings when using third-party applications:
- ๐ Before work, be sure to back up contacts (in the application itself or through Settings). โ System system โ Backup).
- ๐ฑ Some utilities can create new duplicates when the combination is incorrect.
- ๐ Avoid applications with suspicious permissions (e.g. access to the app). SMS geolocation).
How to Restore Contacts After a Mistake
Method 5: Combining contacts with SIM-map
Contacts saved on SIM-These are often duplicated with the entries in the memory of the phone or Google, to combine them:
- Open the Contacts app โ Settings (โฎ).
- Select Import/Export โ Import from SIM-card.
- The system will prompt you to save contacts to your Google Account or Device. Select your Google Account (recommended).
- After importing, go to Google Contacts (web version) and combine duplicates as described in Method 3.
If the SIM contacts are already duplicated with existing ones:
- ๐ฑ First, export them to the file. VCF: Contacts โ Settings โ Export to device.
- ๐ Open the file through Google Contacts (web) and manually merge.
- ๐๏ธ Remove old records from SIM, avoiding repeated duplication.
On the Redmi Note 11 and older SIM-Contacts may not appear in the main list. To see them, go to Contacts. โ Settings โ Display contacts โ SIM-map.
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Contacts to SIM-They're not synced to the cloud, so to avoid losing them, export them regularly to Google or your device.
Mistakes in the merger of contacts and their solutions
Sometimes the process of unification is interrupted or terminated with an error.
| Mistake. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| We couldn't get the contacts together. | Contacts are linked to different accounts (Google and MIUI) | Use Google Contacts (web version) or export all contacts to one source |
| The Unify button is inactive | No rights to edit contacts | Check the permissions for the Contacts app in Settings โ Apps โ Permissions |
| The doubles remained after the merger | Synchronization is not complete | Start sync manually: Settings โ Accounts โ Google โ Sync Now |
| Synchronization error | Unstable Internet connection or failure of Google services | Reconnect to the network, restart your phone, or wait for Google to restore. |
If none of the methods worked, try resetting the Contacts app settings:
- Go to Settings โ Applications โ Application Management.
- Find Contacts โ Storage โ Clear the data.
- โ ๏ธ This will delete all local settings, but will not affect the contacts themselves (they are stored in a Google account or on the Internet). SIM).