Where to store contacts in Xiaomi phone: all ways to view in 2026

Why contacts can disappear from the screen, even though they are in memory

You open a phone book on Xiaomi, and it's empty, or you only display a few of the records out of a hundred, and when you call in, you show your name. Familiar situation? The problem is not the loss of data, but the display settings. Contacts in the video. MIUI It can be stored in three places at the same time: in the device memory, in Google account and on the device. SIM-If the phone doesn't show all the records, it's likely that the storage source is disabled.

Another common cause is sync failure, like when you change your Google account or update. MIUI The contacts are cache-free and not loaded into the main application. 90% of the time, it's solved in 2 minutes -- just turn on the right source in the settings. But first, you need to understand where your contacts are stored: in the cloud, on the Internet. SIM-card or in the internal memory of the smartphone.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can view your contacts on Xiaomi, including hidden folders and backups. The instructions are relevant for all models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. And if you recently switched from the iPhone, a separate section will help you move your contacts without loss.

Method 1: Standard Contacts app – check all sources

So, to start with the obvious, the Contacts app, which is a human silhouette icon, but even here, there's some nuances. MIUI It only shows records from one source, usually a Google account, if your contacts are stored elsewhere (e.g., on a Google account). SIM-card or phone memory, they must be manually enabled.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Contact Application (or Phone) → tab “Contacts»).
• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select Settings.
• 📁 Go to the Contact Management section → Display contacts from.
• ✅ Check the boxes against all available sources: Google Account (if linked) Device (internal phone memory) SIM-card (if there are records on it) Mi Account (if used for synchronization)

After that, all contacts should be displayed. If they are not, check if they are hidden. In the same Settings tab, there is Hidden Contacts. Sometimes records are hidden after importing from other devices.

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If you have a lot of contacts, use an in-app search (magnifying glass icon) and type in the first letters of a name or number, and the system will show all matches, even if they do not appear in the main list.

Method 2: View through MIUI’s Settings – where the backup is stored

MIUI automatically backs up contacts, but not everyone knows where to look for them, and this data is stored in the Memory section, and can be useful if the standard application doesn't work.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Put it on the files. → Categories → Other.
3. Find the MIUI → Backup → AllBackup folder.
4. There will be files with the extension.vcf (business cards) or.bak (backups), which can be opened through the Contacts app or sent to another phone.

If Backup is not available, then automatic backup is disabled. You can turn it on in Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. We recommend that you activate Automatic Backup and link Mi Account, which will save data when you reset your phone.

Method 3: Exporting contacts to a VCF file is a universal method

If you need to save your contacts as a separate file (for example, to transfer them to another phone), use export to.vcf. This file can be opened on any device, including your iPhone or computer.

Step-by-step:

• 📤 Open Contacts. → three-point → Contact management → Import/Export of contacts.
• 📥 Select Export to Device (not to be confused with Export to Device) SIM-map - there is a limit on the number of characters).
• ✅ Check the sources from which you need to export your contacts (e.g. Google Account and Device).
• 💾 Click Export and select the folder to save (it is better to choose Downloads or Documents for convenience).

The finished contact.vcf file can be:

• 📎 Send by email or messenger.
• 🖥️ Open on your computer via Outlook or Google Contacts.
• 📱 Import to another phone (including iOS via iCloud).

Method 4: Viewing through Google Contacts – Cloud Storage

If your contacts are synced to your Google account, you can view and edit them not only on your phone, but also through the web version. This is convenient if the phone is lost or not turned on.

How to access:

1. On your computer or other phone, open your browser and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same account as Xiaomi.
3. All contacts will be listed. You can see them here.

If you don’t have contacts in Google Contacts, check your phone’s sync settings:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select your Google account.
3. Make sure the switch opposite the Contact is on.
4. Press Sync (if the process is stalled, restart the phone).

Please note: the modern SIM-(e) the function of storing contacts is often disabled. SIM-The card is not on the menu, so your operator does not support this option.

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Contacts to SIM-The map is located in a place intended for SMS And the operator's data, if you're old. SIM, It is better to transfer all records to the cloud or to the phone’s memory.

Method 6: Recovering Remote Contacts – If They Are Lost

If contacts are not gone because of the display settings, but have actually been deleted, you can try to restore them. MIUI and Google provide such tools, but you need to act quickly - you have limited time.

Recovery options:

If you regularly back up your phone through Mi Cloud, you have the best chance of recovery, but remember that once you reset your phone to factory settings, local contacts (those that are only stored in the device’s memory) are permanently deleted unless you have created a copy.

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To avoid losses, set up automatic sync with Google and Mi Account. To do this, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync and enable the option for both services.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced Xiaomi users sometimes experience contact issues, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to resolve them:

⚠️ Note: If you delete contacts from your Google account, they will disappear from all devices that sync. Before mass deletion, export to.vcf.

Problem 1: Contacts are duplicated.

Solution: Go to Contacts → Settings → Combine duplicates. The system will automatically find and combine the repeated records.

Problem 2: Names are displayed in Chinese or unknown characters.

Solution: This is due to an encoding failure when importing: Export contacts to.vcf, open a file on your computer in Excel or Notepad++, fix the encoding to UTF-8, then import back.

Problem 3: No new contacts are being maintained.

Solution: Check if there is enough space in the phone's memory. Also go to Settings → Apps → Application Management → Contacts and clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-Maps, contacts can be linked to a particular line. To avoid confusion, keep all numbers in a Google account or phone memory instead of on a phone. SIM.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions