How to remove contact from Xiaomi phone: all ways + data recovery

Removing unnecessary contacts on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi models and other devices) POCO) It seems like a simple task, but often users face unexpected difficulties, such as the contact can be duplicated after synchronization with a Google account, remain in memory. SIM-Resurrection or “resurrection” after updating the firmware MIUI. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods of removal - from standard to hidden system functions, and also tell you how to return accidentally erased numbers.

The feature of Xiaomi phones is that they use their own shell. MIUI, For example, when you delete a contact through the Contacts app, the number may remain in your Mi or Google account if sync is enabled. To avoid chaos in the phone book, it is important to understand where the contact is stored — in the device's memory, on the device. SIM-You'll find step-by-step instructions for each case, along with tips for backing up and restoring data.

1. Delete contact through the standard “Contacts” application

The most obvious way to do this is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background), which is suitable for most Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11. However, there is a nuance here: if a contact is synchronized with Google or Mi Account, removing it from local memory will not lead to complete disappearance.

To remove contact via the app:

1. Open the Contacts app on the home screen or in the app menu.
2. Find the right contact through the search bar or scroll through the list manually.
3. Tap the contact to open his card.
4. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Remove.
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK in the dialog box.

If the contact reappears after deleting, it is linked to one of the cloud accounts, in which case you need to remove it directly from Google Contacts or Mi Cloud (more on this in the following sections).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 for global version) the deletion option can be hidden by long pressing the contact. If the three-point menu is missing, try holding your finger on the contact name for 2-3 seconds.

2. Delete contacts through Google account

If your Xiaomi smartphone is synced to a Google account, all contacts are automatically copied to the cloud, which means that even after they are deleted from the phone, they can return the next time you update the data.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same account that is linked to the phone.
3. Find the contact you want in the list (use the search or filters on the left).
4. Put a tick next to the name and click on the basket icon (🗑️) top-panel.
5. Confirm removal.

After that, the contact will disappear from the Xiaomi phone within 5-10 minutes (time depends on the sync speed).If the changes do not apply, check the sync settings:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Accounts and synchronization → Google.
• 🔄 Make sure the contact slider is active (lit blue).
• ⚡ If synchronization is disabled, turn it on and wait for the data update.

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To avoid accidental deletion, back up your contacts in Google: click on the gear in Google Contacts → Export → select the vCard format and save the file to the drive.

3. Removal of contacts with SIM-map

Contacts saved on SIM-This is a problem for users who are moving numbers from an old device or using multiple numbers. SIM. At Xiaomi, work with SIM-Contacts are conducted through the same application Contacts, but with the clarification of the source.

How to Remove Contact with SIM:

1. Open Contacts and go to the SIM tab (or Phone if the contacts are displayed together).
2. Find the right number and click on it.
3. In the card that opens, tap three points (⋮) and select Remove from SIM-map.
4. Confirm the action.

Please note:

• 📇 Contacts to SIM have a name length limit (usually up to 14 characters) and do not support photos.
• 🔄 After removal, the number will not be restored to SIM-cards do not have a "basket" function».
• 📱 If SIM-contacts are not displayed, check if the card is inserted correctly (sometimes a phone restart is required).

4. Massive removal of contacts on Xiaomi

If you need to clear a phone book of hundreds of unnecessary numbers (like after importing from an old phone), it is inefficient to delete them one at a time. MIUI has a mass delete feature, but it is hidden in the Contacts app settings.

How to remove multiple contacts at the same time:

1. Open Contacts and click on three horizontal lines (☰) top-left.
2. Select Contact Management (or Settings, depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Slip on Delete Contacts (could be called Cleanup Doubles).
4. Check the boxes next to unnecessary contacts or highlight everything through Select Everything.
5. Click Delete and confirm the action.

Important nuances:

• 🔍 The mass removal function is not available on all firmware. If it is not available, use Google Contacts (section 2).
• 📊 Before mass cleaning, export contacts to.vcf file (Settings) → Exports).
• ⚠️ Some system contacts (e.g. Emergency numbers) cannot be deleted.

5. Delete contacts via Mi Account (Xiaomi cloud)

Xiaomi users often sync contacts with Mi Account, the company’s proprietary cloud service, and if you’re logged in to Mi on your phone, all contacts can be duplicated there, and you’ll need to log into Mi Cloud to delete them permanently.

Step-by-step:

1. Open on your phone Settings → Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account).
2. Sign in if you need to.
3. Go to the Mi Cloud section → Contacts.
4. Find the contact you want, click on it and select Delete.
5. Confirm the action.

If you don’t want to use Mi Cloud to store contacts, turn off sync:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Find the Contacts section and move the slider to the off position..
3. Confirm the sync shutdown.

⚠️ Note: When you delete contacts from Mi Cloud, they will disappear from all devices associated with this account (for example, from a tablet or a second Xiaomi phone.

6 How to Restore Accidentally Remote Contact

If you delete an important number by mistake, it can be returned — but only if it was synced with Google or Mi Account. Local contacts (save only in the phone's memory) are harder to recover, but there are several ways.

Recovery through Google Contacts:

1. Go to contacts.google.com.
2. In the left menu, select the Cart (or Undo changes in English).
3. Find the remote contact and click Restore.

The storage period in the cart is 30 days, and then the data is deleted irrevocably.

Recovery through Mi Cloud:

• 📱 Open Mi Cloud on your phone or via i.mi.com.
• 🗑️ Go to the Recycle Bin (available within 15 days of removal).
• 🔄 Select the necessary contacts and click Restore.

Restoration of local contacts:

If the contact was only stored in the phone’s memory and not synced to the cloud, try:

• 🔍 Use data recovery software (e.g. Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver) and note that this will require root access that voids the warranty.
• 📄 Check backups in Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset (if backup was created earlier).
• 📧 Contact the operator – some providers store the history of calls and SMS within 3-6 months.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid losing contacts is to enable automatic sync with Google or Mi Cloud and regularly export backups to the.vcf file.

7.Why are contacts returned after deletion?

A common problem on Xiaomi is the resurrection of remote contacts.

• 🔄 Automatic sync with Google or Mi Account (contact is restored from the cloud).
• 📱 Doubles in different accounts (for example, the same number is saved on Google and on Google). SIM-map).
• 📲 Doubler apps (some messengers, such as WhatsApp or Viber, create their own copies of contacts).
• 🔄 Firmware updates (after installing the new version) MIUI synchronization may occur).

How to fix it:

1. Turn off contact sync in Settings → Accounts for all accounts except one (e.g., leave only Google).
2. Check the duplicates in Google Contacts → Duplicates and combine them.
3. Remove unnecessary contacts from messengers (on WhatsApp: Settings → Contacts → Delete unused ones).
4. After deleting, restart the phone to reset the Contacts app cache.

8. Additional tips for working with contacts on Xiaomi

To avoid problems with your phone book in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 📱 Use a single storage source (e.g., Google Contacts only) to avoid duplicates.
• 🔄 Clean up duplicates regularly through Google Contacts → Combining and correcting.
• 📤 Export backups once a month (a.vcf file can be saved to the mail or cloud).
• 🚫 Do not keep important numbers only on the SIM-Cards – they can get lost when changing the phone.
• 🔍 Check the rights of applications that request access to contacts (some programs create hidden copies).

If you often experience phone book problems, consider using alternative apps like Truecaller or Simpler Contacts.They offer advanced contact management features, including automatic double cleaning and spam blocking.

💡

To quickly find duplicate contacts on Xiaomi, type the * (asterisk) symbol in the Contacts app search bar. The system will display all numbers, including hidden and recurring ones.

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting contacts on Xiaomi