Why Removing Contacts on Xiaomi Needs a Special Approach
Smartphones Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro work on the proprietary shell MIUI, Unlike pure Android, contacts can be stored in four different sources: local phone memory, Google account, Mi Account (Xiaomi) and SIM-This means that simply clicking "Delete" in the phone book doesn't always give you the expected result.
For example, if you delete a contact from your local store, it can stay in Google Contacts and reappear after syncing, or vice versa: deleting from Google will not affect duplicates on your site. SIM-This is especially true for users who have been transferring contacts from an old phone, in which case duplicates can accumulate for years.
In this article, weโll look at all possible ways to delete, from basic to advanced, including mass deletion of duplicates and cleaning of hidden backups, and how to avoid the typical errors that cause contacts to โresurrectโ after deletion.
Method 1: Remove contacts through the standard "Contacts" application
The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a personโs silhouette on a green background), which is suitable for removing individual contacts or small groups, but has limitations: it does not always show all storage sources (for example, contacts with a small group of people). SIM-The cards can be displayed separately).
To remove contact:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Find the right contact through search or scroll through the list.
- Tap it to open the card.
- Press three points (โฎ) in the upper right corner and select Remove.
- Confirm the action in the window that appears.
If a contact is linked to a Google or Mi Account, the system will tell you to choose where to delete it from: only from your phone or from all associated accounts, and here you need to pay attention to the account icon next to the contact name, which will tell you where the original is stored.
โ๏ธ What to check before removing contact
Limitation of method: if the contact is stored on SIM-It can't be removed from this menu. SIM-Users will need a special section below below.
Method 2: Mass Deletion via Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)
If your contacts are synced with your Google Account, the most effective way to manage them is through the web version of Google Contacts.
- ๐ Remove duplicates automatically (built-in merging tool).
- ๐๏ธ Massively remove contacts by filters (for example, all without phones).
- ๐ Reverse changes if something goes wrong.
Instructions:
- Open contacts.google.com in your browser (preferably on PC).
- On the left menu, select Doubles, and the system will automatically find the duplicate contacts. Click Consolidate all.
- For mass removal, tick the desired contacts (or select everything through the checkbox in the hat) and click Remove (basket icon).
- Confirm the action. The remote contacts will be put in the Recycle Bin, where they will be stored for 30 days.
The advantage of this method is that the changes sync with all the devices where you use this Google account. However, if the Redmi Note 10 Pro is disabled sync, the contacts will remain in the local memory of the phone.
- Go to Settings โ Accounts and Sync โ Google.
- Turn on the Contact Slider.
- Wait for the synchronization to be completed (the spinning wheel icon in the status bar).
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If contacts returned after mass deletion, check the tab โOther contactsโ in Google Contacts โ there are often โsnippetsโ of data from messengers (Telegram, Viber) or mail.
Method 3: Removal of contacts with SIM-Cards (if they are stored there)
Contacts to SIM-The map is a relic of the past, but some users still use it. On the Redmi Note 10 Pro, working with them has two key features:
- Limited volume: SIM-card stores only name and number (without photos, addresses or notes).
- No sync: These contacts are not backed up in the cloud or displayed in Google/Mi accounts.
To remove contacts with SIM:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Press three lines (โฐ) in the upper left corner and select SIM-card (or telephone if the SIM-contacts are displayed there).
- With a long press, select the necessary contacts (or press Management โ Select All).
- Click on the basket icon (๐๏ธ) remove.
โ ๏ธ Note: If you delete the contact with SIM-cards, it will be possible to restore it only through specialized services (for example, the operator) - backup copies in the MIUI for SIM-no contact.
If you're an option SIM-The map is not on the menu, which means that:
- ๐ฑ On yours. SIM no contact saved.
- ๐ SIM-The card is not recognized by the phone (check the slots).
- ๐ Yours. SIM blocked PUK-code.
How to transfer SIM contacts to your phone before deleting
Method 4: Completely clean contacts through MIUI reset (emergency method)
If the contacts are duplicated chaotically, and manual removal does not help, you can use the reset function in the MIUI. This method will remove all contacts from the phoneโs local memory, but leave the ones stored in the phone intact. Google/Mi Account SIM-map.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings โ About the phone โ Reset settings.
- Choose Reset Contact Settings (not to be confused with a full phone reset!).
- Confirm the action with a password / pattern lock.
- After the reboot, contacts from the local memory will disappear, and those synchronized with accounts will remain.
| Source of contact | Is it removed when dropped? | Is it restored after synchronization? |
|---|---|---|
| Local phone memory | โ Yes. | โ No. |
| Google Account | โ No. | โ Yes (if synchronization is enabled) |
| Mi Account (Xiaomi) | โ No. | โ Yes. |
| SIM-map | โ No. | โ No. |
โ ๏ธ Note: If you have switched off synchronization with Google/Mi, The contacts from these accounts will disappear from the phone forever (but remain in the cloud). VCF.
How to Avoid Remote Contacts
A common problem is that the user deletes the contacts, but they reappear after a while, because of automatic synchronization or hidden backups. Here's how to avoid this:
- Turn off autosynchronization before deleting: Settings โ Accounts and sync โ Google/Mi โ Disable Contacts
- Clear the cache of the Contacts app: Settings โ Applications โ Application Management โ Contacts โ Storage โ Clear the cache
- Check backups in Mi Cloud: Settings โ Mi Account โ Mi Cloud โ Contacts โ Delete backup
- Remove duplicates in โOther Contactsโ (Google Contacts โ menu on the left โ Other Contacts).
If contacts are returned from social networks (for example, Viber or Telegram save numbers to the phone book), turn off this option in the settings of messengers:
- ๐ฑ Viber: Settings โ Confidentiality โ Synchronization of contacts.
- ๐ฌ Telegram: Settings โ Confidentiality โ Contacts โ Not synchronized.
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The most common reason for contacts to โresurrectโ is sync with an outdated backup in Mi Cloud. Always check the date of the last backup before mass deletion.
What to do if contacts are not deleted
If you see errors like โCannot remove contactโ or the process stalls when you try to delete, try these solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Contact is not deleted (button is inactive) | Contact is protected as "Favorites" or linked to a system application | Untick the Favorites or delete through Google Contacts |
| Removal hangs over | Contact cache damaged | Clear the cache (see instructions above) or restart the phone |
| Contacts are returned after removal | Automatic recovery from Mi Cloud backup | Turn off backup in Mi Account |
| No contact with the SIM-map | SIM-The card is not recognized or blocked | Check the slot SIM or unlock PUK-code |
If none of these methods work, there is a radical way to do this:
- Export all contacts to the file VCF (Contacts โ โฐ โ Imports/Exports โ Export).
- Remove all Google and Mi accounts from your phone (Settings โ Accounts).
- Perform a complete reset (Settings โ About Phone โ Resetting โ Erase All Data).
- After setting up the phone, import contacts back from VCF-file.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Full reset will remove all data from your phone, including photos, messages and apps. Use this method only as a last resort!