How to completely remove contacts Xiaomi Redmi 9: all working ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even its users are faced with the need to clean the phone book. Maybe you are selling a device, want to get rid of duplicates or just clean up the contact list. In this article, we will discuss all possible methods of removal, from basic to radical, including the nuances of working with MIUI 12/13 and synchronization through Google.

It is important to understand that simply clicking Delete in the Contacts app does not always solve the problem. Contacts can be saved in the cloud, duplicated between accounts or recovered after a reset. We will explain how to guarantee to erase data without the possibility of recovery, if necessary (for example, before selling a phone).

This article is relevant for all Redmi 9 modifications (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T) based on MIUI 11-14 and Android 10-12. If you have another firmware, check the compatibility of methods in the relevant sections.

1. Delete contacts through the standard “Contacts” application

The most obvious, but not always effective, way to get rid of multiple records or duplicates is to use MIUI's Contacts app, which has advanced management features, including group cleaning.

To remove a separate contact:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Find the desired entry through search or scroll.
3. Touch the contact, then press. ⋮ → Delete (or swipe left/right depending on version) MIUI).
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

For mass removal:

• 📌 Go to Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Delete contacts.
• 🔍 Check boxes for unnecessary entries (you can filter by group or account).
• 🗑️ Click Delete and confirm.

⚠️ Note: If contacts are synced to Google or Mi Account, they will only be deleted from the device but will remain in the cloud.

Back up important contacts | Check if contacts are linked to messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) | Turn off cloud sync (if you need to save data) | Make sure you have administrator rights (for some versions of MIUI)

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2. Clearing contacts through Google account

If your contacts are synced with Google, they can be deleted centrally via a web interface, which is convenient when you need to clear data on all devices at the same time (for example, if you use multiple smartphones or a tablet).

Instructions:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Other Contacts or All Contacts (depending on the group you want).
3. Check the unneeded entries (you can use the filter by the labels or date of addition).
4. Click on the basket icon 🗑️ top-panel.

To remove all contacts at once:

• 🔄 On the left menu, select More → Clear the contacts.
• 📋 Specify a date range (such as “All the time”) or specific labels.
• 🚫 Confirm the action – the contacts will be moved to the basket, where they are stored for 30 days before final deletion.

⚠️ Note: If you have used multiple Google accounts on Redmi 9, check each one for contacts. Sometimes records are duplicated between accounts, which leads to them reappearing after deleting.

Using the app on my phone | Through the web version of Google Contacts |Use third-party apps (e.g. Truecaller)|I don't control, leave as is

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3. Delete via Mi Account (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Account is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage that syncs contacts, notes and other data by default, and if you didn't turn it off, your contacts could be duplicated in the Mi Cloud cloud to delete them:

Method 1: Through phone settings

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Select Contact Synchronization and turn it off (slider to off position).
3. Return to Mi Account → Account Management → Cloud → Contacts
4. Click Delete All (or selectively tick off unnecessary entries).

Method 2: Using the Mi Cloud Web Version

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 📱 Select the Contacts section on the left menu.
• 🗑️ Mark unnecessary entries and click Delete.
• 🔄 For full cleaning, use the Clean All option (available in the section settings).

After deleting, remember to turn back the sync if you plan to use the cloud any further, otherwise no new contacts will be saved.

4. Reset to factory settings (radical method)

If you need to completely erase all data from Redmi 9 (for example, before selling), including contacts, messages and applications, use Hard Reset. This method deletes everything, including system files, so you should only use it as a last resort.

Step-by-step:

1. Back up important data (photos, documents) through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
4. Enter a pattern lock or PIN-proof-code.
5. Wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will reboot to the box-like state, and all contacts, including those on Google or Mi Cloud, will be deleted from the device.

• 🔄 If contacts were synced to the cloud, they will be restored when they are re-entered.
• 📱 To avoid this, do not log in to the same accounts after a reset or clear them beforehand (see sections 2 and 3).

⚠️ Note: Some versions of Redmi 9 (especially with the MIUI 11) after the reset, you may need to link to the same Mi Account that was originally used. If you are selling a phone, be sure to untie the account in Settings → Mi Account → Get out before the dump!

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5. Recovery Mode Contact Deletion (for Power Users)

If the phone doesn't turn on or is stuck on the Redmi logo but you need to erase contacts, you can use Recovery mode, which is suitable for emergencies when standard methods are not available.

Instructions:

1. Turn off Redmi 9 (press the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Press Volume Up + Power button before the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation, power button for confirmation).
4. Confirm the action (Yes) and wait until it is completed.
5. Select Reboot to reboot.

This method formats the entire partition with user data, including contacts, but does not affect system files.

• 🔧 After the procedure, a flashing may be required if the system has been damaged.
• 📴 Contacts to SIM-The card will remain intact (unless it is blocked). PIN-code).

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6. Third-party applications for contact management

If standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party utilities, which offer advanced features such as duplicate search, mass editing, and cleaning up spam contacts (such as messengers).

Popular applications:

• 📱 Truecaller – deletes spam numbers and duplicates, but requires registration.
• 🧹 Cleaner for Contacts – specializes in finding and merging repeating records.
• 🔍 Simpler Contacts – a user-friendly interface for mass management.

How to use (example: Cleaner for Contacts):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to contacts (mandatory condition).
3. Choose Duplicate Cleanup or Mass Deletion.
4. Mark unnecessary records and confirm the action.

⚠️ Attention: Contact management applications require advanced permissions. Only install them from official sources (e.g. Google Play) and check reviews. Some utilities may upload your contacts to their servers for analysis.

Advantages of third-party applications:

7 How to avoid the reappearance of remote contacts

A common problem after cleaning contacts is spontaneous recovery, which is due to synchronization with cloud services or messengers, to prevent unnecessary records from returning:

Step 1: Turn off automatic synchronization

• 🔄 For Google: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Disable contact synchronization.
• 📱 For Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization → Contacts (Off.).

Step 2: Clear the app cache

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Contacts and Contact Warehouse, click Clear Cache.
3. For reliability, also clean the data (Clean the data, but it will delete all local contacts!).

Step 3: Check the messengers

Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber can create copies of their contacts to fix:

• 💬 WhatsApp: ⋮ → Settings → Account. → Contacts → Disable "Update contacts".
• 📘 In Telegram: Contacts are synced automatically, but can be manually deleted in the Contacts section of the app.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about contact removal on Redmi 9