Deleting all contacts from the Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphone may be necessary in different situations: before selling the device, when changing your Google account or to clean up memory from outdated data. However, the procedure has nuances related to the features of MIUI firmware and synchronization with cloud services.
In this article, we’ll break down 5 proven ways to completely delete contacts, including methods through phone settings, Google Contacts, local backup, and even a few more. ADB-We're going to focus on the hidden daddies in the user experience. MIUI, Often overlooked, and explain how to avoid synchronizing remote contacts back to the device.
Before you start, make sure you have a backup of important numbers — even if you plan to delete them. In the Xiaomi Mi 9, contacts can be stored in three places at once: on the device itself, in the Google account, and in the Mi Cloud. Deleting from just one source does not guarantee complete cleanup.
1. Remove contacts through standard MIUI settings
The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI 12/14 tools (depending on the firmware version of your Mi 9), which is suitable if the contacts are stored locally on the device and are not synchronized with the cloud.
Open the Contacts app, then click on the three dots in the top right and select Contact Management → Delete all contacts. The system will suggest you choose an account (if there are more than one) or local storage.
- 📁 Local contacts – stored only on the phone (removed irrevocably).
- 🔄 Synchronized contacts – linked to Google or Mi Account (can only be deleted via the corresponding account).
- 📱 Contacts SIM-Cards – if imported, they must be removed separately through Settings SIM-map.
Once you confirm the deletion, the system can request a MIUI password or a pattern lock, which is a standard security measure, and if the Delete Everything option is inactive, then the contacts are tied to the cloud account and need to be deleted through it.
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 After mass deleting contacts, automatic synchronization with Mi Cloud can work if it is turned on. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Synchronization of contacts.
2. Clean up through Google Contacts (for synchronized records)
If your contacts are synced to your Google account, deleting them via your phone won’t have the full effect of retrieving them the next time you connect to the Internet, in which case you need to work directly with Google Contacts.
Sign in with the same account as the Xiaomi Mi 9, then:
- On the left menu, select More → Delete contacts.
- Check all contacts or use filters (for example, by labels).
- Click Delete and confirm the action.
Then go back to your phone and manually update your contacts: open the Contacts app → Settings → Update. If the records are still displayed, check the sync settings in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync and turn it off temporarily.
Disable autosynchronization in MIUI
Check the backup in Google Drive
Make sure that the account you delete is your primary account
Write down important numbers on paper (just in case)-->
3.Using Mi Cloud for Mass Deletion
Xiaomi's Mi Cloud is often ignored, but it can store duplicate contacts even after they're deleted from your phone.
- Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- Select the Contacts section.
- Click on the basket icon or Control → Delete everything.
The Mi Cloud feature is that remote contacts are sent to the Recycle Bin and stored there for 30 days before final deletion, to speed up the process:
- Go to the basket in the same section.
- Select all records and click Delete Forever.
Then, force your phone to sync: Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync. If contacts keep popping up, check if another Xiaomi account (e.g., from a previous owner) is linked to the device.
What to do if Mi Cloud is not synced?
4. Reset to factory settings (radical method)
If the previous methods failed or you are preparing the Xiaomi Mi 9 for sale, a full reset is guaranteed to delete all contacts along with other data.
- 📱 All applications and their data.
- 📁 Photos, videos and documents (if not saved on the SD-map).
- 🔑 Settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and accounts.
Instructions for Mi 9:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Choose to erase all data.
- Enter your password (if installed) and confirm.
It takes 5-10 minutes. Once you reboot, the phone will be as new as it is, but all contacts (including those in the previous phone) will be in the same position. SIM-If you plan to use the device further, export the desired numbers to the.vcf file in advance through Contacts. → Settings → Imports/Exports.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI You may still be linked to Mi Account after the reset. To completely unplug the device, delete your Settings account before the reset. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Delete the account.
5. Removal via ADB (for power users)
If standard methods don’t work (for example, because of a synchronization failure), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.
Steps:
- Turn on Developer Mode on Mi 9: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line.
- Enter the commands: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell pm clear com.android.contacts adb shell pm clear com.miui.contacts
These commands will clear the Contacts and MIUI Contacts app data, which will delete all local records, but contacts synchronized with Google or Mi Cloud will remain intact and recover the next time they connect to the Internet.
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If so, ADB-The contacts are back, so they were tied to the cloud.
Comparison of contact removal methods on Xiaomi Mi 9
| Method | Remove local contacts | Deletes Google Contacts | Remove Mi Cloud Contacts | Difficulty | Recovery is possible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Through MIUI settings | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⭐ | ✅ (backup) |
| Google Contacts | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ⭐⭐ | ✅ (within 30 days) |
| Mi Cloud | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | ⭐⭐ | ✅ (basket) |
| Resetting settings | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes, unless you restore your account) | ✅ Yes, unless you restore your account) | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. |
| ADB | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No. |
Important: If you plan to sell or transfer the Xiaomi Mi 9, the only reliable way to ensure that you delete all contacts (including hidden ones) is by combining resetting settings + deleting Google and Mi accounts before performing a reset.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Many users experience contacts being “returned” after being deleted, because of automatic synchronization with cloud services, to avoid the problem:
- 🔄 Turn off sync before deleting (in Google and Mi Account settings).
- 📱 Check it out. SIM-Map: Sometimes the contacts are duplicated there when importing.
- 🔍 Look for hidden accounts: in MIUI You may have an old Mi Account from a previous owner.
Another common mistake is to delete contacts from only one source, for example, if you erase them from Google Contacts but leave them in Mi Cloud, they will return the next time you update the data.
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Before you delete your contacts, be sure to turn off automatic sync on both cloud services (Google and Mi Cloud), otherwise the records will recover within minutes.