Losing contacts on a Xiaomi smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations a user can encounter. Whether it’s an accidental deletion, a factory reset or a phone malfunction, the result is always the same: important numbers of friends, colleagues and relatives disappear overnight. Fortunately, 90% of the time, contacts can be restored — if you know where and how to look.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can reconnect on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from standard synchronization features to little-known backup tricks. You’ll learn how to act on the cause of data loss, which tools to use first, and how to avoid similar problems in the future. And if you’ve tried to restore contacts without success, don’t despair: at the end of this article, we’ll reveal a hidden recovery method through the MIUI engineering menu, which is rarely mentioned even in the official documentation.
1. Check sync with Google account
The first thing to do when contacts are lost is to check if they have been synced to your Google account, which works even if you reset your phone to factory settings or install a new firmware. Most Xiaomi users don't know that their contacts are automatically backed up in the cloud if the setting is enabled.
To check and restore contacts via Google:
- 📱 Open the Contacts app on your Xiaomi.
- 🔄 Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Contact Management → Imports/Exports → Re-establish contacts.
- ☁️ In the list of available accounts, select your Google account.
- 🔍 The system will show the date of the last sync. If it's fresh, click Restore.
If the contacts are not displayed, it is possible that the sync has been disabled.
- Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
- Select your account and make sure the switch opposite Contact is enabled.
- If the synchronization is disabled, turn it on and wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 10 minutes).
⚠️ Note: If you recently changed your Google account password, sync may have stopped.Update login details in your account settings.
2. Recovery via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
MI Cloud is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up contacts if the feature is enabled. Unlike Google, here data can be stored even when syncs with other services are disabled, a technique that is especially useful if you've used your Mi Account before you lose contacts.
Instructions for remediation:
- 🌐 Go to Settings. → Mi Account. → MI Cloud.
- 📱 Make sure you are logged in to the same account you used before losing contacts.
- 🔄 Find the Contacts section and check the date of the last backup.
- 📥 If there is a backup, click Restore and select the desired date.
If the backup is missing or outdated, try the following method:
- Open your browser on your computer and go to i.mi.com.
- Sign in under your Mi-account.
- Go to Contacts – Older versions of your address book may be stored here.
| Recovery method | Internet is required | Max. age of backup copy | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Contacts | Yes. | Unlimited. | All Xiaomi models |
| MI Cloud | Yes. | Up to 6 months. | Devices with MIUI 10+ |
| Local backup | No. | Depends on the date of creation | All models. |
| SIM-map | No. | Last save on SIM | Supported devices SIM-contact |
⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings and don't remember the Mi Account data, don't try to guess the password repeatedly - the account may be blocked. Instead, use recovery via email or the linked phone number.
3.Use local MIUI backup
MIUI automatically creates local backups of data, including contacts, unless this feature is manually disabled, and the copies are stored in the phone's internal memory and can save the day even if there is no Internet access.
To find and restore a local copy:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
- Check the list of available backups. Look for files with a date prior to the loss of contacts.
- Select the copy you want and click Restore. Make sure that Contact is marked.
If there are no local copies, try to find them manually:
- 📁 Connect your phone to your computer and open internal memory.
- 🔍 Go to the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
- 📄 Look for files with the.mbk extension – these are backup archives.
- 📲 Copy the file to your phone and restore via Local Backup in the settings.
Make sure your phone is over 50% charged.
Close all applications except "Settings"
Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (if you restore from the cloud)
Make a current backup (if there are important new contacts)-->
Local copies can take up a lot of space, so MIUI It automatically deletes old files. If you don't find the right date, try looking for copies on the external file. SD-The map (if it was used before) will be similar: SDCard/MIUI/backup/AllBackup.
4. Export of contacts from SIM-card
If you have kept in touch with the SIM-The card can be easily returned even after a complete phone reset, a method that is suitable for older Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi). 4A, Mi A1) or if you have specifically moved your contacts to SIM.
Import instructions:
- 📱 Put it in. SIM-card to the phone (if it is not in the device).
- 📞 Open the Contacts app.
- 🔄 Press three points. → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM-map.
- 📥 Choose where to save your contacts (to your Google account or phone).
Please note the limitations:
- ❌ SIM-The card only stores the name and number – photos, email and other data will be lost.
- ❌ Number of contacts limited by capacity SIM (usually 250 records).
- ❌ Not all modern Xiaomi models support the SIM (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro).
⚠️ Note: If you are using a double SIM-card, make sure you import contacts from the right slot.In Xiaomi, slot 1 is usually denoted as SIM 1, but in some models (for example, in some models, POCO X3) Numbering may differ.
How to check if your Xiaomi supports SIM saving?
5. Recovery through Engineering Menu (Hidden Method)
If the standard methods do not help, you can try to restore contacts through the engineering menu. MIUI. This method only works on Qualcomm processors (most models) Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO) and requires caution - incorrect actions can lead to system failure.
Step-by-step:
- Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
- In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
- Scroll down and find the Select item SIM-Restore card (can be called Restore Contacts in English firmware).
- Choose a slot. SIM-Map (even if no contacts are present) and confirm the recovery.
After restarting your phone, check the Contacts app.In some cases, this method restores contacts that have been deleted within the past 30 days, even without backups.
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If the ##4636### combination doesn’t work, try entering ##36446337###, which is an alternative code for the engineering menu on some firmware.
Important: the engineering menu contains settings that are critical to the phone's performance. Don't change other settings unless you're sure they're there. For example, changing network settings can cause you to lose connection.
6.Programs for Recovery of Deleted Data
If none of these methods worked, the last chance is to use specialized data recovery software that scans the phone's internal memory and can find remote contacts even if there are no backups.
Top.-3 Xiaomi:
- 🛠️ Dr.Fone (Wondershare) - supports the recovery of contacts, messages and media files.
- 🛠️ Tenorshare UltData – specializes in devices with MIUI, Can recover data after resetting.
- 🛠️ EaseUS MobiSaver is a simple interface that works without root rights (but with limitations).
Instructions for recovery with Dr.Fone:
- Download and install the program on your computer from wondershare.com.
- Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (turn on debugging by USB developer-setting).
- Run Dr.Fone and select Android Data Recovery mode.
- Select the Contact Data Type and start scanning.
- After the scan is completed, mark the desired contacts and click Restore.
⚠️ Note: Data recovery programs require debugging USB. To enable it, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press it 7 times. Then go back to Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and activate debugging by USB.
Please note that free versions of the software usually show the data found, but do not allow you to save it. To fully restore it, you will need to buy a license (costs from 500 to 1500 rubles).
7. How to avoid future contact loss
To never again face the problem of losing contacts, just follow a few simple rules. Here is a checklist for a reliable reservation:
Enable automatic sync with Google (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync)
Backup to MI Cloud (Settings → Mi Account → MI Cloud → Backup)
Export contacts to a VCF file once a month (Contacts → Management → Export)
Save important numbers on SIM-card (if the phone supports the phone)
Install an automatic backup app (such as Super Backup)-->
Additional advice:
- 🔄 Check regularly if sync is enabled. MIUI settings are sometimes reset.
- 📧 Link backup email and phone number to your Mi Account – this will help restore access if you forget your password.
- 📱 If you change your phone, transfer your contacts through MI Mover (application from Xiaomi for data migration).
- 🔐 Don’t just store your contacts on your phone, use at least two sources (e.g. Google). + MI Cloud).
For the most important contacts (relatives, doctors, colleagues) you can create an encrypted backup:
- Export your contacts to the.vcf file.
- Archive a file with a password (for example, through 7-Zip or WinRAR).
- Keep your archive in a safe place (cloud, flash drive, email).
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The most reliable way to secure your contacts is by combining Google + MI Cloud with local backup, and even if one source fails, the data will remain in the other.