Deleting a critical contact on a Xiaomi smartphone is a familiar situation. One careless click and a colleague, relative or customer number disappears from the phone book. Fortunately, in most cases, it is possible to restore deleted data β especially if you use synchronization with cloud services or regularly create backups. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return deleted numbers on Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi products, including models from 2023-2026.
It's important to understand that recovery success depends on how long ago the contact was deleted and what services were connected to the phone. For example, if sync with MI Cloud or Google Contacts was active, the chances of returning the number are close to 100%. If the contact was deleted a few months ago and there are no backups, the task becomes more difficult. Below you will find step-by-step instructions for each scenario, as well as tips on how to avoid data loss in the future.
1.Recovery via MI Cloud (Official Xiaomi Cloud)
MI Cloud is Xiaomiβs proprietary cloud service that automatically saves contacts, messages and other data if the sync function is enabled. To return a remote number via MI Cloud, follow the following steps:
- π± Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi and go to the Accounts section β MI Cloud.
- π Make sure the contact sync switch is active. If not, turn it on and wait until the process is complete.
- π₯οΈ Log in to i.mi.com from a computer or other device and log in to the same Mi Account.
- π In the menu, select Contacts. β Recycle bin. This is where you store deleted numbers for 30 days.
If the contact was in the cart, select it and click Restore.The number will reappear in your Xiaomi phone book after the next sync (usually takes 1-2 minutes). Note: in MI Cloud, the cart clears automatically after a month, so you need to act quickly.
β οΈ Note: If you are not authorized to MI Cloud or never synced, that won't work. So move on to the next method.
2. Recovery through Google Contacts
If your Xiaomi has a Google account attached, chances are that your contacts are synced to Google Contacts, which works even if MI Cloud is disabled.
- Open your browser and go to contacts.google.com.
- Sign in with the same Google account that you use on your phone.
- In the left menu, select More β Cancel the changes.
- Specify the time range (for example, 1 hour ago or 1 day ago) and click Confirm.
Google Contacts allows you to roll back changes in the last 30 days. If a contact was deleted recently, it will return to the list. After that, sync the data on your phone: go to Settings β Accounts β Google β Contact Sync and update the data manually.
If the rollback doesnβt work, check the Recycle Bin in Google Contacts β the deleted numbers are stored there for up to 30 days. To restore, select the desired contact and click Restore.
π‘
To avoid future contact loss, enable automatic sync with both MI Cloud and Google Contacts. Go to Settings β Accounts and activate both services.
3. Use of local backup copy
Xiaomi smartphones allow you to create local backups of data, including contacts. If you have ever done a backup through the built-in Backup utility, try to restore the number from the archive:
- π Open the Settings. β Additionally. β Backup and reset β Local backups.
- π Check the list of available backups. If there is a copy created before the contact is deleted, select it.
- π Click Restore and Confirm Action. Make sure the Recovery settings mark Contacts.
It can take a few minutes. Once you're done, restart your phone and check the phone book. Note that recovery from the backup will replace the current contacts with those in the archive. If you add new numbers after you create the copy, they may be gone.
β οΈ Attention: Local backups on Xiaomi are stored in a folder by default MIUI/backup/AllBackup If you reset your phone to factory settings, those files could have been deleted.
| Recovery method | Max. Shelf life. | Is the Internet required? | Replaces current data |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI Cloud (basket) | 30 days | Yes. | No. |
| Google Contacts (rollback) | 30 days | Yes. | Partially. |
| Local backup | No restrictions. | No. | Yes. |
| Third-party annexes | Depends on the software. | No. | No. |
4. Applications for Recovery of Remote Contacts
If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party utilities that scan your phone's memory for deleted data and try to recover it.
- π οΈ Dr.Fone (Wondershare) β Supports Xiaomi and other brands, restores contacts, messages, photos.
- π± GT Recovery β specializes in Android devices, works without root rights.
- π DiskDigger β free version allows you to scan memory for deleted files.
Instructions for use (on the example of Dr.Fone):
- Install the program on your PC and connect Xiaomi over USB (enable Debugging over USB in Settings β About Phone β MIUI version by pressing 7 times).
- Select the Android Data Recovery mode.
- Mark Contacts and start scanning.
- After the process is complete, select the desired numbers and click Restore.
Note that the more time has passed since the deletion, the lower the chances of successful recovery, and some programs require root access, which may cancel the warranty on the device.
What is root access and why is it dangerous?
5. Contact Xiaomi Support
If the remote contact was critical (such as an employer or legal number) and the self-recovery efforts failed, you can contact Xiaomiβs official support.
- π Call the Xiaomi Russia hotline: 8 800 555-05-65 (call-off).
- π¬ Write to the support chat via the official website mi.com/ru/support.
- π§ Send a request to e-mail: support.ru@xiaomi.com.
Please note: phone model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G), account number MI (if tied, the approximate date of removal of the contact.
Support does not guarantee data recovery, but it can help in some cases, especially if it is a system failure.
β οΈ Note: Xiaomi does not provide services to restore data deleted by the user intentionally, the chances of success are higher if the loss of contact occurred due to a software failure or system update.
6 How to prevent future contact loss
To avoid the problem of remote numbers, follow the simple rules:
Enable sync with MI Cloud and Google Contacts
Create local backups regularly (once a month)
Export contacts to.vcf file to your computer
Use strong passwords for cloud accounts
Check the cart in MI Cloud and Google Contacts before cleaning-->
You can also set up automatic export of contacts to the file.
- Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Contact Management β Import/Export.
- Choose Export to File and save a backup to a memory card or cloud.
A file with the.vcf extension can be opened on any device or imported back into the phone book if needed, a universal format supported by all modern smartphones.
π‘
Even if you deleted the contact a few months ago, check the archives in Google Drive or MI Cloud. Sometimes old backups are stored there for years and may contain the necessary data.