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You opened a phone book on Xiaomi to call a friend -- instead of hundreds of saved numbers, you see an empty screen or a few random contacts? This is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones. Disappearance of contacts is one of the most unpleasant malfunctions, because without them the phone turns into a useless brick. But don't panic: in 90% of cases, the numbers can be returned.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes of missing Xiaomi contacts, from the banal (accidental deletion) to the technical (sync failure with Google or Mi Account). And most importantly, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to recover phone numbers with minimal losses, even if you’ve never made backups.

We warn you that not all methods are universal. For example, if the contacts were only tied to the SIM- card and you threw it away long ago, it will be more difficult to return them. But in most cases, the problem is solved in 5-15 minutes, the main thing is to act on the algorithm.

1.The first thing to check is: where were the contacts kept?

Before you panic, identify where the contacts are missing, and on Xiaomi smartphones, they can be stored in three locations:

• 📱 Local phone memory – contacts are stored only in the device memory (a risky option, as they will disappear forever when reset).
• ☁️ Google account – synchronized with Google servers (the most reliable way).
• 🔗 Mi Accounts are linked to a Xiaomi account (less commonly used, but also securely used).
• 📇 SIM- card is an old method that is almost never used in modern smartphones.

To find out where your contacts were stored before they disappeared:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management.
3. Select Import/Export or Settings → see which accounts are connected.

If you have a Google or Mi Account on the list, but your contacts don't show up, the problem is sync (more on this below) If you don't have accounts, your contacts are stored locally, and it's going to be harder to recover them.

Cause №1: Accidental deletion or resetting of settings

The most common cause of missing contacts is unintentional removal by the user, which can occur:

• 🧹 When clearing memory through Settings → Memory (sometimes the system prompts you to delete "unnecessary data," including contacts).
• 🔄 After resetting the phone to factory settings (e.g., before selling or due to hanging).
• 🗑️ When you delete the Contacts app or its cache (in MIUI this sometimes results in data loss).
• 👶 If a child or inexperienced relative has used the phone.

How to check if the removal has been:

1. Open the Recycle Bin in the Contacts app (if your version of MIUI has one), and some firmware stores remote contacts for 30 days.
2. Check the Call Log – if there are numbers that are not in the phone book, then the contacts have been deleted, but the calls have survived.

💡

In MIUI 14 and later, the contact cart is disabled by default. To enable it, go to Settings → Contacts → Recycle cart and activate the option.

If your contacts were deleted recently (within 30 days), try to restore them through Google Contacts:

1. Open the website contacts.google.com on your computer.
2. On the left menu, select the basket.
3. Mark the necessary contacts → click Restore.

💡

If you haven’t synced your contacts with Google but backed up your contacts via Mi Cloud, check it in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Recovery.

3. Cause №2: Sync failure with Google or Mi Account

If contacts are linked to an account but not displayed, the problem may be that sync is disabled, which often happens after:

• 🔄 Updates to MIUI (especially if switched from MIUI12 to MIUI14).
• 📱 Phone changes (e.g., after switching from Redmi Note 10 to POCO X5).
• 🔌 Internet problems during last synchronization.
• 🔒 Sign in to another Google account or Mi Account.

How to check the synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Choose your Google account (or Mi Account).
3. Make sure the switch opposite the Contact is on.
4. Tap on three points (⋮) → Sync.

If synchronization does not help:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Connect to another Wi-Fi network or turn on mobile internet.
• 🔑 Sign out of your account and log in again.

If the contacts never show up, they may have been saved under another account. Check all the Google-linked profiles at contacts.google.com.

Cause №3: Data corruption after update MIUI

MIUI updates sometimes result in loss of contacts, especially if:

• 📥 Update interrupted (e.g., battery powered).
• 🔧 Custom firmware installed (unofficial version MIUI).
• 📉 There was no memory to install correctly.

If your contacts are missing after the update, try:

Reverse the firmware to the previous version (if there is a backup)

Reset the settings of the Contacts application in Settings → Applications

Check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder for backups

Restore data via Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled)-->

How to roll back the update (if contacts are critical):

1. Download the old version of MIUI for your model at en.miui.com.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Tap on three dots (⋮) → Select a firmware file.
4. Install the downloaded file (the data will not be erased, but it is better to make a backup).

💡

If not only the contacts but also the SMS, photos or notes are missing after the update, the problem may be in the damage to the /data partition, in which case only a complete reset and subsequent recovery from the backup will help.

Cause №4: viruses or malicious applications

Rarely, but it happens: contacts disappear due to viruses that:

• 🦠 Delete data to free up space for advertising.
• 🔓 Contacts are being stolen to send spam.
• 📴 The phone book is blocked.

How to check your phone for viruses:

1. Install an antivirus (such as Dr.Web or Kaspersky) and scan the device.
2. Check the list of installed apps in Settings → Apps. Delete suspicious ones (especially those that requested access to contacts).
3. Open Settings → Permissions → Contacts and revoke access from unknown programs.

If the virus is found:

1. Remove the infected app.
2. Restore contacts from backup (if any).
3. Change your passwords from Google and Mi Account.

💡

MIUI has a built-in security scanner. To run it, go to Settings → Memory → Clean up and tap on Security.

Cause №5: hardware failure (memory damage)

If none of these things worked, the problem could be physical damage to the phone's memory, which happens after:

• 💥 Falls or impacts (especially if the phone is not turned on)
• 🌡️ Overheating (e.g. after a long game with charging).
• 💧 Moisture exposure (even if the phone is running afterward).

Signs of hardware failure:

• 📵 Contacts are missing along with other data (photos, messages).
• 🔄 The phone spontaneously reboots.
• ⚠️ In Settings → Memory displays a “damaged SD- card” (even if it is not).

What to do:

1. Urgently back up all remaining data through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Take the phone to the service center, and you may need to replace the memory chip.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is warranty, don't try to disassemble it yourself! opening the case voids Xiaomi's warranty.

7.How can I restore contacts if nothing helps?

If the standard methods do not work, there are radical ways to:

The most reliable way is to restore through Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Choose Recovery.
3. Find a backup with the desired date (before the contacts disappear).
4. Mark Contacts and click Restore.

If you don’t have backups, try Dr.Fone:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Install Dr.Fone and select Android Data Recovery.
3. Follow the instructions of the program (root access is required).

⚠️ Warning: Data recovery software often requires root rights, which can take away your warranty. Use them only as a last resort!

FAQ: Frequent questions about missing contacts on Xiaomi