Previous articleMissing contacts on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: how to recover in 10 minutes

You opened a phone book on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, and instead of hundreds of saved numbers, an empty screen or a “Contacts not found” error? The situation is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones, especially after a MIUI update, reset or accidental deletion. In 80% of cases, contacts can be returned without going to the service center — just know where to look for backups and how to properly sync accounts.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven recovery methods, from the simplest (check hidden contacts) to advanced (retrieve data from the backup via ADB). Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of the Redmi 8 Pro, the 2019 model with MIUI 12-14, where there are often problems with synchronization due to the features of the firmware, and you will learn how to protect contacts from loss in the future with an automatic backup in Google Drive and Mi Cloud.

1. Check hidden and filtered contacts

Before you panic, make sure that contacts are actually deleted, not just hidden. MIUI has an account filtering feature (Google, SIM, device) that sometimes gets lost after updates.

Open the Contacts app, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings → Show Contacts. Make sure all available sources are selected:

• 📱 Device – Local contacts stored in the phone’s memory
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – synchronized with Xiaomi account
• 🔗 Google – Contacts from your Gmail account
• 📶 SIM-map - numbers saved on SIM (if maintained)

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If contacts are only displayed when you select a specific account (like Google), but disappear when you return to the common list, it is a MIUI bug. Solution: update the Contacts app via Google Play or clear its cache in your phone settings.

Also check the Archive folder in the same menu - sometimes contacts move there after importing from an old phone. If nothing works, move on to the next step.

2. Recovery via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically backs up contacts when the feature is enabled. On Redmi 8 Pro, it is activated by default when you first sign in to your Mi Account.

To restore contact:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure the slider opposite Contact is on.
3. Click on Contacts → Restore and select the latest backup.
4. Confirm the recovery and wait until the synchronization is complete (may take up to 5 minutes).

Sign in to Xiaomi account (the same as used previously)

Connect to Wi-Fi (backups are not downloaded via mobile Internet)

Charge your phone at least 30% (process requires energy)

Shut down. VPN (It can block access to Xiaomi servers)-->

If there is no date in the backup list, try manual synchronization:

1. In the same Mi Cloud menu, turn off and enable contact sync again.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Open the Contacts app and pull the screen down to update the data.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously logged out of your Mi Account or dropped your phone, backups in the cloud may have been deleted after 30 days of inactivity.

3. Restoration through Google Account

If you were using a Google account on Redmi 8 Pro, your contacts could be synchronized with Google servers, and you can check this on your computer or other phone:

Go to contacts.google.com and log in with the same account as your smartphone, and if you have contacts, you can return them to your phone:

• 📱 On the phone: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of the account → Enable the contact.
• 🔄 Wait. 5-10 minutes and update the Contacts app.
• 💾 If sync is not working, delete your Google account and add it again.

If contacts on contacts.google.com are not available but you are sure they were linked to Google, check the shopping cart (menu left on the site).

On the phone (locally)

On Google Account

At Mi Cloud (Xiaomi)

Nana SIM-map

I don't know/no follow.-->

4. Removal of contacts from backup (backup)

If you backed up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset, there’s a chance to restore contacts from the local backup. On Redmi 8 Pro, backup files are stored in the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder.

To restore:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the last backup (by date) and click Restore.
3. Check only Contacts (so as not to erase other data).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for completion.

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings after your contacts are gone, local backups may have been removed, leaving only cloud options (Mi Cloud or Google) to be used).

5 Manual recovery via VCF files

.vcf (vCard) files are the standard format for storing contacts. If you have ever exported contacts to a file (for example, when switching to a new phone), it can be imported back.

How to do this:

1. Find the.vcf file in your phone’s memory or on your computer (commonly called contacts.vcf or 00001.vcf).
2. Copy it to Redmi 8 Pro memory (for example, in the Download folder).
3. Open the Contacts app, click on three points → Settings → Import/Export → Import from.vcf file.
4. Select the desired file and confirm the import.

If you don’t have a.vcf file but you have an old phone, export your contacts from there:

• 📱 On an old phone: Contacts → Settings → Exports to memory card.
• 🔗 Transfer the file to Redmi 8 Pro via Bluetooth, cable, or cloud.
• 📥 Import as described above.

Recovery of Remote Contacts via ADB (for Advanced)

If the contacts have been deleted but the phone has not rebooted, you can try to extract them via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method requires command line skills and is only suitable if you have not previously cleaned the Contacts app data.

Instructions:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Redmi 8 Pro: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your computer and install Xiaomi drivers (if not installed).
4. Download ADB Tools and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.
5. Follow the commands:

adb devices

(Your phone should be displayed)

adb shell


su




cd /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases




ls

(look for the file contacts2.db — It's a contact base)

cp contacts2.db /sdcard/


exit




exit

Now copy the file. contacts2.db From phone to computer and open it with the program DB Browser for SQLite. In the table raw_contacts There will be saved contacts.

⚠️ Note: This method only works if the database has not been overwritten with new data. If more than a day has passed since the contacts were deleted or you have added new numbers, the chances of recovery are minimal.

7. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If none of these methods worked, and contacts are critical (such as work numbers or customer data), you can contact the official Xiaomi service center, they have tools for deep scanning the phone’s memory, but no guarantees of recovery.

What to do before your visit:

• 📋 Write it down. IMEI phone number (*#06#), serial number (under battery or settings) and version MIUI.
• 🔐 Do not drop your phone or install new apps – this can erase the traces of deleted data.
• 💰 Clarify the cost of the service (on average from 1500 to 5000 rubles, depending on the complexity of the service).

The service center addresses can be found on Xiaomi’s official website, and note that in informal workshops, the chances of recovery are lower and the risk of data leakage is higher.

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If contacts were deleted due to a firmware failure (for example, after a failed MIUI update), the service center can reflash the phone with user data saved.

How to Protect Your Contacts from Future Loss

To avoid having to deal with missing contacts, set up automatic backups on Redmi 8 Pro:

1. Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Cloud → Contacts (enable autosynchronization).
2. Google Account: Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Synchronization
3. Local Backup: Settings → Additional → Backup (set weekly copy).
4. Export to VCF: Export contacts to a file once a month and save them to your computer or the cloud.

We also recommend:

• 🚫 Do not keep contact with only SIM-card (limited number, risk of loss when changing) SIM).
• 🔄 Regularly check synchronization in Settings → Accounts.
• 📱 Use backup apps like Super Backup or Contacts Backup.

If you change phones frequently, set up cross-platform sync via Google or Microsoft Outlook, which will make it easy to transfer contacts between devices on Android, iOS, or even computers.

FAQ: Frequent questions about reconnecting