Where in the phone Xiaomi phone is the phone book: all the ways to access contacts

You've just bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco smartphone, but you can't find where the phone book is hiding? Or after the MIUI update, all the contacts have disappeared and you don't know how to get them back? This problem is familiar to many users - the MIUI shell interface changes regularly, and the app icons move from place to place. Depending on the firmware version and the phone model, access to contacts can be done in different ways.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can open a phone book on Xiaomi devices, from the standard Contacts app to hidden features in the call menu, how to restore deleted numbers, sync them with Google or Mi Account, and why contacts sometimes disappear after resetting. Instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14/15 and all modern models of the brand, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12 and Poco F5.

1. Standard Contacts app: where to look and how to open

The most obvious way is to use the built-in Contacts app, which looks like a person’s silhouette on a green or blue background on most Xiaomi devices, but depending on the theme and the MIUI version, the icon may differ.

If you don’t see the app on the home screen, try:

• 🔍 Flick through all the pages of the desktop – sometimes the icon is hidden on the second or third page.
• 📁 Open the menu of all applications (swipe up from the bottom of the screen) and enter in the search “Contacts».
• 📱 Check the Google folder or Tools – sometimes system utilities are automatically folded there.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi A3 or Poco X3 NFC with a clean Android One), the contact app may be called Phone and combine calls, contacts and call history.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The Contacts icon has disappeared, do not delete the app cache through the settings - this can cause sync failure.Reboot your phone instead or search the system.

2. Access to contacts via the application “Phone” (calls)

In MIUI, the phone book is integrated with the Phone app to open the contact list:

1. Click on the green tube icon (the “Phone” app).
2. At the bottom of the screen, select the Contacts tab (usually located between the Journal and the Keyboard).
3. If there are no tabs, tap on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contacts.

In this section you will see:

• 📇 All saved contacts (ordered alphabetically).
• ⭐ Selected numbers (if you have added them).
• 🔄 Sync button with Google or Mi Account.
• ➕ Adding a new contact button.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 Global) may not have a Contacts tab in the Phone app, in which case:

⚠️ Note: If after clicking on the tube icon you see only the keyboard for dialing, then your version MIUI It uses separate apps for calls and contacts. Go back to the first method and find a separate Contacts app».

3. Contact search via Quick Access Panel

MIUI has a convenient device search feature that allows you to quickly find any contact without opening the phone book.

1. Swipe down the main screen to open the notification bar.
2. In the top line of the search, enter a name or phone number.
3. The results will appear in the Contacts section - tap on the desired name.

You can also use voice search:

• 🎤 Say “OK Google” or hold the Home button (if the voice assistant is configured).
• 🗣️ Dictate the command: “Show contacts” or “Find a number [name]».

This method is especially useful if you use Xiaomi with one hand or are driving, but note that voice search requires:

Active Internet connection|Google Voice Assistant enabled|Permission to access contacts for the Google app|Updated Google app in Play Market-->

4. Where are the contacts stored: locally or in the cloud?

Contacts on Xiaomi can be saved in three places:

1. Local phone memory – stored only on the device, when reset, deleted.
2. Google accounts are synced to the cloud and restored when you log in to the same account.
3. Mi Account is a cloud from Xiaomi, which works similarly to Google, but is less reliable.

To check where your contacts are stored:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
3. See which accounts appear on the list (e.g. Phone, Google, Mi Account).

If the contacts are saved only on the phone, they can be easily lost when:

• 🔄 Resetting to factory settings.
• 📱 Breakdown of the device or battery replacement (if no backup is made).
• ⚡ Firmware updates with errors.

💡

To avoid losing contacts, enable automatic sync with Google: go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and activate the switch opposite Contacts.

5. How to Recover Missing Contacts on Xiaomi

If the phone book is Suddenly disappeared, don't panic - in most cases contacts can be returned. Here are 4 working ways:

If the contact is missing after the update MIUI, First, check if they are hidden in the display settings. Go to Contacts» → ⋮ → «Display contacts" and make sure all accounts are selected (Google, Phone, Mi Account, etc).

6. Hidden Phone Book Functions in MIUI

There are some non-obvious features in MIUI that not all users are aware of:

• 🔍 Search by number without saving: Enter the number in the Phone app and the system will automatically prompt you to save it to contacts or show information from social networks (if the number is linked to WhatsApp, VK etc.).
• 📊 Call statistics: In the call log, click on the contact → A schedule of call frequency and duration of conversations will appear.
• 🔕 Hidden contacts: In “Contacts» → ⋮ → Contact management → Hidden contacts can be hidden from prying eyes (they will be visible only after entering the password).
• 📞 Quick dial: In the Phone app, hold the number on the keyboard to quickly call a frequently used number (configured in Settings) → Quick set).

Another useful feature is to combine duplicates, so if you have multiple records for one person (for example, from different accounts), MIUI can automatically combine them:

1. Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → Contact management.
2. Choose to Join Contacts.
3. The system will offer options for combining - confirm or cancel.

Only on the phone.|Synchronizing with Google|Using Mi Account.|Save it for SIM-map|Other-->

7.Why contacts are not displayed and how to fix it

If the phone book is empty but you are sure that contacts should be made, check the following points:

If the problem is not resolved, try resetting the Contacts app settings** (without deleting data):

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find “Contacts” and select Warehouse.
3. Click Clear the cache and Reset the settings.

⚠️ Note: If you clear the Contacts app data, all unsynchronized numbers will be deleted! Use this method only if you are sure that contacts are saved in the cloud.

8. Alternative methods of contact management

If you don’t like the standard Contacts app, you can use the third-party solution:

• 📱 Google Contacts: Google's official app with advanced features (groups, tags, change history) download to Play Market.
• 🔗 Truecaller: Shows subscribers' names even if they're not in your phone book (using a user database).
• 📇 Simpler Contacts: Minimalist application with user-friendly interface and backup function.
• 📧 Sync.ME: Synchronizes social media contacts and adds profile photos.

To transfer contacts to a third-party application:

1. Export them to.vcf file (via Contacts» → ⋮ → Imports/Exports).
2. Import the file to the new application.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• ✅ More flexible display settings.
• ✅ Automatic backup.
• ✅ Integration with messengers and social networks.

However, note that some applications (like Truecaller) require access to your phone book and can upload data to their servers. If privacy is important, use only proven programs.

💡

The standard Contacts app in MIUI is functional enough for most users, and third-party solutions should only be considered if you need specific features (e.g., advanced synchronization with social networks).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the phone book on Xiaomi