Xiaomi’s current MIUI or HyperOS smartphones offer users many ways to manage a phone book, but basic functions are sometimes hidden behind an unusual interface. Saving a new number is a fundamental challenge that every device owner faces immediately after buying or changing a SIM card. Correct data entry ensures that you do not lose important information when changing your gadget or resetting your settings.
Unlike the old button phones, where the numbers were rigidly tied to the SIM-And with the cards, modern Android smartphones, you can flexibly manage your data storage, and you can store it in your phone's memory, or in your Google account, or directly in your SIM, and each has its own characteristics. Understanding these differences will help avoid confusion when numbers suddenly disappear after flashing or logging into a new account.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for creating entries in the Xiaomi phone book, we will look at standard procedures through the Contacts app, adding numbers from the call history, and we will also touch on the important nuances of synchronization and import, and we will focus on how to make the process as convenient and secure as possible for your data.
Basic ways to save numbers
The most obvious and frequently used method is to manually create a new record through a standard app. In Xiaomi smartphones, the system app Contacts, which usually has an icon with a person’s silhouette, is responsible for this. When you first start up, the system can suggest you choose your default account, and this is a critical point for further work with the database.
When you click the creation button, you open a form where you need to fill in the fields. The minimum dataset includes the name and the phone number, but modern systems allow you to add much more information. You can specify your email, address, position, company, and even add a subscriber photo for quick visual identification when you call.
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Save your contacts directly to your Google account, not in your phone memory or on your phone. SIM-This will automatically synchronize and restore all numbers when you lose or replace your smartphone.
The MIUI record creation interface often suggests selecting a save location at the top of the screen. If you see a drop-down list with the names of accounts or Phone, select your Google account. This action will back up the data in the cloud, which is best practice for the security of personal information.
- 📱 Click on the plus icon or the Make Contact button in the bottom corner of the screen.
- 📝 Enter your name, surname and phone number in the appropriate form fields.
- 💾 Select a Google account to save so that your data syncs to the cloud.
- ✅ Click the “Save” button or the tick in the upper right corner of the screen.
Preserving a number from the history of calls
Often times, you have to save a number you just called from or you dialed before, so you don't have to re-enter a long sequence of numbers, and Xiaomi's call history allows you to instantly convert an incoming or outgoing call into a full phone book entry.
You just open the Phone app and go to the History tab, find the number you want in the list, click on it, or the information icon next to it (usually the letter "i" in a circle or an arrow), and a call card will open, where you will be asked to "Create a Contact" or "Add to an Existing One."
⚠️ Note: When adding a number from history, carefully check the country and city code. Sometimes operators or number identifiers may distort the format by adding extra numbers or missing the eight at the beginning.
This is especially useful when you need to quickly write down the number of a courier, taxi or delivery service, the system will substitute the number you dial, you only have to give it a name, if the number already exists in the database, the system will suggest updating the existing record or adding a second number to the same contact, which helps to avoid duplicates.
Import of contacts with SIM-card
When you switch to a new Xiaomi smartphone, the user is faced with the question of transferring the old phone book. SIM-In the card, they need to be imported into internal memory or the cloud to fully use all the functions of Android.
To start the transfer, open the Contacts app, click on the menu (three dots or bars) and select Contact Import. The system will suggest selecting a data source. If the numbers are on the SIM, select the appropriate item. If you move from another Android smartphone, you can use Bluetooth or Mi Mover to quickly transfer the entire database.
| Source of data | Transfer speed | Photo preservation | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM-map | Low. | No. | Basic numbers only. |
| Bluetooth | Medium | Yes. | To transfer from another Android |
| Google Account | Tall (auto) | Yes. | The best option for synchronization |
| VCF file | Tall. | Yes. | For mass file transfer |
When importing with SIM-It is worth considering the technical limitations of this carrier. Old SIMKS often do not support long names. 10-12 symbols) and do not retain additional numbers or addresses. After importing, be sure to check the records and edit them if necessary by adding full names and second phone numbers.
Display setting and contact filtering
Xiaomi smartphones can be confusing with the display of records, especially if you have previously used different devices and media. SIM-Maps that are not being stored in Google, or vice versa, and this is managed by filtering, which allows you to flexibly adjust the visibility of records.
Go to the Contacts settings (usually through a menu or three dots). Find the Contacts Display or Contact Filter section. Here you will see a list of all available sources: phone, SIM 1, SIM 2, Google accounts. Make sure that the check boxes are in front of all the sources you want to see on the shared list.
Why are contacts duplicated?
You can also sort in this section, and you can choose to display by name or surname, and you can also choose to choose the order "First name" or "Family name, First name," which is especially true for users who are in business correspondence and have many corporate entries in contacts, where alphabetic order by last name is important.
- 🔍 Open the settings of the “Contacts” application through the side menu.
- 👁️ Select the item “Show contacts».
- ✅ Place a checkmark in front of all the necessary sources (SIM, Phone, Google).
- 🔄 If necessary, start the function of combining duplicates.
Synchronization with Google account
A key feature of the Android ecosystem is deep integration with Google services. For Xiaomi owners, this means that a phone book can live in the cloud, be accessible from any device and never get lost. Syncing is a step that turns your phone from a simple communication device into a personal organizer.
You can check sync status in the phone's general settings. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is activated. If it's turned off, your new records are only stored locally on the device, and when it breaks, data will be lost.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a warning about a shortage of space in your Google Account, the contacts sync may stop.Empty storage space or delete old unnecessary entries to resume automatic backup.
An important advantage of synchronization is the ability to edit contacts via a computer. When you access contacts.google.com from any browser, you can manage your phone book, add new numbers, delete spam, and sort contacts into groups. All changes will instantly affect your Xiaomi smartphone when you have an Internet connection.
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Enabling Google contacts to sync is a must for data security, ensuring that the phone book is restored even if the smartphone is lost or stolen.
Removal of duplicates and management of records
Over time, every user's phone book accumulates "garbage": duplicates of the same numbers, entries "Unknown", old contacts from work. MIUI has built-in tools to clean the base, but sometimes manual intervention is required to restore order. Regular cleaning speeds up the search and makes the interface cleaner.
To delete an unnecessary entry, open the contact, click on the menu (three dots) and select Delete. If you want to delete multiple entries at once, a mass selection feature is available in some versions of the shell. However, be careful: when you delete a contact with Google Sync, it will disappear from the cloud and on all other devices where you log in to this account.
The system can offer to combine contacts automatically if it finds matches by phone number, and you can also do it manually: open a contact, select Edit, find an action menu, and select "Merge with another contact," which will allow you to collect all the numbers and addresses of one person into one card.