How to change the name of the contact in Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Changing the contact name on Xiaomi smartphones seems like an easy task, but many users face unexpected difficulties. MIUI, Source of Contact (Google, SIM-Map, local storage) and account sync may be different, and this article covers all the current ways to edit names, from basic through the Contacts app to working with duplicates and recovering deleted records.

Special attention is paid to typical errors: why changes do not persist, how to avoid duplicate contacts after editing, and what to do if the name is reset after the MIUI update. The instructions are relevant for all modern models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO based on MIUI 12-15 (including global and Chinese versions of firmware).

How to Change Your Contact Name in Xiaomi

On Xiaomi smartphones, there are three main ways to edit contact names, each of which depends on the source of the data storage, and the choice of method affects whether the changes will be synchronized with other devices or will remain only on the phone.

• 📱 Contacts app – a universal method for local and Google contacts.
• ☁️ Google Contacts – if the entry is linked to a Google account and you need to sync changes across all devices.
• 📶 Nana SIM-map – for contacts saved directly on the map (limited functionality).

Before you start, check which source the contact is linked to. To do this, open the contact entry and look at the Account under the name box. If it lists Google, changes through the standard Xiaomi app may not be saved - it is better to edit through the web version of Google Contacts.

Method 1: Editing through the Contacts app

This is the most common way that works for most users.The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the general logic remains the same.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background).
2. Find the contact you want by searching or scrolling through the list. Click on it.
3. In the upper right corner, tap the icon. ✏️ Edit.
4. Change the Name field (and Surname if necessary). Use the space or press Enter to separate the name and surname.
5. Click Ready or Save (depending on the MIUI version).

If the Save button is inactive, check:

• 🔄 Is the editing mode of another field (e.g. phone) enabled).
• 📵 Is there any editing restriction (for example, a contact is password protected).
• 🌐 Is the Internet connected if the contact is synchronized with Google.

New name entered without errors | Contact not duplicate | Selected the correct account to save |Sync enabled (if necessary)

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In MIUI 14+, a pop-up may appear when editing a contact, suggesting that duplicates be combined. If you see such a notification, click Skip to avoid merging records with different data.

Method 2: Changes to Google Contacts

If the contact is linked to a Google account, editing through the web version of the service ensures sync across all devices, which is especially useful if changes through the Xiaomi app are not saved.

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is used on your smartphone.
3. Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
4. Press the pencil icon (✏️) top-right.
5. Edit the Name and Surname fields, then click Save.

Changes will be applied on the smartphone for 1-5 minutes (with active Internet).

1. Check the network connection.
2. Open Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync and turn on the Contacts switch.
3. Restart your phone if the changes don’t appear after 10 minutes.

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If you edit contacts frequently, add the Google Contacts shortcut to the home screen: open the site in Chrome, click ⋮ → Add to the main screen.

Method 3: Editing contacts to SIM-map

Contacts retained on SIM-maps that have limited functionality: you can't add a photo, multiple numbers or additional fields.

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Go to the SIM (or Map) section at the top of the screen.
3. Find the right contact and click on it.
4. Tap Edit (in some versions of MIUI you need to keep contact with your finger).
5. Change the name and save the changes.

⚠️ Attention: Names SIM-The card is limited to 15-20 characters (depending on the operator), if the limit is exceeded, the name will be cropped, and you can not use Cyrillic and Latin alphabet simultaneously in the same name.

If contact is SIM-The map is duplicated with a record in Google or phone, we recommend:

1. Remove contact with SIM-map.
2. Edit the main entry in Google or local storage.
3. Export your SIM contacts to your phone (via Settings → Import/Export).

Problems with changing names and their solutions

Even after successful editing, Xiaomi users may find that:

• 🔄 Name resets after rebooting.
• 📵 Changes do not apply to calls (old name is displayed).
• 👥 Duplicate contacts appear.

We will discuss each problem and ways to eliminate it.

⚠️ Note: If after editing, the contact name appears correctly in the Contacts app, but the Call Log or Messages remains the same, try deleting the call history for that number.

Additional features: pseudonyms and groups

In MIUI, you can not only change names, but you can also assign contacts pseudonyms (for example, "Worker" or "Home" for one person) or group them, which is useful if you have multiple entries for one person with different roles.

To add a pseudonym:

1. Open the contact and click Edit.
2. Scroll down to the field Additional.
3. Select a pseudonym and enter an alternative name.
4. Save the changes.

Now, when you call or message, you can choose which name to display, and this feature is only available for contacts saved in your Xiaomi Account or Local Storage (it does not work for Google Contacts).

Groups sync with Xiaomi account, but not Google.If you use multiple devices on MIUI, groups will be available on all of them after you sign in to one account.

Recovery of Remote or Modified Contacts

If you accidentally delete a contact or keep the wrong name, it can be restored within 30 days (for Google contacts) or 7 days (for local ones).

For Google Contacts:

1. Go to contacts.google.com.
2. In the left menu, select More → Cancel the changes.
3. Specify the time range (e.g., “Last 10 minutes”) and click Confirm.

For local contacts:

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ → Settings → Re-establish contacts.
2. Select a backup (if it was created automatically).
3. Confirm recovery.

⚠️ Note: Automatic backup of local contacts in MIUI It's disabled by default. To turn it on, go to Settings. → System system → Backup → Local backup and activate the option for the Contacts app».

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Check your contacts backups regularly – especially before resetting your phone or updating your MIUI. Google contacts are easier to recover, but local records can be lost forever without a backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing contact names