Xiaomi’s smartphone is becoming a digital hub with thousands of important numbers stored, but users often face chaos in the phone book: repetitive entries, no photos, or incorrectly stored names, and understanding how to manage this dataset is critical to a comfortable conversation.
The MIUI operating system installed on the brand’s devices offers powerful, but not always obvious, tools for working with the address book, and unlike standard solutions, it implements smart merger algorithms and deep integration with cloud services, which allows you not only to change numbers, but also to structure the entire database.
In this article, we'll look at all the nuances of editing, from the banal renaming to the complex combination of duplicates. SIM-card and phone memory, as well as configure synchronization so that no number is lost when changing the device.
Basic editing and change of information
To start with a separate entry, you need to open the standard Contacts app. Find the right subscriber in the list or use the search bar at the top of the screen. After opening the user card, look for the Change button (usually a pencil or text button), which activates edit mode.
The menu opens with fields for name, surname, company and job status, and it allows you to add multiple numbers of the same type (for example, two workers or two mobiles) and choose a priority for calls, and you can assign a unique melodic ringtone or set a vibration for a particular person.
Remember to add a photo. A high-quality photo helps to instantly connect the caller, even if the number is not stored in memory, but is in Google's profile. Just click on the camera icon or avatar at the top of the screen and select the image from the gallery.
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Use the Notes and Links fields to store additional contact information, such as email addresses or social media links, so that all data is in one place.
After making all the necessary changes, be sure to click the Save button (checkbox or floppy).If you accidentally close the application without saving, Xiaomi will most often offer to save the changes or cancel them when you exit, but it is better not to risk losing data.
Removal of duplicates and consolidation of records
One of the most common problems when switching to a new smartphone or after syncing with multiple accounts is the appearance of take. SIM-And the other one is from your phone or your Google account. MIUI There is a built-in tool to solve this problem.
To combine the records, open the contact app and click on the menu (three dots or three bars). Select "Clear Repetitive Contacts" or "Combine." The system automatically scans the database and offers a list of pairs that it thinks are the same. You only have to confirm the action.
⚠️ Before joining a group, make sure that the combined records do not contain unique data that you want to keep separately (e.g., different work numbers of the same person).
If the automatic search doesn't find the right pair, you can manually combine the contacts. Open the card of one of the takes, click the menu (three dots) and select "Combine with another contact." Then find the second entry in the list and confirm the merger. All numbers, addresses and photos will be collected in one card.
☑️ Pre-unification checks
Regularly cleaning duplicates not only frees up space, but also speeds up the phone book, and searches through the database are faster, and the likelihood of missing an important call because the number is recorded under a different name is minimized.
Work with SIM-card
Many users still keep numbers on the SIM-The operator card usually allows you to save only a name and one number, preventing you from adding an email, address or photo. SIM-snare.
Transfer of contacts with SIM-Maps to your phone or cloud are the first step to order. Go to the contact app settings, select Import/Export Contacts, and specify the source «SIM-Then select your destination: “Phone” or your Google account.
The reverse process of exporting to SIM is also possible, but not recommended for permanent storage, which only makes sense when replacing an old phone with a device without synchronization or using a push-button device.
| Characteristics | Phone Memory / Google | SIM-map |
|---|---|---|
| Number of fields | Unlimited (photo, email, address) | Name and number only |
| Memory capacity | Limited (usually 250-500 entries) | |
| Synchronization | Automatic over the Internet | No physical transfer (only physical transfer) |
| Security | High (backup) | Low (risk of loss upon injury) |
Why contact with the SIM-Maps can be displayed with country code?
Setting up the display and sorting of the list
The ease of use of a phone book depends on how the records are sorted and displayed. Xiaomi has the flexibility to adjust these settings so that the search takes seconds. Go to the contact settings and find the Contact Display section.
Here you can choose the order of sorting by name or surname. For Russian-speaking users, it is often more convenient to sort by name, since we are used to looking for Ivan rather than Ivanov. You can also choose the display format: "First name" or "First name".
Another useful feature is filtering your contacts that you see, so you can hide contacts that don't have a phone number, or you can only show contacts that have a number, and this helps you remove unnecessary entries, like business cards or blank profiles.
Don't ignore the possibility of grouping contacts. When you create groups (Family, Work, Friends), you not only structure the list, but you also get the ability to send mass SMS or make group calls with a single touch.
Sync with Google and Mi Cloud account
The most reliable way to save contacts on Xiaomi is to sync with the cloud. By default, the system offers to use a Google account, which is on every Android smartphone, which ensures that if you lose or break your phone, all numbers will be restored immediately after you enter your login and password.
To check sync status, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google. Make sure the switch opposite Contacts is active. If it is turned off, your new records are only stored locally and may be lost when you reset.
Xiaomi device owners can also use their own Mi Cloud service, which works similarly but requires a separate registration of the Mi Account. The advantage of Mi Cloud is a deeper integration with the MIUI shell and the ability to restore not only contacts, but also desktop layouts, system settings and notes.
⚠️ Warning: When you enable sync, make sure you choose the correct default account to save new contacts. Otherwise, new records may fly to an old or corporate account that you rarely check.
Check your contacts’ web version regularly (contacts.google.com or i.mi.com) and not only allows you to see the current database, but also edit, delete or restore deleted records from your computer, which is much more convenient than pointing a finger at a screen.
Import and export via VCF file
VCF (vCard) is a universal standard for contact exchange, allowing you to transfer the entire phone book from one phone to another, even if they run on different operating systems (for example, from iPhone to Xiaomi).
To export your contacts to Xiaomi, go to the contact app settings, select Import/Export, and click Export to Drive. The system will create a file with the.vcf extension that will contain all your records, which can be sent to your mail, saved to the cloud, or forwarded over Bluetooth.
Imports are done in a similar way: you select “Import from the drive” from the menu, specify the path to the.vcf file, and select the account where to save the data, a process that takes a few seconds, even if you restore several thousand numbers.
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A VCF file is the most reliable way to make a complete backup of a phone book, independent of the Internet connection and servers of Google or Xiaomi.
Use this method before selling your phone or before radical firmware experiments, and having a local copy of a VCF file on your computer or flash drive is your insurance against any software failure.