Where and how to find contacts in the phone Xiaomi: 7 proven ways

Lost an important number in Xiaomi phone or can’t find a saved contact? The problem is familiar to many: the MIUI interface (or the new HyperOS) sometimes hides obvious functions, and synchronization with a Mi Account does not always work predictably. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways, from basic to advanced, including retrieving remote contacts and searching for hidden folders.

Features of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Contacts can be stored in several places at the same time: in the memory of the phone, on the phone. SIM-If you don't know where to look, it becomes a quest, and we structured the information so that you can quickly navigate to the desired section, whether it's by name search, reset recovery, or exporting contacts for backup.

1. Standard search in the “Contacts” app

The most obvious, but not always effective, way to do this is to open the Contacts app and search the bar at the top of the screen. In MIUI 14+ and HyperOS, you can search for:

  • 🔍 Names and surnames (including transliteration, for example, "Ivan" will find "Ivan»)
  • 📞 Phone numbers (even in fragments, for example, "555»)
  • 🏢 Company names (if indicated in the contact card)
  • 📧 Email addresses (if linked to a contact)

If no contact is found, check:

    💡

    If you are looking for a contact by number, but the results are empty, try entering it in an international format (for example, +79123456789 instead of 89123456789).

    In HyperOS (starting in 2026), search has become smarter: it searches not only for exact matches, but also for keywords in contact notes. For example, if you saved a number marked "taxi" by typing that word, you will see all the associated contacts.

    2. Exploring contacts through SIM-map

    If the contact is saved SIM-The standard Contacts app may not show it by default to see these numbers:

    1. Select “Import/Export” → “Import from SIM-card”.

    Please note:

    • 📱 On some models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5) The path may be different: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Import with SIM.
    • 🚫 SIM-Cards support a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and do not save additional fields (email, address).
    What to do if SIM-card?
    If the phone can't see SIM-card or makes an error when importing, try: 1. Reboot the device. 2. Remove and repaint SIM (3. Check the card on another device, it may be damaged. If contacts are critical, contact the communication salon to copy the data to the new one. SIM.

    3. Recovery of remote contacts

    Depending on where it was stored, there are several ways to get it back:

    Storage sourceRecovery methodDuration of validity
    Mi AccountGo to account.xiaomi.com → “Data Management” → “Restore Contacts”Up to 30 days.
    Google AccountOpen contacts.google.com → “Basket” → Select contacts → “Restore”Up to 30 days.
    Local memory.Use applications like Undeleter or DiskDigger (root rights required)Depends on overwriting.
    Backup copy of MIUIRestore backup via Settings → Additional → BackupIf a copy is created before deletion

    Important: If a contact has been deleted from a Google account, it will not work to restore it through Mi Account, because these systems do not sync with each other automatically.

    To recover via Mi Account:

    1. Sign in at account.xiaomi.com.
    2. Go to the “Data Management” section → “Contacts”.
    3. Click on the Recycle Bin and select the right contacts to recover.
    📊 Where do you usually keep your contacts?
    Only in the memory of the phone.
    On Google Account
    In Mi Account.
    Nana SIM-map
    I don't know.

    4. Search for hidden or duplicate contacts

    Sometimes contacts are not displayed because of duplicates or hidden groups.

    • 🔍 Duplicates: Open "Contacts» → three-point (⋮) → «Contact management» → «Combine duplicates».
    • 👥 Hidden Groups: Select Groups from the same menu and check if any categories are disabled (e.g. Work or Family»).
    • 📁 Archival Contacts: HyperOS has an archiving feature – check the Archive folder in the Contacts app».

    If you have third-party launchers installed (like Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher), they can block the display of system contacts.

    1. Return to the standard launcher (Settings → Home screen → Default launcher).
    2. Check the contact visibility settings in the app.

    Open "Contacts" → Three Points → "Contact Management"

    Check the "Groups" section for hidden categories

    Combine duplicates (if any)

    View the Archive folder (for HyperOS)

    -->

    5. Export and import of backup contacts

    To avoid losing contacts when resetting or replacing your phone, export them regularly.

    1. Open the "Contact»** → three-point (⋮) → «Contact management» → «Imports/Exports».

    Internal memory.

    SD-map

    For import:

    1. In the same menu, select “Import from File”.
    2. Specify the path to the saved file (.vcf or.csv).
    3. Select an account to save (Mi Account, Google or device memory).

    For use of Truecaller:

    1. Install the app from Google Play.
    2. Register and allow access to contacts.
    3. Enter a number or name in the search bar – the system will show all the matches from its database.

    ⚠️ Note: Apps like Truecaller collect data about your contacts and may share it with third parties.

    7.Find contacts after resetting or replacing the phone

    If you reset your phone to factory settings or bought a new Xiaomi, you can restore contacts in several ways:

    • 🔄 Through Mi Account: Sign in to your phone under the same Mi Account. Go to Contacts» → «Contact management» → «Restore».
    • ☁️ Through Google Account: Add your Google Account to Settings → Accounts. Enable contact synchronization.

    Through MIUI backup

    1. Copy the backup file (with the.mbk extension) to your new phone.
    2. Restore it through Settings → Additional → Backup.

    If contacts are not restored:

    • Check if synchronization is enabled in your account settings.
    • Make sure there is enough room on the new phone to recover data.
    • Try to restore contacts alternately from different sources (first Mi Account, then Google).