How to combine repeated contacts on Xiaomi MIUI 12: all ways

On Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI 12 Duplicate contacts is a common problem, especially if you sync data with multiple accounts (Google, Mi Account, SIM-You can also transfer the phone book from another device, and the repeated records not only clutter up the list, but also make it harder to find the right caller. MIUI 12 have built-in tools for automatic and manual pairing of takes, as well as third-party solutions for complex cases.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can do it, from the standard features of the Contacts app to hidden sync settings and trusted third-party apps. You’ll learn how to avoid data loss when combined, why duplicates reappear after cleaning, and what to do if the system doesn’t see repeat contacts. Instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI 12 (including Mi 10/11, Redmi Note 9/10, POCO X3, etc.).

Why do you have duplicate contacts on Xiaomi?

Before cleaning, it is important to understand the reasons for duplication, most often the problem arises from:

• 🔄 Multiple sync: the same contacts are downloaded simultaneously from Google Account, Mi Account and Google SIM-map.
• 📱 Transfer data from another smartphone via Mi Mover, Bluetooth or backups (e.g.,.vcf files).
• 🔄 Synchronization errors: If the connection to the Internet is interrupted during the update of contacts, the system can create copies of the system.
• 📇 Manual Addition: Users sometimes accidentally create duplicates by editing contacts in different accounts.

Especially often, the problem manifests itself after updating MIUI or resetting, when the system re-synchronizes data from all sources, for example, if you used Xiaomi Mi 9 on MIUI 11, and after switching to Mi 11 with MIUI 12 noticed duplicates - the fault of this overlapping of old and new records.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Contacts as your primary source, do not disable sync in your account settings – this may result in data loss on the next update.

Method 1: Automatically connect via the Contacts app

The easiest way is to use the built-in auto-unification feature in the standard Contacts app, which is available on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12 and above.

Instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the section "Connect Contacts".
4. The system will automatically find all the takes. Press Combine all or select specific pairs manually.
5. Confirm the action by pressing Ready.

If the Unify All button is inactive, the system has not detected any obvious duplicates, in which case try manually combining (see next section) or check the sync settings.

Backup your contacts (Settings → Google → Backup)

Check the stability of the Internet connection

Close all background applications except Contacts

Make sure that there are no contacts with the same names but different numbers (they will have to be combined manually)

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After the merger, it is recommended to restart the smartphone so that the changes apply to all system services (calls, messages, WhatsApp, etc.).

Method 2: Manual combination of doubles

If the automatic function failed or you want to control the process, use manual mode, which is especially useful when the duplicates have partial matches (for example, the same name but different numbers or email addresses).

How to combine manually:

1. Open the Contacts app and find a duplicate contact.
2. Slip on it, then click Edit (pencil icon).
3. In the upper right corner, select Combine with...
4. Check all the repeated recordings and click Ready.
5. The system will suggest saving data from both contacts, select the current information (for example, the last phone number) and confirm.

To speed up the process, you can use a search by name: enter the name or contact name in the search bar, and the system will show all related entries.

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If you have hundreds of takes, start with the contacts you use most often (such as family, coworkers) and save time searching in the future.

Method 3: Connecting through Google Contacts

If the duplicates are due to sync with Google Account, it is more convenient to fix them directly in the web version of Google Contacts.This method is suitable for users who store the main phone book in Google.

Step-by-step:

1. Open on your computer or smartphone the site contacts.google.com and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Doubles (Current and Manage section).
3. The system will show all the repeated contacts. Press Combine all or select specific pairs.
4. After the combination, wait for synchronization (usually takes 5-10 minutes) and check the contact list on Xiaomi.

The advantage of this method is centralized management: changes will apply to all devices associated with your Google Account. However, be careful: if you previously edited contacts only on Xiaomi, some data may not be saved to Google.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account as your primary contact source, changes to Google Contacts won’t affect duplicates created through Xiaomi Cloud.

Method 4: Reset and re-synchronize contacts

If previous methods have failed, try a full synchronization reset, which is radical but effective in cases where duplicates are caused by MIUI 12 malfunctions.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select a Google Account (or Mi Account if you use it).
3. Turn off the synchronization of contacts, moving the slider to the off position.
4. Go back to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
5. Find the Contacts app, open its settings and click Clear Data (not to be confused with Clear Cache!).
6. Confirm action. All local contacts will be deleted, but the data in Google/Mi Account will remain.
7. Go back to sync and turn it on again. Wait until it's done.

This method will remove all local duplicates, but requires mandatory backup. If you don't sync your contacts to the cloud, all the data will be lost!

Google Account

Mi Account (Xiaomi Cloud)

SIM-map

Local storage (without synchronization)

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Method 5: Third-party applications for contact combination

If the built-in MIUI 12 tools fail, you can use third-party utilities, which offer advanced features such as finding duplicates by partial matches, mass editing, and export/import data.

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 📌 Simpler Merge – automatically finds and combines duplicates, supports backup. Download to Google Play.
• 📌 Contacts Optimizer — not only clears duplicates, but also empty or incomplete entries.
• 📌 Cleanup: Duplicate Contacts – simple interface, works without registration, supports Russian language.

Before using third-party applications:

1. Create a backup of your contacts (via Settings → Google → Backup or export to.vcf).
2. Check the reviews and app rankings on Google Play.
3. Do not give apps access to SMS or calls – this is not required to connect contacts.

How can we prevent the appearance of doubles in the future?

To avoid recurring problems, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Select one primary sync source (e.g., Google Account only or Mi Account only). Disable duplicate accounts in Settings → Accounts and synchronization.
• 📱 Check your contacts regularly for doubles (every 1-2 months).
• 🔄 Use one name format (e.g. always give first name, then first name).
• 📇 Avoid manually adding contacts that are already in the phone book (for example, when saving a number from the phone book). SMS).

If you often migrate contacts between devices, use a single cloud service (like Google Contacts) and opt out of importing via.vcf or Bluetooth.

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The most common reason for duplicates to reappear is simultaneous sync with Google and Mi Account. Disable one of the sources to avoid overlaying data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about joining contacts on Xiaomi