How to clean contacts on Xiaomi: remove duplicates, garbage and restore order

Xiaomi’s cluttered contact list is a problem that every second user faces: duplicate messengers, outdated numbers, irrelevant social media posts, and accidentally saved contacts from calls turn a phone book into chaos. Unlike iPhones, where cleaning is integrated into iCloud, on MIUI, the process requires manual adjustment or use of hidden features.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to clean contacts, from standard MIUI tools to third-party applications that automatically find and merge duplicates. Particular attention will be paid to synchronization with Google Account, since this is the most common source of garbage due to conflicts between local and cloud data. All methods are tested on Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T smartphones with MIUI 13/14 firmware.

Why is Xiaomi accumulating garbage in contacts?

The main reason for the clogged phone book is automatic synchronization with multiple sources, so when you add Google, Mi Account, VK or WhatsApp accounts, the system creates separate records for the same contact, for example, a Telegram number and an email from Gmail can appear as two different people, although they are related to the same.

Other common causes:

• 📱 Import of contacts SIM-card-less double-check.
• 🔄 Conflicts in the update MIUI, When the old data is not cleaned.
• 🤖 Auto-save numbers after calls (Settings function) → Contacts → Keep the numbers).
• 🌐 Sync errors with cloud services (e.g. Mi Cloud creates ghost contacts).

According to Xiaomi Community, up to 30% of users experience duplicates after migrating from Android 11 to 12/13 when the system is not properly handling old backups.If you have more than 500 contacts, the likelihood of chaos is close to 80%.

Method 1: Manual cleaning through the standard Contacts app

The safest method is to use built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable if you don’t have enough takes (up to 50) and want to control the process.

Instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Slip on three points in the upper right corner → Contact management.
3. Choose to Combine Contacts (on some firmware – Find duplicates).
4. The system will show you a list of possible takes. Click Combine next to each pair.
5. To remove unnecessary contacts: press your finger on the record → select a few → click Remove (basket icon).

Backup your contacts (Settings → Contacts → Import/Export)

Check sync with Google (Settings → Accounts → Google → Contacts)

Turn off automatic number saving (Settings → Contacts → Save numbers)

Close all messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) to avoid conflicts-->

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not find duplicates if the names are written differently (for example, "Ivan Ivanov" and "Ivan I.").
• ❌ Does not remove contacts from WhatsApp or Viber – only local and Google.
• ❌ Slowly works with a large number of records (more than 1000 records).

💡

If there is no "Combine" button in the take list, update the Contacts app via Google Play. On some MIUI 12 firmware, this feature is hidden.

Method 2: Clean up Google Contacts (web version)

If your contacts are synced with your Google Account, it’s easier to clear them through your browser, which allows you to process large amounts of data and find duplicates that MIUI skips.

Step-by-step:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Duplicates (if there is no item, click More → Find and combine duplicates).
3. The system will show all possible matches. Click Consolidate for each group.
4. To remove unnecessary contacts: tick the record → click on the basket icon.
5. After cleaning, click More → Export to save a backup in.vcf format.

An important nuance: once cleaned through Google Contacts, the changes will only apply to the phone after synchronization.

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Put it on your account. → Synchronization of the account.
3. Turn on the Contacts slider and press Sync.

💡

Google Contacts is the only tool that can find duplicates by partial coincidence of names (for example, “Alexei” and “Lesha”).

Method 3: Using third-party applications (Top 3)

If the built-in tools don't work, one of the specialized apps will help. We tested 10 programs and selected the 3 most effective for Xiaomi.

Selection criteria:

• 🔍 Accuracy of double search (including Cyrillic and Latin).
• 🛡️ Security – lack of access SMS and call.
• 📱 Compatibility with MIUI 13/14 Android 12/13.

How to use (as in Simpler Merge):

1. Install the app and give access to contacts.
2. Click Scan - the program will find all the takes.
3. Choose Auto-Association or check each take manually.
4. Save the backup (Menu → Backup).
5. Click Apply Changes.

⚠️ Warning: Before using third-party apps, turn off sync with Mi Cloud (Settings) → Mi Account → Otherwise, the duplicates may return after the next synchronization.

Method 4: Reset contacts via Mi Account (for advanced)

If contacts are stored in Mi Cloud and are clogged with garbage, you can make a complete reset through your Xiaomi account.This method is radical - it will remove ALL contacts from the cloud, so it is only suitable if you are ready to start with a clean slate.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Go to Mi Cloud. → Contacts.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Delete all contacts.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
5. After removal, import a clean list through Settings → Contacts → Import/Export.

When this method is justified:

• 🧹 Contacts are completely cluttered (more than 1000 records with duplicates).
• 🔄 You’ve recently switched from iPhone and want to start from scratch.
• 📱 Plan to sell your phone and want to delete all personal data.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the Mi Cloud, all contacts will be deleted from all devices associated with this account (including tablets and other Xiaomi smartphones).Be sure to export the backup before the procedure!

Method 5: Cleaning through ADB (for technical users)

If standard methods do not help, you can use them. ADB-This requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap the version → Come back to the extra. → Developer parameters → Debugging by USB).
• 🔗 Installed Xiaomi drivers and tool ADB.

Cleanup commands:

adb shell pm clear com.android.contacts


adb shell pm clear com.miui.contacts

What these teams do:

1. com.android.contacts – Resets the standard Android contact store.
2. com.miui.contacts – cleans the MIUI shell responsible for display.

After the commands are executed:

1. Reboot the phone.
2. Open Settings → Contacts → Import / Export and restore data from the backup.

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB This can cause you to lose all your phone book data, including backups on your device.Before you execute commands, make sure you have an external copy of your contacts (e.g., on Google or on your computer).

How to prevent the re-clogging of contacts?

Cleaning is half the battle, so that the list doesn't get clogged again, follow these rules:

MIUI settings that should be changed:

• 🚫 Turn off automatic number saving: Settings → Contacts → Keep the numbers. → turn off the slider.
• 🔄 Set up sync with only one source: Settings → Accounts. → Only leave a Google or Mi Account.
• 📱 Export contacts regularly: Settings → Contacts → Imports/Exports → Export to the device (once every 3 months).

Habits that will save you from chaos:

• 📇 Add contacts immediately with full information (name, surname, number in international format).
• 🔍 Check the duplicates every six months through Google Contacts.
• 🚮 Remove unnecessary numbers immediately after the call (click log entry) → Delete).

💡

If you use messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), turn off automatic addition of contacts to the phone book. WhatsApp does this in Settings → Account → Privacy → Contacts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning contacts on Xiaomi