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

Change the contact name on Xiaomi, Redmi or smartphones POCO It seems like a simple task, but many users face unexpected challenges. MIUI (12, 13 or 14), the source of contact (SIM-Map, Google account or local storage) and sync settings may vary.This article covers all current name editing techniques, including the rare cases where standard methods fail.

Xiaomi’s ecosystem is very well integrated with Google services and its own cloud solutions, and if you change a contact name but it’s backed up or not updated on other devices, the problem is sync settings, we’ll look at how to edit contacts properly so that the changes are saved forever, and what to do if the system blocks editing due to duplicates or database errors.

Preparation: verification of the source of contact

Before you change your name, determine where the contact is stored. This depends on whether the changes will persist after editing. MIUI The contacts may belong to:

• 📱 Local storage (only on this device)
• ☁️ Google Account (synchronized with other devices)
• 📶 SIM-map (limited number of characters, no synchronization)
• 🌐 Xiaomi account (synchronization via Mi Cloud)

To find out the source:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Find the right contact and click on it.
3. Touch three points. ⋮ top-right → Edit.
4. At the top of the screen, the source will be indicated (for example, “Google” or “Phone”).

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If the contact is tied to SIM-It is better to transfer it to a Google account or local storage. SIM limited to 14 characters for the name and does not support Cyrillic in some models.

If the source is Google, the changes will automatically apply to all devices that sync is enabled, and local contacts will require manual backup, otherwise the data will be lost when the phone is reset.

Method 1: editing through the standard “Contacts” application

This is the most obvious method, but it doesn't always work.

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Find the contact in the list or through the search bar.
3. Tap the name → click Edit (pencil in the upper right corner).
4. Change the Name and Surname fields. In MIUI 14, you can add Nickname (shown in parentheses).
5. Press Save (check or button at the top).

Name is written without typos.|The source of the contact is not SIM-map|Synchronization enabled (if) Google/Xiaomi)|No duplicates of this contact-->

If the Save button is inactive:

• ❌ Check if the limit of the symbols is exceeded (for the purpose of the SIM — 14, for Google - 256).
• ❌ Make sure the field name is not empty.
• ❌ Reboot your phone – sometimes helps with app glitches.

Method 2: Change through Google Contacts (web version)

If editing on your phone is not possible (for example, due to a sync error), use the web version of Google Contacts.This method is guaranteed to work for contacts associated with a Google account.

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to: contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same account as Xiaomi.
3. Find contact through search or scroll.
4. Click on the name → edit button (pencil).
5. Make changes and save.

Changes will be applied to the phone within 5-10 minutes (when sync is enabled).

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Make sure the contact sync switch is active.
3. Press Sync now.

On the smartphone itself.|Through the web version of Google Contacts|In the messenger app (WhatsApp, Telegram)|I'm not editing.-->

Method 3: Editing contacts to SIM-map

Contacts to SIM-The card has limitations: a maximum of 14 characters for the name (Latin) and the lack of support for Cyrillic in older Xiaomi models:

1. Open Contacts. → Settings (⚙️) → Contact management.
2. Select Import/Export → Copy with SIM (transfer the contact to your phone or Google).
3. Edit the contact on the phone (see Method 1).
4. If you need to return to SIM: Export to SIM (consider restrictions!).

⚠️ Note: When exporting to SIM Additional fields (email, address, notes) are lost!

Method 4: Mass editing through export/import (VCF)

If you need to change the names of several contacts at once (for example, add a surname or correct the format), it is more convenient to use the.vcf file.

1. Export contacts: Open Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → Export. Select a source (like Google) and save the file to your phone.

.vcf

Notepad++

VCF Editor

FN:

Contacts → Imports

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing VCF-file may cause data loss.Before mass import, make a backup copy!

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The VCF file contains all contact data in text format. Change only the lines with FN: (name) and TEL: (phone) to avoid errors.

Problem Solving: Contact is not maintained or “rolls back”

If the contact name returns to its previous appearance after editing, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔄 Sync conflict: Multi-account sync enabled on the phone (Google) + Xiaomi, and one of them is re-recording the other.
• 📱 Mistake. MIUI: In some versions of the firmware (especially) MIUI 12.5) there are bugs with the preservation of contacts.
• 👥 Duplicates: The system automatically merges contacts, and changes apply to the wrong source.

How to fix it:

1. Turn off sync for all accounts except one: Settings → Accounts → Select account → Disable Contacts
2. Remove duplicates: Contacts → Settings → Contact management → Combine duplicates
3. Reset the app cache Contacts: Settings → Apps → App management → Contacts → Storage → Clear the cache

If the problem persists, try resetting the Contacts app (in the same menu where the cache is cleared) and this will delete all local settings, but will not affect the contacts themselves.

Synchronization and backup: how not to lose changes

To keep name changes permanently and available on all devices, set up a backup:

• ☁️ Google Account: Open Settings → Accounts. → Google → Sync your account. Enable Contacts and click Sync Now.

Mi Cloud

1. Register a Xiaomi account (if not).
2. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
3. Activate Contacts.

For reliability, create a backup copy manually:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → Export.
2. Select the.vcf format and save the file to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) or PC.

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Export contacts before updating MIUI or resetting your phone. 20% of the time after firmware users lose local contacts (Xiaomi data).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions