How to create a contact group for Xiaomi: 3 ways to MIUI 12-14

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer convenient contact management tools, but group building often goes unnoticed. Meanwhile, grouping contacts saves time when sending messages, organizing meetings, or filtering lists. In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to create groups, from the standard Contacts app to synchronizing with Google and Mi Account.

It’s important to understand that the interface may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14) and the smartphone model — for example, on the Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, the path to settings will be the same, but the visual design of the menu can vary.

1. Method: through the standard application "Contacts"

The most obvious and quick method is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background), which is suitable for all Xiaomi smartphones, including models without Google services (for example, for Chinese firmware).

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search through the swipe search down).
• 📋 In the upper right corner, tap three points (⋮) and select Contact Management → Groups.
• ➕ Press the badge «+» (Or create a group in some versions. MIUI).
• 📝 Enter the group name (e.g., “Work”, “Family”, “Friends from the University»).
• 👥 Add participants by ticking the necessary contacts from the list.
• ✅ Save the changes with the Ready or Create button.

In MIUI 14, a group is automatically created when you add contacts to it for the first time — you just start selecting members, and the system will suggest naming them, which speeds up the process, but can confuse users who are used to the classic interface.

Open Appendix Contacts

Finding the Contact Management Menu → Groups

The button for creating a new group is pressed

Unique name (without special characters)

Added at least 2 contacts

Changes retained-->

2. Method: through Google account (synchronization)

If you use Google Contacts and sync them to your smartphone, groups can be created directly in the web version of the service, and then they will automatically appear on Xiaomi. This method is convenient for those who work with contacts on multiple devices (for example, on a phone and a computer).

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your Xiaomi.
3. On the left of the menu, select Create a Label (or Tag Management → Create a Label).
4. Ask the name of the group (tags) and add contacts, marking them with ticks.
5. Sync contacts on your smartphone: go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync and turn on the option.

⚠️ Note: If after creating a group in Google Contacts, it did not appear on Xiaomi, check it out:

• 🔄 Is Contact Sync enabled in Google Account Settings.
• 📶 Is there a stable connection to the Internet (groups are not updated instantly).
• 📱 Is the smartphone using Chinese firmware without Google services (in this case, the method will not work).

Through the standard Contacts app

I use Google Contacts.

I am synchronizing with Mi Account

Other ways-->

3. Method: via Mi Account (for Chinese firmware)

On Xiaomi’s global firmware smartphones, this is redundant, but for devices running the Chinese version of MIUI (without Google), creating groups through Mi Account may be the only option.

Step-by-step:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Mi Account and make sure you are authorized.
• 🔄 Enable Contact Synchronization: Settings → Synchronization → Contacts.
• 📋 Go to Contacts app, then Contact Management → Groups.
• ➕ Create a new group and add contacts to it.
• 💾 Wait for synchronization to be completed (the cloud icon in the status bar should disappear).

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Account, contact groups may not appear in some third-party messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram), as these applications are more likely to work with local or Google contacts.

4. Features of working with groups on different versions of MIUI

The MIUI interface is updated regularly, and the location of the features may change, and the table below compares the key differences for popular firmware versions:

If your version of MIUI is not listed in the table, update your firmware to current through Settings → About Phone → System Update. This will not only add new features, but also fix possible bugs with the display of groups.

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To quickly find the MIUI version, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If it only says a number (like 14.0.5), it's global firmware. "China" or "CN" means the Chinese version without Google services.

5. How to edit or delete a contact group

Managing existing groups is as important as creating them, to change the composition of the group or its name.

1. Open Contacts. → Groups and select the right one.
2. Tap it by its name or icon. ⚙️ (depending on the version MIUI).
3. Make changes: 📛 To rename - click on the group name. 👥 To add/delete participants – mark or uncheck the boxes.

Save the changes.

To remove the group:

• 🗑️ In the list of groups, make a long press on the desired.
• 🔘 Choose Delete (or the basket icon).
• ⚠️ Confirm the action – contacts from the group will not be deleted, only the group itself will disappear.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 when deleting a group via Google Contacts on the web version, changes can sync with a delay of up to 10 minutes.Don't panic if the group does not disappear immediately - wait for the sync to complete or restart the smartphone.

6. Solving problems with contact groups

Sometimes groups refuse to be created, are not saved or displayed in messengers, and consider common mistakes and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Groups do not persist after they are created.

• 📱 Check the free space in the memory of the smartphone (minimum 500 MB is required).
• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🛠️ Clear the cache of the application Contacts in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Problem 2: Groups are not displayed on WhatsApp or Telegram.

• 🔗 Make sure the messenger has access to contacts: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Contacts.
• 🔄 Update the messenger to the latest version.
• 📋 Check if your contacts are synced with Google (most messengers only work with them).

7. Alternative methods: third-party applications

If the built-in tools Xiaomi you do not like, you can use third-party applications to manage contacts.

• 📌 Truecaller – allows you to create groups and filter spam.
• 📌 Simpler Contacts – a user-friendly interface with tag support.
• 📌 Contacts+ — Extended business functions (integration with the CRM).

Before installing third-party applications, consider:

• ⚠️ They require access to contacts, which can be a privacy risk.
• 🔄 Not all applications are synchronized correctly with MIUI.
• 💰 Some of the features may be paid (for example, backup in Contacts).+).

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Contacts on Xiaomi are sufficient for most tasks. Third-party programs are only useful if advanced features are needed (for example, mass mailing or integration with CRM).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi contact groups