How to create a new contact in the phone Xiaomi Redmi: 5 proven ways

Creating a new contact on a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone seems like an easy task, but many users have questions about where the phone book is stored, how to sync contacts with a Google or Mi Account account, and why sometimes added numbers disappear after a reboot. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to add contacts on Redmi devices (including the Redmi Note 12, Redmi 13C, Redmi A2 and others), and also reveal nuances that are not written in the standard instructions.

The MIUI firmware feature is that it integrates closely with Xiaomi and Google, giving users the choice of storing contacts locally on their device, in the Mi Cloud, or syncing them with Google Contacts, which not only makes them backups, but also makes them available on other devices, for example, if you add a contact only to your local phone book, it won’t show up on your tablet or another smartphone, even if you log in with the same account.

We have tested all of these methods on the latest versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS (2026), so the instructions are relevant for most modern Redmi.If your model runs on an older firmware (for example, MIUI 12), some menu items may differ slightly - we will warn you about this separately.

Method 1: Adding a contact through the Contacts app

The most obvious and universal method is to use the standard Contacts app (a human icon with a green background) which is suitable for all Redmi models, regardless of the MIUI version.

1. Open the Contacts app** on the home screen or in the app menu. If there is no icon, search it through the system (swipe down the home screen and type Contacts).
2. In the lower right corner, click on the + (plus) or New Contact button – its location may vary slightly depending on the firmware version.

⚠️ Note: If you select Device, * * contact will disappear when you reset your phone to factory settings or after you change your firmware.

Click "Save"** in the upper right corner.

Once you save the contact, it will appear in the general list. To find it quickly, use the search bar at the top of the screen.

Selected the correct storage location (Google/Mi Account/Device)|

Phone number entered without errors (check country code)|

Name (without name, contact may not appear in some applications)|

Photo added (optional, but simplifies search)

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Method 2: Quickly add from the call log

If you have a call from an unknown number and you want to keep it in contact, you don't have to manually enter the data. MIUI has a feature to quickly create a contact directly from the call log:

1. Open the phone app** (pipe icon).
2. Go to the tab "Journal"** (clock with an arrow).
3. Find the number in the list and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, select “Create a contact” or “Add to an existing one” (if you want to update the data of the already saved contact).

This method is useful if you often receive calls from new people and do not want to waste time manually entering, and it is also useful for adding contacts from instant messengers (for example, if you have been emailed to WhatsApp or Telegram, but the number is not in the phone book).

Through the "Contact" app |

From the call log |

Import from SIM-card |

Synchronization with Google/Mi Account|

In other ways.

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Method 3: Import contacts from SIM-card

If you switched to Xiaomi Redmi from another phone and your contacts are saved to the phone SIM-You can easily transfer them to the memory of the device. MIUI does not maintain the storage of contacts SIM-card directly (import/export only), so after transfer they will be available in the standard application.

Instructions:

1. Open the "Contact» → press three points (⋮) top-right → Select “Contact Management».

After importing, check that all contacts have been transferred correctly. Sometimes the names may appear in the wrong encoding (for example, instead of Cyrillic, question marks).

⚠️ Note: If after importation from SIM-contact names are displayed by crakozabras, try changing the encoding in the phone settings: go to Settings → Additionally. → Language and input → Encoding and select UTF-8. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to manually edit your contacts.

Method 4: Sync with Google or Mi Account

If you've used an Android phone before and your contacts have been synced to Google, they'll automatically pull up to Xiaomi Redmi when you first sign in, and so will Xiaomi's Mi Account, a cloud service, but sometimes sync doesn't work by default and you have to manually enable it.

How to set up synchronization:

• 🔄 For Google: Open Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Google. Select your account (if not added, click Add Account.** Activate Contacts switch»**.
• 🔵 For Mi Account: Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Account. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (if not authorized). Enable sync "Contacts»**.

Once sync is enabled, the contacts will appear in the phone book within minutes (depending on the speed of the Internet).

1. Check your network connection (synchronization only works when you have the internet).
2. Update the Contacts app** on Google Play.

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If you use both accounts (Google and Mi Account), you can select a priority source in your sync settings, for example, if you have duplicate contacts, give preference to Google, as it is easier to restore on other devices.

Method 5: Adding Contact Through Voice Assistant

MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in voice assistant called Xiao AI (or Google Assistant, if installed by default) that can create contacts by voice command, which is convenient when you are driving or busy with your hands.

How it works:

1. Activate Voice Assistant: For Xiao AI, press the Home button (if any) or say Hi Xiao AI (if voice is enabled). For Google Assistant, say OK Google or hold the Home button.

The assistant will give you the data and ask you to confirm it. Say yes or save.

Voice input supports Russian, but sometimes you can get errors in recognizing names or numbers.

⚠️ Note: If the voice assistant has not correctly recognized the number (for example, instead of 89123456789, it saved 8123456789), correct it manually in the Contacts app.

Problem Solving: Contacts are not saved or are lost

Sometimes users find that the added contacts disappear after a reboot or do not appear in some applications (for example, WhatsApp or Viber).

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the Contacts app settings:**

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts → Storage.
2. Click on “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache”.

Important: After cleaning the application data, all unsynchronized contacts (save to the Device) will be deleted. Be sure to back up before resetting.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contacts on Xiaomi Redmi

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Always check where you keep contact (Google, Mi Account or Device). Local contacts (on the Device) are not backed up and may be lost when you reset your phone or change your firmware.