The Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, is still a popular device thanks to its powerful processor and high-quality screen.However, users often face a common problem after migrating data from an old phone or syncing with the phone. SIM-It's not just visual noise, it's a real impediment to fast communication, which is annoying every time you call.
Duplicate records occurs because the system can store the same number in different sources: SIM-It's in your card, in your device memory, in your Google account, and when you dial a number or you get a call, the phone combines those records, but sometimes it makes extra copies. MIUI or third-party applications.
In this article, we will go into detail about secure methods for cleaning your contact list. You don’t need to be a technician to do these things. We’ll look at built-in merge features, manual deletion, and account management to make your contact list clean and user-friendly again.
Reasons for the appearance of duplicates in the phone book
Before you start cleaning, it's important to understand where the extra records come from, and most often it's the result of automatic synchronization, so when you transfer data from your Android smartphone to your iPhone or back, the system can create a copy of each record in a new storage without deleting the old one. Also a frequent reason is the transfer of contacts with SIM-cards if they have already been stored in the phone memory.
Another factor is de-synchronization of accounts: If you have multiple accounts on the Xiaomi Mi 9 (such as a personal Google, corporate email and Mi Cloud account), the phone can display the same record several times, considering them to be different sources, which creates the illusion of duplicates, although technically they are different entries in different clouds.
Sometimes the problem is that names are not displayed correctly, like one contact being written as Ivan Ivanov, and a copy of it being Ivanov. The system doesn't always recognize that it's one person, and it doesn't automatically combine them, and understanding the source of the problem helps you choose the right solution.
⚠️ Warning: Before a mass deletion or merger, it is strongly recommended to back up your phone book through Google Contacts to avoid accidentally losing important numbers.
Use of the built-in merger function in MIUI
The MIUI shell installed on the Xiaomi Mi 9 has a built-in tool to combine duplicates. This is the fastest and most secure way to do this without installing additional software. The feature automatically scans the database and suggests combining similar records. To get started, open the standard Contacts or Phone app and go to settings.
You'll find a settings menu item that's associated with organizing the list. Different versions of the firmware may call it something else, like "Contact Management" or "Contact Management." Inside, you'll see the "Combine Duplicates" option. The system will show you a list of pairs that it thinks are the same. You'll just have to confirm the action.
This method is good because it only affects local databases and synchronized accounts without breaking the file structure. However, automation is not always perfect: it can skip duplicates if numbers are written in different formats (for example, +7 and 8).
If automatic merging didn't work, you can use manual sorting. Select two contacts, click menus, and select pairing. It takes longer, but gives you full control of the process. It's important to check the fields carefully so you don't mix different people's data into one card.
The most reliable way to clean up your phone is to use the web version or Google Contacts app. Since the Xiaomi Mi 9 has the bulk of the data stored in the Google cloud, cleaning here will automatically update the list on your phone. Go to contacts.google.com from your computer or open the app on your smartphone.
Google has a powerful tool called "Combine and Fix" that finds duplicates and offers them to be combined at the touch of a button, and it works much more efficiently than the phone's built-in tools, because Google's algorithms analyze not only numbers, but also names, email addresses and communication history.
Once you clean the cloud, make sure the changes are synced with the device. Open your phone's settings, find the "Acca accounts" section, select your Google account and click "Sync." In a few minutes, the list on the phone will be updated and the duplicates will disappear.
What to do if your contacts are not synchronized?
If after cleaning in Google contacts on the phone have not changed, check the display settings. In the Contacts app, click on three bars (menu) -> Display settings -> Make sure that checks "All contacts" or selected your Google account, not "Only phone".> The advantage of this method is that it prevents duplicates from appearing when changing the device. If you buy a new phone and log in to your account, you will get a cleared list. This saves time in the future and keeps the database structure in perfect condition. Sometimes you have to use the contact three different points, you have to automatically remove the manual and use the device. Be careful: delete only explicit copies so that unique entries are not erased. You can use a display filter to speed up the process. In the Contacts app, click on the menu and select Contacts to Display. SIM-It can be used to see where the duplicates are, and to remove the extra copies from the specific repository, and it's also useful to check the name display settings. In some cases, one contact is displayed twice due to different name recording formats (such as with and without patronymic), changing the format of the display in the settings can visually remove duplicates, even if there are two physically in the database. 📱 Open the Contacts app on the home screen. 🔍 Click on the filter icon or display settings menu. ✅ Select the source of Google for priority display. 🗑️ Manually delete the remaining copies from SIM Manual control requires care, but it gives you better results. SIM-maps (which are often a source of garbage), it is recommended to copy the remaining important numbers from the SIM Google account, and the SIM-The card in the phone is no longer used as storage. MIUI And Google can't do it, and the specialized apps in the Play Market come to the rescue, and they can find complex duplicates that standard algorithms skip, and one of the most popular and secure is the Contacts Optimizer app, or the high-rated utility. These programs scan the database for a variety of parameters: similar names, matching parts of a number, the same email addresses. They offer flexible merger settings. For example, you can set the rule: "If the last 7 digits of the number match and at least one word in the name is considered a double." However, when using third-party software on Xiaomi Mi 9, you should be careful with permissions. The application needs access to all contacts, which is potentially a privacy risk. Choose only proven applications with a lot of reviews and a long history of updates. After working, be sure to check the result. Sometimes aggressive algorithms can combine different people with similar names (for example, two "Alexei" from different jobs). The rule of thumb is to keep all contacts in one place only: in your Google account. SIM-card or phone memory ("Device"), as these are the main sources of synchronization chaos. When changing your phone or recovering from (backup), keep a close eye on the ticks. Do not import contacts with SIM-If you already have a map in the cloud, you should check the contents first. SIM, And then, if you need to, you can manually add the missing numbers, and you can check them regularly, at least every six months, through the Google Contacts web interface, to help you maintain order. It takes 5 minutes, but eliminates the need for a global cleanup to be carried out urgently when a number needs to be found. Cleaning method Efficiency Safety Complexity Merger in MIUI Average High Low Google Contacts (Web) High High Low Third Party Applications Very High Average Manual Deletion Point High High High 💡Save the new numbers to your Google account, and when dialing, the system will prompt you to save it to the right place if you choose Google instead of Phone by default. There are situations when, during the cleaning process on Xiaomi Mi 9, the user accidentally deletes the desired entries. Don't panic, data can be restored. Google Contacts store the history of changes for 30 days. This is a "Basket" or "Cancel Changes" function. To recover data, go to Google Contacts, click on the gear (Settings) and select "Cancel Changes." You can choose a time frame: 10 minutes ago, 1 hour, yesterday or a specific date. The system will return the phone book to state at the selected time. Also check the Deleted folder in the side menu of the web version of Google Contacts. It stores deleted records for 30 days. Just highlight the desired contacts and click Restore. On the phone after that you will need to wait for synchronization. ⚠️ Note: Recovery only works for Google accounts. If you delete contacts that are only stored in your phone’s memory (locally) without synchronization, it will be extremely difficult, almost impossible, to restore them without special data recovery programs. Exporting contacts to.vcf regularly is another security measure: once a month, download a file with all the numbers to your computer or cloud storage, which will take seconds, but will save you in the event of a major system failure or loss of access to your account. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Why do they reappear after you delete the takes? This happens if you have sync enabled with multiple sources (e.g. WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram and email) that independently add contacts. SIM-A map that hasn't been cleared: Turn off the contacts sync for instant messengers in their settings. Is it safe to use contact merge apps? Using popular apps that rank well on Google Play is usually safe. However, remember that you are giving access to your phone book. For maximum security, use only built-in tools. MIUI Or Google Contacts, the web interface, where you can connect contacts if they have different numbers, and you can't automatically connect contacts with different numbers because they're different people. You have to do this manually: open one contact, add a second number to the Add Number field, and then delete the second contact card. Does the number of contacts affect the speed of the Xiaomi Mi 9? Thousands of duplicates can slow down the Phone and Contacts app slightly, and increase sync times. Deleting duplicates frees up space and speeds up database search, which is especially noticeable on older versions of Android. SIM? You can't technically ban it completely, but you can make it uncomfortable. When you save a new number, always choose your Google account by default. SIM-cards so you don't see those records. 💡Regular sync with Google and refuse to store numbers on SIM-The map is the only way to ensure the cleanliness of the phone book on Xiaomi Mi 9 in the long run.