How to remove contact in Xiaomi Mi 10: all ways with explanations

Removing contacts on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you encounter synchronization nuances, duplicates or “unremovable” numbers. Xiaomi Mi 10 with a MIUI shell offers several ways to clean the phone book, but each of them works in its own way. For example, removing a contact from local storage does not mean that it will disappear from the Google account or from the SIM- card. And if the number is tied to the Mi Account, it can be “restored” by automatic synchronization in a few hours.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of deleting, from the basic swipe in the Contacts app to manually cleaning through Settings → Accounts. Particular attention will be paid to the problems that arise for Mi 10 users: why contacts return after deleting, how to get rid of duplicates and what to do if the number “hangs” in the system.

If you've never set up sync on your Xiaomi Mi 10, chances are that contacts are stored in multiple locations at once, which means that when you delete the number, it can "resurrect" on your next Internet connection. To avoid such surprises, it's important to understand where the contact is stored: in the phone's memory, on the SIM- card, in the Google account or in the Mi Cloud.

In MIUI 12/13/14 (current for Mi 10), the Contacts interface has changed, so instructions for older versions may not work. We tested all methods on MIUI Global 14.0.4 (Android 12) firmware — if you have a different version, check for the menu items described. If necessary, update the software through Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Method 1: Remove via Contacts (Quick Method)

The most obvious way is to use the standard Contacts app, which is a green silhouette icon that works for removing single contacts, but it's not effective in mass cleaning.

1. Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi Mi 10.
2. Find the right contact through search or scroll through the list.
3. Tap the name to open the contact card.
4. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Delete".
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

⚠️ Warning: If a contact is synced with Google or Mi Account, it will only be deleted from local storage. To erase it completely, you will need to repeat the procedure in the corresponding account (see Method 3).

To speed up the process, you can use the selection mode:

• 📱 Press and hold your finger on any contact in the list to activate Multiple Choice Mode.
• 🔘 Check the boxes for unnecessary numbers (maximum 50 at a time).
• 🗑️ Click on the basket icon in the top panel.

This method is not suitable for removing contacts with the SIM- card – there is a separate section in the menu (see Method 4).

Method 2: Remove via "Settings" of the phone (for system contacts)

Some contacts on the Xiaomi Mi 10 may not appear in the main list but remain in the system.This often happens after importing from an old phone or sync failure to find and delete such "invisible" numbers:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the "Contacts" list and open it.
3. Select "Storage" → "Data Management".
4. Click Clear Data (this will delete all local contacts!).

⚠️ Warning: This method will completely reset your local phone book, including call history and contact-related messages. Before you do, export important numbers to the.vcf file via Contacts → ⋮ → Import/Export.

Alternative way to remove system duplicates:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select Google or Mi Account (depending on where the contacts are stored).
3. Turn off the contacts sync, then turn it on again – this sometimes helps eliminate duplicates.

If contacts continue to appear after cleaning, check for backup applications (such as Mi Mover or Super Backup) that can automatically restore deleted data.

Method 3: Delete via Google Account (for synchronized contacts)

If your contacts are synced to Google, deleting them through the phone app will not work, they will return the next update.

1. Open your browser on Xiaomi Mi 10 or your computer and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Find the right contact through search or manually.
4. Mark it with a tick and click on the basket icon ("Delete").
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

For mass removal:

• 🔍 Use the filters on the left (e.g., "Dublicates" or "Recently added").
• 📋 Mark multiple contacts by holding Ctrl (on PC) or long pressing (on phone).
• 🗑️ Press "Delete" in the top panel.

⚠️ Warning: Remote contacts stay in Google Contacts Recycle Bin for another 30 days. To erase them permanently, go to Recycle Bin and click on Clear Recycle Bin.

If the contacts are still displayed on Mi 10 after deleting, perform forced synchronization:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Turn off and switch on the Contacts switch again.
3. Press "Sync."

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To avoid accidental deletion, export contacts to a.csv file via Google Contacts → ⋮ → Export before mass cleaning.

Method 4: Removal of contacts with SIM-map

The contacts stored on the SIM- card are deleted separately from the main phone book, and there is a special section in MIUI for this:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Contact Management → Contacts SIM.
4. Find the right contact on the list.
5. Click on it, then select "Delete".

Limits of working with SIM-contacts on Xiaomi Mi 10:

• 📵 A single SIM- card typically holds no more than 250 pins (depending on the operator).
• 📇 Names and numbers on SIM are stored in a stripped-down format (e.g., without photos or additional fields).
• 🔄 When replacing SIM- cards, contacts are not automatically transferred – they must be copied manually.

To transfer your SIM contacts to your phone or Google account:

1. In the "SIM Contacts" section, click "Import/Export".
2. Select “Import with SIM” and specify the target storage (phone or Google).

⚠️ Warning: If you delete the contact from the SIM- card but it remains in Google or local memory, it may reappear the next time you import it, it is recommended to move all the necessary numbers to the cloud first, and then clear SIM.

Method 5: Delete via Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi account)

Mi Account users often experience remote contacts being “returned” from the cloud, because Mi Cloud automatically syncs data to remove the contact permanently:

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with your Mi Account (the same as on your phone).
3. Go to the "Contacts" section.
4. Find the right contact and click on the basket icon.
5. Confirm removal.

To turn off automatic synchronization (if it interferes):

1. On the phone, open the Settings → Mi Account.
2. Select "Mi Cloud" → "Synchronization".
3. Turn off the switch next to Contacts.

⚠️ Warning: Once sync is disabled, new contacts added to your phone will not be saved to Mi Cloud.If you lose or reset your device, it will be impossible to restore them.

If you want to clear your contacts in Mi Cloud completely, but leave them on your phone:

1. Export your contacts from Mi Cloud to.vcf (at i.mi.com).
2. Remove all contacts from the cloud.
3. Turn off sync in the phone settings.
4. Import the saved file back to local memory.

Comparison of Contact Deletions on Xiaomi Mi 10

For most Xiaomi Mi 10 users, the best solution would be a combination of Google Contacts (for cloud contacts) and the Contacts app (for local ones). If you don’t use synchronization, just clearing through Settings → Storage is enough.

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Before mass deletion, always back up your contacts via Contacts → ⋮ → Import/Export, which will allow you to recover data in case of an error.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Problem 1: Contacts are deleted but come back after a while.

Solution: Turn off automatic sync in Settings → Accounts and sync for Google and Mi Account. Delete contacts again, then turn on sync back.

Problem 2: You can’t delete the contact – the button is inactive.

Solution: Check if the contact is linked to a SIM- card or corporate account (Exchange) and try to delete it via the web version of Google Contacts or Mi Cloud.

Problem 3: After the phone was reset, old contacts returned.

Solution: This is due to a recovery from a Mi Cloud or Google backup. disable automatic recovery in your account settings before resetting.

Problem 4: Duplicate contacts with the same numbers.

Solution: Google Contacts has a duplicate merge tool ("Find and combine duplicates" in the menu on the left). MIUI does not have a similar feature, so use the web version.

Problem 5: You can’t delete the messenger’s contact (WhatsApp, Telegram).

Solution: Messenger contacts are stored in their own databases. Delete the number inside the app (e.g. WhatsApp: open chat → ⋮ → "More" → "Delete Contact").

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If you encounter duplicates often, install the Simpler Merge app from Google Play, which automatically finds and combines duplicate contacts, storing all the information.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions