How to completely remove contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: from single entries to mass cleaning

Why Removing Contacts on Redmi Note 9 Is Questionable

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 often face a situation where standard methods of removing contacts do not work as expected, it is all about the features of the MIUI firmware, which integrates contacts from several sources: local memory, Google account, Mi Account and even instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram. Because of this, a simple swipe to the left in the Contacts app is not enough – the record can “resurrect” after synchronization.

Another trap is duplicates. MIUI It has an unpleasant feature to create copies of contacts when importing from the SIM-As a result, the user sees the same numbers in different accounts, and deleting from one source does not affect the others. For example, if you delete a contact from Google Contacts, it can remain in the local database of Redmi Note 9 — and vice versa.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of removing, from basic to advanced, including cleaning through ADB and resetting settings, and pay special attention to the nuances of synchronization to avoid “returning” remote contacts.

Method 1: Delete via the standard Contacts app

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app, but there are pitfalls: if a contact is synchronized with Google or Mi Account, removing it from local storage will not result in complete erasure. Here's how to do it correctly:

  1. Open the Contacts app** and find the desired entry through search or scroll.
  2. Tap the contact to open his card.
  3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Delete»**.
  4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

⚠️ Note: If the contact reappears after deleting, it is linked to a cloud account, in which case you need to remove it from both Google and Mi Account (see Methods 3 and 4).

Duplicate contact in different accounts|Synchronization with Google/Mi Accounts are offline|Contact is not tied to SIM-map|The backup copy was not automatically created.-->

For mass removal:

  1. In the Contacts app, click on three lines (☰) → «Contact management» → «Delete contacts».

Method 2: Clean up via MIUI settings (for local contacts)

If contacts are only stored in the phone’s memory (not synced to the cloud), they can be deleted through system settings, a method that is suitable for cleaning the local database completely, but does not affect data in Google or Mi Account.

Instructions:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find the “Contacts” list (or “Contacts” in English firmware) and open it.

⚠️ Note: This method will reset all your Contacts settings, including call history and favorite numbers. If you need to save some data, pre-export contacts to a.vcf file (see Export and Backup section»).

What to do if the “Clear Data” button is inactive?
This means that contacts are not stored locally, but in a cloud account (Google or Mi). In this case, clearing through MIUI settings will not help - use Methods 3 or 4.

Method 3: Delete via Google Contacts (for synchronized records)

If your contacts are synced to your Google account, deleting them via your phone may not work, they will just come back the next time you update the data.

Steps:

  1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
  2. Sign in with the same account as the Redmi Note 9.
  3. Tick the unnecessary contacts (to highlight all click on the square in the list header).
  4. Click on the basket icon ("Delete"**).
  5. For a complete clean, go to the “Basket” (in the side menu) and click “Clean the Cart”.

Important: Once removed from Google, contacts will disappear from all devices that sync. If you want to save some numbers, export them beforehand:

  • 📤 In Google Contacts, click “Export»** → Choose the.csv or.vcf format.

Locally on the phone.|On Google account|In Mi Account.|Nana SIM-map|In messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)-->

Method 4: Clean up with Mi Account (for Xiaomi users)

Mi Account is a cloud service from Xiaomi that automatically syncs contacts, notes and other data, and if you use it, deleting the records from your phone alone won't work. Here's how to clear contacts in Mi Cloud:

Instructions:

  1. Open the Mi Cloud app on your phone (or go to i.mi.com).
  2. Sign in with your Mi Account.
  3. To clean it completely, click “Clean it all”** (if available).

⚠️ Note: After deleting from Mi Cloud, contacts will disappear from all Xiaomi devices associated with this account. X3), changes are applied to both.

To disable sync with Mi Cloud and avoid duplication:

  1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
  2. Turn off the slider opposite the "Contact"**.
  3. Confirm the action.

Method 5: Advanced Methods (ADB and Resetting)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, contacts “ghostly” return after deleting), you will have to use radical measures, which require caution, as they can affect the operation of the phone.

Removal via ADB (for experienced users)

Android Debug Bridge (ADB) lets you control your phone via the command line to delete your contacts:

  1. Turn on "Debugging by" USB»** In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 7 times on the line with the version, then return to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
  2. Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your computer and open Command Prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).

This will reset all the Contacts app data, including settings and cache.

Resetting the phone to factory settings

The last resort is a complete reset. It will delete all data, including contacts, apps and settings. Make sure to back up before you do that!

  1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
  2. Select “Erase all data”**.
  3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm.

💡

Remove before resetting SIM-card and memory card – this will speed up the process and eliminate random formatting of external drive.

Deleting methodRemove local contactsDeletes Google ContactsRemove Mi Account ContactsRisk of data loss
Through the Contacts app✅ Yes.❌ Not (if synchronized)❌ Not (if synchronized)Low.
Cleaning through MIUI settings✅ Yes.❌ No.❌ No.Medium (settings will reset)
Google Contacts❌ No.✅ Yes.❌ No.Low (if you don't clean the basket)
Mi Cloud❌ No.❌ No.✅ Yes.Low.
ADB-team✅ Yes.❌ No.❌ No.High (risk of error)
Reset to factory✅ Yes.✅ Yes.✅ Yes.Critical (loss of all data)

Export and backup of contacts before deletion

Before you massively delete contacts, it is recommended to back them up, which will help restore important numbers in case of an error. Redmi Note 9 has several ways to export:

  • 📱 Through the Contacts app: Open Contacts» → ⋮ → «Contact management» → «Import/export. Select Export to File** and specify the storage location (internal memory or storage). SD-map).

Through Mi Cloud:

  1. In the “Mi Cloud” app, select “Contacts» → «Backup copy»**.

The contact file (.vcf) can be imported back through the same Import/Export menu** in the Contacts app. If you use Google, the backup is automatically created when synced.

💡

The exported.vcf file can be opened on any Android smartphone or iPhone – it is a universal format for exchanging contacts.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you delete contacts on the Redmi Note 9, users encounter common errors.

    Can I restore remote contacts on Redmi Note 9?
    Yes, if: You deleted them less than 30 days ago - check the Recycle Bin** in Google Contacts. You have a backup in Mi Cloud or a local.vcf file. You use third-party recovery apps (like Dr.Fone), but the odds are lower. If contacts were deleted via a phone reset without a backup, recovery is unlikely.
    Why does it stay on WhatsApp when you delete a contact on your phone?
    WhatsApp (and other messengers) maintains its own contact database, independent of the system. To delete the number from WhatsApp: Open the chat with the contact. Click on three dots (⋮) → «More» → «To completely remove the number from the list of contacts of the messenger, you need to delete the number from the phone book and wait for the next WhatsApp sync.
    How to turn off automatic contact synchronization?
    To prevent duplicate and unexpected return of remote contacts: For Google: Settings → Accounts → Google → [your account] → Account Sync → Disable Contacts**. For Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Disable Contacts**. Once sync is disabled, existing contacts will remain on the phone, but new changes will cease to apply automatically.
    Can I delete all contacts without selecting each one separately?
    Yes, there are three ways: Through Google Contacts: on contacts.google.com, select all contacts (check in the list header) and click “Delete”**. Through Mi Cloud: in the “Mi Cloud” app, select “Contacts» → «Clear everything. ADB: Use the command adb shell pm clear com.android.contacts (see Method 5). ⚠️ Warning: Mass deletion is irreversible! make sure you have a backup.
    Why not? SIM-The card remains contact after removal from the phone?
    Contacts to SIM-To delete them, open the Contacts app.** Go to Contact Management» → choose «SIM-Delete unnecessary entries manually or click Delete All: SIM-The card supports a limited number of contacts (usually up to 250) and does not save additional fields (e.g. email or address).