How to quickly remove unnecessary contacts on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: the complete guide

The cluttered phone book on Xiaomi Redmi is a problem that most users face, and over time, duplicates, old coworkers’ numbers, random contacts from instant messengers, and even spam numbers that you have long forgotten accumulate. And so finding the right subscriber becomes a pain, and syncing with the cloud takes up too much, but the good news is that you can clear your contacts on Redmi. 10-15 minutes, if you know the right tools.

In this article, we'll go through all the ways you can do it, from basic manual deletions to hidden MIUI features that few people know about. You'll learn how to massively clear duplicates, adjust display filters, manage sync with Google Accounts, and even recover randomly deleted numbers. And we'll also uncover one secret trick with the Contacts app that allows you to delete up to 50 numbers in a single operation without a routine click. Ready to get your phone book in order?

Why are Xiaomi Redmi getting extra contacts?

Before you start cleaning, it’s important to understand where the unwanted numbers come from. On Xiaomi smartphones (especially on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and the new Redmi 13C), contacts get into the phonebook from several sources:

• 📱 Automatic sync with Google, Mi Account or other cloud services (for example, if you have logged in on Facebook or Facebook).
• 💬 Messengers: WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber automatically add to the contacts of everyone with whom you exchanged messages, even if you did not save the number.
• 📞 Call magazine: MIUI Sometimes offers to save numbers after incoming/outgoing calls, and many agree out of habit.
• 🔄 Duplicates when transferring contacts from another phone (especially if backup via Mi Mover or third-party utilities were used).
• 📧 Spam and advertising: Some apps (such as banking or delivery services) add their hotlines to contacts without demand.

Fun fact: Redmi with MIUI 14+ firmware has a Smart Grouping feature that automatically sorts contacts into categories (e.g., Work, Friends, Unknowns) but it doesn’t delete numbers, it just organizes them, so the clutter problem remains.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a double SIM-map on Xiaomi Redmi, contacts can be duplicated between slots. Before cleaning, check which one to which one SIM Each number is tied to it, which will help to avoid loss of important data.

Method 1: Manual contact removal (step-by-step instruction)

The most obvious, but also the most time-consuming method is manual removal, which is suitable if you have few extra contacts (up to 50-100 pieces).

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Tap it on. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select "Contact management".
3. Scroll through the list or use the search (magnifying glass at the top) to find unnecessary contact.
4. Click on the contact, then tap "Edit" (pencil icon) → "Delete" (basket) → confirm the action.

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

1. In the contact list, keep your finger on any number until the tick appears.
2. Mark all unnecessary contacts (you can scroll through the list and highlight several at once).
3. Click on the icon "Basket" at the top and confirm the removal.

Sort contacts alphabetically (click "A-Z" at the top)

Check duplicates through search (enter name or number)

Make sure your important contacts are saved to Google (Sync enabled)

Backup (Settings → Google → Backup)

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Redmi with MIUI 13 and later has a hidden mass removal feature: if you select more than 10 contacts, you will see the option "Delete all selected." This saves time, but be careful - it is not always possible to restore deleted numbers.

Method 2: Removal of duplicate contacts (automatically and manually)

Duplicates are a major headache for Xiaomi users, and they appear when synced with multiple accounts (like Google + Mi Account) or when you import contacts from multiple sources.

Automatic integration (inline MIUI function)

1. Open "Contacts" → ⋮ → Contact management → Connecting contacts.
2. The system will show all the duplicates found. Click "Combine all" or select specific pairs.
3. Please note that MIUI combines contacts by phone number, not by name!

Manual connection (if the automation failed)

If the system missed the takes, do the following:

1. Open a contact that needs to be combined.
2. Tap "Edit" → ⋮ → "Combining with another contact".
3. Select a duplicate from the list and confirm.

Once a month

Six months

Only when the phone starts to brake

Never cleaned it up.

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If there are too many duplicates (over 100), you should use third-party apps like Contacts Optimizer or Simpler Merge, which can find even "hidden" duplicates by partial coincidence of names or numbers, but remember: these utilities require access to contacts, so download them only from Google Play and check reviews.

Method 3: Clearing contacts through Google Account (for synchronized numbers)

If your contacts are synced with your Google Account (and this is enabled by default on Xiaomi Redmi), they can be managed via a web interface.

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
2. On the left menu, select "Doubley" and the system will automatically find the duplicate contacts. Click "Combine".
3. To remove unnecessary numbers, tick them and click "Delete" (basket icon).
4. To delete all contacts at once, select Contact Management → Export/Import → Delete All (confirmation will be offered).

One important caveat: changes to Google Contacts don't sync to your phone instantly, to speed things up:

1. On Redmi, go to Settings → Accounts → Google → Your account → Account Sync.
2. Turn off and switch on the Contacts switch again.
3. Click on "Sync Now" (Update icon).

⚠️ Note: If you delete your contacts through Google, they will disappear from all devices that sync to this account (tablets, other phones, Gmail). → Google CSV".

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To avoid losing contacts when changing your phone, export them regularly to the VCF file. To do this, select Export → vCard (for iOS/Android) in Google Contacts and save the file to disk or to the cloud.

Method 4: Filtering and hiding unnecessary contacts (without deleting)

You don't always have to delete contacts -- sometimes you just have to hide them from the main list. This is useful if you want to keep numbers "just in case" but not see them in everyday use. There are several filtering methods on Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Hiding contacts without phone numbers

Many contacts contain only an email or an address, but do not have a linked number.

1. Open "Contacts" → ⋮ → Settings → Display contacts.
2. Uncheck the box from "Contacts without phone numbers."

Filtering by group

MIUI allows you to create contact groups (e.g., “Work”, “Family”, “Spam”) and display only the necessary:

1. In the "Contacts" app, tap "Groups" (install at the bottom).
2. Create a new group (such as Spam) and move unnecessary numbers.
3. Go back to the main list and click. ⋮ → Settings → Display contacts → Select groups.
4. Please only check the boxes on the appropriate groups (e.g., "Favorites" and "Family").

3. Disable the display of contacts from messengers

WhatsApp, Telegram and other messengers add all your interlocutors to the phone book to hide them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a messenger (such as WhatsApp) → “Permissions” → “Contacts”.
3. Disable access to contacts (but note that this may limit the functionality of the messenger).

Method 5: Complete reset of contacts (last resort)

If the phone book is so cluttered that none of the above methods work, you can do a complete reset. It's a radical step, but sometimes it's necessary.

Option 1: Reset via application settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Click on "Storage" → "Reset" (or "Clear Data").
3. Confirm action. All local contacts (not synced to the cloud) will be deleted!

Option 2: Delete the database file (for advanced users)

This method requires root rights or ADB. It is suitable if the reset via settings has not worked:

adb shell pm clear com.android.contacts


adb shell pm clear com.miui.contacts

Once you've done these commands, restart your phone. Contacts will be reset to factory settings.

⚠️ Warning: Full reset removes all local contacts, including call logs and messages tied to numbers. VCF (Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Export/Import. Check that sync with Google or Mi Account is enabled and the data is stored in the cloud. backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup. How to recover accidentally deleted contacts? If you delete important numbers by mistake, don't panic - they can be returned. Here are all the possible ways to restore them on Xiaomi Redmi: 1. Restore through Google Contacts (up to 30 days) Google stores a contact history for 30 days: Open contacts.google.com. On the left menu, select "Cancel Changes." Specify the time range (e.g., "1 hour ago" or "yesterday") and click "Confirm." 2. Recovery from backup MIUI If you were backing up through standard Xiaomi tools: Go to Settings → The phone. → Backup → Local backups. Select the last copy and click "Restore." Check "Contacts" and confirm. 3. Use third-party utilities (if there is no backup) If there are no backups, try programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver. They scan the phone's memory for deleted data: 🔍 These programs require root access for deep scanning. 💰 Most features are paid (the free version only shows previews). ⚠️ There is no guarantee of 100% recovery, especially if it has been a long time. 💡The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of getting your contacts back. After 30 days, the data can be irrevocably overwritten with new information. FAQ: Frequent Contact Cleanup Questions on Xiaomi Redmi Can I delete all contacts at once without highlighting them one at a time? Yes, there are two ways: Through Google Contacts: open contacts.google.com, select Contact Management → Delete everything." Through MIUI: In the Contacts app, select the first contact, then scroll down the list and hold your finger on the last one, and all contacts between them will be selected. Click Delete. But remember, this will delete all numbers, including important ones! Why do contacts reappear after deleting? This is due to automatic synchronization. Check: Is sync enabled with Google or Mi Account (Settings) → Are there any contacts added in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) that can be automatically restored? Are there apps like Truecaller that scan the call log. Solution: disable sync for unnecessary accounts or delete contacts directly at source (e.g. Google Contacts). How to transfer contacts from Xiaomi Redmi to a new phone without duplicates? To avoid duplicates when porting: On the old Redmi, export contacts to a file VCF (Contacts → ⋮ → Exports/imports → Export to storage. Transfer the file to a new phone (via Bluetooth, cloud or cable). Import contacts on the new phone (Contacts) → ⋮ → Exports/imports → Import from the device. Do not enable synchronization with Google/Mi Account before import is complete to avoid overlaying data. If duplicates do appear, use the "Contacts Unit" function in the control menu? You can’t block it completely, but you can limit it: WhatsApp: Settings → Account. → Confidentiality → Contacts - disable the "Shared Contacts" option. Telegram: Settings → Confidentiality → Contacts - select "Nobody" for the "Who can see my number" option. In Android settings: Settings → Annexes → [messenger] → Permits → Contacts: disable access. Cons: without access to contacts, messengers will not be able to show the names of the interlocutors, only numbers. How to delete contacts that are not deleted (gray, inactive)? Grey contacts are usually tied to the Internet: 📱 SIM-map: delete them through contact → SIM-map → highlight → Delete. ☁️ Cloud Accounts: Delete them in Google Contacts or Mi Account. 🔒 System applications (e.g. contacts from banking applications) must be disabled to remove them from synchronization in the settings of the respective application. If the contact is still not deleted, try: Disable sync for all accounts (Settings → Accounts); Delete the contact manually via Google Contacts (contacts.google.com); Reset the Contacts app settings (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Reset).