How to remove multiple contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: all working ways

Removing multiple contacts on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 may seem like a trivial task, but in practice users face the limitations of the standard MIUI interface. Unlike today’s flagships, where mass operations are integrated into system applications, owners of the budget model of 2019 release have to look for workarounds. The problem is compounded by the fact that after updating the firmware menu of contact settings periodically changes, and some functions move to the submenus or disappear altogether.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods for mass contact removal, from built-in MIUI 12/14 tools to Google Contacts and third-party utilities. We’ll focus on synchronization nuances that often lead to the recovery of deleted records after a device is restarted. If you need to clear the phone book before selling a smartphone or just get rid of duplicates, you’ll find a working solution without the risk of losing important data.

Preparation: Why you can’t just delete all your contacts at once

Before starting a mass deletion, it’s important to understand the architecture of the Redmi Note 8’s contact storage. Unlike the iPhone, where all records are stored in a single iCloud database, here the data is distributed between:

• 📱 Local storage (in the memory of the phone)
• ☁️ Google Account (synchronized with the cloud)
• 🔄 SIM-card (limited to 250 records)
• 🤖 Mi Account (if synchronization with Xiaomi is enabled)

If you delete contacts only from local storage, they can be restored the next time you connect to the Internet due to sync with Google Contacts or MI Cloud. So the first step is to disable automatic sync:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization
2. Select Google → disable the slider opposite Contact
3. Repeat for Mi Account (if used)

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to sell a phone, export your contacts to a file first VCF. After resetting to the factory settings, it will be impossible to restore them!

Method 1: Mass removal through the standard Contacts app

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette on a green background). However, in MIUI 12-14, the mass removal function is hidden in the back of the menu. Here's how to find it:

1. Open the Contacts app
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right
3. Select Contact Management → Delete Contacts
4. Check the required records or click Select all
5. Confirm the removal button Ready

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 It does not work for contacts tied to SIM-map (they should be removed separately)
• 🔄 Does not delete Google Accounts – only local
• ⏳ With a large number of contacts (500)+) appendix can freeze

Sync with Google is disabled|Backup of contacts created|Checked for storage SIM-map|Background applications closed-->

If the Remove Contacts button is missing, you have an outdated version of the app, update it via Google Play or use alternative methods in the following sections.

Method 2: Delete via Google Contacts (web version)

If your contacts are synced with your Google Account, the most reliable way to mass manage is the web interface contacts.google.com, which works even if the phone is lost or broken.

Instructions:

1. Open contacts.google.com in your PC or phone browser
2. Sign in to the same account as the Redmi Note 8
3. Click on the square to the left of the first contact to activate the selection mode.
4. Use Ctrl+A (PC) or Select All (mobile) for bulk tagging
5. Click on the basket icon (🗑️) top-panel

After removing through the web interface, be sure to clean the cart:

1. On the left menu, select the basket.
2. Click Clean the Cart → Confirm

💡

If you want to delete only duplicates, use Google Contacts' Find and combine duplicates in the menu on the left, and the system will automatically find similar entries by number and name.

Method 3: Using MIUI Cleaner to clean duplicates

Xiaomi has built in the firmware utility MIUI Cleaner (formerly Security), which can find and remove duplicate contacts, this method is suitable if you need not a complete removal, but cleaning the phone book from repetitive entries.

How to use:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon)
2. Go to the Optimization section → Cleanup
3. Select the Duplicate Contacts tab
4. Mark unnecessary duplicates or click Delete All
5. Confirm the action.

Important nuances:

• 🔍 The algorithm searches for duplicates by phone number, not by name
• 📱 It only works with local and MI-Contacts (not affected by Google)
• 🔄 After cleaning, it is recommended to restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: If you have custom firmware installed (for example, LineageOS), the application MIUI Cleaner may not be available. In this case, use the method with Google Contacts.

Manual removal one at a time|Mass removal through the application|I use Google Contacts.|I'm synchronizing with the Mi Account|Other-->

Method 4: Export, edit and import through VCF-file

For advanced users who need not just delete, but filter contacts according to certain criteria (for example, leave only Moscow numbers), the method with export to the.vcf file, manual editing and reverse import is suitable.

Step-by-step:

1. Export Contacts: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Export/Import Select Export to File and Specify a Save Path (e.g. Downloads)

Redmi Note 8

contacts.vcf

Notepad++

VCF Editor

BEGIN:VCARD

END:VCARD

Contacts → Imports

Example of structure VCF-file:

BEGIN:VCARD


VERSION:3.0




FN: Ivan Ivanov




TEL;TYPE=CELL:+79123456789




END:VCARD

Advantages of the method:

• 🎯 Control over which contacts remain
• 🔄 Ability to back up before changes
• 📊 Suitable for mass editing (e.g., adding a prefix to numbers)

Method 5: Third-party applications for mass control

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, Google Play has customized contact tools, and we tested the 3 most reliable ones:

Safety recommendations:

• 🛡️ Before using third-party applications, disable autosynchronization with Google/Mi Account.
• 📋 Check reviews and rankings on Google Play (avoid apps with a score below 4.0)
• 🔍 Once installed, only give access to Contacts, not all phone data.

⚠️ Note: Applications such as Clean Master or DU Speed Booster promises to "optimize contacts", but often delete data without the possibility of recovery.

What to do if contacts are restored after removal

A common problem on the Redmi Note 8 is that remote contacts suddenly return to the phone book.

1. Background sync with Google or Mi Account
2. Cached data in the Contacts app
3. Backup copies created by the system automatically

How to finally delete contacts:

1. Turn off synchronization (see Preparation section)
2. Clear the app cache Contacts: Go to Settings → Apps → App management Find Contacts → Storage → Clear the cache

• For Google: Google Drive → Backups
• For Mi Account: Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Backup
• Reboot the phone.