How to remove the number from contacts on Xiaomi: all working ways

Removing a number from contacts on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones seems like a simple task — until the system starts to “obstinate”: the number remains in the history of calls, then syncs from Google Account, then disappears from one place and appears in another. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to completely remove the number from contacts, including hidden copies in MIUI and cloud services.

The problem is complicated by the fact that MIUI It is integrated with several contact sources: local memory, Google Contacts, Mi Account and even SIM-If you just click "Delete" in the Contacts app, the number can stay in one of these repositories and theLater will resurface. We'll show you how to clean it from all levels, including system caches and backups.

1. Standard removal through the “Contacts” application

Start with the basic method, which works 70 percent of the time, and open the Contacts app (a sign with a person's silhouette on the home screen or menu) and find the contact you want through search or scrolling, then:

  • 📱 Tap on the contact to open his card.
  • ✏️ Click on the pencil icon ("Edit") in the upper right corner.
  • 🗑️ Scroll down and select “Delete Contact” (or “Delete Number” if it’s a specific phone).
  • 🔄 Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

An important nuance is that if a contact is synced to Google or Mi Account, this method will only delete it locally, so that the number disappears forever, you need to turn off sync (more on this below).

⚠️ Warning: Once deleted, the contact may remain in the history of calls. → History → ⋮ → Clear history.

📊 What kind of smartphone you Xiaomi?
Redmi Note 12/13
POCO X5/X6
Xiaomi 13/14
Other

2. Delete via Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)

If your contacts are linked to a Google Account, a copy of them is stored in the cloud, and even after local deletion on Xiaomi, the number can return the next time you sync, to delete it forever:

  1. Open your browser and go to contacts.google.com.
  2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
  3. Find contact through search or manually.
  4. Click on it, then click on the basket icon ("Delete") in the top menu.
  5. Confirm removal.

For complete cleaning:

  • 🔍 On the left menu, select "More» → «Basket».
  • 🧹 Click “Clear Cart” to delete contacts without recovery option.

Why it matters: Google keeps remote contacts in the shopping cart for 30 days, and if you don't clear them, the number can "resurrect" the next time you log in.

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Before you delete your contacts, export them to your CSV file via Settings → Export them to your Google Contacts site, which will save you from accidental data loss.

3. Clearing contacts via Mi Account (for Chinese firmware)

On smartphones with Chinese firmware MIUI (or those tied to the Mi Account), contacts can be duplicated in the Xiaomi cloud to remove them from the cloud:

  1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
  2. Select “Synchronization” and turn off the slider next to “Contacts”.
  3. Go back to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  4. Find the Contacts app, click on “Storage” → “Clear Data”.
  5. Turn on the synchronization back (if necessary).

Warning: This method will reset all local contacts that are not synced with Google or Mi Account.If there are important numbers among them, export them to the.vcf file first via Contacts → ⋮ → Imports/Exports.

What if Mi Account is not displayed in the settings?
If you don't have Mi Account in your settings, you have global firmware (without Chinese services). You're not logged in to Xiaomi (check Settings → Accounts). You have custom firmware (like Pixel Experience) installed on your phone, where Mi Account is removed, in which case you skip this section and use other methods.

4. Removal through SIM-map (for older models)

At Xiaomi Redmi. 4X, Redmi Note 5 and other models until 2019 contacts could be saved on the Internet SIM-To remove them:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. Tap on. ⋮ → Settings → Contact management.
  3. Select “Contacts” SIM-map».
  4. Find the desired number, click on it and select “Delete”.

Limitations: SIM-The cards only store the name and number (no photo or additional fields) if the contact is displayed with the avatar or mail, it is definitely not on the Internet. SIM.

Xiaomi modelSupport for contacts with SIMMax, number of contacts.
Redmi 4/4A/4XYes.250
Redmi Note 5/5 ProYes.500
Mi A1/A2 (Android One)No.
POCO F1Yes (limited)200
Models after 2020No (exceptions are rare)

5. Radical method: resetting cache and data of the "Contacts" application

If the number “ghostly” reappears after deleting, the problem may be in the damaged cache of the application, which works even if the contact does not appear in the main list, but appears in the search or call history.

Disable sync with Google and Mi Account

Export important contacts to a.vcf file

Close all apps that use contacts (Telegram, WhatsApp)

Check that you know the passwords from the accounts (after reset, you may need to re-enter them)-->

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Find Contacts (or Contacts on global firmware).
  3. Select “Storage” → “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data”.
  4. Reboot the phone.

Consequences: This method will remove all local contacts that are not synced to the cloud, and display settings (such as name/surname sorting) may also reset.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, POCO F4) After resetting the Contacts application, you may need to re-authorize in your Google Account to restore sync.

6. Removal via ADB (for power users)

If the number is embedded in system files (for example, after incorrect import), Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help.This method requires debugging over USB and is suitable for users familiar with the command line.

First, turn on the debugging:

  1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times to activate the developer mode.
  2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable “Debugging by USB”.

Next, connect the phone to the PC and execute the commands:

adb shell pm clear com.android.contacts


adb shell pm clear com.miui.contacts

What these teams do:

  • The first one cleans the data of the standard Android contact app.
  • The second one is the MIUI shell for contacts (only for Xiaomi).

Risks: Incorrect use of ADB can result in the loss of all contacts or the failure of the phone.

💡

ADB is the most powerful, but also the most dangerous method, and only use it if other methods have failed, and you understand the consequences.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even after deleting, the number may “return” due to hidden MIUI mechanisms.

Problem 1: The number appears in the history of calls, but it is not in the contacts

Reason: MIUI caches frequently dialed numbers in a call database to clear:

  1. Open the phone. → History.
  2. Find the number, make a long tap on it.
  3. Select “Delete from history” or “Block the number” (if it is spam).

Problem 2: Contact is duplicated after synchronization

Solution: Turn off automatic synchronization for Mi Account:

  1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Synchronization.
  2. Turn off the Contacts slider.
  3. Remove duplicates manually.

Problem 3: The number is saved in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)

Messengers create their own copies of contacts to delete the number there:

  • 📱 On WhatsApp: Open a chat room → ⋮ → «Viewing the contact» → «Delete».
  • 💬 In Telegram: Find a contact in the list → long-tail → «Delete».

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I Restore Remote Contact on Xiaomi?
Yes, if it was synced with Google or Mi Account: For Google Contacts: go to contacts.google.com, in the menu on the left, select Recycle Bin and restore contact within 30 days. For Mi Account: recovery is only possible if you backed up to Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Backup. Local contacts (not synced) cannot be restored if there was no backup.
Why does contact appear again after removal?
This is because: Google or Mi Account, shut it down temporarily and delete the contact again, messenger cache (Viber, WhatsApp), they can recover numbers from their databases, damaged database in MIUI, help reset the cache of the Contacts application (see section 5).
How to delete all contacts on Xiaomi?
For mass removal: Open Contacts → ⋮ → Settings → Contact management. Select Delete All Contacts (not available on all firmware) or export contacts to a.vcf file, edit it to a PC (remove unnecessary ones), then import back. Attention: This method will delete all contacts without recovery (unless synchronized).
How to block a number instead of deleting it?
If you want to block a number instead of deleting it (e.g., from spam): Open Phone → History. Find a number, make a long tap. Select "Block a number" or "Add to a blacklist." On some firmware (MIUI 14+), the lock is available in Settings → Block numbers.
Does this work for POCO and Redmi?
Yes, all of the described methods are relevant for: POCO F3/F4/F5, POCO X3/X4/X5; Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/11; Xiaomi 11/12/13 series. Exception: POCO with custom firmware (e.g., Pixel Experience) may not have Mi Account, but other methods (Google Contacts, ADB) will work.