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.
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:
- Open your browser and go to contacts.google.com.
- Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
- Find contact through search or manually.
- Click on it, then click on the basket icon ("Delete") in the top menu.
- 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:
- Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
- Select “Synchronization” and turn off the slider next to “Contacts”.
- Go back to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Contacts app, click on “Storage” → “Clear Data”.
- 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?
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:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Tap on. ⋮ → Settings → Contact management.
- Select “Contacts” SIM-map».
- 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 model | Support for contacts with SIM | Max, number of contacts. |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi 4/4A/4X | Yes. | 250 |
| Redmi Note 5/5 Pro | Yes. | 500 |
| Mi A1/A2 (Android One) | No. | — |
| POCO F1 | Yes (limited) | 200 |
| Models after 2020 | No (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)-->
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find Contacts (or Contacts on global firmware).
- Select “Storage” → “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data”.
- 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:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times to activate the developer mode.
- 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.contactsWhat 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.
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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:
- Open the phone. → History.
- Find the number, make a long tap on it.
- 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:
- Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Synchronization.
- Turn off the Contacts slider.
- 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».