How to remove duplicate contacts on Xiaomi Mi 9S: the complete guide

Repeated contacts on Xiaomi Mi 9S — A common problem that occurs after syncing with multiple accounts (Google, Mi Account, SIM-It's not only the take that clutters the phone book, it also prevents you from finding the right person quickly. 5 working methods for removing repetitive records – from embedded tools MIUI 12/14 to third-party utilities that will save all data without loss.

The Mi 9S (codename grus) is that it supports dual SIM and automatically creates copies of contacts when the second card is activated, and takes appear after a firmware update or reset, and it is important to understand that simply removing the manually will not solve the problem forever, you need to turn off automatic duplication in the sync settings, otherwise contacts will return after the next update.

Why do you have duplicate contacts on Xiaomi 9S?

The main reasons for the Mi 9S contacts overlap are related to MIUI and synchronization services:

• 🔄 Multiple syncs with Google Account, Mi Cloud and SIM-Each source creates a copy of the contact.
• 📱 Transfer data via Mi Mover or backups (.vcf files) without double check.
• 🔄 Update MIUI. After major updates (for example, with the MIUI 11 on MIUI 12) the system may duplicate records due to changes in the database.
• 📶 Activation two SIM. Mi 9S Automatically copy the contacts from the main SIM second, if the option Import C is enabled SIM.

The most common problem is when you use Google Contacts and Mi Cloud at the same time, for example, if you add a number to a phone book and then enable sync with both services, the system will create three copies: local, in Google and in Mi Account, and MIUI does not always correctly combine them into one record.

⚠️ Warning: Before removing duplicates, turn off automatic synchronization in Settings → Otherwise, after cleaning, the contacts may return in a few hours.

Method 1: Remove duplicates through the built-in MIUI utility

MIUI has a hidden contact merging feature, but it doesn't work well on older firmware versions.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner → select Contact Management.
3. Scroll down and click Combine Contacts (on some versions of MIUI, the item is called Find and Combine Doubles).
4. The system will automatically find the repeating entries. Press Combine all or select specific duplicates manually.

If you don’t have the option to Join Contacts, update the Contacts app via Google Play or check out the MIUI version:

• 📱 For MIUI 12/13: function is stable.
• 🚫 Nana MIUI 11 and below: may be missing or error-prone.

⚠️ Attention: Built-in utility MIUI Sometimes not all duplicates are combined, especially if they are saved in different accounts (for example, one contact in Google, another in Mi Cloud).

Method 2: Manual removal through contact editing

If you don't have enough takes (up to 20 to 30), you can manually remove them, which is suitable for local contacts (save on your phone), but it's not effective for Google or Mi Cloud recordings.

Instructions:

1. Open Contacts → Find a duplicate entry.
2. Slip on the contact → click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down and select Remove.
4. Confirm the action. Repeat for all takes.

To speed up the process:

• 🔍 Use a search by name or number (the magnifying glass icon at the top).
• 📋 Sort contacts by Name or Number (click on three dots) → Sorting).
• 🔄 If the doubles are related to SIM-map, delete them through Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Import/Export of contacts.

The manual method takes a long time, but ensures that you do not delete the required records. For mass cleaning, use Method 4 (application side).

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Before mass deletion, export contacts to.vcf: open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to the device. The file will be saved in the Download folder and will become a backup.

Method 3: Cleaning up Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)

If your contacts are synced to Google, the most reliable way to remove duplicates is to use the web version of Google Contacts, which works even if the phone has an outdated version of MIUI installed.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to contacts.google.com. Sign in with the same account as your Mi 9S.
2. In the left menu, select Doubles (or Combine and Fix → Find Doubles).
3. Google will automatically find the duplicate entries. Click Combine all or select specific duplicates.
4. After the merger, click More → Export to save a backup copy.
5. On your phone, update your contacts: open Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 Accurate detection of duplicates, including partial matches (e.g., same numbers with different names).
• 🌐 Works on any device – no need to install additional applications.
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization with the phone after cleaning.

⚠️ Note: If you use multiple Google accounts on Mi 9S, Check each of them for duplicates. Sometimes contacts are duplicated between different profiles.

Method 4: Applications for removing duplicates (Top 3 utilities)

If the built-in MIUI and Google Contact tools didn’t work out, use specialized apps. We tested the 3 best utilities for Xiaomi Mi 9S:

Recommendations for use:

• 📌 Before installation, turn off synchronization in Settings → Accounts.
• 🔒 Give the app access to Contacts and Warehouse.
• 📤 Create a backup through Export to.vcf in the app itself.
• 🔍 Run the scan and check the proposed duplicates manually (automatic merger may be wrong).

Contacts Optimizer is the best choice for the Mi 9S, as it supports Chinese characters (relevant for firmware with MIUI China) and is able to handle contacts from Mi Cloud.

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The app side removes duplicates more efficiently than the built-in tools, but requires manual verification before the merger. Always back up before mass changes!

Method 5: Reset and re-synchronize contacts

If none of these methods worked, do a complete reset of contacts and then restore them from backup, a radical way to do that, but guaranteed to remove all duplicates.

Instructions:

1. Export contacts to the.vcf file (see Method 2).
2. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Find Contacts and Contact Warehouse → click Clear Data.
4. Go to Settings → Accounts and turn off sync for Google and Mi Cloud.
5. Import contacts back from the.vcf file (via Contacts → Settings → Import).
6. Enable sync with only one source (e.g., Google only).

This method helps in 90% of cases, but has risks:

• ⚠️ If the backup contained duplicates, they will return after importation.
• ⚠️ Some metadata (such as call history or attached photos) may be lost.

After reset, check the synchronization settings:

Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Contacts (included)


Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Contact Synchronization (disabled)

This will prevent repeated duplication.

How to Prevent the appearance of doubles in the future

To prevent duplicate contacts from appearing on Xiaomi Mi 9S, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Sync with only one source (e.g., only Google or only Mi Cloud).
• 📱 Turn off automatic importation with SIM In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Import of contacts.
• 🔄 Check your Google Contacts regularly (every 2-3 months).
• 📤 Export contacts before updating MIUI — This will help you recover data if something goes wrong.
• 🚫 Do not use third-party backup apps (such as Super Backup) if they do not support it. MIUI — This often leads to duplication.

If you switch between Google and Mi Cloud frequently, set your source priority:

1. Open Contacts → Settings → Accounts to display.
2. Select one primary account (e.g. Google).
3. Turn off the display of contacts from other sources.

This won’t remove the take, but hides their display in the phone book.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)