How to remove duplicate contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: all working ways

Repeated contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro are a common problem that occurs after syncing with multiple accounts (Google, Mi Account, WhatsApp), importing backups or MIUI malfunctions. Dubbs not only clutter the phone book, but also make it difficult to find the right numbers, and in some cases lead to errors when calling or sending messages. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to delete duplicates – from built-in tools to third-party applications, taking into account the features of the Redmi Note 9 Pro firmware.

It's important to understand that the cleaning method depends on the source of the duplicates. For example, if the duplicate entries were due to synchronization with Google Contacts, then it's pointless to delete them directly through the MIUI phone book - they will return after the next update. So we'll look not only at cosmetic solutions, but also at system approaches that will prevent duplicates from reappearing.

The reasons for the appearance of duplicate contacts on the Redmi Note 9 Pro

Before you start cleaning, it’s worth figuring out why the contacts are duplicated. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, this is usually related to:

• 🔄 Sync with multiple accounts (e.g. Google) + Mi Account + SIM-The system creates separate records for each source.
• 📱 Import contacts from backups (for example, when transferring data from an old phone via Mi Mover or Google Drive).
• 🤖 Mistakes in work MIUI, Especially after the firmware updates. MIUI 12-14 bug with duplicate contacts was massive.
• 📞 Applications-messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), which create their own copies of contacts in the phone book.

On the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the most common reason for the duplicates is the combination of the first two reasons, such as syncing your contacts with Google and then importing them with the same user. SIM-maps, which results in identical records from different sources, and the problem is compounded by the fact that MIUI Not always automatically merges contacts correctly, even if the merge option is enabled.

⚠️ Attention: If you use Google Contacts as your primary source, do not delete duplicates directly through the Contacts app on your phone.This can lead to cloud-based out-of-synchronization.

Method 1: Remove duplicates through the built-in MIUI Contacts app

The easiest way to do this is to use MIUI tools. The Redmi Note 9 Pro has a built-in duplicate search and merger feature in the Contacts app, but it doesn't always work correctly, especially if the duplicates are linked to different accounts.

To find and combine repeated contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to Combine Contacts (or Find Duplicates depending on the MIUI version).
4. The system will automatically scan the phone book and suggest a list of duplicate records, and opposite each pair will be a "Combine" button.
5. Check the data in each pair (sometimes the system mistakenly counts as duplicates of different people with the same names) and click Combine.

If the feature doesn’t find duplicates, try updating the Contacts app via Google Play or clearing its cache in the settings (Settings → Apps → App Management → Contacts → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Clean up Google Contacts (web version)

If the duplicates are due to sync with Google, the most reliable way is to clean through the Google Contacts web interface, which ensures that the changes apply to all devices associated with the account.

Instructions:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in with the same account as you do on the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
2. In the left menu, select Duplicates (or Flee and Fix in the new version of the interface).
3. The system will show all duplicate contacts. Click Combine for each pair or choose Combine all (if you are sure that all proposed duplicates are indeed copies).
4. After cleaning, wait for sync (usually takes 5-10 minutes) and check the phone book on the Redmi Note 9 Pro.

The advantage of this is centralized management, and all changes are automatically applied to your phone, tablet, or other devices with the same Google account, but beware: if you manually edit contacts on your phone (e.g., add photos or notes), this data can be overwritten by the cloud version.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Account to sync contacts, deleting duplicates through Google Contacts will not affect the entries associated with your Xiaomi account. In this case, you will have to clean the duplicates separately - either through the Contacts app or through the i.mi.com web version (Cloud section). → Contacts).

Method 3: Export and import contacts via VCF file

If the built-in tools don't work, you can use the manual method of exporting contacts to a.vcf file, clearing it of duplicates on your computer, and then importing it back again, which takes longer, but guarantees a complete cleanup without binding to accounts.

Step-by-step:

1. Export of contacts: Open contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file. Select an account (e.g. Google or Phone) and confirm export. the contacts.vcf file will be saved in the phone's internal memory (Download folder or phone). MIUI).
2. Clean file on your computer: Copy the.vcf file on your PC. Open it in a text editor (like Notepad++ or VS Code). Each contact in the file starts with BEGIN:VCARD and ends with END:VCARD. Delete the repeating blocks manually or use specialized tools (like VCF Cleaner or Duplicate Contacts Remover).

Import back to the phone:

• Place the cleaned.vcf file back in the phone’s memory.
• In the Contacts app, select Import from the file and specify the path to the edited contacts.vcf.

This method is suitable if you have a large number of duplicates (500+ contacts) and the built-in tools do not work. However, it requires care: manual editing of.vcf can accidentally delete important data (for example, additional phone numbers or email addresses).

Method 4: Third-party applications for removing duplicates

If standard methods don't work, you can use specialized applications. On the Redmi Note 9 Pro, you can use:

• 📱 Duplicate Contacts (simple interface, supports Russian language, free version with restrictions).
• 🔍 Contacts Optimizer (allows you not only to delete duplicates, but also to clean out irrelevant contacts).
• 🛠️ Simpler Merge (automatic merging with filter settings).

Examples of Duplicate Contacts:

1. Install the app from Google Play and give access to contacts.
2. Click Scan - the program will find all the repeated records.
3. View the list of duplicates and choose which to combine or remove.
4. Confirm the changes and wait for the process to be completed.

Advantages of third-party applications:

• More flexible merger settings (e.g., you can choose which contact to store when combining).
• Support for mass operations (removal of all duplicates in one click).
• Additional features (search for empty contacts, backup before cleaning).

⚠️ Warning: Make sure to back up contacts before using third-party apps. Some programs (especially those with aggressive cleaning algorithms) can delete not only duplicates, but also useful data. For example, if a contact has two phone numbers, the app can leave only one, counting the second “double».

Method 5: Reset and re-synchronize contacts

The last resort is to reset the phone book completely and then sync it up, which will help if the duplicates are due to a MIUI malfunction or a conflict between accounts, but it requires caution: if you do the wrong thing, you can lose all contacts.

Instructions:

1. Turn off sync: Go to Settings → Accounts and sync. Select Google (or Mi Account) and turn off contact sync.
2. Delete all contacts: Open the Contacts app → ⋮ → Contact management → Delete all contacts. Select an account (such as Phone or Google) and confirm deletion.

Turn on the sync again:

• Return to Settings → Accounts and sync and enable contact sync for the desired account.
• Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 15 minutes).

This is effective if the duplicates are due to a conflict between local and cloud data, such as when the phone has outdated copies of contacts and Google has current ones, and when the reset is done, the system will download the clean version of the phone book.

How to prevent the recurrence of doubles

To prevent duplicate contacts from appearing on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Turn off unnecessary sync: Leave only one primary account (like Google) and turn off sync for Mi Account, SIM-maps or messengers.
• 📱 Set up Automatic Merger: In the Contacts app, enable the option to Automatically Merge Contacts (Settings) → General. → Connecting contacts).
• 🔍 Check duplicates regularly: Every 1-2 months, run a scan for repetitive posts (via Google Contacts or third-party apps).
• 📞 Use one source to import: When transferring contacts from another phone, choose only one method (e.g., Google Drive only or Mi Mover only).

On the Redmi Note 9 Pro with MIUI 12-14, the most reliable way to avoid duplicates is to use Google Contacts as the sole source and disable sync for all other accounts, which is because Google’s contact merger algorithms are more stable than the built-in MIUI tools.

💡

If you often move contacts between devices, make a rule: always export them in VCF format and store a backup in the cloud (Google Drive or Mi Cloud), which will help quickly recover data when crashes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When cleaning contacts, users of Redmi Note 9 Pro often make the following mistakes:

• 🚫 Removing duplicates only on the phone, without syncing with the cloud, causes duplicates to return after another Google Contacts update.
• 🔄 Use of merging functions without verification. Sometimes the system combines different people with the same names (for example, two Ivanov Petrovs).
• 📱 Ignoring backups. Without a backup, one wrong click can wipe out the entire phone book.
• 🛠️ Installation of dubious cleaning applications. Some Google Play programs contain adware or viruses.

To avoid problems:

• Always check the proposed doubles manually before merging.
• Back up before any manipulation of your contacts (even if you use built-in tools).
• For mass cleaning, use only proven high-ranking apps (4.5+ on Google Play).

💡

If the duplicates continue to appear after cleaning, check the sync settings in Google and Mi accounts. Most often the problem lies in a conflict between multiple data sources (for example, phone + SIM + Google).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions