Why are the standard methods not working?
Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often, when you try to remove multiple contacts at once, the system suggests doing it one at a time, which is inconvenient if you want to clear the phone book of hundreds of old records, for example, after importing from the phone. SIM-a card or backup copy. MIUI There is no built-in mass removal function, but there are workarounds.
Reasons why users are looking for a solution:
- 📱 Moving contacts from another device led to duplicate records
- 🗑️ Accumulation of outdated numbers (colleagues, temporary contacts)
- 🔄 Sync errors with Google Account or Mi Cloud
- 📴 Wanting to start with a clean slate before selling your phone
In this article, 5 proven ways to remove contacts, including hidden MIUI features and third-party tools, are relevant for the MIUI 12-14 firmware versions (Android 10-14) and have been tested on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 models.
Method 1: Through the web version of Google Contacts
The most versatile method that works on any device with Internet access is suitable if your contacts are synced with Google Account (default enabled in MIUI).
Instructions:
- Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to contacts.google.com.
- Sign in under the same account as on your smartphone.
- Click on the highlight icon (square in the top left corner) and select the contacts you want. Use Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to mass highlight.
- Click on the basket icon 🗑️ top-panel.
⚠️ Warning: Remote contacts will stay in the basket for 30 days. To clear it immediately, go to the Recycle Bin section → Clean the basket.
Check sync in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Synchronization
Backup important numbers (export to CSV)
Make sure you only delete unnecessary records.
Clean the cart after removal (optional)-->
Method 2: Use the Google Contacts app
If the web version is not available, use the official Google Contacts app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones with Google services.
Step-by-step:
- Open the Google Contacts app (not standard MIUI!).
- Tap the profile icon in the upper right corner → Contact management.
- Select Contacts and select the required entries (you can use filters by group or label).
- Press. 🗑️ Remove in the bottom panel.
Important: This method only removes contacts from your Google Account. Local records (save on your device) will remain intact.
Method 3: Mass removal via MIUI (hidden function)
MIUI has a hidden mass contact management mode in its firmware, but it doesn't work on all models.Verified on Xiaomi 12T and Redmi K50.
How to activate:
- Open the standard Contacts app.
- Press three points. ⋮ top-right → Contact management.
- Select Import/Export → Export to your device (create a backup in.vcf format).
- Return to Contact Management and select Delete all contacts (optional after export).
What if there is no “Delete Everything” option?
⚠️ Warning: This method cleans the phone book completely, including contacts from Mi Cloud and Google.Be sure to back up before using!
Method 4: Third-Party Applications for Mass Deletion
If the built-in tools don’t fit, use specialized utilities. We tested 3 apps that work safely with contacts on Xiaomi:
| Annex | Functions | Limitations | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts Optimizer | Mass removal, search for duplicates, backup | Advertising in the free version | Google Play |
| Simpler Merge | Combination of duplicates, filtering by groups | Paid version for mass removal | Google Play |
| Delete Contacts | Removal by filters (no names, no numbers) | No Russian language | Google Play |
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Before using third-party apps, disable sync with Mi Cloud in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Contact Sync. This will prevent the recovery of deleted records.
Method 5: Through ADB (for power users)
This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), it allows you to delete all contacts with one team, but requires command line skills.
Instructions:
- Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging over USB.
- Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) and type:
adb shell content delete --uri content://com.android.contacts/raw_contacts⚠️ Warning: This command permanently deletes all contacts, including those synchronized with accounts. Use only if you are confident in your actions and have made a backup!
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ADB-It's the most radical method, but it's also the fastest, and it's the right method for completely resetting the phone book before selling the device or transferring it to another user.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When you delete your contacts, you often have typical problems, and here's how to prevent them:
- 🔄 Contacts are restored after removal → Turn off sync with Mi Cloud and Google before cleaning.
- 📱 Not all contacts are deleted → Check if they are not saved on SIM-map (remove manually to Contacts) → SIM-map).
- ⚙️ The app doesn't see all the contacts → Give them permission to access Contacts and Warehouse in the settings.
- 🔒 Access blocked ADB → Make sure that Xiaomi drivers are installed on your PC and your phone is unlocked (miunlock).
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If you have “empty” records in your phone book after a mass deletion (without names or numbers), use Contacts Optimizer to clean up your garbage.