Deleting contacts on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task, but many users face unexpected difficulties. Depending on the version of MIUI, the phone model (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) and the way of synchronization (Google, MI-account, SIM-card), the process may be different.
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to remove, from the standard method through the Contacts app to mass clearing through Google Contacts or MI Cloud. Particular attention will be paid to the problems that users face after upgrading to MIUI 14/15, when the menu interface changes and the old instructions stop working. If you want to get rid of unnecessary numbers or duplicates forever, read on.
1. Delete contacts through the standard “Contacts” application
The most obvious way is to use the built-in Contacts app (a human silhouette icon on a green background), which works on all Xiaomi models, regardless of the MIUI version, but has nuances when synchronized with the cloud.
Open the Contacts app and find the contact you want through a search or scroll through the list. Click on it to open the card. In the upper right corner, tap three dots (⋮) and select Delete. Confirm the action in the pop-up window. If the contact is synced with Google or MI-If you have an account, the system will offer to delete it only from the device or from all accounts - choose the second option for complete deletion.
- 🔍 Search by name/number: Use the search bar at the top of the screen if the contact list is large.
- 📱 Duplicates: If the contact is duplicated, delete all copies – they can be restored from backup.
- ☁️ Sync: After deleting, check if sync is disabled in Settings → Accounts.
Disable synchronization with Google/Mi-account|Check for duplicates in the list|Backup of important contacts|Ensure a stable Internet connection-->
If the Remove option is inactive (grey), it means that the contact is protected from changes, most often this happens with numbers imported from the Internet. SIM-cards or added system applications (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Home) In this case, try alternative methods from the following sections.
2 Mass removal of contacts via MIUI
If you want to delete multiple contacts at once (for example, after importing from an old phone), it is inconvenient to do it one at a time. MIUI has a hidden mass removal function, but it is not available in all versions of the firmware.
Open the "Contact» → press three points (⋮) top-right → Choose Contact Management (or Settings in some versions). If there is a Mass Deletion or Duplicate Cleanup, select it. Tick unneeded contacts and click Delete. MIUI 14+ This section may be called Contact Optimization.
| MIUI version | The path to mass removal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12–13 | Contacts → ⋮ → Management → Mass removal | Not on all models. |
| MIUI 14 | Contacts → ⋮ → Optimization → Delete duplicates | Mass removal replaced by cleaning of duplicates |
| MIUI 15 (Beta) | Contacts → ⋮ → Settings → Imports/Exports | Required export to file for manual editing |
If there is no mass removal feature, use a workaround: export contacts to a.vcf file, edit it on your computer (deleting unnecessary strings), and then import back.
Once a month | Once every six months |Only when necessary | I never delete | I keep everything in the cloud-->
3. Export, edit and import contacts via VCF file
This is a method that is suitable for advanced users who want to have full control of their contact list, and it is also useful if you need to transfer contacts to another phone or back up before mass deletion.
Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → Settings → Imports/Exports → Export to file: Choose where to save the file (internal memory or storage). SD-The file will have the.vcf extension (business card). Connect the phone to your computer and open the file in a text editor (for example, Notepad).++). Every contact starts with a block. BEGIN:VCARD ends END:VCARD. Remove unnecessary blocks, save the file and import it back through Import from the file.
Example of VCF file structure
Important: when editing.vcf, do not delete service tags (BEGIN, END, VERSION), otherwise the file will become unreadable. Also make sure that the file encoding is UTF-8, otherwise Russian characters will appear in crankshafts. If contacts do not appear after import, check if filtering by accounts is enabled in the Contacts settings application.
4. Delete contacts via Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)
If your contacts are synced to a Google account, they can be managed via a web interface, which is convenient when you need to delete contacts remotely (for example, from a computer) or restore accidentally deleted numbers.
Go to contacts.google.com and log in under the same account you have on your phone. On the left menu, select Duplicates or Merger if you want to clear repetitive entries. To delete individual contacts, tick them and click on the basket icon (🗑️) To delete all contacts at once, use Settings. → Delete your contacts (but be careful – it is irreversible!).
⚠️ Note: when you delete contacts via Google, they will disappear from all devices that sync is enabled. If you want to save numbers on your phone, pre-export them to a.vcf file or disable sync to Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
- 🔄 Recovery: Remote contacts are stored in the Google Recycle Bin for 30 days. To recover, go to the Recycle Bin on the left menu.
- 📱 Local contacts: numbers saved only on the phone (without linking to Google) will not be deleted via the web interface.
- 🔒 Security: After mass deletion, it is recommended to change the password from the Google account if the phone was lost.
5. Delete contacts via MI Cloud (for Xiaomi users)
MI Cloud is Xiaomi's cloud storage that automatically syncs contacts, notes and photos. MI-Backup account, contacts can be duplicated or restored after deletion to delete them permanently:
Go to i.mi.com and log in. In Contacts, select unnecessary posts and click Delete. Use Settings → Clear all contacts for complete cleaning. Then turn off sync in your phone settings: Settings → Accounts → Mi Accounts → Sync and deactivate Contacts.
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If contacts reappear after deleting, check if automatic sync is enabled in Settings → Additional → Backup. Turn it off if you are not using the cloud.
Note: MI Cloud keeps backups of contacts for up to 30 days. If you delete the number and then restore the phone from backup, contacts will come back. To avoid this, create a new backup after clearing the list.
Removal of contacts with SIM-map
Contacts saved on SIM-This is true for users who are transferring numbers from an old phone or using two different phones. SIM-Instructions:
Open the "Contact» → click on the tab SIM (If there is one, in some versions. MIUI press ⋮ → Display contacts → SIM). Choose a contact, press it, and hold it for 2-3 seconds until the menu appears. Press Delete. Use it for mass removal. ⋮ → Contact management SIM → Delete everything.
⚠️ Attention: Contacts to SIM-The card has a limit on the length of the name and number (for example, the name can not exceed 15 characters). If the data is cut off during import, it can not be restored - you have to enter manually.
If the tab SIM It is not there, which means that your SIM-The card does not support the storage of contacts (relevant for some virtual operators), in which case all numbers are automatically stored in the memory of the phone or the cloud.
7. Problem Solving: Contacts are not deleted or restored
Sometimes, after removal, the contacts return after a while, this happens because:
- ☁️ Autosynchronization with Google or MI Cloud.
- 📱 Backups created by apps like Mi Mover or Titanium Backup.
- 🔄 Duplicate accounts (e.g., one contact is linked to both Google and Google) MI-account).
To solve the problem:
- Turn off contact synchronization in Settings → Accounts for all services.
- Delete your contacts via the Google and MI Cloud web interface (instructions in sections 4 and 5).
- Clear the Contacts app cache in Settings → Apps → Application Management → Contacts → Storage → Clear the cache.
- If you use third-party backup apps (like Super Backup), delete them or reset your settings.
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To permanently remove a contact, it must be erased from all sources: phone, Google account, MI Cloud and SIM-Otherwise, it will recover the next time it syncs.
If the problem persists, try resetting the Contacts app to factory settings: → Annexes → Contacts → ⋮ → Reset. It won't delete the contacts themselves, but it will reset the filters and display settings.