How to choose contacts on a Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways and hidden functions

Choosing contacts on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you face the need to filter hundreds of records, sync them with multiple accounts or restore randomly deleted numbers. MIUI It offers unique tools for managing contacts, but they are not always obvious. For example, did you know that Xiaomi allows you to select contacts by geotags, create “smart groups” or export numbers to an encrypted archive?

This article will not just tell you how to open a contact list (everybody can do it), but we will also take a look at the hidden functions. MIUI, It saves time, from mass mailing numbers to automatic call-rate sorting, and you'll also learn how to avoid common mistakes, like why your Google contacts disappear after you reset, but you stay with your Mi Account. Ready to optimize your phone book? Let's start with the database.

Basic ways to choose contacts on Xiaomi

Let’s start with the obvious: how to open and select contacts in the standard Contacts app (it’s Contacts or People depending on the version). MIUI). On most Xiaomi models – from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra – the algorithm is the same, but there are nuances for different versions of the shell.

To select one contact:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green or blue background).
• 🔍 Enter the name in the search bar or scroll through the list manually.
• ✅ Touch the right contact – his card with the number, mail and other data will open.

For multiple choices (for example, to send) SMS few):

• 📋 Press and hold your finger on any contact – the selection mode will appear (checks on the left).
• ✔️ Tag the right contacts or click Select all at the top.
• 📤 Click Share (arrow icon) or Delete (basket) if you need mass action.

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If there's no search bar in your contact list, pull the screen down and it will appear. MIUI 13-14.

Important: MIUI 14+ You get a quick pick. If you tap twice on an empty spot in your contact list, you open the alphabet bar to jump to the right letter -- convenient for long lists. And on Xiaomi Pad 6 and tablets, you can use two windows: open contacts next to the messenger for easy drag and drop numbers.

Filtration and sorting contacts: hidden opportunities

When you have hundreds of records in your phone book, manual search becomes an agonizing experience, MIUI It offers filtering tools that many people don't know about, like sorting contacts into different parts of the world:

• 📅 Add date (useful after importing from old phone).
• 📞 Call frequency – the most active contacts will be on top.
• 🏷️ Groups (family, work, VIP) — if you've created them.
• 🔄 The synchronization source (Google, Mi Account, SIM-map).

How to Include Extended Sorting:

1. Open Contacts. → ⚙️ Settings → Contact display.
2. Select Sort by and specify the desired criterion (by default is "By name").
3. Activate the option to Show contacts with numbers to hide records without phones.

On Xiaomi MIUI 15 Smart Search is available, and you can enter not only names, but also parts of addresses, contact card notes, or even keywords from your correspondence history (if the contact is tied to Mi Messages). For example, a search for “Manager Moscow” will show all contacts with such a position or city in the notes.

Working with Contact Groups: How to Create and Manage

Contact groups in Xiaomi are not just folders, but a powerful tool for mass action. SMS All colleagues or hide personal contacts from the eyes of strangers, but there is a caveat: groups are created separately for each account, SIM).

How to form a group:

1. Open Contacts → Groups → Create a Group
2. Please specify a name (e.g., "family" or "work").
3. Add contacts manually or through Add automatically (by keywords in names).

Hidden group chips:

• 🔒 You can block the group with a password: Group settings → Password protection (available on the MIUI 14+).
• 📤 Groups are exported separately: when transferring to a new phone, select Export Groups in the menu.
• 🎨 For groups, you can assign color tags - so they are easier to distinguish in the list.

Important: if you delete the group, the contacts will not disappear from it, they will simply cease to be grouped, but if you remove the contact from the group, it will disappear from the general phone book (unless duplicated in another account).

Contact Sync: Google vs Mi Account vs. SIM-map

One of the most common problems Xiaomi users have is duplicate contacts due to synchronization with multiple accounts, and let’s understand how this works and how to avoid chaos.

V MIUI Contacts can be stored in three locations:

To avoid taking:

1. Choose one primary source (we recommend Google for universality).
2. Turn off sync for other accounts.
3. Use the function of Combine doubles in the contact settings.

A critical mistake many users make: when you reset your phone to factory settings, contacts from Mi Account are automatically restored, but not from Google unless sync is enabled. Always check both accounts before resetting!

Export and import of contacts: backup

Losing contacts is one of the most painful problems when changing your phone or resetting your settings. Xiaomi has several ways to back up, but they’re not all equally reliable.

Modes of export:

• 📄 In.vcf: Contacts → ⚙️ Settings → Imports/Exports → Export to memory. The file will be stored in the internal memory in the folder. MIUI/backup/Contacts.
• ☁️ In the Mi cloud: automatically if sync with Mi Account is enabled.
• 🔗 Google: synced automatically when you add an account.
• 📱 Nana SIM-Card: convenient to transfer to another phone, but limited to 200 contacts.

How to import contacts to the new Xiaomi:

1. Copy the.vcf file into your phone’s memory.
2. Open Contacts. → ⚙️ Settings → Imports/Exports → Imports from memory.
3. Select a file and specify an account to import (Google or Mi).

Important: when importing from.vcf, contact photos will not be saved - they must be transferred separately through the folder DCIM/.thumbnails.

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Export contacts in vCard 3.0 format (export option) – it is compatible with most devices, including iPhone.

Contact problems with Xiaomi and their solutions

Even in the latest versions. MIUI And so, users are experiencing contact bugs, and these are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

1. Contacts are not displayed

• Check if the display is enabled for the desired account: Contact settings → Contact display.
• Update the Contacts app via Play Market (even on Xiaomi, it is sometimes updated separately).
• Clear the app's cache: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Memory. → Clear the cache.

2.Duplicate contacts

• Use the built-in Unification function: Settings → Combine the takes.
• Turn off sync for one of your accounts (Google or Mi).
• Install a third-party app, such as Contacts Optimizer, for deep cleaning.

3. No new contacts are maintained

• Check which account is selected by default for saving: Settings → Keeping new contacts in.
• If the phone’s memory is full, contacts may not be saved – make room.
• In some models (for example, POCO X3) Save bug is solved by rebooting.

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After the update MIUI If you've lost your contacts, try to roll back the Contacts version of the app via APKMirror.

4. Google sync doesn't work

• Make sure that in the settings → Accounts. → Google is now syncing contacts.
• Check if security is blocking. MIUI Access to the account: Settings → Passwords and security → Permits → Auto-start.
• If you use VPN, Turn it off - sometimes it blocks the synchronization.

Hidden Contact Features on Xiaomi: Life Hacks

MIUI It hides some useful features that make it easier to work with contacts:

1. Quick dial-up T9

On the dial keyboard, type the first letters of the contact name (e.g., "an" for "Anna"), and a list of matches will appear, even if the contact is saved in Chinese or another language.

Contact geometries

You can attach a geolocation (such as a job address) to the contact, and then when you view the contact card, you will see a route button that will open navigation in Google Maps or Mi Maps.

3. Voice dialing

Activate Google Assistant or Mi AI and say, "Call Mom" or "Tell Ivan" even from a locked screen (setting in Settings). → Lock screen → Voice assistant).

4. Blacklist by group

You can block entire contact groups (such as spam) from calling and SMS: Contact settings → Blacklist → Add a group.

5. QR-contact-code

Generate. QR-Code of your business card: Contacts → Your card. → Share. → QR-Easy to quickly exchange contacts in meetings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contacts on Xiaomi

Now you know more than 90 percent of the users about the contacts on Xiaomi, and you have to put that knowledge into practice: optimize your phone book, set up your backup, forget about the problems with lost numbers. MIUI In Settings → About the phone and update the firmware. Often, contact bugs are fixed in new versions.