How to record a new contact in the phone Xiaomi: all the ways from A to Z

Adding a new contact to a Xiaomi phone seems like a simple task — until you run into nuances. Some users get lost in a variety of ways (via a variety of ways). MIUI, Google Contacts or SIM-Others face synchronization problems when saved numbers suddenly disappear after resetting settings. This article will not just list the basic steps, but will reveal hidden features. MIUI to manage contacts, including import/export through VCF-Files and Links to Mi Account.

We will discuss 5 working methods, from classic manual input to automatic saving of numbers from calls and messages, and pay special attention to common errors: why contacts are duplicated, how to avoid data loss when changing phones and what to do if Xiaomi does not offer to save the number after a call. The instructions are relevant for all modern models, from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, taking into account the features of the latest versions of MIUI 14/15.

Method 1: Save contact through the Contacts app

The most obvious, but not always intuitive, method is to use the standard Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background) and is integrated with Google and Mi Account services in MIUI, so it’s important to choose the right account to save, otherwise the contact may “disappear” after leaving the profile.

To add a new contact:

• 📱 Open the Contacts app (if it isn’t on the home screen, search through the swipe search down).
• ➕ Click on the "Add" button (plus icon in the lower right corner).
• 👤 Fill in the fields: Name, Phone Number (specify the country code for international numbers!) You can add Email, Birthday or Address.
• 💾 In the Save in box, select your account: Device – contact will only be saved in your phone’s memory (risk of loss when reset). Google – syncs with the cloud (recommended for backup). Mi Account – is tied to your Xiaomi profile (useful for owners of multiple brand devices).
• ✅ Click "Save" in the upper right corner.

Selected the correct account to save | Number entered with country code (+7, +380, etc.) | Name recorded without typos | No duplicate contact (check through search)

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If the Add button is missing, check the permissions of the Contacts app in Settings → Apps → Application Management → Contacts → Permissions. Make sure that the permissions to store and read contacts are enabled.

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In MIUI 14+, when you enter a contact name on the keyboard, a prompt appears with frequently used tags (for example, “Work”, “Home”). Click on it to automatically add a label to the contact.

Method 2: Quickly save from a call log or SMS

Often, the number must be saved right during the conversation or after receiving an SMS. In Xiaomi, this is done in 2 clicks, but there is a caveat: if you do not choose an account to save, the contact will be recorded only in the memory of the device and may be lost.

Instructions for the call log:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Go to the tab "Journal" (the icon of the clock at the bottom of the screen).
3. Find the right number and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, select “Save” (or “Add to Contacts”).
5. Fill in the data and specify the account to save (as in Method 1).

For SMS:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Find the dialog with the desired number and click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
3. Select "Add to Contacts."

Through the “Contact” annex"|From the call log.|Isa SMS|Import with SIM-map|Other-->

⚠️ Note: If the “Save” button does not appear after the call, check the settings of the Phone application: go to Settings → Additionally. → Contact suggestions and enable the option “Offer to save numbers».

Method 3: Import contacts from SIM-card

Moving from an old phone to a new Xiaomi is often accompanied by the need to move contacts from the new Xiaomi. SIM-In the cards. MIUI This process is automated, but there are limitations: SIM-The card should support the storage of contacts (not all modern nano-SIMs have this function), and the number of entries on it usually does not exceed 250.

Step-by-step:

• 📱 Open Contacts and click on three horizontal lines (menu) in the upper left corner.
• 🔄 Select “Contact Management» → «Import/Export of contacts».
• 📋 Press "Import with" SIM-map».
• ✅ Check the necessary contacts (or click “Select all”) and confirm the import.
• 💾 Select an account to save (Google or Mi Account is recommended).

⚠️ Note: When importing with SIM-Contact names can be displayed in the translit (e.g., "Ivan" instead of "Ivan"). To fix this, open each contact after import and edit the name manually.

Method 4: Synchronize contacts with Google or Mi Account

Cloud sync is the most reliable way to avoid losing contacts when changing your phone or resetting settings. Xiaomi supports two types of sync: through Google (universally for Android) and through Mi Account (only for brand devices).

To enable synchronization with Google:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select your Google account.
3. Activate the switch next to Contacts.
4. For forced synchronization, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sync Now.

For Mi Account:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
2. In the “Synchronization” section, enable the “Contacts” option.
3. Click on Sync to update the data immediately.

The advantage of Mi Account is that it can synchronize not only contacts, but also notes, calendars and even system settings between Xiaomi devices, but if you use smartphones from other brands, Google is better.

Method 5: Export and import of contacts through VCF-file

The.vcf (vCard) format is a universal way to transfer contacts between devices, including an iPhone or a computer. MIUI exportation VCF-The file is supported natively, but there is a limitation: the file should not exceed 10 MB (about 5000 contacts).

How to export contacts:

• 📤 Open Contacts. → Menu (three lines) → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
• 📥 Select "Export to File».
• ✅ Tag your contacts for export (or click "Select All»).
• 💾 Specify a saving path (e.g., internal memory) → Download) and confirm.

How to import:

• 📂 Copy a.vcf file into your phone’s memory (for example, via Mi File Manager or Google Drive).
• 📥 In the same menu "Import / Export" select "Import from the file».
• 🔍 Find the file in the device memory and confirm the import.
• 🔄 Select an account to save (Google recommended).

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VCF-You can send a file by email or messenger (Telegram, WhatsApp) to quickly transfer contacts to another phone, the main thing is not to edit the file manually, so as not to damage its structure.

Problem Solving: Contacts are not maintained or disappear

If new contacts don't save or disappear after a reboot, the problem lies in one of three factors: an account setting that is not set correctly, a sync conflict, or an application error, and we'll look at each case.

1. Contacts are not saved to the selected account

• Check that the correct default account is selected in the Contacts app settings: Settings → System settings → Contacts → Default account.
• If your Google account doesn’t appear in the list, add it again to Settings → Accounts and Sync.

2. Contacts are duplicated

• This is because you sync with Google and Mi Account at the same time, and you turn off sync in one of your accounts.
• Use the merge function: Open Contacts → Menu → Contact Management → Connect Contacts.

3. Contacts disappear after resetting settings

• They were probably only stored in the device’s memory, and can only be restored from a backup (if it was created).
• In the future, always choose to save to Google or Mi Account.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-Maps, contacts can be saved to the card from which the call was made. → Settings → Default Storage of Contacts.

Additional chips: groups, tags and quick access

MIUI offers contact tools that many users miss, such as creating groups (e.g., Work, Family) or adding tags for quick searches.

How to form a group:

1. Open Contacts. → Menus. → Groups.
2. Click on “Create a Group” and set a name (e.g., “Colleagues”).
3. Add participants by ticking the necessary contacts.

How to add a label:

• Open the contact and click "Edit".
• Scroll down to the "Tags" field and select the appropriate one (such as "VIP" or "Friends").

For quick access to frequently used contacts:

• Add the Contacts widget to the home screen: press your finger in a free space → “Widgets” → find “Contacts” and drag it to the screen.
• Set up quick actions: in Settings → Additional → Quick settings add the “Contacts” shortcut to the notification bar.

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MIUI 15 has a Smart Contacts feature: it automatically sorts contacts by frequency of use and offers quick access to them through a swipe search.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi contacts