Previous articleDuplicate contacts on Xiaomi: 7 proven ways to remove repetitive records

You open a phone book on your Xiaomi, Redmi, or Poco, and there are dozens of identical contacts with the same name but different numbers? Or worse, the same number is tied to multiple cards? This problem is familiar to many MIUI smartphone users, and it's not only annoying but also preventing them from finding the right contact quickly. Most of the time, duplicates are due to synchronization with multiple accounts, import errors, or malfunctions in the Contacts app.

In this article, we will analyze all possible reasons for duplicate contacts on Xiaomi – from banal (for example, re-import from the company). SIM-The cards are up to the hidden ones (the conflict between Google Contacts and Mi Account) and most importantly, we will give you 7 working ways to fix the problem, including manual cleaning, sync settings and even reset the cache of system applications. Some methods will take only a couple of minutes, others will take longer, but the result is worth it: a clean phone book without repeats.

Why Xiaomi has duplicated contacts: 5 main reasons

Before you start fixing, it's important to understand why duplicates appear at all, and 90 percent of the time, the problem is due to one of five factors:

• 🔄 Multiple sync: Your smartphone simultaneously pulls up contacts from Google Account, Mi Account, SIM-maps and even WhatsApp/Telegram. Each source creates a copy of the contact.
• 📱 Import/export errors: when transferring contacts from another phone (e.g. via a mobile phone) VCF-Bluetooth or file records can be duplicated.
• 🔧 Failures in the application “Contacts”: bugs in MIUI (Especially in versions 12-14, sometimes the system creates copies of existing records.
• ☁️ Cloud Services Conflict: If you’ve used multiple cloud accounts (e.g., switched from iCloud to Google), old contacts may have stayed and overlapped with new ones.
• 📇 Manual add-on: sometimes users create duplicates without noticing it (for example, by saving a number from a call to an existing contact).

The problem most often occurs after the update. MIUI, shift SIM-Cards or logins to a new account Google/Mi. If the duplicates come on suddenly, check if you have recently added a new account or imported contacts from a backup.

Method 1: Manual cleaning of duplicates through the “Contacts” application

The easiest method is to manually remove duplicates directly from the standard Contacts app, which is suitable if there are few repeating records (up to 50-100).

1. Open the Contacts app on your Xiaomi.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management → Combining and correcting.
3. The system will automatically find possible duplicates. Click Combine next to each pair.
4. If the automatic association did not work, find duplicates manually: sort contacts by name and delete unnecessary entries (long press → Delete).

⚠️ Warning: Before mass deletion, back up your contacts! → System and device → Backup and reset → Local backup and save data.

Method 2: Disable synchronization of unnecessary accounts

If contacts are duplicated because the phone is pulling them from multiple sources (like Google and Mi Account), you only need to leave one primary source.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Choose an account that is not your primary account (such as a Mi Account if you use Google Contacts).
3. Turn off the slider near Contacts.
4. Repeat for all unnecessary accounts (including WhatsApp, Telegram, SIM-map).

After you turn off the extra sources, check the phone book, the duplicates should disappear. If not, try forcefully sync the remaining account:

Settings → Accounts and sync → [Your account] → Contacts → “Sync Now”

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If you use Google Contacts as your primary source, go to contacts.google.com and check the duplicates there. delete them in the web version - the changes sync with the phone.

Method 3: Reset cache and data of the "Contact" application

Sometimes the duplicates come from a malfunction of the Contacts app or its cache, to fix this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Contacts (or Contacts) app and tap on it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. If it doesn’t help, click Clear Data (⚠️ This will remove all local contacts, but they will recover after synchronization with the cloud).

After reset, restart your phone and wait for the sync to reset, which usually helps if the duplicates show up after you upgraded your MIUI or installed new software.

Method 4: Using third-party applications to clean up duplicates

If you manually remove duplicates for too long, you can use specialized applications.

⚠️ Warning: Before using third-party apps, turn off automatic sync in account settings! otherwise, duplicates may appear again after cleaning.

Instructions for working with Simpler Merge (one of the most reliable applications):

1. Install and open the application.
2. Click Scan - the program will find all the takes.
3. Check the proposed combination options (the app will show which fields will be merged).
4. Press Combine and wait until it is completed.
5. Turn the sync back on.

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

If duplicates appear due to errors in the contact database, you can completely recreate it:

1. Export all contacts to.vcf: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to device
2. Connect your phone to your computer and copy the contacts.vcf file.
3. Open the file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad++) and manually delete duplicate entries (look for repeatable BEGIN:VCARD → END:VCARD blocks).
4. Delete all contacts on your phone (via Settings → Apps → Contacts → Clear data).
5. Import the edited file back: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Import from the device

This method is guaranteed to remove all duplicates, but requires accuracy when editing. VCF-If you're afraid of making a mistake, use online cleaning services like VCFCleaner.

Method 6: Recover contacts from backup

If the doubles appeared after a failed import or failure, the easiest way to return contacts to the previous state from the backup. MIUI There is a built-in backup function:

1. Go to Settings → System and Device → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backup and find the latest copy (check the date of creation!).
3. Click Restore and select only Contacts (to avoid erasing other data).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait for completion.

If you don’t have local backups, check out Mi Cloud or Google Drive:

• 🔗 Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account. → Mi Cloud → Contacts → Restore.
• ☁️ Google Contacts: Go to contacts.google.com, click More → Cancel changes and select a date before the duplicates appear.

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If you don't have backups, you can create a new one before you manipulate your contacts, which will take 1-2 minutes, but save the data in case of an error.

Method 7: Resetting phone settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, you have to reset completely. It's a radical solution, but it's guaranteed to delete all the takes (along with the other data!) Before you reset:

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm the reset.
4. Once you reboot, reset your phone by connecting only one account (e.g., Google only).
5. Restore contacts from backup (see Method 6).

⚠️ Warning: Reset will delete all data on your phone, including photos, messages and installed apps. Use this method only if other methods have failed!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the duplicate contacts on Xiaomi