Why You Need a Massive Choice of Contacts on Xiaomi and When It Doesn’t Work
Choosing multiple contacts at once on Xiaomi smartphones is a feature that seems simple until you face its limitations. MIUI 12-15) Mass operations are hidden behind non-obvious gestures or not in some modes, for example, you can not select several subscribers directly from the call list or in the creation window. SMS — There's only one choice at work here.
The main scenarios where this feature will come in handy are: export/import contacts (for example, when changing the phone), mass messaging (for business accounts or family chats), deleting duplicates after synchronizing with Google or Mi accounts, and creating groups for quick access. However, there are nuances: on devices with a shell POCO Launcher or custom firmware algorithms may differ, and mass selection does not work for contacts tied to SIM-The map will have to be processed one by one.
Method 1: Standard mass selection in the Contacts app
The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13).
- Open the Contacts app (an icon with a human silhouette).
- Touch three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select “Contact Management».
- Press "Select" in the top panel (or hold your finger on any contact for 2 seconds).
- Check the contacts you want. To select everyone, click on the ✓ icon in the hat.
- In the bottom panel, the action menu will appear: “Delete”, “Export”, “Add to the group”.
Please note: this mode cannot be sent SMS Multiple contacts at once – use Google Messages or Mi Messages to send you a message (see Method). 3). There are no contacts with the SIM-cards, only those stored in the memory of the phone or account Mi/Google.
Make sure contacts are stored in your phone memory or account (not on SIM)
Update the Contacts app to the latest version in the Mi App Store
Turn off the “Hidden Contacts” filter in the application settings
Sync your data with Mi Cloud if you plan to export-->
Method 2: Select through Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)
If your contacts are synced with your Google account, it is more convenient to use the web version of the service, which is suitable for Xiaomi owners who often work with contacts on a PC or need advanced features (for example, merging duplicates):
- Go to contacts.google.com (sign up with the same account as your phone).
- On the left of the panel, select Contacts → All Contacts.
- Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click on the right contacts. To select a range: select the first contact, then press Shift and click on the last one.
- In the top panel, click "Manage" (three-dot icon) and select the action: "Export", "Delete", "Add to the tag".
The advantage of this method is the ability to edit massively (for example, adding a prefix to numbers) and export in CSV format for backup, but the changes will only apply after syncing the phone with Google (can take up to 10 minutes).
How to speed up synchronization of contacts with Google
Method 3: Sending SMS to multiple contacts (bypassing MIUI restrictions)
Xiaomi’s standard Messages app doesn’t support mass SMS sending via contact selection, but there are two workarounds:
Option A: Through Google Messages
Install the official Google Messages app from the Play Market:
- Open Google Messages and click “Start Chat” (+).
- In the name entry field, start printing, then select contacts from the drop-down list (you can add up to 10 recipients at a time).
- Write a message and send it. Each recipient will see the SMS as personal (without specifying the other recipients).
Option B: Through group chats in Mi Messages
If you want to send a message with visibility to all recipients:
- Create a group chat in the standard Messages app.
- Add participants one at a time (mass selection doesn’t work here either).
- Send a message, it will reach all members of the group.
Standard Annex “Messages”
Google Messages
Other messenger (specify in the comments)
I'm not sending. SMS-->
Important: Mobile operators can block mass mailings (more than 20 SMS per minute) as spam. If messages do not reach, break the mailings into parts at intervals of 5-10 minutes.
Method 4: Export and import contacts via VCF/CSV files
If you need to transfer contacts to another phone or make a backup, use export in.vcf (for MIUI) or.csv (for Google Contacts).
| Action. | MIUI Contacts | Google Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → «Management» → «Export. Select contacts or click All. Save the.vcf file to your phone's memory. | At contacts.google.com, select contacts. Click More → Export → Select the format (.csv for Excel or.vcf for phones). |
| Imports | Open the "Contact» → ⋮ → «Management» → «Import. Select the.vcf file from memory. | On the site, click "Import" → select the file. Wait for completion (may take up to 1 hour for 1000+ contacts). |
Critical detail: When importing contacts from CSV to MIUI, the Birthday and Notes fields may not be saved - use the VCF format for full compatibility.
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Before you import your contacts, back up your current data, export it to a VCF file and send it to your post office.
Method 5: Use of third-party applications (for advanced features)
If built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, consider specialized applications that allow you to:
- 📊 Filter contacts by groups, labels or date of addition.
- 🔍 Find duplicates with similar names or numbers.
- 📤 Export to Excel with all fields (including photos) saved).
- 🔄 Synchronize with CRM (for example).
Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi:
- Contacts+ is a user-friendly interface with support for cloud backups.
- Simpler Contacts is a lightweight solution with the function of merging duplicates.
- Truecaller is a mass cleaning of spam contacts.
Before installing, check the application permissions: it should only request access to contacts and storage (excess permissions are a sign of potentially dangerous software).
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The app side may conflict with MIUI system “Contacts.” After massive changes, restart your phone to sync the data.
Mistakes and Limitations: Why You Can't Choose Contacts
If mass choice doesn’t work, check out these points:
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global Stable version below 12.5.4 may not have a "Select" button in the contact management menu. → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 📵 Contacts to SIM-map: you can not choose them in bulk - first transfer the phone memory (Settings) → Imports/Exports → Copy with SIM).
- 🔒 Account Limitations: If contacts are tied to a Google Workspace workspace, the administrator could disable bulk transactions.
- 🛠️ Cache failures: clear the Contacts app data in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
Another common problem is invisible contacts, and if there are fewer subscribers on the list than you should, check:
- Filter in the top panel of the application (only "Favorites" or "Family Numbers" can be turned on).
- Synchronization settings: Settings → Accounts → Mi/Google → Contact Synchronization.