How to completely remove all contacts on Xiaomi Redmi: safe ways

Introduction: Why would you delete your contacts on Xiaomi?

Removing all contacts from a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is a challenge that users face in a variety of situations: Someone sells or transfers the phone to another person and wants to clear personal data, someone faces duplicate records after synchronizing with multiple accounts, and someone just needs to start keeping a phone book from scratch. Unlike selective removal, mass cleaning requires caution: one wrong step can lead to the loss of important data without the possibility of recovery.

Xiaomi offers several built-in tools for managing contacts, but not all of them are obvious to the average user. Moreover, depending on the model (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Redmi 10C, POCO X5, etc.) and the version of the MIUI firmware (13, 14 or HyperOS), the location of options may vary. In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to completely clean contacts – from standard to emergency – and also tell you how to avoid typical errors and save backup.

Before you start, ask yourself two questions: do you need these contacts in the future (if yes, back up!) and are they synced to the cloud (Google, Mi Cloud).

Method 1: Delete via the Contacts app (the easiest one)

If your contacts are stored locally on your phone (not synced to accounts), the quickest way is to use the standard Contacts app, a method that works for most Redmi models, including the Redmi Note 11, Redmi 9A, and newer devices.

Instructions:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Put three points on it (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the Import/Export section → Delete all contacts.
4. Confirm the action by entering a password or pattern lock (if requested).

⚠️ Note: This method only removes local contacts, and if your records are synced to Google or Mi Account, they will stay in the cloud and return to your phone the next time you update the data.

Make a backup copy of contacts|Disable synchronization with Google/Mi Cloud|Make sure that only local contacts are removed|Check for important records in other accounts-->

Method 2: Clean through MIUI settings (for all models)

If the previous method didn’t work (for example, due to customized firmware), try to delete contacts through system settings. This method is universal for all Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the contact list and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

🔹 What happens? This method deletes all the data in the Contacts app, including the cache, settings, and the records themselves. However, as in the first method, contacts synchronized with Google or Mi Cloud will remain intact and return when the next update is made.

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If contacts reappear after cleaning, turn off automatic sync in Settings → Accounts → Google/Mi Account → Contact Sync.

Method 3: Delete contacts via Google account (for synchronized records)

If your contacts are linked to a Google account, they must be deleted through the Google Contacts web interface, which is relevant for users who use Gmail or other Google services on Xiaomi Redmi.

How to delete:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
2. Click on the checkbox in the top left corner (near Name) to select all contacts.
3. Slap on the basket icon (🗑️) top-panel.
4. Confirm removal.

⚠️ Warning: Remote contacts will stay in the Google Recycle Bin for another 30 days. To clear them, go to the Recycle Bin and click Clear the Recycle Bin. Also remember to turn off sync on your phone or the contacts will return:

Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync → Contacts (disable)

Locally on your phone |In Google account |In Mi Cloud|In another cloud (iCloud, Yandex, etc.)|I don't know-->

Method 4: Clean up via Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi users)

Xiaomi Redmi users often sync contacts with the branded Mi Cloud. If you are one of them, delete entries directly in the web version of the service. This method is suitable for models Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi K50 and others with a tied Mi Account.

Instructions:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Contacts section.
3. Click on the settings icon (⚙️) → Contact management → Delete everything.
4. Confirm the action by entering the password from the Xiaomi account.

🔹 Important: Once deleted, contacts will disappear from all devices associated with this Mi Account. if you use one account on multiple smartphones (for example, Redmi and other devices). POCO), records are gone.

Method 5: Complete Recovery Reset (Emergency Method)

If previous methods didn’t work or you need to clean your phone completely before selling, the radical option is Recovery Mode reset, which deletes all data on your device, including contacts, photos, apps and settings, and is suitable for any Redmi model, but requires caution.

How to perform the reset:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).
4. Confirm the action by selecting Wipe All Data.
5. After the process is complete, select Reboot to reboot.

⚠️ Note: This method permanently deletes all data from the phone, if you have not made a backup, it will be impossible to restore contacts (and other files) and after the reset will require reconfiguring the device, including linking accounts.

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Recovery reset is the only way to guarantee that you will delete all data from your phone, including hidden files and cache. Use it only as a last resort!

How to Recover Remote Contacts (If You Haven’t Backup)

If you accidentally deleted contacts without having a backup, the chances of recovery depend on where the data was stored:

• 🔄 Local contacts: You can only recover using specialized programs (for example, Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver), but success is not guaranteed.
• ☁️ Google Contacts: Go to Google Contacts → Basket (available 30 days).
• 📱 Mi Cloud: Recovery is possible within 15 days via the web version of Mi Cloud (Basket section).
• 📱 SIM card: If the contacts are saved SIM, You can import them back through the settings. → Contacts → Imports/Exports → Import with SIM.

🔹 Tip: To avoid data loss in the future, set up an automatic backup:

Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing contacts on Xiaomi Redmi