How to completely remove all contacts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T: safe methods

Removing all contacts with Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T can be necessary in a variety of situations, from selling a phone to the banal desire to start with a clean slate. However, many users face unexpected problems - synchronizing with Google Account returns deleted numbers, and manual erasure takes hours. This article will reveal all the working methods, including hidden MIUI functions that the manufacturer does not advertise.

Features of the Redmi Note 8T (The code name willow is that contacts can be stored in three locations at the same time. SIM-In the memory of the phone and in the cloud Google/Mi Cloud. If you just click "Delete All" in the Contacts app, there's a high risk that some numbers will recover the next time you log in, we'll figure out how to guarantee that you erase your contacts without being able to restore them without affecting other data on your device.

Preparation: backup and synchronization check

Before you delete your contacts, make sure you have a backup copy of them, and even if you're planning to sell your phone, the saved file can be ported to your new device. The Redmi Note 8T has built-in export tools:

• 📱 Local Export: Stores contacts to.vcf file on internal memory. → ☰ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to device
• ☁️ Cloud Backup: Automatically syncs to Mi Cloud (if enabled). → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Contacts
• 🔄 Google Contacts: Sync with Google account (configured in Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts)

A critical mistake many users make is to ignore the sync check, so if you delete your contacts only from your phone, but they stay in your Google Account or Mi Cloud, the next time you log in, the numbers will come back.

1. Open Settings → Accounts and turn off contact sync for all accounts.
2. Make sure that in contact → ☰ → Settings → Accounts have no active sources (SIM, phone, Google, Mi).

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If you sell a phone, after deleting contacts, make sure to reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting). This will delete all data, including hidden cached copies.

Method 1: Mass removal through the "Contacts" application

The most obvious, but not always effective method is if contacts are stored only in the phone's memory and are not synchronized with the clouds. MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open the Contacts app (a icon with a person's silhouette).
2. Press three points (☰) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
3. Go to the section Delete Contacts.
4. Check all contacts (or select the ones you need manually).
5. Click Delete and confirm the action.

Important nuances:

• ⚠️ If the contacts are tied to SIM-Delete them separately: Contacts → ☰ → Contact management → Contacts SIM.
• 🔍 After deleting, check the Recycle Bin folder in the Contacts app - there may be copies for 30 days.
• 📵 This method does not affect contacts in Google Account or Mi Cloud.

Google sync disabled | Mi Cloud | Mi Cloud | Contact backup made | Contacts checked on SIM-card-->

Method 2: Delete via Google Contacts (for synchronized accounts)

If your contacts are synced with a Google Account, they must be deleted via the web interface, which ensures that the numbers disappear from all the devices where you were logged in.

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in.
2. In the left menu, select All contacts (or the desired group).
3. Click on the square in the top left corner to highlight all contacts (or select manually).
4. Click on the Remove icon and confirm.
5. Go to the Recycle Bin section (in the same menu) and click Clean the Recycle Bin.

The Redmi Note 8T will then need to:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Disable and re-enable contact synchronization (this will force the phone to update the data).

4. Method 3: Reset via Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi users)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage service from Xiaomi that automatically backs up contacts if the option is enabled, to erase them from there:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Find the Contacts section and click on it.
3. Turn off the synchronization (slider at the top).
4. Click Delete Data from the Cloud (the option may be called Clear depending on the MIUI version).
5. Confirm the action with a password from the Xiaomi account.

After that:

• ✅ Contacts will be removed from the cloud and will no longer sync to all devices associated with that account.
• ⚠️ If you use both Google and Mi Cloud, check both services – contacts may be duplicated.

On the phone.|Nana SIM-map|On Google Account|In Mi Cloud|In another cloud.-->

5. Method 4: Using a file manager (for power users)

Contacts on Android are stored in the database contacts2.db, which is located on the path /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/. Delete it manually only with root rights or through ADB. This method is suitable if other methods have not worked.

Instructions via ADB (without root):

1. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
2. Connect your phone to your computer and open the command line (or Terminal on Mac/Linux).
3. Enter the commands in turn: adb shell pm clear com.android.providers.contacts pm clear com.miui.contacts
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: This command will reset all Contacts data, including settings and cache, and if you have unsaved changes, they will be lost.

Alternatively, you can use a root-access file manager (e.g., Root Explorer):

1. Open the manager and go to /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/.
2. Delete contacts2.db and contacts2.db-wal files.
3. Reset the device.

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The ADB or root method is the only way to guarantee that contacts will be deleted if they are stuck after resetting or are not removed by standard means.

6. Method 5: Completely reset the phone (last resort)

If none of the methods worked, or you're preparing the phone for sale, reset to factory settings. This will delete all data, including contacts, messages, apps and settings. On the Redmi Note 8T, the reset is done like this:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete All Data (or Reset depending on the MIUI version).
3. Enter your Xiaomi account password (if required).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will return to the “out of the box” state with the firmware that was installed at the time of purchase.
• ☁️ If you haven’t disabled sync with Google or Mi Cloud, contacts can be restored when you first log in to your account.
• 📱 To avoid this, don't log in immediately after the reset. First set up your phone as new.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 8T s MIUI 12+ After reset, you may need to link to your Xiaomi account (Mi Account protection). Make sure you remember your username and password, otherwise the phone will be locked!

7.Result Check: How to Make Sure Contacts Are Deleted Forever

After you use any of these methods, you need to check that the contacts are actually erased.

1. Local check: Open the Contacts app and make sure the list is empty. Check the All Contacts, SIM and Phone tabs.
2. Cloud Checker: For Google: Go to contacts.google.com. For Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts.

Checking hidden copies:

WhatsApp

Viber

If the contacts are still showing up, you missed one of the sources, and then the table will help.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)