Why you should delete contacts with Redmi 8 and what you need to know before you start
Removing all contacts with the Xiaomi Redmi 8 can be necessary in a variety of situations, from selling a phone to wanting to start with a clean slate. However, before you start the process, it is important to understand a few key points. First, contacts on Redmi 8 can be stored in multiple locations at the same time: in the deviceโs memory, in the Google account, in the userโs memory. MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud) or even on the SIM-This means that simply removing the contact app does not always guarantee complete cleanup.
Second, if you plan to sell or transfer your phone to another person, deleting your contacts alone will not be enough, in which case it is recommended to perform a full reset to erase all personal data without the possibility of recovery.
Finally, remember to back up. If you sync contacts with a Google Account or MI Cloud, they can automatically recover after deletion. So check your sync settings in Settings โ Accounts and Sync before starting the procedure.
Method 1: Remove contacts through the standard "Contacts" application
The easiest and most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app, which is useful if you want to delete only contacts stored locally on your device without affecting cloud copies.
- Open the Contacts app on your Redmi 8.
- Press three points (โฎ) in the upper right corner and select Contact Management.
- Go to Import/Export or Delete Contacts (depending on the MIUI version).
- Select the option to Delete all contacts and confirm the action.
Note that this method only removes contacts stored in your phoneโs memory, and if you sync with Google or MI Cloud, contacts from those accounts will remain intact and may reappear when you update again.
Disable synchronization with Google Account|Check if there are any important contacts on the SIM-map|Make a backup of contacts (export to.vcf file)|Make sure you delete local contacts, not cloud contacts.-->
Method 2: Delete your Google Account (if your contacts are synchronized)
If your contacts are linked to a Google Account, they can be deleted centrally via the web interface, which is convenient because the changes will apply to all devices that are logged in to that account.
- Open your browser on your computer or phone and go to the Google Contacts website.
- Sign in with the same account you use on Redmi 8.
- Click on the checkbox in the upper left corner to select all contacts, or manually mark the ones you need.
- Click on the basket icon (๐๏ธ) and confirm the removal.
After that, the contacts will disappear from your Redmi 8, but only if the sync is enabled. To check this, go to Settings โ Accounts and Sync โ Google โ your account โ Contact Sync.
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If you deleted your contacts through Google Account but they still show up on your phone, try manually updating the data: open the Contacts app, go to settings and select Update.
Method 3: Remove contacts via MI Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)
Xiaomi Redmi 8 offers its own cloud storage, MI Cloud, and if you previously enabled synchronization of contacts with this service, they can also be removed centrally.
- Go to the MI Cloud website and log in.
- Select the Contacts section.
- Click on the settings icon (โ๏ธ) and select Contact Management.
- Mark all contacts or select the ones you want, then click Delete.
As with Google, the changes will apply to all devices associated with this MI Cloud account. To make sure sync is off on your phone, check Settings โ Accounts and Sync โ Mi Account โ Contact Sync.
In the memory of the phone|On Google Account|V MI Cloud|Nana SIM-map|Another option-->
Method 4: Removal of contacts with SIM-map
Many users still keep some of their contacts on the site. SIM-To remove them from Redmi 8, follow the following steps:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Press three points (โฎ) and select Contact Management.
- Go to the Import/Export section and select SIM Contact Management.
- Mark all contacts or select the ones you want, then click Delete.
Keep in mind that SIM-The cards have a limited number of contact storage cells (usually up to 250). SIM-map on another phone, removing contacts from it can be useful for freeing up space.
What to do if your contacts are SIM-mapless?
Method 5: Hard Reset โ a radical method
If you sell or transfer the Xiaomi Redmi 8 to another person, the most reliable way to delete all contacts (and other personal data) is to perform a full reset. This method erases all the contents of the phone, returning it to factory settings.
Resetting instructions:
- Go to Settings โ About the phone โ Reset settings.
- Select Reset all settings (or Delete all data depending on the MIUI version).
- Enter the password from the account MI (if requested).
- Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.
Once reset, the phone will reboot and all data, including contacts, messages, photos and apps, will be deleted, a method that ensures no personal information remains on the device.
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Before resetting, make sure to back up important data. Use Settings โ Additional โ Backup and Reset โ Local Backup or Cloud Services.
โ ๏ธ Note: If the device is enabled with the Mi Account feature, after reset, you may need to enter your username and password from your Xiaomi account to re-activate!
Comparison of Contact Deletion Methods: Which One Should You Choose?
To make it easier for you to decide on the most suitable way, we have compiled a comparative table:
| Method | What's removed | Is recovery possible? | Is it suitable for selling a phone? | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deletion via the Contacts app | Only local contacts | Yes (if there's a backup) | No. | Low. |
| Delete via Google Account | Contacts on Google | Yes (within 30 days in the basket) | No. | Medium |
| Removal via MI Cloud | Contacts in the cloud Xiaomi | Yeah (unless you cleaned the basket) | No. | Medium |
| Removal of c SIM-map | Contacts on SIM | No (no backup) | Partially. | Low. |
| Full reset (Hard Reset) | All the data on the phone. | No (no backup) | Yes. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, a complete reset is the only method that is guaranteed to delete all data and is suitable for transferring the phone to another owner, the other methods are more suitable for "cosmetic" cleaning contacts without losing other data.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When users delete contacts, they often encounter common problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:
- ๐ Contacts are returned after deletion, this is due to the enabled sync with Google or MI Cloud.Solution: Disable sync before deleting or delete contacts directly in the cloud service.
- ๐ฑ Some of the contacts are not deleted. SIM-Check all possible storage sources (local memory, Google, MI Cloud, SIM).
- โ ๏ธ Forgot the password from the Mi Account after the reset. If you performed Hard Reset, but do not remember the data from the Xiaomi account, unlocking the phone will be difficult. Solution: try to restore the password through the official Xiaomi website or contact support.
- ๐๏ธ If you accidentally erased important numbers, check the cart in Google Contacts or MI Cloud โ they can be stored for up to 30 days.
โ ๏ธ Note: If you plan to sell Redmi 8, it is not enough to simply delete contacts. be sure to perform a full reset and untie all accounts (Google, MI, Otherwise, the new owner may have access to your data!