Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to clear the phone book, which may be required when selling a device, when switching to a new gadget, or simply to bring order to a chaotic list of records. The standard interface of the MIUI shell or HyperOS does not always offer an obvious “Delete everything” button, which makes you look for workarounds.
There are several effective ways to delete contacts, each with its own characteristics and risks: you can use built-in sorting functions, Mi Cloud services or a Google account, the method depends on where your data is stored: in the memory of the phone, SIM-map or cloud.
Before you start radical action, it is crucial to make sure you have a backup. Losing important numbers can be a nasty surprise if the cleanup process goes through irrevocably. Below we will take a detailed look at all the options available so you can choose the safest and most convenient for your situation.
⚠️ Note: The process of mass deletion of contacts is irreversible without a pre-created backup. Make sure that important numbers are stored in the cloud or exported to a.vcf file before starting the procedure.
Use of the standard “Contacts” application
The most obvious, but not always the most effective, method is to use the built-in functionality of the phone book. Different versions of MIUI firmware may have different controls, some of which allow you to select all the records at once, others require manual groupings.
To start, open the standard Contacts or Phone app and go to the subscriber tab. Press and hold your finger on the first contact in the list to activate the selection mode. Usually, after that, an action menu appears on the top or bottom of the screen, where you can find the "Select All" option.
If you don't have a "Select All" option, you'll have to select contacts manually or in groups. Once the numbers are highlighted (checked or colored), find the delete button, which is often indicated by the basket icon, and the system will request confirmation of action, as a large amount of data is deleted.
- 📱 Open the Contacts app and click on the Organize or three-dot icon.
- ✅ Select “Select All” or select the numbers you need manually.
- 🗑️ Click on the basket icon and confirm the removal of all selected entries.
It is worth noting that this method only works for contacts that are displayed in the current form. If you have sync with multiple accounts enabled, deletion can only affect the local copy or, conversely, delete data from the cloud, depending on the display settings.
Clearing Contacts Through Google Account
The most reliable and manageable way to clean up is through Google Contacts, a web-based method that allows you to delete all numbers at once, regardless of the smartphone model, since the management is on the server side. Once cleaned on the server, the changes are automatically synchronized with your Xiaomi.
To start, you need to go to contacts.google.com from your computer or any other device that logs into your Google account. On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of contact categories. To highlight all the entries, click on the checkbox in the top left corner of the list (above the first contact).
After highlighting all the entries (the number will be indicated in the menu that appears), click on the basket icon or the three dots in the upper right corner and select “Delete.” Google will prompt you to confirm the operation, warning about the number of contacts to be removed.
⚠️ Note: Deleting contacts via Google Contacts will remove them from all devices where you log in to this account and sync enabled. Be extremely careful if you use this account on your work phone or tablet.
What to do if your contacts are deleted by accident?
An important advantage of this method is the ability to batch control. You can not only delete, but also move contacts between groups, combine duplicates and clear the list of spam calls. After performing the actions on the site, take your Xiaomi smartphone, go to Settings → Accounts and sync → Google and click Sync.
Removal via Mi Cloud
Xiaomi smartphone owners often use the Mi Cloud cloud service to back up.If your contacts are synced with your Mi Account account, you can manage them via the i.mi.com web interface. This is especially handy if you don't use Google contacts as your primary storage.
Log in to Mi Cloud using your Mi ID and password. From the menu, select Contacts. This will show you the full list of all numbers saved in the cloud. The interface allows you to select contacts in one or group, but the "Select All" function may not be implemented in all versions of the web interface.
If you don't have a direct Delete All button, you can use the account data recovery or cleanup function. In the Settings or Device Management section, there is often the Clear Data option for a specific file type. Select contacts and confirm the cleanup.
| Parameter | Google Contacts | Mi Cloud | Local removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | Tall. | Medium | Depends on the number. |
| Risk of data loss | Low (there's a basket) | Medium. | High-pitched |
| The Necessity of the Internet | I'll be sure. | I'll be sure. | Not required |
| Impact on other devices | Synchronizes everywhere | Synchronized at MI | Only on the device. |
After cleaning in the cloud, remember to sync on the smartphone itself. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Sync and make sure the Contacts switch is active, then click Sync Now. This will delete local copies if they were associated with the cloud.
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Using cloud services (Google or Mi Cloud) is the safest way to do this, as it makes it easy to recover data through the Cancel Changes feature in case of an error.
Mass removal through third-party applications
When standard tools seem inconvenient or limited, specialized applications from the Google Play Market come to the rescue. There are many contact management utilities that offer batch processing, duplicate search and full cleaning features.
One popular solution is the Cleaner app, or specialized contact managers, download a proven application like Contacts Optimizer or a high-rated analog, and then give the app the necessary permissions to access the phone book.
In the application interface, find Mass Delete or Delete All. Some programs allow you to filter contacts, such as only those that don't have a name, or only numbers with a specific code, which is a useful feature for spot cleaning.
- 📥 Download the contact manager from a trusted source (Play Market).
- 🔐 Give the application the rights to read and write contacts.
- 🧹 Select the cleaning function and specify criteria (all contacts or filters).
Using third-party software requires care. Always check which contacts will be deleted before you click the final confirmation button. Some applications may offer paid features or contain advertising, which is worth considering when choosing.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party contact apps, carefully read permission requests. Do not provide access to microphone or geolocation if the contact app requests these rights without obvious need.
Full reset of smartphone settings (Hard Reset)
If your goal is to get your phone ready for sale or to get rid of all data at once, including contacts, photos and apps, then the best solution is a complete factory reset, which is guaranteed to delete all user data from the Xiaomi device.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that the phone is at least 50-60% charged and connected to Wi-Fi if you need to re-activate. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Select the option “Erase all data”.
The system will alert you that all files will be deleted, enter the screen unlock password or Mi Account password for confirmation, and after the reboot, you will get a clean device, like from the store, with no contacts in memory.
☑️ Preparation for full discharge
It's important to understand the difference between deleting contacts and completely resetting. If you just need to clean the phone book, this method is redundant, but for complete anonymity and cleaning the device before handing it over to another person, this is the only sure way.
Problems with SIM-map and their solution
Special attention should be paid to the contacts stored directly on the SIM-In modern smartphones Xiaomi with Android 10 and above access to contact management on the map. SIM-The card is limited or completely hidden for security and performance reasons.
If your numbers are saved on a SIM, the standard means of the phone to delete them all at once may not work. SIM-card in memory of your phone or Google account. After importing, you can delete them from the SIM card, if this option is available in the control menu SIM.
To ensure that all records from SIM-It is recommended to use another phone (preferably with a classic OS or an old Android), where you can insert a SIM card and use the function "Delete all contacts with the user". SIM». Or use special ones. USB-reader SIM-PC-card.
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Always keep your contacts in the cloud (Google or Mi Cloud) instead of on the cloud. SIM-This protects your data from loss when your phone breaks and allows you to instantly restore it to any new device.
In some cases, cleaning the cache of the Contacts app helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory and click Clean.This won’t delete the numbers themselves, but can solve problems with displaying or hanging the list after mass operations.