Why don’t you add contacts in the Xiaomi Redmi 9A phone: a complete guide to fixing the problem

The problem of not adding contacts to the Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most common complaints of users of this budget smartphone: You try to save a new number, but the system gives an error, the contact disappears after the reboot or simply does not appear in the phone book? The reasons for this behavior can be several, from a banal synchronization error to serious malfunctions in MIUI.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible scenarios: why Redmi 9A refuses to keep contacts, how to diagnose the problem, and what to do to fix it. We’ll focus on the nuances of Mi Account, memory settings, and hidden system features that are often overlooked. If you’ve tried standard methods (reboot, cache cleanup) and they haven’t helped, you’ll find advanced solutions here, including working with ADB and recovering system files.

Important: All instructions in the article are checked on Redmi 9A with MIUI 12-14 (Android 10-11) and if your phone runs on older firmware, some menu items may differ.

1.Challenges with Xiaomi account (Mi Account)

The most common reason for contact loss is failures in sync with the Mi Account. By default, Redmi 9A saves contacts not in the memory of the phone, but in the Xiaomi cloud. If sync is disabled or the account is not working correctly, the new numbers may not be saved at all or disappear after a reboot.

To check the synchronization status:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Make sure the switch opposite the Contact is active (lit in blue).
3. Slip on the line "Contacts" and click Sync manually.

If the synchronization fails or if it is an error:

• 🔄 Reconnect your account: log out of Mi Account (Settings) → Accounts. → Mi Account → Get out and come back in.
• 📶 Check the Internet: synchronization requires a stable connection. Try switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi.
• 🔧 Update Xiaomi services: go to Google Play → My apps. → Xiaomi Account and Update the App.

⚠️ Note: If you log in to Mi Account, you may have a "failed to connect to the server" error, the problem may be in the regional settings. → Additionally. → Language and region chosen by the right region (e.g. Russia, not India).

2. Contacts shall be maintained in SIM-card

Redmi 9A By default, it offers to save a new contact either in Mi Account or on the SIM-If you choose the second option, consider the limitations:

• 📱 SIM-The card only supports the name + number (without photos, additional fields).
• 🔢 Maximum number of contacts on SIM — 250-500 (depending on operator).
• ⚡ When extracted SIM All contact with her will be lost from the phone book.

To change the default location:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Keep in touch with the.
3. Select the device or Mi Account.

If the contacts are already saved to the SIM and are not displayed:

1. Go to Contacts. → ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
2. Select "Import with" SIM-maps" and specify Mi Account or Device as the target.

💡

If you're often rearranging SIM-map between phones, use the export of contacts to file VCF (Contacts → ⋮ → Management → This file can be transferred to any smartphone, including iPhone.

3. Memory deficiency or database damage

The Redmi 9A has only 2-4 GB of internal memory (depending on the modification), and when it is filled, the system can block the storage of new data, including contacts.

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. If less than 500MB is free, delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card.

If the memory is fine but the contacts are not saved, the Contacts2.db database may be damaged.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of the "Contacts" application

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Click Clear Cache and Clear Data (⚠️ This will remove all unsynchronized contacts!).
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Delete a database file (requires root or ADB)

If cleaning the cache did not help, you can manually delete the damaged database file:

adb shell


su




rm /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db




reboot

After the reboot, the system will create a new database.

⚠️ Attention: use ADB And root rights can cause warranty loss and unstable phone performance. Use this method only if other methods have not worked, and you understand the risks.

4. Conflict with third-party applications

If you use alternative contact management apps (like Truecaller, Google Contacts or Drupe), they can block the standard Contacts app from Xiaomi.

• 📱 Permissions: Go to Settings → Annexes → [Title of the annex] → Permits and make sure he doesn’t have access to contacts if it’s not used.
• 🔄 Default App: In Settings → Annexes → By default, check that the Contacts app from Xiaomi is selected as the main one.
• 🚫 Lock: Some “optimizers” (such as Clean Master) can block the background work of system applications.

To check if the third-party app is to blame:

1. Load your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → long tap on Turn off → Safe Mode).
2. Try adding contact in safe mode.
3. If the problem has disappeared, remove the newly installed apps one by one until you find the culprit.

Load your phone in safe mode

Check for the addition of contact

Delete suspicious applications (Truecaller, Clean Master, etc.)

Reset the settings of the "Contact" application

Reboot the phone-->

5. Mishapes in MIUI or firmware

If none of the previous methods worked, the problem may lie in the MIUI firmware itself. Redmi 9A often suffers from bugs associated with system updates.

Update MIUI to the latest version:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install available patches.

Reset the settings of the "Contact" application:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts.
2. Press Warehouse. → Reset the settings.

Reset your phone settings (last option):

If the problem persists, you’ll have to reset your phone to factory settings, and before that, be sure to export the contacts to a VCF file or sync them with Mi Account/Google!

1. Make a backup of the data (Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. After the reset, log in to Mi Account and wait for the contacts to sync.

6 Hardware problems: memory damage or SIM-map

If the software methods did not help, the cause may be physical malfunctions:

• 💾 Damaged internal memory: If the phone overheats or falls frequently, the memory chips may fail).
• 📶 Faulty. SIM-map: if the contacts are retained SIM, But they don't, try to put the card in another phone. If the problem persists, replace it. SIM.
• 🔌 Oxidation of slot contacts: moisture or corrosion can disrupt the connection between the two SIM-Check the slot for damage.

To diagnose a hardware problem:

1. Try to save a contact in Mi Account or Google Account (if it is connected), if the saving passes, there is a problem in the SIM or phone memory.
2. Install an alternative contact app (like Google Contacts) and try adding a number through it.
3. If none of these methods work, contact a service center, and you may need to replace the memory module or the motherboard.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is in a wet environment (for example, in the rain), do not try to disassemble it yourself. Corrosion can spread to other components.

💡

If the contacts are not saved in any application or account, there is a 90% chance that the problem is hardware, and then the software methods won't help, you need repairs.

7. Alternative ways of restoring contacts

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these non-obvious solutions:

Method 1: Recovery through Google Account

Even if you didn’t use Google Contacts, the system could automatically back up:

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer.
2. Sign in under the same account as on your phone.
3. If you have contacts, export them to the VCF file and import them back to Redmi 9A.

Method 2: Use of a MIUI backup

Xiaomi automatically creates local backups once a week to restore contacts from it.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select the last copy and click Restore.
3. Check "Contacts" and confirm the recovery.

Method 3: Manual editing of the contact file (for advanced)

If you have a backup of your phone (for example, via TWRP), you can extract the contact file manually:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and use an ADB or file manager with root access.
2. Find the file /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db.
3. Copy it to your computer and open it with SQLite Browser.
4. Export the table raw_contacts file CSV.

FAQ: Frequent questions about contacts at Redmi 9A