Previous articleMissing all contacts on Xiaomi: how to recover in 5 minutes (working methods 2026)

You opened a phone book on your Xiaomi Redmi, POCO, or Mi 11, and instead of hundreds of saved numbers, you had a blank screen? You know, contacts disappear after you update MIUI, reset, change your account, or even for no apparent reason. The main thing is not to panic: 90% of the time, data can be returned if you act quickly and correctly.

In this article, we will look at all possible recovery methods, from the standard ones (via MI Cloud and Google Contacts) to the hidden ones (using MIUI backups and developer tools). We will focus on common errors that cause users to lose contacts forever. For example, did you know that linking to a Xiaomi account automatically backs up contacts every 7 days, but only if you have synced in settings?

Before you go to the instructions, check two key points:

• 📱 Xiaomi Account: You have been authorized to MI Cloud before contact disappears?
• 🔄 Synchronization: Is it included in Settings → Accounts. → Google/Mi Account → Synchronization of contacts?

If the answer is yes to one point, the chances of recovery are close to 100%. If it is no, don't despair: there are other methods.

Recovery of contacts via MI Cloud (official method)

MI Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that automatically backs up contacts if synchronization is enabled.The method works even after the phone is reset to factory settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi.
2. Go to the Accounts section → Mi Account.
3. Choose. MI Cloud → Contacts.
4. If sync has been enabled, you will see the Restore option – click on it.
5. Select the latest backup (see the date of creation in the list).

⚠️ Note: If you deleted your Xiaomi account after missing contacts, backups to your account MI Clouds could be deleted automatically after 30 days, in which case move on to the next method.

Log in to the same Xiaomi account as before your contacts disappeared | Make sure your phone is connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) | Check free space in MI Cloud (minimum 10 MB) | Disable VPN – it can block access to the cloud-->

If there are no backups in MI Cloud but you are sure that sync has been enabled, try:

• 🔍 Go in. MI Cloud via a browser on your PC at i.mi.com – sometimes older versions are displayed there.
• 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi with a request to restore data (specify) IMEI phone and date of disappearance).

2. Restoration through Google Contacts (if synced with Google)

Many Xiaomi users default to sync contacts not with MI Cloud, but with Google Account.

1. Open Contacts on your phone.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Contact management.
3. See which account is listed as the primary (e.g. yourname@gmail.com).

If your main account is Google, you can restore contacts as follows:

1. Go to contacts.google.com from your computer or phone.
2. Sign in with the same account as Xiaomi.
3. In the left menu, select Cancel Changes.
4. Specify a time period (for example, “last 7 days”) and click Confirm.

⚠️ Note: Undo changes to Google Contacts only work for 30 days after deletion.

Mi Account (Xiaomi)|Google Account|Both options|I'm not synchronizing.|Other-->

If you have contacts in Google Contacts but are not displayed on your phone:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronize and turn on the slider opposite Contact.
• 📱 Remove the cache of the Contacts app (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.

3.Restore from local MIUI backup

MIUI automatically creates local backups of data, including contacts, if backup is enabled.

1. Open Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Press Local Backups.
3. See if there are files with a date before your contacts are lost.

If you have a backup, restore it:

1. Select the desired file and click Restore.
2. Check Contacts (you can also select SMS, call log, etc.).
3. Confirm the recovery and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Attention: Local backups MIUI stored in a folder /MIUI/backup/AllBackup. If you were resetting your phone to factory settings, these files could have been deleted. Check the folder through a file manager (such as Files or Total Commander).

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If the local backup is damaged, try renaming the file (remove the.bak extension) and opening it through the archiver (e.g, 7-Zip). Sometimes they are kept inside. SQL-Contact databases that can be manually restored.

4.Use of third-party recovery programs

If standard methods don't work, you can try specialized data recovery tools that scan your phone's memory and look for remote contacts, even if you don't have backups.

Top.-3 Restore Contacts with Xiaomi:

• 🛠️ Dr.Fone (Wondershare) - Restores contacts, SMS, It works without root rights, but with root it gives more results.
• 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – Xiaomi Redmi Supports, POCO, Free version shows the data found, but you need a paid license to recover it.
• 📱 GT Recovery – specializes in Android, works with internal memory and SD-map.

Instructions for recovery through Dr.Fone:

1. Install the program on PC (official site).
2. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB (enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. Start Dr.Fone, select Android Data Recovery.
4. Mark Contacts and click Next.
5. Wait for the scan to be completed and select contacts to recover.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party software, don’t save restored contacts back to your phone until you make sure they don’t overwrite. Better export them to a.vcf (business card) file and import them manually.

5. Recovery via TWRP Recovery (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi has custom recovery TWRP installed, you can restore contacts from the NANDroid backup.This method is only suitable for users with unlocked bootloader and root rights.

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
2. Select Restore (Restore).
3. Find a backup with a date before your contacts go missing.
4. Check Data (or select only /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts).
5. Confirm the recovery and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery through TWRP This can lead to the loss of relevant data (SMS, call logs, etc.) if you choose the wrong backup. Always make a new backup before restoring!

If you don’t have a backup in TWRP, but have root rights, you can try manually extracting the contact database:

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db

This database can be opened with the help of SQLite Browser and export contacts to.vcf.

6. Manual recovery from phone files (for tech-savvy)

Contacts on Android are stored in the database contacts2.db, which is located on the path:

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

If you have root access, you can copy this file and restore contacts manually.

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or FX File Explorer).
2. Click the path above and copy the file. contacts2.db on SD-card.
3. Use SQLite Browser to open a file and export contacts to.vcf.
4. Import.vcf back to your phone via Contacts → Import/Export.

⚠️ If you delete your Google or Xiaomi account after your contacts are gone, contacts2.db It could have been cleaned, and then manual repair won't help.

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If you don’t have root rights but have a Titanium Backup or Swift Backup backup, try restoring only the Contacts app (com.android.providers.contacts) through these utilities.

7. Appeal in support of Xiaomi (last chance)

If all of these methods fail, you can contact Xiaomi’s official support, which can help if:

• 📱 Contacts are missing after update MIUI (In this case, Xiaomi may have log files with data).
• 🔄 You deleted the account. MI, 30 days have passed (the data can be restored upon request).
• 📧 You have checks or a warranty card confirming your phone purchase.

How to write in support of:

1. Go to the Xiaomi support website.
2. Choose to Contact Support → Mi Account or Smartphones.
3. Describe the problem in as much detail as possible: Phone model (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3, etc.) Date of contact loss, whether synchronization with MI Cloud or Google was enabled, phone IMEI (you can find out by command *#06#).

Attach screenshots (e.g., an empty list of contacts and sync settings).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi may request proof that the phone belongs to you (e.g. a photo of a box with a phone in the box). IMEI Without it, the chances of recovery are minimal.

FAQ: Frequent questions about reconnecting with Xiaomi