The accumulation of duplicate entries in the phone book is a common problem faced by smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO when actively using several accounts or transferring data from old devices.
When several appear in the list copies of the same number, this not only visually clutters the interface, but also complicates the search for the right person, and can also lead to errors in identifying the caller.
In this article we will look in detail at how to effectively clear your address book of duplicates, using both the built-in system tools MIUI or HyperOS, and third-party capabilities applications.
Reasons for the appearance of duplicates in the address book
Before you start deleting, it is important to understand where the extra entries come from in order to prevent their appearance in the future.
Most often the problem arises due to synchronization with various sources, such as Google Account, Mi Account, SIM card or memory of the device itself.
If you previously transferred contacts from an old phone via cable or Bluetooth, the system could save old records without deleting them when importing new data from the cloud.
- 🔄 Synchronization with several clouds services simultaneously creates a version conflict.
- 📱 Importing data from a SIM card without first checking existing records.
- 👥 Manually creating a contact card that already exists in the Google database.
- 💾 The Contacts application crashes after updating the firmware.
⚠️ Attention: Before you start bulk cleaning, be sure to create a backup copy of your contacts. Exporting to a file
.vcfwill take only a couple of minutes, but will save you from losing important data in case of an error.
Sometimes duplicates arise due to different formats for recording the number: for example, one contact is saved as +7999..., and another as 8999..., and the system perceives them as different people.
Automatic merging of contacts through MIUI settings
Modern shells from Xiaomi equipped with a built-in algorithm that is capable of finding and merging similar entries without user intervention.
To launch this function, you need to open the standard application Contact and go to the menu controls.
Depending on the version of the operating system, the path may differ slightly, but the logic of action remains the same for all models.
Click on the profile icon or three dots in the upper corner of the screen to open the drop-down menu of settings.
Select item Manage contacts, and then find section Merge duplicates.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface may vary depending on the version MIUI or HyperOS. If you do not find the "Merge" item, check the "Display Settings" section or update the application via GetApps.
The system will offer to view the list of found pairs and confirm the merger action, storing all unique numbers and email addresses in one card.
☑️ Automatic cleaning algorithm
Manual deletion and editing of entries
Automatic tools do not always work perfectly, especially if numbers are written in different formats or names are indicated with typos.
In such cases, you need manual cleaning, which allows you to control every step of the merging process.
Open the card of one of duplicate contacts and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Here you will see a button Merge with another contact, clicking on which will open a list of all entries in the phone book.
Use the search bar to quickly find a second copy of the same person by name or number phone.
| Action | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Selecting a contact | Click on the found duplicate in the list | The system will highlight the selected one element |
| Confirmation | Click the checkbox or the "Merge" button | Two records will be merged into one common one |
| Editing | Check the final data in the card | Remove extra numbers or duplicates email |
| Saving | Click "Done" or the back arrow | Changes will be saved in the database |
After merging, make sure that there are no duplicates left in the final card fields that could have been copied from both versions.
When manually merging, always leave the contact that is linked to your Google account, as it provides better synchronization and data recovery.
Clearing contacts through the Google web interface
If your smartphone Xiaomi is synchronized with a Google account, the most reliable way to clean it is to use the web version of the service.
This method is especially useful, since changes made in the cloud will automatically be applied on all devices where you are logged into this account.
Go to the site contacts.google.com from a computer or through a browser on phone in the full version of the site.
In the menu on the left, select a section Merge and fix, where the system will automatically group similar contacts.
You can combine them one by one or use the button Merge all for mass processing.
The functionality for deleting completely empty records, which often occur when synchronization fails, is also available here.
After making changes on the site, open the synchronization settings on your phone and click Synchronize now.
Why is the web interface better?
The web version of Google Contacts has more advanced algorithms for searching for duplicates than the mobile application, and makes it more convenient to manage large lists using the mouse and keyboard.
Customizing the display and sources of contacts
Sometimes the problem is not the the duplicates themselves, but in the incorrect display settings, when the same contact is shown several times from different sources.
To fix this, go to the application settings Contact and find the item Contacts to display.
Make sure that the option is selected All contacts or specifically the account that you use as the main one.
If you have contacts saved on your phone both on the SIM card, in the phone memory, and in Google, they may appear as different entities.
It is recommended to transfer all entries from the SIM card to the account Google, and then disable the display of contacts from SIM.
- 📂 Go to
Settings → Manage contacts → Import/Export. - 📤 Select
Import from SIM cardand specify Google account as the location destination. - 🗑️ After import, return to the display settings and uncheck the SIM card.
This approach centralizes data storage and eliminates the possibility of visual duplicates appearing in the future.
Centralized storage of all contacts in one cloud account (Google or Mi Cloud) is the best way to avoid duplication in the long term.
Use of third-party applications for cleaning
If the built-in tools do not cope with the task, you can use specialized utilities from the store Google Play.
Applications like Contacts Optimizer or Duplicate Contacts Fixer offer advanced search algorithms.
They are able to find duplicates even with minor differences in name spellings or phone number formats.
However, you should be careful when giving such applications access to your personal information.
Always check the permissions the app asks for and read reviews from other users before installing.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party applications may have access to your entire address book. Use only proven utilities with a high rating and a large number of downloads.
After cleaning with third-party software, it is recommended to check the list manually again to make sure that the algorithms work correctly.
Preventing the appearance of duplicates in the future
To avoid returning to this problem regularly, it is worth changing your habits of saving new ones numbers.
Always check to see if the person already exists in your database before creating a new entry by dialing a number.
Set up your phone so that new contacts are saved to your Google account by default, not to the device's memory.
Go to Settings → Contacts → Account to save and select your main email.
Regularly, once every few months, go to the Google Contacts web interface for preventive cleaning.
How does smart saving work?
Some launchers and skins remember recent actions and may offer to add a number to an existing contact automatically if you have called this person before.
Following these simple rules will help keep your phone book in perfect order without unnecessary effort.
Is it safe to delete duplicates automatically?
Yes, the automatic merging function in MIUI and Google Contacts is safe. It does not delete information, but only merges data from two cards into one, preserving all unique numbers and addresses.
What to do if contacts are lost after merging?
Usually this is a temporary synchronization glitch. Wait 10-15 minutes and check the web version of Google Contacts. If everything is in place there, re-sync on your phone.
Is it possible to restore contacts if I deleted unnecessary ones by mistake?
Yes, Google Contacts has an "Undo Changes" function in the settings, which allows you to roll back the state of the database to 24 hours, a week or 30 days ago.
Why do duplicates appear again after deletion?
Most likely, you have synchronization enabled with multiple sources (for example, WhatsApp, Viber and the phone book create their own copies). Check the display settings and disable unnecessary sources.
Does the Android version affect the deletion process?
The principle of operation is the same for Android 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Only the visual arrangement of the buttons in the settings menu of the Contacts application may differ.