Smartphone owners Xiaomi Redmi 8 often face the need to completely clear the phone book before selling the device or when transferring data to a new model. This procedure may also be required if the list of numbers is contaminated with duplicates or outdated information that interferes with normal operation phone book. The deletion process may seem simple, but in the shell MIUI there are nuances that must be taken into account in order not to lose important data forever.
There are several ways to complete this task: from manual deletion through a standard application to the use of cloud services and radical reset methods. The choice of a specific method depends on where exactly your records are stored: in the memory of the device itself, on the SIM card or in your account Google. It is important to understand that synchronization can play a cruel joke, restoring deleted numbers immediately after cleaning.
In this article we will analyze in detail each available method, paying special attention to hidden settings and synchronization functions typical for budget devices of the line Redmi. We'll look at how to avoid common mistakes when a user deletes contacts locally, but forgets to turn off cloud storage, which leads to instant restoration of the list.
Preparation for deletion and backup
Before you begin to permanently delete entries, it is critical to create a backup copy of them. Even if your goal is to completely clean the device, the situation may change and some important number will need to be restored. The system Android based MIUI has built-in tools for exporting data to a file format .vcf.
To create a backup, open the application Contact and go to settings by clicking on the three dots or the gear icon in the corner of the screen. Select item Import/Export contacts and specify the option Export to storage. The system will prompt you to select a source (for example, “Phone” or “SIM”) and where to save the file. It is recommended to save the file to internal memory or to a memory card microSDif it is installed in your Xiaomi Redmi 8.
An alternative and more reliable way is to use an account Google. If your contacts are synchronized with the cloud, they are automatically saved on the corporation's servers. You can check their availability by going to the site contacts.google.com from your computer. This will allow you to manage the list remotely and restore data at any time, even if the phone itself is reset to factory settings.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting contacts from your Google account through your phone settings will result in them being deleted in the cloud the next time you synchronize. Make sure you turn off synchronization before mass deletion if you want to save data to the cloud.
☑️ Preparing to clear contacts
Deleting contacts through a standard application
The most obvious cleaning method is to use the built-in application Contact. However, in the shell MIUI the interface may differ from the stock one Androidwhich sometimes confuses users. To get started, open the application and make sure that the display filter “All contacts” or specifically “Phone” is selected at the top of the screen to see only local entries.
To delete entries in bulk, you do not need to open each card separately. Press and hold your finger on the first contact in the list until the highlight check mark appears. After this, a toolbar will appear at the top of the screen. Click on the icon Select all, which is usually located in the upper corner or in the drop-down menu (three dots). This action will select absolutely all records visible in the current filter.
After selecting the entire list, click on the cart icon or button Delete. The system will ask you to confirm the operation, since the action is irreversible without a backup copy. Confirm the deletion and the phone book will be cleared in a few seconds. If you have thousands of numbers in your list, the process may take a little longer due to the load on the processor of a budget device. Redmi 8.
- 📱 Make sure that the "Favorites" filter is not selected in the display settings, otherwise only part of the list will be deleted.
- 🗑️ When selecting all contacts, check if the numbers are included in the selection from the SIM card if you plan to keep them.
- 🔄 If the "Select All" button is grayed out, try changing the display view from "List" to "Grid" or vice versa.
Clearing contacts saved on the SIM card
Many users, out of habit, save numbers directly to chip SIM cards. Such contacts are not always displayed in the general list along with telephone records and require a separate approach to deletion. In modern smartphones Xiaomi SIM contact management is placed in a separate application settings menu.
Go to the application settings Contact and find the section Manage contacts or Contacts on the SIM card. Here you will see a list of all numbers recorded on the chip. The interface may offer two options: copy to phone or delete. To completely clear, select the desired entries with a long press or use the select all items function, if available in this version MIUI.
You should remember that the (capacity of) SIM cards is limited, and older chips may not display long names or special characters correctly. Deleting entries from a SIM card occurs instantly and does not require synchronization confirmation, since this data is not associated with cloud services Google or MIUI Cloud. This makes this method isolated and safe for the rest of the phone's database.
Before deleting contacts from a SIM card, copy them to your phone if you plan to use the same card in another device that does not support cloud synchronization.
In some cases, the SIM card management menu may be hidden. If you do not find the corresponding item, try entering the request sim or sim contactsin the search for phone settings. This will allow you to quickly navigate to the desired section, bypassing complex menu paths. After cleaning, it is recommended to remove and reinsert the SIM card so that the system correctly updates the address book cache.
Managing Google and MIUI Cloud synchronization
One of the most common reasons why contacts return after deletion is active synchronization. If your account Google or MIUI is configured to automatically update data, then deleting entries on the phone will lead to their deletion in the cloud, or vice versa - the cloud will restore deleted numbers on the device the next time you connect to the network.
To break this connection, you need to go to the system settings. Go to section Accounts and synchronization (or Passwords and accounts). Select your account Google and find the item Contact. Switch the slider to the Off position. A similar procedure should be done for your account Xiaomiif you are using the cloud MIUI Cloud. Only after disabling synchronization can you safely delete local copies.
| Account type | Path in settings | Risk recovery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings → Accounts → Google | High | Disable contact synchronization | |
| MIUI Cloud | Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization | Medium | Log out of account or disable synchronization |
| Exchange/Corporate | Settings → Accounts | Critical | Delete account completely |
If you plan to sell your phone, the best solution would be not just to disable synchronization, but to completely delete accounts from the device. This ensures that the new owner won't gain access to your data and won't accidentally sync their devices to your account. To do this, select the desired profile in the accounts menu and click the button Delete account.
What to do if the contacts returned after a reboot?
This means that synchronization was not disabled correctly, or another active account remains. Check the list of all accounts in the settings and make sure that there is no checkmark next to the “Contacts” item. Also check the Security app -> Cleanup, sometimes there are recovery functions there.
Radical method: Factory reset
If your goal is to prepare Xiaomi Redmi 8 for sale or transfer to another party, the most effective method is a complete data reset, known as Hard Reset. This procedure deletes not only contacts, but also all applications, photos, settings and files, returning the phone to the “as from the store” state.
Before performing the reset, make sure that you remember the password for your account Google i MIUI. After the reset, the protection system FRP (Factory Reset Protection) will require you to enter the details of the last synchronized account to confirm ownership of the device. If you forget your password, your phone may turn into a brick, which will be extremely difficult to unlock.
To reset, go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings. Select item Erase all data. The system will warn you that all information will be deleted. Confirm the action by entering the screen unlock pattern or password. The process will take a few minutes, after which the phone will reboot and launch the initial setup wizard.
⚠️ Attention: Resetting to factory settings deletes ALL data without the possibility of recovery through standard means. Make sure that you have saved all important photos and documents to your computer or to the cloud before starting the procedure.
Solving problems with duplicates and merging
Often users do not want to delete contacts completely, but only clear the list of duplicates that arise when importing from different sources. MIUI has a built-in merge function that helps merge duplicate entries into one, saving all available numbers and email addresses.
Open the application Contact, click on the menu (three dots) and select Organizing contacts or Merging duplicates. The system will automatically scan the database and offer a list of pairs or groups of contacts with the same names. You can confirm the merge for all found duplicates by pressing one button.
If the automatic merge did not work correctly, you can use third-party applications from Google Playthat specialize in cleaning address books. However, be careful: by giving these apps access to your contacts, you are trusting them with sensitive information. Always check the permissions that the app requests during installation.
The function of merging duplicates in MIUI is safe and does not delete unique data, but only combines information about one person from different sources into one card.
Features of working with contacts in different versions of MIUI
The interface and menu layout may vary vary significantly depending on the firmware version MIUIinstalled on your Redmi 8. The device was initially released with one version, but during its operation it could receive several major updates, up to MIUI 12 or later. In older versions, the import/export menu could be located deeper in the settings.
In new versions of the shell, Xiaomi is actively promoting the use of its own cloud MIUI Cloud, so contact management items can be redirected there. If you don't find standard options, try using the settings search. Enter the word “contacts” or “synchronization”, and the system will prompt you with the exact path to the desired section.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may change with software updates. If the described paths do not match your screen, use the search bar in the settings menu to quickly find the desired item.
It is also worth considering that on some global firmware versions the application Contact can be replaced with a standard application from Google. In this case, the operating logic remains the same, but the visual design and location of the buttons (for example, buttons for highlighting all contacts) will be different. The principles of working with synchronization remain universal for the entire ecosystem Android.
Why did the contact names disappear, but the numbers remained?
This is a common problem when the contact database fails or after a synchronization failure. Try clearing the cache of the "Contacts" and "Contacts Storage" application through Settings → Applications → All applications. Do not delete data, only the cache.
Is it possible to restore contacts after a factory reset?
Recovery is only possible if a backup was created in your Google account or MIUI Cloud before the reset. If synchronization was disabled and no backup was made, it is impossible to restore data using standard means.
Why do contacts appear again after deletion?
This happens because synchronization is enabled. The phone compares the local database with the cloud one and restores deleted records. You must disable contact synchronization in your account settings before deleting.
Are contacts deleted from the SIM card when you reset the phone?
No, a hard reset only affects the smartphone's internal memory and system settings. Records stored directly on the SIM card chip remain untouched.
How to delete contacts if the phone does not turn on?
If the device does not turn on, it is impossible to delete contacts from it. However, you can delete them remotely through the Google Contacts or MIUI Cloud web interface if synchronization has been enabled. This will delete data from the cloud, but not from the memory of a switched off phone.
Is it safe to use third-party applications for cleaning?
Using applications from unknown developers carries the risk of data leakage. It is recommended to use only built-in MIUI tools or official applications from Google to manage contacts.