Losing a phone book on a smartphone is always stressful, especially if there are hundreds of important numbers and work contacts in the list or data from loved ones. Device owners Xiaomi and Redmi often face a situation where, after a system update or an accidental reset, the numbers disappear from view. Fortunately, the operating system Android and the proprietary shell MIUI (or a new one HyperOS) have powerful built-in backup mechanisms that allow you to recover lost data in a matter of minutes.
In this article we will analyze all the current recovery methods, starting from the simplest methods of synchronization and ending with the use of specialized software. You don't have to be a technical expert to handle this task. The main thing is to act consistently and carefully monitor which account was used to save records earlier.
⚠️ Attention: The menu interface in different versions of MIUI and HyperOS firmware may differ slightly. The location of the items depends on the regional version and model of your smartphone.
Checking the Trash and recent deletions in the Contacts applicationThe very first and often ignored step is checking the internal “Trash” of the application. Modern versions of the phone book on Xiaomi do not delete numbers permanently immediately, but move them to temporary storage. They can remain there for up to 30 days, after which they are completely destroyed. This is a kind of buffer zone created by the developers to protect against accidental user actions.
To get to this section, open the standard Contacts application and find the “Recent deletions” item in the settings menu or in the upper corner. If you see your missing numbers there, simply highlight them and click the “Recover” button. The whole process takes less than a minute and does not require an Internet connection.
- 📱 Open the "Contacts" application on the main screen.
- ⚙️ Click on the three dots in the corner or the "Menu" button.
- 🗑️ Select "Recent deletions" or "Trash".
- ✅ Select the required numbers and confirm the restoration.
If the basket is empty, this means that either too much time has passed, or the deletion occurred in another way that bypassed this buffer. In this case, do not panic, as there are deeper levels of backup.
Recovery via Google Contacts accountThe most reliable way to store data in the Android ecosystem is synchronization with your account Google. By default, the system offers to save new numbers to the search engine cloud, and not to the phone’s memory. If you have synchronization enabled, then your contacts are safe on the company’s servers, even if the phone itself is lost or broken.
To restore, go to the web version of the Google Contacts service through a browser on your computer or phone. There is a unique “Undo Changes” function that allows you to roll back the state of the phone book to any date in the past (up to 30 days ago). This is a “magic” button that returns all deleted entries and deletes new ones created after the selected date.
https://contacts.google.com/After logging into your account, click on the settings gear in the upper right corner and select “Cancel changes”. Select a time period (yesterday, a week ago or a specific date) and confirm the action. A few minutes later, after forced synchronization on the smartphone, all numbers will return to their places.
- 🌐 Go to the Google Contacts website from any device.
- 🔐 Log in using the same Google account as on your phone.
- 🕰️ Click “Settings” → “Undo Changes”.
- 📅 Select a date when the contacts were still in place.
⚠️ Attention: The function of rolling back changes in Google Contacts affects the entire account. If you have added new numbers in recent days, they may be lost during the rollback, so it is better to export the current list first.
Synchronization and recovery via Mi CloudSmartphone owners Xiaomi i Redmi have access to their own cloud service - Mi Cloud. This is an alternative to Google that is often used by default in Chinese firmware versions or if the user prefers the manufacturer's ecosystem. Data in Mi Cloud is encrypted and allows you to restore not only contacts, but also messages, notes and system settings.
To check for a backup, go to your phone settings and find the “Mi Account” section. The synchronization status will be displayed there. If the sliders opposite “Contacts” were active, your data was automatically uploaded to the server. You can restore them directly in the smartphone settings or through the i.mi.com web interface.
| Option | Google Contacts | Mi Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Free space limit | 15 GB (total) | 5 GB |
| Archiving depth | 30 days | Depends on subscription |
| Synchronization speed | High | Medium/High |
| Access from PC | Yes (user-friendly interface) | Yes (via browser) |
The recovery process through the Mi Cloud web interface is similar to working with Google: you go to the “Contacts” section, select deleted entries and click “Recover.”
Using a SIM card to port numbersIn the era of cloud technologies, many people forget about the classic method - storing numbers on SIM card. Although this method has limitations (usually you can only save the name and number, without a photo or additional fields), it remains the most versatile. The SIM card does not depend on the operating system, accounts or the state of the phone.
If you previously copied contacts to a SIM card, then to return them you just need to insert the card into any phone (even push-button) and select the “Import from SIM” function. On Xiaomi this process is fully automated. The system itself will offer to copy the found entries to the internal memory or cloud account.
☑️ Checking the SIM card
It is worth noting that modern smartphones often have a combination slot, and removing the SIM card may require a special paperclip. Be careful not to damage the tray. Also keep in mind that when importing, duplicates may occur if some of the numbers are already saved in the phone.
- 📲 Insert the SIM card with the saved numbers into the smartphone.
- 📂 Open the Contacts application and go to settings.
- 📥 Select “Import/Export” → “Import from SIM card.”
- 💾 Specify the target account (Google, Phone or Mi Account).
Restore from local backupSystem MIUI has a built-in tool for creating local backups, which are saved in the device’s memory. This is convenient if you do not have access to the Internet or if you prefer to keep your data under complete control. However, there is one critical nuance: if the phone was reset to factory settings (Hard Reset), the local backup will also be deleted along with the system, if it was not copied to a computer or external drive.
If the backup files are saved (for example, in a folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup on the internal memory or SD card), restoring them is very simple. Go to settings, find the “About phone” or “Advanced settings” section, then “Backup and reset”. There, select “Restore from a local copy”, specify the date and type of data (contacts), and the system will start the return process.
Where to look for backup files manually?
Local backup files are usually located along the path: Internal memory → MIUI → backup → AllBackup. Inside the folders with the date there are files with the extension .bak. They can be copied to your computer for safekeeping.
This method is ideal when switching to a new phone of the same brand. You simply copy the backup folder from the old device to the new one and start the recovery. This is faster than syncing via the cloud, especially if there are thousands of contacts.
Third-party applications and professional recoveryWhen built-in methods do not help, third-party solutions come to the rescue. There are specialized recovery applications, such as Dr.Fone, DiskDigger or GT Recovery. They scan the device’s memory for “traces” of deleted files. However, you should understand: the more time has passed since the deletion and the more actively the phone has been used since then, the less chance of success, since old data is overwritten by new ones.
Most of these apps require root access (superuser rights) to work. Obtaining root access on modern Xiaomi i Redmi —the procedure is complex, requiring unlocking the bootloader and waiting 7-168 hours. Without root access, applications can only scan the cache and visible partitions, which often gives meager results.
⚠️ Attention: Installing applications from unknown sources and obtaining root access may compromise the security system and make it impossible to use banking applications (Google Pay, Mir Pay). Use these methods only as a last resort.
If the contacts are critical and cannot be recovered in any way, try connecting the phone to the computer in USB debug mode and scanning it with professional data recovery software from the PC.
Preventing data loss in the futureTo never again encounter the problem of losing your phone book, you need to configure automatic synchronization. It will take a couple of minutes, but will save your nerves in the future. Make sure that “Synchronize contacts” is checked in your Google and Mi Account settings. It is also useful to periodically export the phone book to a file format .vcf and send it to yourself in instant messenger or email.
File .vcf is a universal standard that opens on any device: Android, iPhone, computer. Having such a “safety copy” guarantees that even if your smartphone is completely damaged, you can restore connections in one minute. Just open the file on the new device, and all numbers will be registered in memory.
Automatic synchronization with Google or Mi Cloud is the only 100% reliable way to protect against losing contacts that does not require your regular actions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to restore contacts if the phone does not turn on?
Yes, if the contacts were synchronized with the cloud (Google or Mi Cloud). You just need to log into your account from any other device (computer or other phone) through a browser and restore data from there. Local copies cannot be restored without access to the phone.
How long are deleted contacts stored in the trash?
In the standard Xiaomi contacts application and in the Google Contacts service, deleted items are stored in the trash (“Recent deletions”) for 30 days. After this period, they are deleted permanently and cannot be restored.
What to do if contacts are restored, but without photos?
Photos of contacts are often stored separately from text data. If synchronization of contact photos has been enabled in Google settings, they will be downloaded automatically if there is Internet access. If not, you will have to add photos manually or look for them in the gallery if they are saved there.
Will contacts be restored if I changed my phone number?
Yes, the SIM card number does not affect the recovery. Contacts are linked to your account (email), and not to the SIM card. The main thing is to log in to the same Google or Mi account that was used previously.