Why Xiaomi can’t change a photo of a contact and how to fix it
Xiaomi smartphone owners (including Redmi Note 12 models, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others often face a problem: when trying to change a photo of a contact, the system either does not save the change or does not offer such an option at all. MIUI And sync with Google Contacts. MIUI Blocks photo editing for contacts synced to Google account if changes are made through the standard Contacts app".
In this article, we’ll look at three working ways to change your contact avatar on Xiaomi – through the built-in app, Google Contacts web version, and third-party managers. You’ll also learn why photos are sometimes reset after a MIUI update and how to prevent it. The instructions are relevant for all MIUI 12-14 devices (including Xiaomi 13T, Redmi K60 and POCO F5).
Before you start, check:
- 📱 Version MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If you have a version below 12.5, some features may not be available.
- 🔄 Contact Synchronization: Settings → Google accounts → Sync: If the contacts are synced only to Mi Cloud, editing photos via Google Contacts will not be available.
- 📸 Permissions of the "Contacts" application: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Permissions. Make sure that permission to access files is enabled.
Method 1: Change your photo through the standard MIUI Contacts app
This is the most obvious method, but it doesn't always work: if your contact is saved locally (not synced to Google), there won't be any problems.
Instructions:
- Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen).
- Find the right contact and tap it.
- In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) → Edit.
- Tap the current photo of the contact (or the camera icon if the photo is missing).
- Select the source: 📷 Take a photo if you want to take a new photo through the camera. 🖼️ Gallery – to select an existing image. 🎨 Avatars - standard icons from MIUI.
"Done."
"OK"
⚠️ Note: If the photo is lost or replaced with a standard icon after saving, then the contact is synchronized with the Google Account.
Make a backup copy of contacts
Check sync with Google/Mi Cloud
Update the Contacts app in the Play Market
Clear the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Memory. → Clear the cache)-->
Method 2: Editing through Google Contacts (for synchronized contacts)
If your contact is linked to a Google Account, you need to change your photo via the Google Contacts web version, which ensures that the avatar will remain after the MIUI updates and will not reset when the phone is restarted.
Step-by-step:
- Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to: contacts.google.com.
- Sign in with the same Google Account used on your Xiaomi.
- Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
- Click on the camera icon (📷) at the top left corner of the contact card.
- Choose one of the actions: 🖼️ Upload photos – upload the image from the device. 📸 Take a photo – if you use the mobile version of the site. 🗑️ Delete the photo to remove the current avatar.
After uploading, crop the photo (if necessary) and save the changes.
🔹 Important: Changes may not be immediately visible on the phone:
- Open Settings → Google Accounts → Synchronization
- Turn off and turn on the contact sync again.
- Reboot the phone (optional).
💡
If a contact photo isn’t updated on your phone after editing in Google Contacts, try removing the Contacts app cache (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Memory → Clear cache).
Method 3: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)
If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to bugs in MIUI), you can use third-party contact managers.
- 📱 Truecaller – allows you to edit photos even for synchronized contacts, but requires registration.
- 🔍 Contacts+ — user-friendly interface with support for cloud backups.
- 📞 Drupe is a minimalist app with quick access to editing.
Instructions on the example of Truecaller:
- Install an app from the Play Market.
- Register (you can use Google Account).
- Allow access to contacts.
- Find the right contact and tap it.
- Click "Edit" (pencil icon).
- Slip on the contact photo and select a new avatar from the gallery or take a photo.
- Save the changes.
⚠️ Note: Third-party apps may request access to your contacts and other personal information. Check reviews and ratings in the Play Market before installing. For example, Truecaller is known for data breaches - only use it if you trust the developer.
How to delete duplicate contacts after editing?
Table: Comparison of ways to change photo contact on Xiaomi
| Method | Suitable for | Pluses | Cons | Synchronization speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard annex “Contacts” | Local contacts | No need for the internet, fast. | It doesn’t work for Google Contacts. | Instantly. |
| Google Contacts (web) | Synchronized contacts | Changes are saved in the cloud. | Internet, sometimes slow synchronization | 1-5 minutes |
| Truecaller/Contacts+ | All types of contacts | Additional features (blocking spam) | Privacy risks, advertising | Depends on the app. |
| MIUI Contacts (alternative version) | Local and Google Contacts | Official decision from Xiaomi | Not always stable. | 1-2 minutes |
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after a successful photo change, Xiaomi users are faced with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
1.Photo resets after MIUI update
This is because of the conflict between on-premises and cloud data.
- Turn off sync with Mi Cloud (Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud → Contact Sync).
- Change your photo through Google Contacts (Method 2).
- Turn the sync back on.
2. You can not crop the photo (the "Done" button is inactive)
The bug occurs in MIUI 13-14.
- Cut the photo in advance in the Gallery (use the "Pruning" tool).
- Or install a third-party cropping app (like Photo Editor).
3. Photos are only displayed in certain applications
If the avatar is visible in Contacts but not on WhatsApp or Telegram, the problem is caching:
- Clear the messenger cache (Settings → Applications → [Messaging Name] → Memory → Clear the cache).
- Reboot the phone.
💡
If the contact photo is not updated in messengers (Viber, WhatsApp), try to delete the chat with this contact and reopen it - this will force the avatar to be updated.
How to Make a Contact Photo Round (Instead of Square) in MIUI
By default, MIUI displays contact avatars in square form, but they can be made round using hidden theme settings.
- Open the "Themes" app (icon with brush).
- Go to the section "My topics" → "Icon settings".
- Select the option "Badge Shape" and set "Round".
- Reboot the phone.
🔹 Note: This method does not work on all versions. MIUI. If you don’t have an option, try installing a custom theme from the theme store (for example, look for themes marked “Round Icons").
An alternative way is to use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) where you can customize the icon shape separately from the system settings.