Personalizing the smartphone interface is the first thing that device owners do to make it unique. In the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO ecosystem, this process goes far beyond simply changing desktop wallpaper. One of the most spectacular ways to stand out is by setting a call theme that changes the visual design of the incoming call screen and, often, the melody itself.
Many users mistakenly believe that third-party applications are necessary to install a video phone or an unusual dial design. MIUI And the new HyperOS has powerful built-in tools to do that. You don't have to look for the questionable ones. APK-Files on the Internet to access thousands of ready-made solutions.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can change the topic of a call on your device, and we will look at standard methods through the Topics app, contact nuances, and answer frequently asked questions.
Built-in personalization capabilities MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shell offers deep integration of multimedia content into the call system. A feature known as “Video Calls” or “Call Themes” allows you to replace a static image of a contact with dynamic video or animation, which works not only for incoming calls, but also for outgoing calls, creating a single visual style.
It is worth noting that the functionality may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system and the region for which the firmware is intended. In global versions, some functions may be limited compared to Chinese builds, but the basic mechanism for installing the themes remains unchanged.
The system automatically adjusts the quality of video playback to the current resources of the processor, so as not to cause delays when a call arrives, which is critical, since the priority is always the speed of the connection with the interlocutor, not the beauty of the animation.
⚠️ Note: Using complex video themes can consume battery power faster than standard static images, especially if the smartphone screen has a high refresh rate.
To activate advanced call visualization features, the system may request permission to access media files and contacts, without which it will be impossible to correctly display callers ID names on top of the video.
How to set the topic of the call through the “Themes” app
The easiest and most reliable way to change the design of the call is to use the official Themes app, which is where the main catalog of free and paid content, verified by developers, is concentrated.
You have to open the app first, and if you've removed it before, you can download it from GetApps or find it in the Tools system folder, and the bottom menu or Profile section often hides additional settings, but we're interested in searching.
☑️ The theme setting algorithm
In the search box, type in "Call theme," "Video call," or "Dialer," and the system will list the packages available. Pay attention to the preview: some themes change only dial buttons, others change the entire screen with a videophone.
When you select your favorite option, click the download button. When you download it, the Apply button will appear. The system will warn you that the lock wallpaper or call screen will be changed, confirm the action.
- 🎨 Categories: The app has a separate section "Wallpaper" or "Call Screen" where the themes are sorted specifically for calls.
- 📥 Offline mode: Downloaded themes are stored in memory and work without the Internet at the time of the call.
- 🔄 Auto Update: Some themes may be updated by developers, adding new effects.
It's important to understand that using the theme of a call through this menu often replaces the standard melody that comes with the visual design. If you like the picture but don't like the sound, you'll have to apply the theme and then replace the audio file separately in the audio settings.
Set up video for specific contacts
The unique feature of Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to assign a customized video design for each contact in the phone book, which allows you to instantly know who is calling you without even looking at the name of the subscriber.
To do this, open the Contacts app or Phone and go to the right person’s card. If you have a supported theme or video call plugin installed, you will see a Video Call button or video camera icon next to the number.
Clicking on this icon will take you to a gallery where you can select any video saved on the device or record a new one right now. The system will automatically crop the video to a square or vertical format suitable for the screen.
Supported video formats
Once you select a video, it will be linked exclusively to that number, and when you call in from that subscriber, you'll see the assigned video, and everyone else will have the same theme.
⚠️ Note: If you reset the settings of the Phone app or delete the theme, individual contact videos may stop playing and be replaced by static photos.
This feature is especially useful for highlighting important contacts: relatives, colleagues or delivery services, and the visual array helps you respond to a call faster.
Use of third-party applications and launchers
If standard MIUI capabilities aren’t enough, or you want to use videos from TikTok and YouTube as a buzzer, specialized apps will come to the rescue. There are many solutions on Google Play, such as Video Caller ID or Color Call.
These programs run on top of a standard caller, intercepting incoming calls and displaying their window, which gives more freedom in the choice of effects, but can consume more RAM resources.
When you install these applications, the system will issue multiple permission requests, allowing access to contacts, a microphone, and, most importantly, the right to display on top of other windows.
| Annex | Type of content | Impact on the battery | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Calls (Video Calls) | MP4, GIF | Average. | Android 8.0+ |
| Truecaller | Photos, Videos | High. | All versions. |
| Color Call - Video Caller ID | Videos, Effects | Low. | Android 9.0+ |
Using third-party software sometimes leads to conflicts with the system theme, for example, the caller's name may not appear or the response buttons may be displaced, in such cases, it is recommended to disable the system theme of the call and leave only the third-party application.
Reproduction problems and their solution
It's not always easy to install a theme, and users often find that the video is not played, the call is silent, or the black screen is displayed, and most often the problem is the power saving settings.
Xiaomi aggressively kills background processes to save charge. If the app responsible for themes or video calls is blocked, the video will not start at the time of the call.
To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the Themes or Video Calls app. Go to Battery and select No Limits mode. Also enable auto-start for this service.
Another common reason is the lack of codecs for a specific video format. If you downloaded a theme from a third-party source, make sure the video is encoded in a compatible H.264 format.
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Tip: If the video call slows down, try to reduce the resolution of the video file to 720p. On a small screen of a smartphone, the difference in quality will be invisible, and the load on the processor will decrease.
It’s also worth checking whether Do Not Disturb or Silent Mode is enabled, as in some theme configurations, this can block not only sound but also visuals.
Return to standard settings
If you're tired of experimenting with themes or a new theme is causing a phone malfunction, you can always go back to the factory design, and it's done through the same app where the installation was made.
Open the Themes app, go to Profile (usually the icon of the man in the corner), select the Themes tab, and you'll see a list of all the designs you've installed, and find a theme called Classic, Defult, or Standard.
Click on it and select Apply.This action will completely reset all the changes made to the call interface, returning the standard gray or white background and system melody.
- 🗑️ Remove: To free up space, remove downloaded themes from the “Downloads” list in your profile.
- 🔄 Contact reset: Individual contact videos are automatically deleted when the topic is changed to a standard one.
- ⚙️ Call settings: Check the call settings menu for residual video player settings.
A return to classics also helps to solve problems if, after installing a "heavy" theme, the phone starts to run slower.Standard system resources are optimized best and guarantee stability.
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Timely return to a standard topic is the best way to diagnose phone problems, and if the calls work well after the topic is reset, it's a third-party conflict.