Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the urge to personalize a device by turning a boring standard interface into something unique. One of the most popular features that catch users' attention is the ability to display a beautiful image or video to the full screen during an incoming call. It's not just aesthetic fun, but a way to instantly know who's calling without even picking up the phone or looking at the subscriber's name. The standard settings of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS often offer only basic themes that may not match your taste preferences.
Unfortunately, the clean-screen system doesn’t always provide a full-screen “Photo” button for every contact directly through the gallery, as is common in some other operating systems. However, the Android ecosystem and the Chinese manufacturer’s proprietary add-ons circumvent this limitation. There are several proven methods, ranging from using the built-in Themes app to installing customized utilities from Google Play. The choice of the specific method depends on the version of your operating system and device model.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available action algorithms so that you can customize call visualization exactly as you like. We will look at the regular tools that do not require additional software installation, as well as more advanced options for those who want to see dynamic video wallpaper. It is important to understand that some functions can be called differently depending on the regional firmware (Global, China, EEA), but the general principle remains the same for the entire line of devices.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The easiest and safest way to change the look of a call is to use the official Themes app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi smartphone. This method does not require root rights or complex manipulation of system files. The Theme store has thousands of free designs, many of which include not only static images but also animated backgrounds. To find the right option, open the app and go to the Profiles section or search.
In the search bar of the Themes app, type in keywords such as “Full screen call”, “Video call” or “Caller screen”. The system will offer you a variety of options where the subscriber’s photo will occupy 100% of the display area, hiding the standard response and reset buttons until the moment you touch the screen. After selecting the the theme you like, click “Download” and then “Apply”. In the application menu, be sure to check the box opposite to the “Call screen” or “Call screen” so as not to change the design of the entire interface.
It’s worth noting that some premium themes may be paid or require you to view ads to activate. In addition, using the theme can change not only the call screen, but also the style of icons, fonts and settings menu. If you’re interested solely in the functionality of calls, read the description of the theme carefully before downloading. Often the description indicates which interface components are affected by the design.
After applying the theme, make a test call to your number to make sure the display is correct. If the image is cropped or shifted, try choosing another theme marked "HD" or "Full HD", as they are better adapted to modern screens with cutouts and high resolutions. In case the standard Themes application does not work or gives a server connection error, which sometimes happens when changing region, you will have to use alternative methods of setting.
Configure through the system gallery and contacts
The second method involves using built-in Android tools without going to third-party content stores, which is ideal for those who want to install a specific photo from a personal gallery for a particular contact. However, there is an important caveat: the standard Contacts app on MIUI often crops photos in a circle or square without stretching them to the entire screen.
Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want to use. With the built-in editor, trim the image so that its proportions match the aspect ratio of your screen as much as possible (usually 19.5:9 or 20:9). If the photo is vertical, leave the margins on the sides filled with color or blur so that important facial details are not lost when zooming. Save the edited version as a new file.
Then go to the Contacts app, find the right subscriber, and click the Change button (usually a pencil icon). In the photo add box, select the prepared image. The system will suggest framing it - try to match the frame so that the face is in the center and the edges go beyond the visible area. Once saved, the change will take effect. When the incoming call, the system will try to scale this photo, but the result may vary depending on the version of the shell.
☑️ Check before setting up the photo
It’s important to understand that this method works differently on different versions of Android. On older versions of MIUI (Android 10 and below), the chance of getting a full-screen photo is higher. On new versions with Android 12/13/14, Google introduces its own design standards that can force an avatar to be placed in a circle. If the standard method did not work, move to using specialized applications.
⚠️ Note: When installing a photo from the gallery, make sure the source file is high resolution. 1080p) on the full screen will lead to the appearance of “grain” and pixelation, which will spoil the impression of the call.
Application of third-party applications for video calls
The most flexible and powerful tool for customizing the call screen is installing specialized applications from the Google Play Market, with the leaders in this niche being programs like Truecaller, Video Call & Caller Name Speaker or Full Screen Caller. ID. These utilities intercept incoming calls and display their own window on top of a standard “bell ringer”, allowing you to use video backgrounds, GIF-Photos and animation in any format.
Once you install an application, you'll need to give it a number of permissions. This is a critical step, because without access to contacts, phone, or other applications, the program will not be able to function. In MIUI and HyperOS, the security system can aggressively unload such applications from memory. To avoid this, immediately after installation, go to Settings → Applications → All Applications, find the installed utility, and select No Restrictions mode in the Battery section.
Inside the app, you can upload a video or a photo for each contact individually, or you can set a common background for all unknown numbers. Many programs allow you to adjust the position of the response buttons, fonts, and even the voiceover of the caller's name. This turns the call process into a multimedia event. The interface of these applications is usually intuitive: select a contact from a list, click "Edit" and download a media file.
Why can't the app work?
Third-party software has its downsides, and it's a high battery consumption, because the screen and processor are active for real-time video processing. Second, free versions often contain ads that can be displayed when you call. However, for those who want maximum visual impact, it's the only working option on modern versions of Android.
Set up video calls in the Contacts app
A feature that has appeared in more recent shell updates, the ability to set video status directly into the contact card, deserves special attention. While it doesn’t always work as a full-fledged video call (when the video is in the background), it allows the interface to be revitalized. Some versions of MIUI (especially in Chinese firmware) have a built-in feature called Video Contacts.
To activate, open Settings → Lock screen and password (the path may be different). Here you can find the option "Video when blocked" or similar. If your region supports this feature, you can assign a video file to contact. When you call, if the screen is locked, the video will play back. This creates a presence effect, although it only works when the display is turned off until you unlock or respond.
The format of the video files also matters. The system best perceives MP4 files with H.264 codec. The video should not last longer than 15-30 seconds, otherwise the system may automatically crop it or refuse to play. The video resolution should match the screen resolution of your smartphone to avoid black bars at the edges.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on work |
|---|---|---|
| File format | MP4, GIF | Ensures compatibility with all players |
| Permission | 1080x2400 (Full HD+) | Provides clarity without pixelation |
| File size | Up to 10MB | Accelerates loading and reduces the load on RAM |
| Duration | 5-15 seconds | Optimal for the reproduction cycle |
If you use a third-party application, you can also find video optimization options in its settings. It is recommended to use software to compress video before installing it on a call, so as not to take up excess space in the memory of the smartphone and not to load the processor with decoding heavy loads. 4K-Content during an incoming call.
Solving scaling and pruning problems
One of the most common problems faced by Xiaomi users is the incorrect zoom of the image. A photo can be stretched, flattened or cropped around the edges, cutting off part of the face. This is due to the mismatch of the proportions of the original image and the aspect ratio of the smartphone screen. Modern phones have elongated screens, while most photos are taken in 4:3 or 16:9 format.
To fix this, use graphics editors before you install a photo. You need to create a canvas with the proportions of your screen (for example, 1080 by 2400 pixels) and put your photo in there. The empty spaces on the top and bottom can be filled with a blurred copy of the same photo or a monochrome color that harmonizes with the image, a technique called “smart framing” and avoids losing important details with automatic zoom of the system.
The problem can also be in the cache of the Contacts or Themes app, and if the image is not displayed correctly after setting up, try clearing the cache of these apps through the memory management menu, sometimes by temporarily deleting and re-addressing the contact with a new, properly prepared image.
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Tip: To quickly check the proportions, open the full-screen black pattern and take a screenshot. Then in the gallery, crop your photo to the dimensions of this screenshot, so you get the perfect match with the display.
Don’t forget that on different screens (AMOLED against IPS) Colors can be displayed in different ways. Bright, contrasting images are better suited to the design of the image. AMOLED-The matrices that are installed in most Xiaomi flagships, dark tones on such screens can merge with the frames if the smartphone does not have curved edges.
Impact of MIUI and HyperOS updates on functionality
Xiaomi regularly updates its shells, and with each major update (for example, the transition from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14 or HyperOS), the algorithms of system applications change. What worked in one version may cease to function or change behavior in another. For example, HyperOS has increased restrictions on the background of applications, which can lead to delays in the display of custom call screens.
If your settings are lost after the system update, check Settings → Applications → Permissions. Make sure the call app (whether system or third-party) has all the necessary rights, including access to storage and phone. The new OS versions also have more stringent controls on pop-ups, which must be allowed manually.
In addition, new versions of Android (13 and 14) have introduced their own call interface standards, which manufacturers must comply with for certification, which means that the possibility of full customization by system means can be limited for the sake of security and a single style, so reliance on third-party applications is becoming increasingly relevant.
⚠️ Warning: After a major firmware update, always check for personalized features. Often, the settings are silently reset, and you may only notice this when you receive an incoming call from an important subscriber.