Smartphone personalization is not just a way to stand out, but also a useful feature that allows you to instantly recognize the caller without even looking at the name in the contacts. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the question of how to make a certain person’s photo appear on the full screen. The standard MIUI interface and the new HyperOS shell provide powerful tools for customization, but hidden settings sometimes require careful attention.
Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi's system allows you to assign images not only from the gallery, but also create dynamic video calls, which makes the identification process even more visual. It is important to understand that the quality of the display depends on the resolution of the source file and the screen settings. We will analyze all the nuances, from simple methods through contacts to advanced design settings.
Before we get into the details, it’s worth noting that the menu layout may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. However, the logic of the system remains the same for all current models. The photo installation function works even in sleep screen mode if the “Always On Display” option with support for contacts is enabled, which is critical for those who want to respond quickly to important calls.
Basic configuration through the Contacts app
The easiest and most reliable way to pin an image to a specific number is to use the built-in Contacts app.This method ensures that the photo will display correctly in all system dialers, including third-party apps, if they use the system phone book. To begin, open the app, which usually has an icon with a human silhouette or phone handset.
Find the right person in the list or search by name. After opening the contact card, look for the area where the photo should be. If there is a gray silhouette, click on it or on the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots in the corner).
The system will suggest multiple sources: take a picture right now, select from a gallery or take from a Mi Account profile. Select "Gallery" and specify the image you want. After that, the system will suggest framing the picture so that the face falls into a round or square area. Make sure important details are not cropped, and click "Save" or "Ready."
Keep in mind that to properly display the full screen during an incoming call, the image must be of high quality. If the photo is stretched or looks blurry, try selecting a source with high resolution. Also check whether the restriction on using data for synchronization is worth it if you want the photo to be uploaded from the server.
Use of Design Themes for Group Calls
MIUI is famous for its Themes store, which allows you to change not only icons, but also lock screen, sounds and call visualization. Some themes include ready-made avatar packages or special effects that are activated when you call. To take advantage of this, open the Themes app on the home screen.
Search for queries like “Call Screen,” “Video Call,” or “Contact Photo.” You’ll see a lot of free and paid options. Once you install this theme, the system may suggest a call style. Note that installing a third-party theme may change the menu’s appearance, but your personal contacts will remain in place.
Within some themes, you can link a photo to a contact group, for example, you can set one style for Family and another for Collegue, and to do that, go to the theme settings, select Call Screen, and find Contact Pictures, where you can upload your images, which will overlap the standard ones.
However, this method has a drawback: when updating the theme or resetting the design settings, your custom settings can fly off, so it is recommended to back up important configurations, and some “heavy” themes can consume more battery power due to the use of animation.
Why does the photo not change after the theme is installed?
Setup of video calls and live wallpaper
Modern Xiaomi smartphones support video calling, where a short video is played instead of a static photo. This is especially impressive on high-frequency screens. To set this up, you'll need a Video Call app, which is often preinstalled or available from the GetApps store.
Launch the app and select the contact from the list. The system will suggest you select a video from the built-in library or download your own. You can use short videos shot on camera or download special clips in a vertical format. The video is usually limited to 15-30 seconds, after which it is repeated cyclically.
The video format is important. For best quality, use 1080x1920 (vertical) resolution. If the video is horizontal, black bars may appear on the sides, or the system will automatically trim the edges. Also make sure that the battery settings for the Video Call app remove the background restrictions.
Using video instead of photo increases energy consumption, especially if the screen is always on, so it's wise to only assign it to the closest contacts, and otherwise, it's a great way to make communication more lively and emotional without even picking up the phone.
☑️ Checklist of preparation of media file
Synchronization with Google and Mi Cloud
A common problem that users face is that photos installed on one device don't show up on another device, or disappear after reset, and this is solved by properly configuring the sync, and in the Xiaomi and Android ecosystem, two main services are responsible for this: Google Contacts and Mi Cloud.
It is recommended to keep contacts in your Google account, as this ensures maximum compatibility. Open your phone settings, search for Accounts and Sync, and select your Google account. Make sure the slider opposite Contacts is active. The same thing should be done for your Mi Account if you use cloud services from Xiaomi.
If you change a photo on a tablet or other phone, it may not immediately appear on the main device, so go to the Contacts app, open the menu (three dots or stripes) and select Update or Sync, sometimes helping to temporarily disable and re-enable sync.
Remember that when you change your account or switch to a new phone, all photos associated with the cloud will be automatically restored, which eliminates the need to manually configure each contact again, the main thing is not to store contacts only in the phone’s memory (“Device”), as if they break, they will be lost irretrievably.
Comparison of image installation methods
To make it easier to choose the best personalization method, we have prepared a comparative table that will help you understand which method is best for your goals: whether it is simple, visual effects or resource savings.
| Method | Difficulty | Visual effect | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the Contacts app | Low. | Static photo | Minimum |
| Design topics | Medium | Stylized interface | Average. |
| Video calls. | Tall. | Video/Animation | High. |
| Third-party annexes | Medium | diverse | Depends on the app. |
As you can see from the table, the standard contact method is the most energy efficient, it's ideal for everyday use. WOW-The battery allows you to experiment with video calls.
Third-party apps from Google Play may offer additional features, such as a slideshow of photos or a profile display from social networks. However, they require additional permissions and may contain ads. Use them with caution when checking rankings and reviews.
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If the contact photo is cut in a circle, try adding white margins along the edges of the image in any photo editor beforehand, which will help save important facial details when framing the system.
Solving Display Problems
Despite the ease of setting, users sometimes encounter bugs. For example, a photo is in contact, but the call screen again has a gray silhouette. Often the reason lies in the cache of the Phone or Contacts app. To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Contacts and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, otherwise you may lose your local history if you don't sync.
Another common problem is duplicate contacts, if you have the same number written twice (for example, one on Google, the other on Google). SIM-The system can be confused as to which photo to take. Combine duplicates: open the contact, click the menu and select "Combine" or "Connect." Choose the main source (better Google) and delete the extra copies.
⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party dial (e.g. from Google or Truecaller), the photo settings in the Xiaomi system application may not apply.
Also check the image file format. The system works best with JPG and PNG formats. If the photo is uploaded in HEIC (from iPhone) or WebP format, display errors may occur. Convert the image to standard JPG before installation.
In rare cases, the problem may be in (permissions) Make sure that the Contacts app is allowed to read and change contacts, and that the storage (photos and media) is available.
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Key conclusion: 90% of problems with displaying photos are solved by combining duplicate contacts and cleaning the cache of the “Contacts” application.
Additional personalization opportunities
Xiaomi's ecosystem allows you to customize unique tunes for each contact, which in combination with a photo gives 100% recognition. In the contact card, select "Melody" and specify a special ringtone. This is especially convenient when the phone is lying down.
You can also adjust the vibration. In the same contact editing menu, find the item "Vibration" and create your rhythm. The combination "Photo + Melody + Vibration" creates a unique alert pattern that cannot be confused with anything else.
⚠️ Warning: When installing video wallpapers on a call, make sure the video doesn’t contain flashes or fast-flashing footage if you or someone around you is sensitive to epileptic effects.
For minimalist lovers, there is a Do Not Disturb mode with exceptions. You can set the phone so that the screen lights up with a photo only for selected contacts, and the rest of the calls go silently. This is set up in Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb.