How to make a full-screen contact photo on Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Do you want a photo of a loved one or important contact to occupy the entire screen when an incoming call is made on your Xiaomi? Standard MIUI settings limit the size of a photo of a contact to a small circle, but there are several ways to get around this limitation. In this article, we will break down all working methods, from built-in features to third-party applications that will help stretch the image across the entire display.

It's important to understand that the customization options depend on the MIUI version and the smartphone model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the algorithm may differ from the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will work for most devices of the brand. If you have a problem when the photo is cropped or not displayed at all, there are solutions in the article for such cases.

Why does the contact photo not take up the entire screen by default?

Xiaomi limits the size of a contact photo for several reasons:

  • πŸ“± Optimization of the interface: MIUI It is designed for quick access to the buttons of acceptance / rejection of a call, and a large photo can interfere with the.
  • πŸ”„ Theme compatibility: Many system themes have fixed frameworks for avatars.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Image quality: when stretching low-quality photos, they lose clarity, which spoils visual perception.
  • πŸ”’ Security: Large images can override important notifications (e.g. recording a conversation).

However, there are at least three ways to circumvent these limitations, and we'll look at each in detail, taking into account the features of the different versions of the firmware.

πŸ“Š What Xiaomi model do you use?
Redmi Note 11/12
Poco X3/X4
Xiaomi 12/13 Series
Redmi 10/9 Series Series
Another model

Method 1: Using standard MIUI settings (without third-party applications)

If your smartphone runs MIUI 12.5 or later, you can stretch your contact photo without installing additional software.

  1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
  2. Click on the camera icon (or "Edit") next to the current photo.
  3. Select a new image from the gallery or take a picture on the spot.
  4. When cropping the photo, stretch the frame to the edges of the screen (if the option is available).
  5. Save the changes and check how the contact is displayed when the call is made.

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11), the full size of the photo will be displayed after these actions.

Make sure that the photo resolution is at least 1080Γ—1920 pixels

Cut the image in the proportion of 9:16 (vertical)

Check that the face/object is in the center.

Save the photo in format JPEG or PNG-->

⚠️ Attention: On Poco F3 And some other models, when you stretch a photo through a standard editor, you might have a black frame around the edges, and that's because of the way you're processing images. MIUI. The solution is to use third-party applications (see Method 2).

Method 2: Third-party applications for full-screen photo contacts

If the standard settings don't work, we'll have specialized tools to help, and we've tested a few apps and selected the most reliable ones.

AnnexSupport for MIUIFeaturesReference
Full Screen CallerMIUI 11–14Full customization of the call screen, animation, support for themesGoogle Play
TruecallerAll versions.Automatic display of photos from social networks, but not always full-screenGoogle Play
Call FlashMIUI 12+Support for live wallpaper, effects when callingGoogle Play

The most reliable option is the Full Screen Caller.

  1. Open the app and give access to contacts.
  2. Choose the contact you want to change the photo for.
  3. Upload the image and set up the display (there is an option "Full Screen").
  4. Save the settings and make a test call.

If the photo still doesn’t stretch after installation, check the permission settings for the application in Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Permissions.

πŸ’‘

Before installing third-party applications for calls, disable the system application Phone from auto-updates. This will prevent resetting after MIUI updates.

Method 3: Manual editing of system files (for advanced users)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with system files and have root rights, it allows you to change the settings of the display of photos at the firmware level, but you need to be careful:

You'll need:

  • πŸ”§ Root access (for example, via Magisk).
  • πŸ“ File Manager with root support (e.g. Solid Explorer).
  • πŸ“„ Backup of the system (in case of errors).

Instructions:

  1. Open Solid Explorer and go to /system/media/theme/default.
  2. Find the file. incall_background.jpg (Or similarly, and replace it with your image.
  3. Set file rights: 644 (rw-r-----).
  4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop.If you are not sure about your actions, use Methods 1 or 2. MIUI change may be reset.

What if the phone does not turn on after editing system files?
If the device is stuck on the MIUI logo, try going to Recovery Mode (press Power + Volume Up) and reset the cache (Wipe Cache Partition). If that doesn't work, you'll need to flash it through Fastboot.

How to avoid photo clipping during installation?

One of the most common problems is when a photo of a contact is cut off at the edges or stretched with distortion, and to avoid this, follow these rules:

  • πŸ“ Proportions: Use 9:16 aspect ratio images (vertical).
  • πŸ” Permission: minimum 1080Γ—1920 pixel.
  • 🎨 Background: If the photo is not full screen, add a monochromatic background in the editor (for example, in Photoshop Express).
  • πŸ‘€ Positioning: Important elements (face, logo) should be in the center.

If you use Full Screen Caller, there is an option in the app settings called β€œCrop Image” that will help you to accurately fit the photo under the screen.

πŸ’‘

The ideal photo for full-screen display should have a resolution of 1080Γ—1920 pixels and a PNG format (without loss of quality).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after all the settings, users are faced with typical errors, and we have collected the most common and ways to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
The photo is not displayed at all.Contact synced with Google, not locally savedCopy the contact into the phone’s local memory
Photo clipped on the sidesIncorrect proportions of the original imageCut the photo in the editor until 9:16.
When calling, a standard background is displayed.Conflict with the theme of MIUI designReset the theme to standard in Settings β†’ Theme
Photo is displayed blurryLow resolution of the original imageUse a photo with a resolution of at least 1080p

If none of these methods worked, check if you have any restrictions on your security settings for apps. For example, the Xiaomi 12T has a β€œSpecial Permissions” feature that can block changing the call screen.

Bonus: How to make an animated photo of a contact?

You want to make sure that when you call, it's not a static image, but a GIF or a live wallpaper?

  1. Install Call Flash from Google Play.
  2. In the application settings, select "Animated background".
  3. Download. GIF-file (not larger than 5 MB).
  4. Assign animation to the desired contact.

Note that animated photos can increase battery consumption with frequent calls, and on some models (for example, the Redmi Note 11), animation only works when the screen is unlocked.

Can I take a full-screen photo of a contact without root rights?
Yes, this is the case with Methods 1 and 2 of this article. Root rights are only required for manual editing of system files (Method 3). Most devices only need to install the Full Screen Caller app.
Why did the photo of the contact drop after the MIUI update?
Firmware updates often reset the settings of third-party applications. To avoid this, back up contacts in Settings β†’ System β†’ Backup before updating. Also check if permissions for the app responsible for the call screen have reset.
Does this work on the Poco X3 Pro?
Yes, all of these things work on the Poco X3 Pro, but you might need to adjust more. For example, Poco's MIUI has the default option of stretching photos in the standard contact editor. Use Full Screen Caller for guaranteed results.
Can I put a video instead of a photo on the contact?
Technically, this is only possible through third-party applications like Call Flash, but with reservations: the video will be played without sound and only in a short cycle format (like live wallpaper). MIUI supportive.
Why is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra contact photo showing black bars?
On devices with curved screens (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the system software automatically adds black fields to avoid distortion at the edges. To remove them, use the Full Screen Caller app and turn off the Safe Area option in the settings.