How to put a photo on the phone Xiaomi: all the ways in 2 minutes

Tired of seeing gray avatars instead of photos of friends in the Xiaomi phone book? Want to have your favorite photo of a person on the screen instead of the standard icon? In this article, we will explore all possible ways to add or change a photo of a contact on Redmi, POCO and other devices with the MIUI shell (including the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14).

It takes less than a minute, but many users are faced with nuances: for example, a photo is not saved, cropped incorrectly or not displayed in some messengers. We will tell you how to avoid these problems and configure the avatar so that it shows everywhere — on Calls, Messages and even on WhatsApp. And also share a secret way to put an animated photo (GIF) on contact in Xiaomi – this feature is not known by everyone!

Preparation: what photos are suitable for contact

Before you start setting up, make sure your photo meets the requirements of the MIUI system.

• 📏 Resolution: optimal from 300×300 before 1000×1000 pixels. too small images (e.g., images, 100×100) They will be stretched and lose quality.
• 🎨 Format: fit JPG, PNG, WEBP. For animated avatars, only GIF (Not all Xiaomi models support this feature).
• 👤 Content: The system automatically crops the photo into a round format, so important details (such as the face) should be in the center.
• 📁 Photos can be selected from the Gallery, downloaded from the Internet or taken directly while editing the contact through the camera.

If you plan to use a photo from social networks (for example, an avatar from VK or Telegram), save it to your device beforehand.

1. Open the user profile in the application.
2. Click on his avatar and hold his finger 1-2 seconds.
3. In the menu that appears, select Save the image.

⚠️ Note: If you download a photo from WhatsApp or Viber, check if the avatar has been cut to square format, and these images will have to be edited to ensure that they are normally displayed in a round form.

Method 1: How to put a photo in contact through the “Contact” application

It’s the simplest and most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and older devices. Instructions are relevant for MIUI 12–15:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background).
2. Find the contact you want in the list or use the search bar at the top.
3. Slip on the contact to open his card.
4. In the upper right corner, click on the icon. ✏️ Edit.
5. Touch the round silhouette of the avatar (or current photo, if you already have one).
6. Choose one of the options: 📷 Take a photo to capture a new image through the camera. 🖼️ Select from the gallery - to upload the finished photo. 🎨 Draw – if you want to create an avatar manually (not available on all models).

Ready.

Save.

If the photo doesn't show up immediately after saving, reboot the Contacts app or the entire phone. Sometimes the cache interferes with the correct display of new avatars.

Photo is formatted (JPG/PNG)

Image resolution of at least 300×300 pixels

Contact is stored in the phone book, not on the phone SIM-map

The "Contact" app is updated to the latest version-->

Method 2: Add a photo via a call or message

Not everyone knows, but you can change the photo of the contact right during a conversation or correspondence, and this method is convenient if you get a call from someone who doesn't already have an avatar and you want to quickly add it:

From incoming/outgoing call:

1. When calling, tap the contact icon (or number) at the top of the screen.
2. In the menu that opens, select Edit Contact.
3. Click on the silhouette of the avatar and follow the standard procedure for adding photos (see Method 1).

From correspondence in the messages:

1. Open the contact dialog in the Messages app.
2. Slip by name or number at the top of the screen.
3. Select View of Contact → Edit.
4. Add or change the photo in the standard way.

⚠️ Note: If the contact is saved SIM-You can't edit a picture of him by phone or text. First, transfer the contact to the phone's memory: open the card. → More. → Export to the device.

Method 3: How to put a GIF or animated photo in contact

Few people know, but on some Xiaomi models (mostly the flagships of the Mi and POCO F series) you can install animated avatars in GIF format. This does not work on all devices, but it is worth a try!

Here's how to do it:

1. Prepare. GIF-file with animation (for example, download from the Internet or create your own through applications like GIPHY).
2. Save it to the Phone Gallery.
3. Open the editing contact (see Method 1).
4. Click on the avatar and select Select from the gallery.
5. Find your GIF and select it. If the system supports animation, you'll see a motion preview.
6. Cut the photo (animation will remain) and save the changes.

If none of these methods helped, try resetting the Contacts app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Contacts and select it.
3. Slip Warehouse → Clear the cache and Clear the data.
4. Reboot your phone and repeat the photo.

⚠️ Note: Clearing the Contacts app data will remove any unsaved changes. If you have recently edited other contacts, pre-backup through Settings → System system → Backup.

💡

If the problem with displaying a photo occurs only in one application (for example, in Phone or Messages), try updating it through Google Play.

How to change a photo for a contact group

MIUI can create contact groups (e.g., Family, Work, Friends) and share photos with them, which is convenient for quick identification when you make a group call or send a message:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Groups.
3. Create a new group or select an existing one.
4. Click on the group icon (by default it is a color circle with the first letter of the name).
5. Choose to Change a group photo and upload an image from the gallery or make a new one.
6. Save the changes.

Please note that group photos are only displayed in the Contacts app and in the group messaging app, and are not shown in the call log.

Synchronizing photos of contacts with other devices

If you use multiple Xiaomi gadgets (like a smartphone and tablet) or want contact avatars to show up on the Mi Band or Mi Home, enable sync via Mi Account:

1. Open the Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account.
2. Make sure you are logged in (if not, log in to your account).
3. Tap on Contact Sync and activate the switch.
4. Choose Sync Now to update data across all devices.

If the contact photos are not synchronized:

• Check that synchronization is enabled on both devices.
• Make sure that your contacts are saved in your Mi Account, not on your account. SIM-map or Google.
• Update the Contacts app to the latest version on Google Play.

To sync with your Google account:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and activate Contact Sync.
3. Wait until the process is completed (may take a few minutes).

💡

Syncing through Mi Account is faster than Google, but only supports Xiaomi devices. For cross-platform data sharing (like with iPhone), use a Google account.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions