You can make a contact with a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone in a number of ways, such as the standard Contacts app, Google Contacts, or even a file manager. But many users are facing problems: the photo is not saved, cropped incorrectly, or simply not displayed in calls. In this article, we will discuss all the working methods for different versions of MIUI (including 12, 13 and 14), and also explain how to fix typical errors.
Redmi's feature is that it duplicates contacts between your Mi Account and Google, so that the photo may not be displayed everywhere or reset once synced, and we'll show you how to avoid these problems and tie the avatar to the contact forever, and we'll also find out why sometimes the contact photo isn't shown when you call, and how to fix it.
Preparation: what photos are suitable for contact
Before you contact the photo, make sure that the image meets the MIUI requirements:
- 📏 Resolution: optimal from 300×300 before 1000×1000 Smaller pictures will stretch and lose quality.
- 🎨 Format: JPEG, PNG or WEBP. Xiaomi doesn't support it GIF or HEIC (If you have an iPhone photo, convert it in advance).
- 🔄 Orientation: square (1:1) is best, vertical or horizontal will be automatically cropped.
- 📁 Location: The image should be stored in the phone’s memory (not on the phone’s memory). SD-map), otherwise, when the card is removed, the photo will disappear.
If you want a photo to be displayed on both WhatsApp and standard calls, use the same image for both apps, otherwise there may be a sync conflict.
⚠️ Note: Do not use photos with transparent backgrounds (PNG with alpha channel. MIUI They can be displayed with a black or white substrate, which will spoil the appearance.
Method 1: through the standard “Contact” application
This is the easiest method that works on all Redmis (including the Redmi Note). 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and other models. The instructions are relevant to MIUI 12–14:
- Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a human silhouette).
- Find the right contact in the list and tap it.
- In the upper right corner, click on the Edit icon** (pencil).
- Touch the current avatar (or an empty circle if the photo isn’t already).
- Select the source: 📷 Take a photo - straight from the camera. 🖼️ Gallery - choose from existing. 🎨 Draw – draw an avatar manually (not available on all models).
"Done."
"OK" in the upper right corner.
If the photo is not displayed after saving, check if the contact is duplicated.
Find a contact in the list and keep your finger on it | Select “Unite” if there are duplicates | Check that the main contact is tied to Google or Mi Account |Sync contacts manually (Settings → Accounts)
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Redmi with MIUI 14 may reset the photo to the contact after the update. To avoid this, turn off automatic sync in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync before editing.
Method 2: Google Contacts (if no photo is saved)
If the photo disappears after the reboot or doesn’t show up in other apps (like Telegram or Viber), the problem may be a conflict between Mi Account and Google.
- Open Google Contacts in your browser or install the Google Contacts app** from the Play Market.
The advantage of this method is that the photo will be available on all devices where you are logged in to Google, but there is a disadvantage: if the contact is duplicated (there is both Mi Account and Google), the system can show one photo, then another.
| Method | Pluses | Cons | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Contacts | Quick, no need for the internet. | May be reset after updates | MIUI 12-14, all Redmi models |
| Google Contacts | Synchronizes between devices | Internet needs, possible duplicates | Any version of MIUI if linked to a Google account |
| File manager | It works even without the Contact App. | Hard for beginners. | Advanced users |
⚠️ Note: If you use Dual Apps on Redmi, contact photos may not appear in cloned messengers. MIUI, It can only be corrected by disabling duplication.
Method 3: manually add photos through the file manager (for experienced)
This is a good method if the standard methods don't work or you want to assign photos to your contacts en masse, and you need access to system folders and a basic understanding of the structure of Android.
Instructions:
Save the changes and return the file back to your phone by replacing the original.
Reset the device.
This method is risky: if you make a mistake, you can lose all contacts. We recommend you to back up beforehand through Settings → Memory → Backup.
What if the contacts disappeared after editing the database?
Why a contact photo is not displayed when you call (and how to fix it)
A common problem on Xiaomi Redmi is that the contact photo is visible in the list, but not shown when an incoming or outgoing call.
- 🔄 Synchronization conflict: If a contact is duplicated between Mi Account and Google, the system can "mix up" which photo to show. Solution: combine duplicates in the Contacts app** (keep your finger in contact). → «Unite»).
If nothing helps, try resetting the phone and contact settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select “Phone” → “Memory” → “Clear Data”.
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If a contact photo is displayed on WhatsApp but not in standard calls, check if the “Show Contact Photos” feature in the Phone app settings is disabled, which is sometimes reset after MIUI updates.
How to Make a Contact Photo Round (If Cut Incorrectly)
By default, MIUI cuts photos of contacts in circles, but sometimes it works crookedly: the face is out of center or the cropping is too strong.
Method 1: Pre-trimming in the gallery
Before you put the photo in contact:
- Open the image in Gallery** and click Edit.
Method 2: manual adjustment when assigning a photo
When MIUI suggests cropping the photo before saving:
- Spread your fingers or bring them together to change the scale.
- Drag the photo with your finger to move the center of the cropping.
- If the interface doesn’t allow for precise centering, use third-party cropping apps (e.g., “Photo Editor”**).
On the Redmi Note 11 and later in MIUI 13/14, a Smart Trim feature has appeared that automatically finds faces. If it doesn't work correctly, turn it off in the camera settings (Camera Settings → Additional → Smart Trim).
How to transfer contact photos to the new Xiaomi Redmi
When changing phones, photos of contacts are often lost, even if the contacts themselves are transferred.
- 📱 Method 1: Using Google Contacts On your old phone, make sure your contacts are synced with Google (Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Contact syncs. On the new Redmi, log in to the same Google account and wait for sync. Photos will be transferred automatically (if they were attached via Google Contacts).
Method 2: Export/import through VCF-file
- On your old phone, export contacts: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Exports/imports → Exports in memory.
- Select the.vcf format and confirm the export.
- Transfer the file to a new phone (e.g., via Bluetooth or Google Drive).
- On the new Redmi import the file: Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Import from memory.
Note: B VCF-The photo file is encoded in BASE64, So they'll be carried forward without loss.
Method 3: Copy folder with photo manually
Contact photos are stored in the folder:
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.contacts/files/Copy it to a new phone in the same location (you will need root rights or a file manager with access to system folders).
⚠️ Note: When importing VCF-Sometimes, the file on Xiaomi has a mistake: “We couldn’t import some contacts” in this case, break the file into parts (100-200 contacts) using services like VCF Splitter.
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The most reliable way to transfer photos of contacts is synchronization through Google Contacts, which works even when changing the brand of the phone (for example, from Samsung to Xiaomi).