How to put a photo in contact with Xiaomi Redmi 9T: 5 ways + error solving

Why Redmi 9T Can't Add Photos to Contacts - and How to Fix It

Are you trying to personalize your phone book on Xiaomi Redmi 9T, but the system stubbornly ignores your attempts to add an avatar? Or is the photo of the contact not displayed in all applications? The problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones on MIUI — especially after updates or resets. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard way to add photos through Contacts, but also alternative methods that work even when the system is “glutting”.

The main reasons why a contact photo may not be saved or displayed on the Redmi 9T are:

• 📱 Synchronization conflict between local contacts and account Google/Mi;
• 🔄 Cache of the application "Contacts" is clogged with temporary files;
• 📁 Wrong permissions for folder with avatars;
• 🔧 Firmware error MIUI (It is relevant to versions 12.5-14).

We've tested all of these on the Redmi 9T with MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13 firmware, and we're ready to provide a working solution, starting with the simplest method.

Method 1: Standard appendix via Contacts

This is a basic method that should work out of the box. If you've never changed your sync settings, try it first.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen).
2. Find the right contact in the list and tap it.
3. In the upper right corner, click on the icon. ⋮ (three-point) → select Edit.
4. Slip on the camera icon (or standard avatar) next to the contact name.
5. Select the source of the photo: 📸 Take a picture if you want to take a picture of someone right now; 🖼️ Gallery - to select the finished image; 🎨 Avatars. MIUI — standard images from Xiaomi.

Ready.

✔

⚠️ Note: If the photo disappears after a few seconds, the sync problem. → Accounts. → Google and temporarily turn off contact sync. Repeat the process of adding photos, then turn back on sync.

Make sure that the contact is saved in the phone book, not just in the phone book. SIM-map|

Check the available space on the device (needs at least 50 MB) |

Disable VPN (can block avatars from downloading)|

Reboot your phone if the Contacts app has previously hung-->

Method 2: Google Contacts (if photo is not saved locally)

If the standard method doesn’t work, try adding a photo via the web version of Google Contacts, which is guaranteed to work if your contact is linked to a Google account.

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account used on Redmi 9T.
3. Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
4. Click on the camera icon in the upper left corner of the contact window.
5. Download a photo from the device or make a new one through the webcam.
6. Save the changes.

After that:

1. On the phone, open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Turn on contact sync (if it has been disabled).
3. Wait 2-5 minutes – the photo should appear in the phone book.

💡 Useful tip: If the photo doesn't show up, try manually updating contacts. To do this, open the Contacts app, pull the list down (swipe down gesture) and wait for the sync to complete.

Method 3: Use third-party applications (if MIUI blocks changes)

If system methods don't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we recommend Contacts+ or Truecaller, which allow you to add photos to contacts even when standard MIUI settings do not allow it.

Instructions for Contacts+:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open Contacts+ and allow access to your contacts.
3. Find the right contact and tap it.
4. Click on the camera icon next to the name.
5. Select the source of the photo (gallery or camera) and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Truecaller) require registration and may request access to the app. SMS. If you are confused, use Simple Contacts – it works offline and does not collect data.

Method 4: Manually add photos through the file manager (for advanced ones)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to dig into the system folders. On Xiaomi Redmi 9T, contact avatars are stored along the path /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/files/images/, but access to this folder requires root rights.

1. Install a file manager with access to hidden folders (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.contacts/files/.
4. Create an image folder (if not).
5. Place a photo of the contact in it, renaming it in format contact_ID.jpg (where ID — contact number).
6. Reboot the phone.

🔍 How do you know? ID Install Contact Editor from Google Play – it shows technical details of contacts, including their unique identifiers.

💡

If you change your contacts frequently, create a separate folder in the gallery (like Avatars) and use it as a source when adding, so you don’t have to search for the right photo in the total number of shots every time.

Method 5: Reset the Contacts app settings (if nothing helps)

If all previous methods failed, the last chance is to reset the Contacts app settings to factory settings, which will delete all user settings but save the contacts themselves (if they are synced with Google).

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the contact list and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear data and Clear cache.
4. Confirm the action.
5. Reboot the phone.

3. you cannot add a photo to the contact on SIM-map

Reason: Contacts saved for SIM-map, no avatars:

1. Open the contact in the Contacts app.
2. Click Edit → More (three dots) → Copy in the phone.
3. Save the contact in the device memory or Google account.
4. Now you can add a photo.

4. Contact photo is not updated after change

Reason: Application cache is not updated. Solution:

• 🔄 Clear the cache of the Contacts and Phone apps in Settings → Annexes;
• 📱 Reboot the phone;
• 🔗 Turn on and off contact sync in your Google account.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos of contacts on Xiaomi Redmi 9T