How to put a photo on a call Xiaomi: 3 proven ways + problem solving

When your Xiaomi phone's name is on the screen, you don't want to see a boring gray avatar, you want to see your favorite photo. Not only does it make the interface more convenient, you can immediately recognize who's calling without even looking at the name. But how do you set the photo correctly for an incoming call when the standard MIUI settings aren't always obvious?

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones based on MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS), take into account the features of different versions of the firmware and show you how to avoid typical errors. You will learn why sometimes photos do not appear, how to sync contacts with Google or Mi Account, and what to do if after updating the system avatars are missing.

1. Standard method: through the "Contacts" application

The easiest method is to edit the contact directly in the standard Contacts app, which works on all Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require additional programs.

Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person's silhouette) find the right contact in the list or search at the top of the screen. Click on the contact's name to open the contact card. In the top right corner, tap the pencil icon (Edit).

• 📷 Click on the current avatar (or empty field if the photo is missing).
• 🖼️ Choose the source: Gallery, Camera (to take a new photo) or Avatars (standard icons).
• ✂️ Cut the photo in a circle (the system will automatically offer scaling).
• 💾 Save the changes with the Ready button or tick at the top.

After that, the photo will be displayed on the incoming call, in messages and in the contact list. If the avatar does not appear immediately, restart your smartphone or check the sync settings (more on this below).

Contact synchronization enabled|Photo saved in the correct format (JPEG/PNG)|Contact is not duplicated in the phone book|The Contacts app has been updated to the latest version-->

2. Alternative method: via the “Phone” application

Not everyone knows, but you can set the photo to the call directly during the call or from the call log, which is convenient if you need to quickly add an avatar for a frequent caller whose contact is not yet saved.

Open the Phone app (green handset). Go to the Log tab and find the number you want to set the photo for. Slip the number, then click Create Contact or Edit (if the contact already exists). The next step is the same as the first one: click on the avatar → select the photo → trim and save.

⚠️ Warning: If you're editing a contact from a call log, make sure the number is tied to the correct entry in the phone book. MIUI creates duplicates, and the photo can "stick" to the wrong contact.

This method is particularly useful for the POCO F5 and Redmi K60, where the phone interface is optimized for fast action, such as holding your finger on a log number for a long time to get into editing.

3. Contact sync: why photos disappear after update

One of the most common problems is that avatars disappear after a MIUI update or reset, usually due to inconsistent synchronization between local contacts, Google Account and Mi Account.

To avoid losing photos:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Select Google or Mi Account (depending on where the contacts are saved).
3. Make sure the contact switch is active.
4. Press Sync manually.

A critical feature of MIUI 15 is that if you use HyperOS, some contacts can automatically sync with the Xiaomi cloud, leading to a conflict with local data. To avoid this, disable automatic sync in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Synchronization and manually export contacts to Google.

4.Using third-party applications: When standard methods don't work

If none of the above methods worked, you can use third-party applications, which are useful when:

• 🔄 You need to en masse assign a photo to a lot of contacts.
• 🖼️ I want to use animated avatars (GIF).
• 🔒 Photos are not saved due to restrictions MIUI.

Recommended annexes:

• Truecaller automatically uploads photos from social networks (but requires registration).
• Sync.ME syncs avatars with Facebook, VK and LinkedIn.
• Contacts+ – allows you to set custom photos and themes for calls.

When using third-party applications, consider:

⚠️ Note: Some programs (such as Truecaller) request access to your phone book and may transfer data to third parties. → Annexes → Permits.

To install a photo via Sync.ME:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Register and connect social media accounts.
3. Open contact in Sync.ME and click Update Photo.
4. Select a source (like Facebook) and confirm sync.

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If you are using Truecaller, turn off the General Search feature in the app settings so that your number does not appear to other users.

5. Problem Solving: Photos are not displayed or confused

Even when set up correctly, avatars may disappear or not appear when you call. Consider typical scenarios and their solutions:

Problem 1: Photos are in contact, but not displayed when called.

• 🔍 Check if Show Contact Photos in Phone Settings is disabled: → Annexes → Phone. → Contact display.
• 📱 Make sure that the contact is saved in Google Account, not on SIM card (SIM photos are not supported).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes it resets the display cache.

Problem 2: After the MIUI update, all photos are lost.

This involves changing the structure of the contact storage, to restore the avatars:

1. Export contacts to.vcf via Settings → Contacts → Import/Export.
2. Remove all contacts from the phone book.
3. Import them back by selecting a Google Account as your save location.

Problem 3: The photo is displayed blurred or cropped.

This is because of automatic MIUI trimming, so you can avoid distortion.

• 🖼️ Use square photos with a resolution of at least 500×500 pixel.
• 🎨 Edit photos in third-party apps (such as PicsArt) before downloading.
• 🔄 After pruning in contact, press Cancel, then try again - sometimes the system offers another framing option.

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

Depending on the smartphone model and the MIUI version, the installation process may be slightly different, and the following are key nuances for popular devices:

For HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), an additional rule applies: if a contact is saved in Mi Account, its photo may not appear in some applications (such as Telegram).

Nana POCO-devices (e.g., devices, POCO X6 Pro) sometimes helps resetting the settings of the Contacts app:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Contacts → Storage → Clear data

After that, you will have to reconfigure the synchronization, but the problem with the display of the photo usually disappears.

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On HyperOS devices, contacts from Google Accounts are prioritized. If the photo is not displayed, move the contact from Mi Account to Google.

7. Additional Chips: Animated Avatars and Themes

If you don’t have enough static photos, you can go further and adjust:

• 🎬 Animated avatars (GIF) Apps like Zedge or Avatar Maker.
• 🎨 Topics for calls - in Settings → Choose a theme with custom avatars (like Super Wallpapers).
• 🔊 Individual melodies + Photos - in Contact → Edit → Call sound.

For animated avatars:

1. Download GIFs from the internet or create your own in Canva.
2. Save the file to the gallery.
3. Open Contact → Edit → Select GIF as a photo (not all versions of MIUI support animation).

⚠️ Warning: Animated avatars may not appear when calling if power saving mode is enabled (Settings) → Battery → Power saving mode. Turn it off for proper operation.

If you want to go even further, install the CLauncher or Microsoft Launcher app – they allow you to assign dynamic wallpapers to contacts that will be displayed when you call.

FAQ: Frequent questions