How to deploy a full-screen contact photo on Xiaomi: all the ways (including hidden)

Why a contact photo doesn’t open to the full screen and what to do about it

You're trying to look at a photo of a contact in Xiaomi, but instead of a full-screen view, you only see a thumbnail in the top corner? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones on MIUI, the brand's brand shell. The reasons can range from bugs in the firmware to incorrect gallery settings. In this article, we'll look at all the working methods, including little-known chips that will help you deploy a photo of the contact to the full screen even on older Redmi or POCO models.

It’s important to understand that the interface behavior depends on the version of MIUI. For example, in MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, the contact display algorithm differs from MIUI 14/15. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal solutions that work on most devices, from the Xiaomi Mi 9 to the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. If the standard methods do not work, you will find alternative options here, including workarounds through third-party applications.

Before you start, check two things: 1 Make sure that the contact photo is saved in high resolution (not stretched thumbnail from WhatsApp or Telegram). 2 Update the Contacts app via Google Play - sometimes bugs are fixed there, and not in the firmware.

Method 1: Standard deployment through the Contacts app

The most obvious method is to use the built-in capabilities of the Contacts app (aka Contacts or People in global firmware).

1. Open the Contacts app and find the contact you want in the list.
2. Touch the contact avatar with one finger, and an enlarged preview should appear.
3. Make a double touch on the photo or use a two-finger gesture (as in the gallery).
4. If the photo turns around, but is cropped at the edges, try turning the screen (if the autoturn is enabled in the settings).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10 s MIUI 13) If you do that, you might not be able to do it. 2-3 Seconds – sometimes it triggers a context menu with the option to open to the full screen.

• 🔍 The photo does not unfold, but opens in a separate window with black fields.
• 🛠 Solution: Go to the Contacts app settings → Display → Contact card style and select the Large option.
• ⚙️ Alternative: If you don’t have an option, update the app via Google Play (sometimes new features appear earlier than in firmware).

Check the resolution of the original photo (at least 500×500 px)

Update the Contacts app to the latest version

Turn on the screen autoturn in the notification curtain

Clear the cache of the Contacts app (Settings) → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse)-->

Method 2: View through the Gallery app (bypass)

If the standard method didn't work, you can go a roundabout, find a photo of the contact in the phone's memory and open it through the Gallery.

1. Connect your phone to your computer or use a file explorer (such as Mi File Manager).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.contacts/files/ Contact avatars (files with.jpg extension and random names) are stored here.
3. Copy the desired photo to the DCIM folder or to the desktop PC.
4. Open the photo through the Gallery – now it can be deployed to the full screen and even edited.

🔹 Note: If the com.android.contacts folder is empty, then the contact photo is not saved locally, but is downloaded from Google Contacts or Mi Cloud).

Method 3: Use the Quick View function (MIUI 14+)

The latest versions of MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 have a Quick View feature that allows you to deploy a contact photo directly from a call list or SMS.

1. Open the Phone app and find the contact in the call log.
2. Touch the contact avatar and hold your finger for 1-2 seconds.
3. You'll see a pop-up with a big picture. 🔍 (magnifying glass) in upper right corner.
4. The photo will open on the full screen with the possibility of zooming.

🔹 Nuance: This feature doesn't work on all models. If the magnifier icon isn't there, your firmware doesn't support Quick View. In this case, try upgrading to the latest version. MIUI or use Method 5 (Side of Application).

• ✅ Pros of the method: Quickly, does not require additional actions.
• ❌ Cons: Works only on new firmware, there is no option to save photos.
• 💡 Tip: If the photo is blurry, try updating the contact avatar (sometimes). MIUI compresses old images).

💡

If you have a Redmi or POCO with global firmware, check for the "Fast View" function in the settings of the Phone: Open Phone → ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Additionally. → Quick contact review.

Method 4: Export photos from Google Contacts or Mi Cloud

If the contact avatar is synced to a Google Account or Mi Cloud, it can be exported via the web version of the service.

1. Open contacts.google.com (for Google Contacts) or i.mi.com (for Mi Cloud) on your computer.
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Find the right contact and click on his avatar.
4. On Google Contacts, click ⋮ → In Mi Cloud, right-click on the photo and select Save as....
5. Throw the saved photo on your phone and open it through the Gallery.

⚠️ Note: In Mi Cloud, contact photos are stored in low resolution (maximum) 300×300 If you want a high-quality image, use Google Contacts – the resolution is higher.

Method 5: Third-party applications for viewing contacts

If the built-in methods don't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we tested a few options and picked the best ones.

• 📱 Truecaller -- shows high-resolution contact photos, full-screen deployment options. SMS.
• 🖼️ Simple Contacts is a lightweight app with double tap avatar augmentation. Plus: no ads.
• 🔍 Contacts+ — You can edit your contacts and open them in full screen. Nuance: The free version has watermarks.

How to set up:

1. Install one of the apps (such as Simple Contacts) from Google Play.
2. At the first start, give access to contacts.
3. Find the right contact and touch his avatar.
4. Most applications support a double-touch or finger-stretch gesture for deployment.

🔹 Important: After installing a third-party app, do not delete standard Contacts - this can disrupt system functions (such as calls.

💡

The app side is the only reliable way to turn a photo of a contact to the full screen if the built-in MIUI functionality doesn't work, but it requires additional permissions and can collect data.

Method 6: ADB-commands for experienced users (unlocking hidden functions)

If you’re ready to dive into the technical details, you can try unlocking hidden MIUI options through ADB. This method is suitable for advanced users and requires a computer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB (download).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap according to the version → Return to Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with ADB Enter: adb shell settings put global contacts_photo_fullscreen 1 This command includes a hidden full-screen viewing option.
3. Reboot your phone: adb reboot
4. After the reboot, try opening the contact photo – now it should unfold to the full screen.

⚠️ Note: Not all versions MIUI If nothing has changed since the reboot, put the value back in place:

adb shell settings put global contacts_photo_fullscreen 0

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 10 Pro), this command can cause the Contacts app to crash. Make a backup before experimenting!

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even after you've done all the things you can do, you can run into problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

• 🚫 The photo does not unfold, but opens in a small window: → Check if the One-Hand mode is enabled in the screen settings. → Install a third-party contact app (see Method 5).
• 🔄 Photo blurred or pixelated: → Remove the current avatar and download it again in high resolution. → Check if the photo is compressed in the sync settings (for example, in Mi Cloud).
• 📵 No deployment option in MIUI 12: → Update the firmware to MIUI 13+ (if possible). → Use it. ADB-team from Method 6.
• 🔒 No access to the avatar folder: → Copy photos through Google Contacts (see Method 4). → Install a file manager with root access (e.g., Root Explorer).

🔹 Advice for owners POCO: In the global firmware POCO Launcher sometimes blocks magnification gestures. Try changing the launcher to a standard one. MIUI or Nova Launcher.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions