Modern Xiaomi smartphones, with their huge displays and camera cutouts, often create visual imbalances during incoming calls. The standard MIUI or new HyperOS interface by default displays the caller’s avatar as a small circle in the center, leaving a large part of the screen empty or filled with a blurred background. Many users want to change this behavior by putting a high-quality photo on the entire screen to immediately see who is calling, without undue effort. However, the system’s regular tools do this not always due to the rigid framework of the interface.
The problem of image zooming is solved in several ways, from using built-in contact editing functions to installing specialized caller applications. It is important to understand that the screen resolution of your device and the aspect ratio of the photo play a key role in how the picture will look. If you just upload a vertical photo, the system can crop it on the sides, and the horizontal one - leave empty fields on the top and bottom. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods that will help you personalize the incoming call screen.
It's worth noting that different versions of firmware may have different algorithms, and owners of older models with MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 may face some limitations, while users of flagships with HyperOS will have more flexible customization tools. We'll look at both software and system methods to solve the problem so that each user can find the right option for their device. Let's start with the basic settings that do not require additional software.
The regular capabilities of MIUI and HyperOS for setting up avatars
The first thing to try is the built-in functionality. Xiaomi is constantly updating its shells, adding new features for personalization. Recent firmware versions have the ability to more flexible control the image of the contact. To do this, you need to open the Contacts app or Phone and find the desired entry in the phone book. Click on the subscriber name to go to the detailed card.
In the menu that opens, select the edit option, usually marked with a pencil icon or a Change button. Here you will see a field to add or replace a photo. After selecting an image from the gallery, the system will suggest framing the photo, and this is where many users make the mistake of choosing a too small portion of the photo, which is then stretched.
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Use high-resolution photos (minimum 1080x1920 pixels) so that when zooming to the full screen, the image remains clear and does not turn into a “porridge” of pixels.
The thing about MIUI is that it often ignores full screen filling unless you have specific parameters, and it tends to keep the proportions of the face or object in the center of the frame, and if you want the photo to take up as much space as possible, you need to pre-design the image in the graphics editor, cutting the extra fields and leaving only the central part that is important for recognition.
Using Google Contacts App to Scale
Xiaomi’s often built-in Contacts app has limited trimming functionality. More advanced tools offer a standard Google app that is pre-installed on most global smartphone versions. It allows you to more accurately customize the display area of the avatar. First, make sure that Google Contacts is installed and is the main one for storing numbers.
Open the app, find the right contact, and press the edit button. Click on the camera icon to add or change a photo. Once you select a picture from the gallery, you will enter crop mode. There is a grid available to help align the object. The main advantage of Google Contacts is the ability to move the framing frame more freely.
- 📸 Open the photo and select the area that should be visible when calling.
- ✂️ Use the “Fix” function to make the image fill the available space as densely as possible.
- 💾 Save the changes and check the result by making a test call.
But even Google Contacts may not be 100% full due to the limitations of the Android operating system itself. The call interface has reserved space for the answer buttons, reset and caller name, so it is impossible to completely remove all interface elements, leaving only photos, by regular means - this will require more radical measures, which we will discuss below.
Third-party applications for full-screen Caller ID
If standard methods don't meet your aesthetic needs, third-party solutions come to the rescue. There's a whole class of applications that completely replace the incoming call screen, called Caller ID or Custom Dialer, which intercept incoming calls and display their window on top of the system, allowing you to display photos in any size and format.
One of the most popular solutions is the Truecaller app, or specialty calls like Drupe, which have powerful numbering engines and flexible themes, and once you install it, you'll need to give it a number of permissions, including access to your phone, contacts, and critically, the right to display over other windows.
The customization process is usually like this: you install an app, select a design theme that has a full-screen photo, and sync contacts. Then, when you call in, you'll see the interface of the selected application, not the standard Xiaomi call, and it gives you a huge amount of customization: you can add widgets, change fonts and, of course, stretch the photo to the entire screen.
⚠️ Attention: Installing third-party calls requires broad permissions.Make sure you download the app from the official Google Play Store to avoid leaking your personal data and phone book.
Instructions for installation and configuration of Truecaller
Consider the setup process using the example of Truecaller, as this is one of the most stable solutions, working well on the shells of MIUI and HyperOS. The application will not only identify spammers, but also allow you to customize a beautiful screen of incoming calls with a photo on the full screen.
☑️ Setting up Truecaller
Once installed, launch the app and log in to your account. Go to the settings section (usually the gear or profile icon). Find the item associated with the design or call screen. Here you can choose a style in which the contact photo will take up the maximum area. Some themes even allow you to hide control buttons, leaving only photos and minimalist icons.
An important step is to set up Android permissions. The system can block a third-party call from running in the background. You need to go to Settings → Apps → Truecaller → Permissions and make sure that all items are enabled, especially “Master on top of other apps” and access to the microphone. Without this, the call may pass, but the screen will not switch to a beautiful interface.
| Parameter | The standard Xiaomi call | Truecaller/Third-Party | Google Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-screen photo | No (only circle) | Yes (100% screen) | Partially. |
| Definition of number | Basic | Extended (database) | Basic |
| Battery consumption | Minimum | Medium/High | Low. |
| Advertising | Absent. | Present (in free version) | Absent. |
Technical limitations and work with screen cutout
Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the problem of having a beautiful full-screen photo overlapped with a front-facing camera cutout or speaker, a technical limitation that interface designers struggle with. MIUI has a customization to hide the cutout by turning it into a black strip, but this solution doesn't always apply to the call screen.
To minimize visual noise, it is recommended to select photos for contacts so that key elements (faces) do not fall into the top third of the screen, where the status bar and the cutout are usually located. If you use a third-party call, check its settings for the option “Contact Screen Cutout” or “Safe Area” This feature automatically shifts the image below so that the camera does not block the eyes of the caller.
Why is the photo stretching?
Also worth considering is screen refresh rate. On models with support for 120Hz, photo animation can look smoother in third-party apps than in stock call, which is sometimes optimized for energy savings rather than visual effects. If you notice a picture "twitching," try reducing the refresh rate in the screen settings to 60Hz for verification.
Solving Display and Resolution Problems
Sometimes users complain that after installing a photo on the full screen, it is displayed incorrectly: too dark, blurred or side-shifted. Often the reason lies in the format of the source file. The system may misinterpret the color profile or image metadata. It is recommended to use JPG or PNG formats without exotic compression profiles.
Another common problem is avatar caching. If you have updated a photo in a contact, but the call displays an old or cropped image, you need to clear the cache of the Contacts and Phone app. You can do this through Settings → Apps → Show all apps → Contacts → Storage → Clear cache. This will not delete your numbers, but update your thumbnails.
In some cases, resetting the call interface helps. If you've experimented with themes in the Themes app, try returning the standard theme. Third-party themes can conflict with system calls, causing graphics to display errors. Back to the drain, you'll see whether the theme or the system was the reason.
⚠️ Warning: When clearing the cache, don’t confuse the Clear Cache button with the Erase Data button.The second action will delete all call history and favorite contacts if they are not synced to the cloud.
Comparison of methods and final recommendations
To sum up, there is no perfect single-button solution for Xiaomi’s stock shell. Each method has its pros and cons. The regular tools are safe and energy efficient, but limited in design. Third-party applications give complete freedom, but require resources and access to personal data.
If you're critical to seeing a full-screen image, the best choice is to install a quality third-party Dialer with good reviews. If you're a conservative user, limit yourself to carefully selecting and framing photos in Google Contacts, which will make a good compromise between aesthetics and stability of the system.
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For maximum effect, use the bundle: Google Contacts (for storage) + Truecaller (for displaying calls), but watch for battery permissions.
Don't forget to check system updates periodically. Xiaomi engineers regularly make changes to HyperOS, and it is possible that in future versions the functionality of the regular call will expand, allowing native wallpaper to be installed on calls without crutches.