Full screen photo when calling Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: 5 working ways

Are you tired of seeing a tiny avatar of the interlocutor during an incoming call on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 9? Want a photo of the contact to occupy the entire screen, like on commercials or friends with iPhones? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones – the standard MIUI interface by default shows a miniature photo at the top of the screen, which is not always convenient.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can zoom in on a full screen when you call, from hidden MIUI settings to third-party apps, how to zoom in without root rights, what restrictions firmware imposes, and why photos are sometimes still small, and how to get around those limitations with minimal time.

Importantly, not all methods are equally effective. For example, in the latest versions of MIUI 12-14, developers removed some options that had worked before, we tested each method on the Redmi Note 9 with the latest updates, and selected only those that are guaranteed to work in 2026.

Why the photo does not take up the entire screen: reasons

Before we get to the solutions, let's look at why MIUI defaults to small avatars. Here are the main reasons:

• 📱 Limitations of the shell MIUI: Xiaomi optimizes the interface for quick call acceptance/deflection, not aesthetics.
• 🖼️ Resolved source photo: If the contact avatar is of poor quality (e.g, 200×200 pixels, the system automatically reduces it to avoid pixelation.
• 🔄 Firmware version: B MIUI 11 and below was a bug that allows you to stretch the photo through the theme settings, but in MIUI 12+ he's been eliminated.
• 🛠️ Third-party launchers: Some alternative shells (e.g. Nova Launcher) conflict with the Phone system application".

Interesting fact: on the Redmi Note 9 Pro and POCO X3 (with the same Snapdragon 720G processor), the problem is solved more easily - there is a hidden option in the theme settings.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a double SIM, Some methods (e.g., changing system files) can reset network settings. APN Your operator in the settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).

Method 1: Scaling through theme settings (MIUI 12-14)

This is the easiest and most secure method, but it doesn't work on all firmware versions.

1. Open the “Themes” app (icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the section My → Settings of topics.
3. Scroll down to the block "Screen lock and wallpaper".
4. Click on Call Screen Style.
5. Choose Full Screen or Enlarged (names may vary depending on the MIUI version).

If you don't have one, your firmware doesn't support it, so move on to the next one.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Update your firmware to the latest stable version

Try changing the region to India (sometimes opens hidden settings)

Install an alternative launcher (see Method 3)-->

On some custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU), this item may be called Call Screen Style and located in Settings → Display → Advanced. If you use unofficial software, be careful – changing themes can lead to crashes.

Method 2: Using third-party applications for calls

If the system settings don't work, you can replace the standard Phone app with an alternative.

We recommend starting with ExDialer, which is lightweight and allows you to manually zoom in.

1. Open the app and go to Settings → Appearance.
2. Select the size of the contact image.
3. Move the slider to Maximum.
4. Return to the main settings and activate the Immersive Mode option.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party calls, disable battery optimization for them in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start, otherwise the app may not show incoming calls.

Standard MIUI

Truecaller

ExDialer

Drupe

Google Phone

Another.-->

Method 3: Adjusting through ADB (for advanced users)

If you're ready to experiment, you can change system settings through Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that requires a computer and basic command line knowledge, but gives you maximum control over the call interface.

Here's what we need to do:

1. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times), then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder.
4. Open the command line in this folder and type:

adb shell settings put global window_light_navigation_bar 0


adb shell settings put global force_fullscreen 1




adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=*

These commands force full screen mode for all applications, including the call screen. Once executed, restart the phone.

Important: This method may conflict with navigation gestures. If the back/home buttons are missing after the reboot, return the settings with the adb shell settings put global. force_fullscreen 0.

Method 4: Manual editing of contact photos

Sometimes the problem isn't with the phone settings, but with the photos themselves, and if the contact avatar is inappropriately proportioned or low resolution, MIUI automatically reduces it.

• 📏 Permit: Minimum size — 1080×1920 pixels (vertical orientation) Optimal — 1440×2560.
• 🎨 Format: Save in PNG (free of loss of quality; or JPEG top-quality.
• 👤 Personnel: The person must occupy the central 60-70% images, without backgrounds.
• 🔍 Contrast: Avoid dark or too light photos AMOLED-The Redmi Note 9 screen will be hard to see.

The following edits are appropriate:

• Snapseed (free, there is an Image Size tool).
• Lightroom Mobile (paid filters, but basic framing is free)
• Canva (cover templates, can be adapted to the call screen).

After editing:

1. Open the contact in the "Contacts" app.
2. Click on the current photo → Change.
3. Select an edited image and save it.
4. Restart your phone (sometimes the MIUI cache doesn’t update right away).

💡

To quickly check if the photo is suitable for full screen mode, open it in the gallery and set it as the wallpaper of the lock screen. If the picture occupies the entire screen without stretching, it will also be suitable for calls.

Method 5: Install custom firmware (extreme case)

If none of these methods worked, the radical solution is to reflash the phone to custom firmware with full-screen calls. Redmi Note 9 (codename merlin) is suitable for:

• 🌍 Xiaomi.EU: Unofficial MIUI Extended settings (there is an option "Fullscreen call photo").
• 🤖 LineageOS: Pure Android, but you will need to install Google Apps separately.
• ⚡ Pixel Experience: Google Pixel-like interface with full-screen notifications.

Warnings before firmware:

⚠️ Warning: The firmware will reset all the data on the phone. Make a backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup. Unofficial firmware can disrupt the work NFC And encryption (for example, banking apps won't work) on Redmi Note 9 with MediaTek Helio G85 (version for some regions) may not work Wi-Fi on custom cores.

If you decide to firmware, follow this algorithm:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a wait of 7-15 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for merlin (instructions on XDA Developers).
3. Download the firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU) and transfer it to your phone.
4. Boot in. TWRP and sew ZIP-file.

After installing Xiaomi.EU, the full-screen photo option will be in Settings → Screen → Call Screen Style.

💡

Castom firmware is always a compromise between new features and stability. On the Redmi Note 9, it is better to choose firmware based on MIUI (for example, Xiaomi.EU), since a clean Android can poorly optimize the Helio G85 processor.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up full-screen photos, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common solutions:

If after all the manipulations the photo still does not occupy the entire screen, check:

• 🔄 Is the mode for the visually impaired (Settings) included? → Special facilities → Increase).
• 📵 Is the mode activated in the plane (sometimes resets the interface settings).
• 🔋 Is battery ultra-saving included (limits background processes).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions