Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users extensive personalization options, turning standard features into a unique experience. One of the most popular settings is to set your own image to an incoming call, which allows you to instantly recognize the interlocutor before you respond. However, standard system settings often limit the user to only offering a round avatar or cropping photos, which is especially noticeable on screens with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and 20:9.
Owners of devices running MIUI shells and the new HyperOS may find themselves in a situation where a photo of the person is displayed as a small circle when an incoming call leaves a large part of the display empty or occupied by standard buttons. This is not only unaesthetic, but also less functional, because high-quality photos help to navigate the flow of incoming connections faster.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the ways you can set a full-screen image when you call, from basic phone book features to the use of customized apps and design themes. You’ll learn why black bars appear at the edges of the screen, how to properly prepare a photo for the perfect display, and what hidden settings you might need to achieve the desired result on your Redmi or Poco.
Standard features of photo contact installation in MIUI
You can start with the basic functionality that the operating system itself provides. In most cases, users limit themselves to adding photos through the Contacts or Phone app, without knowing about the nuances that affect the final result. To install the image, you need to open the Contacts app, select the desired subscriber from the list and click on the edit button or camera icon. After selecting the image from the gallery, the system will offer to fram the picture, but the cropping area is often limited to a square or circle.
The problem with the standard method is that the system interface of a call often ignores the edges of a photo, focusing on the center part. Even if you upload a high-resolution image, the MIUI algorithms can automatically compress it to a round avatar, especially in horizontal orientation or when using certain design themes, this is because not only the phonebook itself is responsible for the output of the image, but also the active theme installed on the system.
It is important to note that the quality of the display depends on the resolution of the original file. If the photo is too small, the system will stretch it, which will lead to “grain” and pixelation on the screen. For modern displays Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi series, it is recommended to use images with a resolution of at least 1080×2400 pixels, so that when zooming the picture remains clear.
- 📸 Open the Contacts app and find the right subscriber in the list.
- ✏️ Click on the pencil icon or Change button to go into editing mode.
- 🖼️ Select the option to add a photo and upload the image from the gallery of the device.
- 🔄 When framing, try to leave a little space around your face, as the system can further trim the edges.
Remember, the standard method works most consistently, but has the least flexibility in display settings. If your goal is to take a full-screen photo with no black bezels and minimal distortion, built-in tools alone may not be enough and you need to turn to more advanced customization methods.
Use of design themes for full-screen Caller ID
One of the most effective ways to get a contact photo to occupy the entire screen is to change the theme. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, themes are not just a set of icons, but complex files that change the appearance of system applications, including the lock screen and the incoming call interface. Many users do not know what the theme dictates whether the photo will be round, square or full-screen.
To find the right theme, go to the Themes app, which is preinstalled on each Redmi device. In the search bar, it is recommended to enter queries in English, such as "Full screen caller", "Big photo caller" or "Photo dialer", since there may be fewer Russian analogues. When viewing the preview of the topic, pay attention to the screenshots of the call screen: if there is a large photo, then the the the theme supports this function.
Why do some topics not work?
Once the theme is installed, the system will adopt a new interface style. However, even with the theme installed, it is important to adjust the display correctly. In some cases, you need to additionally activate the function in the theme settings or in system settings. For example, in new versions of HyperOS, controls can be spread out across different menus, so it is worth checking the Settings → Wallpaper and Personalization → Theme section.
- 🎨 Go to the Topics app on the home screen or in the Tools folder».
- 🔍 Enter the search for "Full screen caller" ID» or similar in English.
- ⬇️ Download and apply the theme, first making sure from the screenshots that it supports large photos.
- ⚙️ Check the theme settings to make sure the call style is activated.
⚠️ Warning: Installing themes from unofficial sources or modified files can lead to unstable system operation. Use only a proven Mi Store store or official resources.
Themes are a balance between functionality and design. The theme you choose will change not only the call screen, but also the icons, system sounds and fonts. If you're only happy with the call feature and don't like the rest of the design, you can try to change only the icons back to the standard ones after you set the theme and set the contacts, although the call interface is most often tied to the the theme globally.
Use of third-party applications for calls
If built-in tools and themes don’t work, third-party apps come to the rescue from the Google Play store. There are many replacement programs for the standard “caller” that offer advanced Caller ID management features. Such applications take full control of the incoming call process, displaying the photo as intended by the developer, often ignoring the system limitations of MIUI.
One popular solution is Truecaller, or specialized dialers like Simple Dialer with plugins, which, when you install it, you'll ask permission to use contacts and phone calls, and once you've granted permission and installed the app as your primary call, it'll start displaying contacts in its interface, and many of them will automatically stretch your photos to the full screen.
☑️ Set up a third-party Dialer
But it has its own peculiarities: Third-party applications can consume more battery life, as they must be constantly hanging in the background, waiting for a call. In addition, in the context of aggressive memory optimization in Xiaomi, the system can kill the call process, which will delay the appearance of the screen or reset the call. To avoid this, you need to fix the application in memory.
To lock the application in memory, open the menu of running applications (bottom-up swipe and retention), find the window of your new call, click on it and select the lock icon. This will prevent the system from closing the application when cleaning the memory. Also in the battery settings (Settings) → Annexes → All applications → [Your call] → Battery: Select the "No Limits" mode».
- 📲 Download the selected app for calls from Google Play.
- 🔐 Provide all necessary permissions at the first launch.
- 📞 Assign the application to the main for making calls in system settings.
- 🔋 Turn off battery savings for this application in system settings.
Using third-party software is a powerful tool that gives you maximum control over the appearance. You can customize fonts, button position and, of course, the size of the photo. This is ideal for those who want a unique interface that does not depend on the vagaries of Xiaomi system updates.
Preparing the image for the perfect display
The quality and proportions of the original file play a critical role in how the photo will look on the screen. The displays of modern Redmi smartphones have elongated proportions, for example 20:9. If you download a standard square photo, the system will either crop it on the sides or leave black bars on the top and bottom. To avoid this, the image must be pre-prepared.
Use any graphics editor, such as those built into the MIUI gallery or apps like Snapseed, to get the image to your smartphone's screen resolution. You can find out the exact resolution from the Settings menu → About the phone → All the settings that show the display characteristics. Most often, these are values like 2400×1080 or 2340×1080 pixels.
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Use the “Holst” or “Canvas” function in editors to add a blurred background to a vertical photo, turning it into a horizontal full-screen image without losing face quality.
When editing, it is important to consider the blind spots. The top and bottom of the screen during the call are the controls: reset button, call take, contact name and speaker. If you place the face of the interlocutor in the center without these elements, the buttons can overlap important details of the image. It is recommended to place the main object (face) with a shift to the center, leaving the edges free or filled with background color.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Minimum 1080p (1080×2400) | Avoids blurring and pixelation |
| Format | JPEG or PNG | Ensures compatibility with all applications |
| Orientation | Portrait (vertical) | Corresponds to the position of the phone in the ear |
| File size | Up to 5MB | Quick loading on incoming call |
Another important aspect is color reproduction. The AMOLED screens used in Xiaomi’s flagship models are rich in color. An image that looks good in the gallery may look too bright on the call screen or, conversely, dim due to the overlay of system filters. It is recommended to slightly increase the contrast and brightness of the photo when editing, so that it reads well even when the “Vision Protection” mode is turned on.
⚠️ Note: Do not use images with transparent background (format) PNG alpha channel for system contacts if you are not sure of the support of the topic, transparency can be replaced by black or white, spoiling the composition.
Solving blackfield problems and distortions
A common problem when setting up a full screen photo is black bars on the sides or top/bottom, either because of a mismatch in the aspect ratio of the photo and screen, or because of the settings of a particular theme. If you see black bars, first check whether Full Screen Mode is activated for the Phone or Contacts app in the display settings.
Go to Settings → Screen → Full-screen mode (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI). Find a system application for calling in the list and try to change the setting. However, most often the problem lies in the theme file itself. Some topics rigidly specify the display area of the avatar, and you can not change this without changing the topic.
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Black bars are most often caused not by phone settings, but by the limitations of the chosen theme or the incorrect proportions of the original image.
Sometimes distortions occur after a system update. Xiaomi regularly updates its shells, and new versions can break compatibility with old themes. If after an Android or MIUI update, the photo stopped showing to the full screen, try resetting the theme to a standard one, and then reapplying the custom theme. Also, cleaning the cache of the Themes app through the Settings menu → All Apps → All Apps → Themes → Storage → Clear the cache can help.
- 📐 Check the aspect ratio of the image and bring it to the screen format (usually 20:9).
- 🎨 Change the theme to another, with Full Screen Caller support ID.
- 🧹 Clear the cache of the “Themes” and “Contacts” apps to reset graphical settings.
- 🔄 Make sure that the display settings do not include zoom modes, edge trimming.
In rare cases, the problem may be related to a specific image compression format. Try resaving the photo in another graphics editor by changing the compression quality. Sometimes, JPEG compression artifacts may be misinterpreted by the system renderer when displaying a lock or call.
Display settings for video calls and messengers
It is worth mentioning that the methods described above mainly concern conventional voice calls through the Internet. SIM-Video calls via messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) work differently, as they use their own interfaces and do not depend on the system phone book to the same extent. However, for some messengers, you can configure the display of a photo of the contact, which will be visible before responding to a video call.
In WhatsApp and Telegram, a photo is taken from a user profile inside the app. To display it correctly, you need to upload the avatar directly to the contact profile inside the messenger. Xiaomi's system settings are of secondary importance here. However, in the MIUI notification settings, you can include an advanced notification style that allows you to display a preview of a caller's photo on a locked screen.
How to enable extended notifications?
Video calls also require camera resolution and privacy settings, so if you want others to see your photo, make sure that the privacy settings (Settings → Privacy Protection → Permissions Manager) allow the applications to access contacts and, if necessary, the camera in the background to work properly.
In conclusion, setting up a full-screen photo when calling Xiaomi Redmi is a complex process that requires a combination of the right image preparation, the right theme and, if necessary, the use of third-party tools, you can achieve an impressive visual effect. Personalization of the interface is not only pleasing to the eye, but also makes using a smartphone more convenient and intuitive.