Xiaomi’s current MIUI 12-based smartphones offer users a wide range of personalization capabilities. One of the most sought-after features is displaying a subscriber’s photo during an incoming call. However, many device owners are faced with a situation where instead of the expected full-screen image, they see only a small circle of a photo or, even worse, a standard gray stub, due to the operation of the Phone system application and privacy settings that by default can limit the visual display of data.
To implement the full-screen photo function, it is not enough to simply save the image to the contacts. You need to consider the image resolution, file format and specific system settings that activate the advanced display mode. In MIUI 12, contact algorithms have been redesigned to increase privacy, which sometimes leads to conflicts between the user's desire to see a beautiful picture and system limitations. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to customize the device so that every incoming call is accompanied by a bright and recognizable photo.
In this guide, we will go into detail all the steps of customization, from image preparation to solving common black field problems and no picture. You will learn how to properly use system tools and third-party utilities if standard methods do not work. It is important to follow the sequence of actions, since skipping even one step can lead to the fact that the function does not activate correctly on your Redmi or Poco.
Image Preparation and Format Requirements
The first and fundamental step is to prepare the photo itself. MIUI is quite demanding on the parameters of media files used as contact avatars. If you upload an image of low resolution or unsupported format, the system automatically scales it, which often leads to blurring or cropping key parts of the face. For best results, it is recommended to use photos in JPG or PNG format with a resolution of at least 1080x1920 pixels.
Special attention should be paid to the proportions of the image. The screens of modern Xiaomi smartphones have an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 or 20:9, so square photos, which are often used on social networks, will be displayed with black fields on the sides or on the top and bottom. The optimal solution is to pre-fraud the photo into a vertical full-screen format.
- 📸 Use high-resolution vertical photos to avoid pixelation.
- ✂️ Picture the image under the aspect ratio of your screen before saving.
- 💾 Keep a copy of the original in case the system compression worsens the quality.
It is worth noting that excessively large files (more than 5 MB) can also be processed by the system longer than usual, which in rare cases leads to a delay in the appearance of a photo at the time of a call. MIUI 12 optimizes the contact database, so a reasonable file size will ensure the speed of the interface.
Basic setting of contact in the phone application
Once the image is ready, it must be properly embedded in the contact card. The standard procedure seems simple, but has nuances in the interface of MIUI 12. Open the Phone or Contacts app and find the desired subscriber in the list. When you click on the subscriber's name, a detailed card will open, where the current avatar or empty circle will be located in the upper left or central corner (depending on the topic of the design).
Click on the camera or edit icon to select a photo from the gallery. It's important not just to select a file, but also to adjust the view area correctly. The system will ask you to move and zoom inside a round or rectangular frame. It's critical to position the person's face so that it doesn't get cut off by the edges of the frame as the system zooms further during the call.
☑️ Checking the contact settings
Once the changes are saved, the system can request permission to access storage or contacts if this is the first time. Be sure to confirm all requests, otherwise Android will block the ability to display media content. If you use sync with a Google account, the changes may not apply instantly, but after updating the cloud database.
⚠️ Note: If it does not appear after saving the photo, try clearing the Contacts cache through the system settings, but do not delete the data so as not to lose the numbers.
Activation of full-screen mode and subscriber ID
Often, users will encounter a photo that is there, but it is small and in the corner of the screen, and the rest of the space is occupied by a blurred background or just color. This means that the full display mode is not activated. In MIUI 12, this is a function that is sometimes hidden in the depth of the settings or depends on the topic of the design. First, make sure that the call screen settings include the option to display the photo.
Go to the Phone app settings by clicking three dots in the corner and selecting the appropriate menu item. Find the section related to incoming calls or design. There may be a full-screen Photo switch or similar option. In some versions of Xiaomi firmware, this feature is called Subscriber Identifier and should be active for enhanced visual mode.
- 📞 Go to the settings of the Phone application through a menu of three points.
- 🎨 Find the “Design” or “Incoming Calls” section».
- ✅ Make sure the “Show Photo” tick is activated.
If standard means fail to enable mode, your theme may not support full-screen avatars. Changing the theme to standard or another that supports MIUI 12 often solves the problem. Third-party themes may have limitations on how graphics are displayed in system dialog boxes.
Resolving the black stripe problem
One of the most common complaints of Xiaomi owners is the appearance of black bars on the top and bottom of the screen during a call, even if the photo is installed, this is due to a mismatch in the proportions of the image and the physical screen of the smartphone, as well as the peculiarities of the “bangs” or cutout under the camera.
There are several ways to solve this problem, one is to use special call-dealer applications that intercept the call and display their window on top of the system, stretching the photo over the entire available area. The second method is more complex and requires manual adjustment through an engineering menu or ADB-commands that are not recommended for ordinary users due to the risk of system instability.
adb shell wm density 440The above command is an example of changing pixel density, which can help stretch the interface, but using the ADB-commands require unlocking the loader and enabling debugging USB, The safer way to do this is to use the built-in tools of the topic: some topics MIUI have a built-in algorithm for stretching the background, filling the black areas with a blurred copy of the main image.
It’s also worth checking if the “Enlarged Font” mode or special features for the visually impaired are enabled, which can change the layout of the call screen, shifting elements and creating empty spaces. Disabling these features in the Settings section → Advanced Settings → Special features can return the original layout.
Use of third-party applications for calls
If a standard Xiaomi call (usually from Google or MIUI Dialer) doesn’t meet your visualization requirements, you can always turn to third-party solutions. App stores offer a variety of alternatives, such as Truecaller, Contacts+ or ExDialer. These apps often have more flexible photo display settings, allowing you to adjust the transparency, position and size of the avatar.
However, installing a third-party call app has its consequences: First of all, it consumes additional RAM and battery resources. Second, some functions, such as recording a conversation or determining a number, can work unstable due to the security limitations of Android 10/11/12, on which MIUI 12 is based.
| Annex | Full-screen photo | Number-defining | RAM consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Phone | Yeah (depends on the subject) | Basic | Low. |
| Truecaller | Yes (customizable) | Expanded | Average. |
| ExDialer | Yes (full customization) | No (no plugins) | Low. |
| MIUI Dialer | Yes (standard) | Basic | Low. |
When choosing an alternative app, make sure it is compatible with your version of Android.Older versions of calls may simply not start or cause system errors when a call arrives, leading to missed calls.
Synchronization and cloud contacts
An important aspect is the source of the contact storage, if your numbers are stored on the SIM-Install photos directly on them through standard means is often impossible or extremely inconvenient. SIM-The cards have an ancient file system that is not designed to store high-quality images, in which case the photo will either not install, or will be microscopic and fuzzy.
It is recommended to transfer all contacts to a Google account or to the Mi Cloud, which will not only save high-quality images, but also sync them between devices. When changing your phone or resetting, all photos of subscribers will be restored automatically.