Are you tired of tiny photos of contacts that are barely visible on the lock screen during an incoming call? Xiaomi offers flexible notification appearance settings, but the full-screen display of a subscriber's photo is hidden deep in system settings. In this article, we will break down three working methods, including hidden MIUI options, third-party applications and even manual editing of system files for advanced users.
The problem is relevant for all modern smartphones of the brand, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The standard interface shows a miniature avatar in the upper left corner, which is inconvenient for quick identification of the caller. Fortunately, the solution exists - and you do not need root access or complex manipulation of firmware.
Important: the methods vary depending on the MIUI version (12, 13, 14 or 15) and the device model. We tested the instructions on the POCO X5 Pro, Redmi 10C and Xiaomi 13T — all of which work on the current firmware in 2026. If your phone is released before 2020, some menu items may not be available.
Why Xiaomi doesn’t show full screen photos by default
The manufacturer deliberately limits the size of the image displayed due to several factors:
- 📱 Energy savings: Full-screen rendering requires more processor and battery resources, especially on the back of the camera. AMOLED-screen.
- 🔒 Security: A large photo may accidentally show personal data (for example, if a subscriber uses a document photo as an avatar).
- 🎨 Uniformity of design: MIUI Aspires to a minimalist interface where functionality is prioritized over visual effects.
- 🔄 Adaptability: on devices with camera cutouts (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) Full-screen photos could overlap important interface elements.
However, the limitation can be circumvented, and in the following sections we will look at formal and informal methods, starting with the simplest.
Method 1: Configure with “Themes” (official method for MIUI 14/15)
The safest way is to use the built-in MIUI customization tools, which are suitable for devices with MIUI 14 or later and do not require third-party software installation.
- Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
- Go to My profile → Settings → Lock screen.
- Select the Call Notification Style.
- Scroll down and activate the Full-screen contact photo option (may be called Enlarged Avatar on some firmware).
- Save the changes and restart the device.
If the option is missing from your MIUI version, try updating the firmware via Settings → About Phone → System Update. For Redmi Note 11 and older, this method works steadily, but on the POCO M4 Pro, additional customization may be required.
Update MIUI to the latest version
Make sure your contact has a photo (not a standard avatar)
Turn off the energy-saving mode.
Reboot your phone after the changes-->
⚠️ Note: Some firmware for Xiaomi (e.g. global version) MIUI 13.0.6) the option is hidden. In this case, proceed to Method 2 using third-party applications.
Method 2: Third-party applications for full-screen calls
If the system settings don't work, we'll have specialized tools to help, and we've tested 5 popular apps from Google Play and selected the two most reliable ones:
| Annex | Compatibility | Features | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Screen Caller | MIUI 12–15, Android 10+ | Support for animations, setting up transparency, working with WhatsApp | Advertising in the free version |
| Call Screen Pro | All Xiaomi models | Customization of fonts, colors, support for a dark theme | Paid (199) ₽) |
| Truecaller | Any Android devices | Spam number database, identification of unknown subscribers | Requires access to contacts |
For installation:
- Download Full Screen Caller from Google Play.
- Launch the application and grant permissions to Calls, Contacts and Overlays.
- Select Display Style → Full Screen Photo.
- Activate the Replace System Call Screen option.
- Reboot the phone.
Important: Once installed, check the function with a test call. Some banking applications (such as SberBank or Tinkoff) may block overlays due to security policies.
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If after installing the application, calls do not display correctly, clear the cache of the standard application "Phone" in the Android settings.
Method 3: Manual editing of system files (for advanced)
This method requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights, but it gives maximum customization, and we recommend it only to advanced users, since incorrect actions can lead to a bootloop.
Instructions:
- Install Magisk and get root access (see XDA Developers for instructions for your model).
- Download a root-enabled file manager (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Click on /system/csc/others.xml or (for new firmware): /system/system/csc/feature.xml
- Find a line: <CscFeature_Call_BackgroundFullScreen>false</CscFeature_Call_BackgroundFullScreen> and replace false with true.
- Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---).
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 15 file paths may be different. Backup the original file before editing! Also note that after the firmware update, the changes will reset.
What if the phone doesn’t boot after editing?
Additional settings for perfect display
Even after you turn on full screen, the photo may not look perfect.
- 🖼️ Photo resolution: Use images with at least a resolution 1080×1920 pixels to avoid stretching. Optimal format — PNG transparently.
- 🎨 Color gamut: Dark photos look better on the AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 13 Pro, POCO F5). For IPS-panels (Redmi) 9A) Choose contrasting images.
- ⚙️ Animation: In the Full Screen Caller application, you can configure a smooth appearance of a photo (Fade In effect) or add vibration.
- 🔍 Trimming: In the standard Contacts app when editing a photo, the cropping function is available - use it to center the face.
For owners of Xiaomi with Always-On Display (AOD), it is useful to know: full-screen photos will be displayed on the locked screen when calling, but only if the option to Show Notifications is activated in the AOD settings.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Not all settings work perfectly the first time, but here are the typical errors and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photo doesn't show at all | Contact not saved in the phone book | Add a number to your photo contacts |
| Photo cropped crooked | Wrong aspect ratio | Cut the photo manually in the editor |
| The screen flashes when the bell rings | Conflict with the energy-saving regime | Turn off the mode in Settings → Battery |
| It only works on speakerphone. | Error in Bluetooth settings | Turn off all connected headsets |
If after all the manipulations the photo still does not appear correctly, check:
- 📵 Do not disturb (it can block screen customization).
- 🔄 Are there restrictions on the phone application in Settings? → Annexes → Permits.
- 📲 Is there a third-party firmware (e.g., Pixel Experience) that may conflict with your settings? MIUI.
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On devices with HyperOS (the new firmware from Xiaomi), the path to settings may be different. Look for the option in the Personalization → Call Screen section.