How to set a photo on the contact in Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: 5 ways with explanations

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro is a flagship smartphone with a shell MIUI, which offers several ways to personalize contacts. Adding photos to subscribers not only makes them easier to find, but also makes calls visually more pleasant. However, users often face problems: photos are not saved, cropped incorrectly or disappear after synchronization. In this article, we will discuss all working methods of putting photos on contact, including the nuances for the Mi 10 Pro on different versions of MIUI.

The model features support for high-quality images for contacts (up to 1080×1080 px), but the system automatically compresses them when saved. We will show how to circumvent this restriction, which formats are supported (.jpg,.png,.webp), and why sometimes photos “fly” after the MIUI update.

Preparation: what photos are suitable for contacts in Mi 10 Pro

Not every image can be used as an avatar for contact, but the MIUI system imposes limitations.

  • 📏 Resolution: optimal 500×500 px or more (maximum) 1080×1080 Smaller images will be stretched and lose quality.
  • 🖼️ Format:.jpg (recommended),.png (maintains transparency),.webp (saves space)..gif and.heic don't work.
  • 🎨 Content: Avoid complex backgrounds, the system cuts the photo in a circle, and it is better to use portraits with a clear face in the middle.
  • 📁 Source: Photos should be stored in the phone’s memory or the cloud (Mi Cloud, Google Photos) Images from instant messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) may not be opened directly.

On the Mi 10 Pro, contact photos are cached in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.contacts/files/ – cleaning it (for example, through SD Maid-type applications) will lead to the disappearance of avatars.

If you plan to sync your contacts with a Google account, please note that the service compresses images to 96×96 px. To maintain quality, use local storage in MIUI.

📊 Where do you keep your contacts on Xiaomi?
Only on the phone.
Synchronize with Mi Cloud
I use Google Contacts.
Other

Method 1: Install photo through the standard “Contact” application

The easiest method is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a person's silhouette on a green background). MIUI 12–14:

  1. Open the Contacts app and find the contact you want in the list.
  2. Tap the avatar (a gray circle with the first letter of the name) and the editing menu will open.
  3. Click Change Photo (or Add a photo if not available).
  4. Select the source: 📸 Take a photo from the main or front camera (resolution will be automatically reduced). 🖼️ Gallery – a choice of existing images. 🌐 Download – if sync with Mi Cloud is enabled.

Ready.

✓

Problem: If the photo doesn't show up after saving, check if the contact is duplicated. MIUI can only show the avatar for "main" contact in the event of a merging of the records.

Check the image resolution (minimum 500×500 px)

Make sure that the contact is not duplicated.

Disable VPN (can block access to Mi Cloud)

Close the background applications (saves RAM)

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Method 2: Change photo by editing the contact in MIUI

If the first method didn’t work, try an alternative way through full editing of the record:

  1. Press your finger on the contact in the list and select Edit (or click on three dots → Change).
  2. Scroll down to the Photo block and tap the camera icon.
  3. Select an image from the gallery. The system will suggest cropping it -- use gestures to fine-tune it.
  4. Click Save and wait for the record update (can take up to 10 seconds).

⚠️ Note: If the contact is synced with Google, photo changes may not be saved due to version conflict. → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.

On the Mi 10 Pro after upgrading to MIUI 14 is a function. AI-It automatically improves lighting and contrast, but it can distort colors to turn it off:

Settings → Applications → Contacts → AI-functions → Retouch photo contacts (off)

Method 3: Using Google Contacts to Set Up Photos

If you prefer to keep contacts in the Google ecosystem, photos can be added via the web version or the Google Contacts app:

  1. Open contacts.google.com in your browser or Google Contacts on your phone.
  2. Find the right contact and click on the camera icon in the upper right corner.
  3. Upload a photo from your device or take a new picture. Google will automatically crop it into a circle.
  4. Save the changes.Sync with the Mi 10 Pro can take up to 5 minutes.

💡

To avoid loss of quality, upload a 500×500 px image to Google Contacts – after compression, it will look better than the image that is uploaded with less resolution.

Method 4: Install photo via the phone app during a call

Little-known life hack: You can add or change a photo directly during an incoming/outgoing call:

  1. Start or receive a call from a contact who does not have a photo.
  2. On the call screen, click on the contact icon (a gray circle with a letter).
  3. Choose Edit Contact → Change the photo.
  4. Add an image from the gallery or make a new one.
  5. Save the changes – they will be applied immediately after the call is completed.

⚠️ Note: This method only works for contacts stored in the phone's memory. SIM-Card records or synced with Google it is not available.

The Mi 10 Pro with MIUI 13+ also has a Quick Edit option, which allows you to change your photo without going to the full contact menu.

Settings → Applications → Phone → Quick Actions → Contact Editing (include)

Method 5: Third-party applications for contact management

If standard methods don't work, consider alternative applications that offer advanced avatar editing features:

AnnexAdvantagesDeficienciesReference
TruecallerAutomatically add photos from social networks, block spamRequires access to contacts, advertisingGoogle Play
Contacts+Package installation photo, cloud backupPremium version for some functionsGoogle Play
Sync.MESynchronization with Facebook, Viber, WhatsAppLimitation on the number of synchronized contactsGoogle Play

Before installing third-party applications:

  • 🔒 Check permissions (access to contacts, storage, camera).
  • 📥 Download only from official stores (Google Play, Mi App Store).
  • 🔄 Make a backup of contacts through Settings → The phone. → Backup.

How to make a backup of contacts on the Mi 10 Pro?
1. Go to Settings → About → Backup. 2. Select Local Backup or Mi Cloud. 3. Make sure Contact is ticked. 4. Click Create Backup and wait until it is completed. The backup file will be saved in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.

Why a photo of a contact is not saved or disappears

Mi 10 Pro users often experience photos that are missing or not displayed, and consider the typical causes and ways to address them:

  • 🔄 Synchronization conflict: If the contact is duplicated (e.g., there is a link in the MIUI And Google, the system can reset photos. Solution: Contacts. → Three points. → Contact management → Combine the takes
  • 🗑️ Cache cleanup: Contact app or Storage could have cleared the avatar cache.Solution: Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Warehouse → Clean the cache After that, restart the phone.
  • 📱 Update MIUI: After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 12 on MIUI 13) Photos can fly, so the solution is to re-add them through Google Contacts or locally.
  • 🚫 Limitations SIM-Maps: Contacts saved on SIM, No photos. Move them to your phone's memory: Contacts → Three points. → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Copy with SIM

If none of the methods worked, check the integrity of system files through Safe Mode:

  1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
  2. Keep your finger on Turn off before entering Safe Mode.
  3. Try adding photos again – if it turns out, the problem is in a third-party app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing photos on contacts in Mi 10 Pro

Can I put a GIF or video instead of a photo of a contact?
No, MIUI only supports static images (.jpg,.png,.webp). However, you can install an animated avatar for incoming calls (premium users only) in the Truecaller app.
Why is a contact photo only displayed in some apps (like WhatsApp)?
This is because instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram use their own contact databases to display photos everywhere: Make sure the contact is stored in your phone’s memory, not on your phone. SIM. Update your contact in Google Contacts (if you use sync). In the messenger, update your contacts manually (for example, on WhatsApp: ⋮ → Settings → Update).
How to make a contact photo round in MIUI?
The system automatically crops photos in a circle when you add. If you need to change the shape: Use a third-party app (like Photo Editor) to pre-shoot the image in a circle. Save it in.png format with a transparent background. Add the resulting image as a photo of a contact through the standard menu.
Can I install a photo for a contact group?
The standard MIUI Contacts app doesn't have this feature, but you can use a workaround: Create a group in Contacts → Groups → Create a group. Add the contacts you want to add to it. Set the same photo for each contact in the group manually. Alternatively, use the Google Play Groups app, which supports group avatars.
Why did all the photos of the contacts disappear after the phone was dropped?
When completely reset (Settings) → The phone. → Resetting) deletes all local data, including contact avatars. To restore it: If Mi Cloud was enabled, photos will be restored automatically after you log in. For Google Contacts, check if sync is enabled in Settings → Accounts. → Google. If you don't have a backup, you'll have to add the photo again. ⚠️ Attention: Local Contact Backups (created through Settings) → The phone. → Backup) do not always save photos. Before reset, export contacts to.vcf via Contacts → ⋮ → Contact management → Exports.