Call personalization is not just an aesthetic pleasure, but also an important feature that allows you to instantly identify the caller. The owner of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone often faces the need to assign a specific person to a specific number from the phone book. Standard algorithms for the MIUI shell offer several ways to solve this problem, each of which has its own characteristics and nuances of working with the database.
The process of installing an avatar can vary depending on where your number list is stored, whether on a SIM card, in a device memory, or in a Google account. Understanding this difference is critical, as the source of storage depends on the availability of editing and the ability to synchronize images between devices. In this article, we will detail all the methods available so that you can easily customize the visual identification of incoming calls.
Image Preparation and File Requirements
Before you start directly binding the image to the number, you need to make sure that the source file meets the technical requirements of the system. The optimal format for avatars is JPG or PNG, as they provide a good balance between image quality and the amount of memory occupied. Android, on which the Redmi Note 8 Pro runs, is able to automatically crop square images, but it is better to prepare the file in advance.
The recommended resolution of the photo is at least 500x500 pixels, which guarantees clarity of the picture even on the screen with a high pixel density characteristic of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. If you plan to use a selfie, make sure that the face is well lit and occupies the central part of the frame, so that after trimming into a round avatar important details are not lost.
Store your files in a separate folder in the gallery, so you don't have to spend time looking for the right shot at the time of setting up, which is especially true if you're planning to massively update your phone book and assign photos to dozens of contacts at once.
⚠️ Note: Do not use files with extremely high resolution (more than 10 MP), as this can lead to slowing down the interface when you scroll through the contact list or slow down the incoming call screen.
It is also worth noting that dark photos can be hard to read on the black background of the bell interface, so it is preferable to choose contrast images. The processing of the image before installation will take a couple of minutes, but the result will be significantly better than using the built-in Cropper.
Standard method through the Contacts app
The most direct and common way to install an avatar is to use the regular application "Contacts", which is preinstalled on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. To begin, open the application menu and find an icon with the image of a phone handset or a human silhouette, launching the corresponding service.
In the list that opens, find the person you want to call and click on their name to go to the detailed card, and it shows all the information available: phone numbers, email addresses, and if you have a photo that's still in the picture. At the top of the screen, where the first letter of the name plug is usually located, you'll see an edit button or a pencil icon.
- 📱 Click on the pencil icon or the "Change" button at the bottom of the screen to go into the card editing mode.
- 🖼️ Touch the area with the current image or camera icon located at the top of the contact card.
- 📂 The system will suggest selecting a source: take a picture with the camera or select an existing photo from the device gallery.
Once you select the image, you'll open a framing interface where you can shift the frame and zoom in so that the face is exactly in the round area, and then you'll confirm the choice with the "Done" button or the tick, and then the system will save the changes and update the entry in the database.
⚠️ Note: If the photo is not displayed when the call is in, check if the number is blocked or limited to the Caller display. ID communicationsman.
If you edit a contact associated with a Google account, the photo may sync to other devices that have logged in under the same account.
Installation of photo through the phone book menu
An alternative way to set up is directly through the Phone app, which is responsible for making calls and making calls, which is convenient because it allows you to quickly assign a photo to a subscriber immediately after a completed conversation without going to other parts of the system.
Open the Phone app and go to the Contacts tab or find a number in the call history. Click on the arrow next to the number or the number itself to reveal an additional action menu. The list of options available often includes an option called "Appoint a photo" or "Add an image", which duplicates the functionality of the main contact application.
When you select this item, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro will offer a standard file selection interface, so you can use built-in filters or take a new picture, which is especially useful when you need to quickly identify a frequent caller whose number is not yet in the notebook, and you create it on the go.
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Use the quick-up photo feature to instantly visualize the numbers of couriers or delivery services that call from different numbers.
The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI firmware, but the logic remains the same: contact search -> edit -> add a media file. The main difference is that here you often work with an existing record, just adding a visual element to it.
Working with Google Account and Synchronizing
Modern smartphones, including the Redmi Note 8 Pro, are closely integrated with Google’s ecosystem, allowing contacts and avatars to be stored in the cloud, keeping data safe when you lose your phone and automatically uploading photos when you first log in to your account on a new device.
To save the photo in Google Contacts, make sure that when creating or editing the record, the correct storage is selected. At the top of the editing screen, there is often a drop-down list that indicates "Phone", "SIM" or "Google". Select a Google account so that the photo is associated with a cloud profile.
| Type of storage | Synchronization | Photo quality | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Account | Automatic. | High. | All devices. |
| Phone memory | Absent. | Original | Only on this phone. |
| SIM-map | No. | Low (small size) | Only with this SIM. |
If you have changed a photo in the cloud via a computer or other phone, it will automatically update on Xiaomi when you have the Internet. For forced updates, go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google and click Sync.
Using cloud storage also allows other Android users to see your photo when you call or text them, as long as they have the corresponding feature enabled in Google Contacts, creating a single visual communication environment for all users of the ecosystem.
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Saving contacts and photos in your Google account is the only guaranteed way not to lose visual identifiers when changing your smartphone.
Editing through the MIUI Gallery
The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 8 Pro offers another convenient way to assign a photo, starting directly from the image, which is suitable if you just took a picture or received a photo and want to assign it to a specific person immediately.
Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want, click on the More button (usually three dots or a menu icon) and find the Assign Contact option, which automatically recognizes the faces in the photo (if the AI feature is enabled) and prompts you to select a person from the list or create a new one.
- 📷 Open the photo in full screen mode in the Gallery app.
- 🔽 Click on the option menu and select "Appoint contact".
- 👤 Select an existing contact from the list or find it by name.
This approach eliminates the need to first look for a contact and then upload a photo to it, and you go from visual to phone book entry, which is often more intuitive.
Once you select a contact, the system will suggest cropping the image, and the process is similar to the standard method: you move the frame and confirm the result, and the changes are saved to the same record, no matter how you edit it.
Display problems and their solution
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro may encounter a situation where the photo is installed, but not displayed when calling or in the contact list, most often the problem lies in duplicate records or conflict of data sources.
Check if the number is saved twice: once SIM-In this case, the system can show the recording without the photo, as priority is given to different sources in different situations.
It is also worth clearing the cache of the Contacts app. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory and click Clear Cache. This action is safe and will not delete your data, but update the thumbnail database.
⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Clear Cache with Clear All Data, as the latter option can remove local list display settings, although the contacts themselves are usually saved in the cloud.
If the problem persists, check the app's permissions, make sure the Contacts and Phone app have access to storage and media files, and without that permission, the system won't be able to physically load the image to be displayed on the screen.
Use of third-party applications
Staff funds are usually enough, but if you need a deeper setup, such as batch replacement of photos or editing metadata of contact files, you can use third-party utilities. There are many Android-compatible editors available in the Google Play Market.
Popular apps like Contacts+ or SIM Manager allow you to manage your database more flexibly, scan duplicates, find contacts without photos, and offer to download avatars from social networks automatically.
However, when using third-party software on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, be careful with permissions. Let only trusted applications access contacts to avoid leaking personal information. After completing editing tasks, access can be revoked in the system settings.
Should I use third-party applications?
Remember that any changes made by third-party programs apply to the same database as editing by regular means, so the result will be seen the same everywhere.