Personalizing a smartphone interface is not just a fashion homage, but a way to instantly visually identify a caller. Xiaomi device owners often wonder how to change the standard gray icon to a customized image when an incoming call is made. For the Redmi 8 Pro model running on the MIUI shell, this process has its own features that differ from pure Android.
The procedure for installing an avatar may seem obscure due to the separation of functions between the system application Contacts and Google contacts. Understanding this difference avoids confusion when the downloaded picture is not displayed by the interlocutor or when you call. In this guide, we will discuss in detail all available methods for securing an image by a number.
Importantly, the quality and way you save a photo directly affects how it will look on the lock screen. We'll look at not only the basic algorithm of actions, but also the nuances of working with cloud services that ensure your data is safe when you change devices.
Features of working with contacts in MIUI
The MIUI shell installed on the Redmi 8 Pro uses a hybrid record storage system. By default, new numbers are often stored in the phone's local storage or in the Mi Account if it is activated. However, Google services are recommended for full synchronization and correct display of photos on all devices.
The key is to know where the number record is physically located, if the contact is only kept on the phone. SIM-You can't add a high-quality image to the map, because the SIM memory is limited to text data and number. You need to move the record to the memory of the phone or the cloud.
⚠️ Note: When transferring contacts with SIM-Old records can be duplicated before large-scale changes are made, it is recommended to make a backup through the settings menu.
Xiaomi’s Contacts system app takes precedence over third-party apps, which integrates with the call screen, and third-party downloaders from Play Market may not work as well because they don’t have deep access rights to the call’s system interface.
Image Preparation and Format Requirements
Before you start editing the phone book, you should prepare the original file. The Redmi 8 Pro screen is high resolution, so using blurred or small pictures will lead to “grain” when you call. The optimal solution is to use photos in JPEG or PNG format.
The system will automatically suggest that you crop the image to a square format. However, it is better to have the source at the edges so that the face or important object is in the center of the frame. Too dark photos can not be read well against the black background of the lock screen.
- 📸 The optimal source resolution should be at least 500x500 pixel.
- 🎨 Avoid small details that will be lost when you reduce the picture to the size of a mug.
- 💾 The weight of the file should not be excessive, although modern smartphones can easily handle images up to 5 MB.
If you plan to install a group photo, make sure that the faces are clearly visible, otherwise the system may not correctly determine the boundaries of the face for automatic framing, in which case it is better to manually select the trimming area.
Step-by-step: installation of photos through the Contacts app
The most common method of changing an avatar is done directly through a standard application that has an orange icon with a human silhouette, which does not require an internet connection if the contact is already stored in the device’s memory.
To start, open the app and find the entry you want in the list or search. After opening the subscriber card, look at the top of the screen where the gray plug is located. Pressing it or the edit button (often indicated by pencil) will open the change menu.
☑️ Algorithm of installation of the avatar
In the gallery menu that opens, select a pre-prepared image. The system will prompt you to zoom in and move the framing frame. Once you confirm the choice (Done or Save), the photo will be assigned to the contact. Now, when you call in, you will see this image.
And you have to consider that the changes are instant, and if you call this person right now, you'll see an updated avatar on the screen, but it can take time and networking to sync with other devices.
Synchronization through Google Contacts
Using the Google ecosystem is the most reliable way to store a phone book, which ensures that when you lose or replace the Redmi 8 Pro with a new smartphone, all numbers and their photos are restored automatically after login.
To install a photo using this method, you need to open the Google Contacts app (often has a multi-colored icon). If it is not on your desktop, find it in the Tools or Google folder. The interface here is different from the system, but the functionality is similar.
| Parameter | System Contacts (MIUI) | Google Contacts | Local storage. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchronization | Through the Mi Cloud | Automatically via Google | Absent. |
| Recovery | Only on Xiaomi. | Any Android/iOS | Only manually. |
| Photo quality | High. | Optimal. | Depends on memory. |
When you edit a contact in the Google app, the changes apply to all devices associated with that account, which means that if you call from a tablet or another phone, the photo will also show up there, creating a single visual environment for the user.
What to do if the photo is not synchronized?
Editing existing avatars and group settings
Managing a phone book involves not only adding new data, but also updating old ones. Over time, contacts can accumulate, and many of them have standard stubs. Mass editing in MIUI is limited, but you can quickly update records one at a time.
To change the already installed photo, you need to re-enter the contact editing mode. When you click on the current image, the system will prompt you to select a new photo from the gallery or take a picture with the camera. The old image will be replaced without the possibility of recovery, unless it is saved separately.
There is also the possibility of assigning ringtones and vibrations to specific contacts, which, when combined with a photo, creates a unique profile of the caller, which is especially useful for important work calls from face-to-face communication without looking at the screen.
- ✂️ To delete the photo, click on the image in editing mode and select the basket or cross icon.
- 🔄 Changing the photo does not affect the history of calls and messages with this subscriber.
- 👥 Group avatars in the standard Xiaomi call are not supported, only individual.
Some users prefer to use black and white avatars for style or color for brightness. The choice is yours, but remember that color photos are better identified by the subconscious in a fraction of a second before the call is answered.
Solution: Photos not displayed or reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after installation, the picture disappears or is not visible to the caller. Most often, the reason lies in duplicate contacts. The phone memory can have two records with the same number: one in SIM, the other in Google, the system can display an avatar for only one of them.
To solve this problem, use the Contacts Connection feature. There's a "Fix and Manage" tab in the Google Contacts app, where the system itself will suggest combining duplicates, and once the records are merged, the photo will be permanently fixed.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party themes (Themes), they may overlap the standard call interface. In such cases, the photo may not show due to incompatibility of the theme.
Another reason could be the app's cache: If the interface isn't working properly, try clearing the Contacts and Phone app cache through the smartphone settings menu, which won't delete your numbers, but will update the program's service data.
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Use high-quality portraits without background for better results. The system cuts the edges itself, so the central location of the object is critical.
Display settings and additional functions
In addition to static image, the modern versions of MIUI on the Redmi 8 Pro allow you to configure other call settings. Although setting up live wallpaper on contact requires third-party applications, the basic settings make the call more informative.
You can add additional numbers (mobile, work, fax) to your contact card and link specific actions to them, but the photo is usually assigned to the main entry, and make sure you edit the main subscriber profile.
For people with reduced vision or for convenience in the dark, you can adjust the color inversion or high contrast in special features, which will also affect the call screen, which will make the photo more visible in all light conditions.
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The secret to successful installation is to keep your contacts in your Google account, not yours. SIM-This ensures that the avatars are safe for any system failure.