How to set a photo for contact in Xiaomi Redmi 9: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones remain popular even years after the release, thanks to the balanced characteristics and flexible firmware MIUI. One of the basic but important features is the ability to assign photos to contacts. This not only personalizes the phone book, but also makes it easier to find the right subscribers. However, many users face difficulties: somewhere the “Add photos” button is inactive, somewhere the image is not displayed in calls, and in some cases the avatars disappear altogether after the system update.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to install photos on contacts in Redmi. 9 (including Redmi models 9A, 9C, 9T), We'll also solve some of the typical problems, from not having an edit button to syncing with a Google account. MIUI 12/13/14, If you want avatars to be displayed not only in the phone book, but also on WhatsApp, Telegram or incoming calls, read on.

1. Standard method: through the "Contacts" application

The most obvious method is to edit the contact directly in the standard Contacts app (aka Contacts or People in English firmware), which works on all versions of MIUI, but may vary slightly depending on the regional firmware (global, Chinese, European).

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Find the contact you want in the list and click on it to open the card.
3. In the upper right corner, tap the Edit icon** (pencil or three dots → Change).
4. Click on the Photo icon** (a round icon with a camera or human silhouette). In some firmware, this button may be called Add photo or Change photo.
5. Select the source of the image: 📷 Take a photo – the camera is activated for instant snapshot. 🖼️ Gallery – Selection of existing photo from the phone’s memory. 🎨 Avatars – standard icons from Xiaomi (if available).

Cut the photo in a circle (if required) and save the changes.

After that, the avatar should be displayed in the phone book, when incoming calls and in some messengers (if they are synchronized with contacts).

The contact is stored in the phone book, not in the phone book. SIM-map

You have the rights to edit the contact (not system)

Photo has a resolution of at least 200×200 pixels for clear display

Sync with Google account enabled (if you need to save to the cloud)-->

⚠️ Note: If the "Add Photo" button is inactive (grey), the contact is likely saved to the user. SIM-Transfer it to your phone memory or Google account as described in the next section.

2. Transfer of contact with SIM-phone-card

One of the most common reasons why you can’t contact a photo in Redmi 9 is to store a number on the phone. SIM-The point is, SIM-cards do not support the storage of additional data (for example, avatars or multiple numbers) to solve the problem, you need to transfer the contact to the device memory or Google account.

How to do this:

1. Open the Contacts app** and find the contact you need.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Contact Management** (or Manage Contacts).
3. Select Copy/Move (Copy/Move)
4. Specify the target storage: 📱 The device is a memory of the phone (photo will be available only on this Redmi 9). ☁️ Google Cloud (Syncs with other devices).

Confirm the transfer and return to editing the contact – now the photo add button should be active.

If you choose a Google account, the avatar will be available on all devices where you are logged in under the same email, which is handy if you change phones frequently or use an Android tablet.

In the memory of the phone

Nana SIM-map

On Google account

In another cloud (Mi Cloud, Yandex, etc.)

I don't know.-->

⚠️ Note: When transferring contacts with SIM-Google may have duplicated records before you start, check the contact list for duplicate numbers, which can be combined manually through the Settings menu. → Connecting contacts.

3. Install photo via Google Contacts (web version)

If you sync contacts with Google, you can add or change an avatar through a browser on your computer or phone, and this method is useful if:

• 🔄 The phone cannot cut the photo (interface) MIUI drooping).
• 🖥️ You have a photo on your PC and you don’t want to send it to your phone.
• ☁️ You need to massively edit contacts (for example, add avatars for the whole family).

Instructions:

1. Open Google Contacts on your computer or phone and log in with the same account as Redmi 9.
2. Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
3. Click on the Photo icon** (round icon with camera) at the top of the card.
4. Select the source: 🖼️ Upload photos – from a computer or phone. 📷 Take a picture – if you edit from a mobile. 🎨 Google Avatars – Standard Icons.

Cut the image (if necessary) and save the changes.

After that, the sync will occur automatically (usually within 1-5 minutes).

• Is contact sync enabled in Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact syncs.
• Is there a stable Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile network)?

4.Why is the photo of the contact not displayed when the call is made?

A frequent complaint of Redmi 9 users is that the avatar is visible in the phone book, but does not show up when a call is in or out.

1. Disabled photo display in your phone settings. Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Show photos of contacts and turn on the option.
2. If you have a number stored in both your phone and Google, the system can "mix" which photo to show. Combine duplicates through the Settings menu → Combine contacts.
3. Photos too big. MIUI sometimes mishandles high-resolution images. Try trimming them to 500×500 pixels through any graphics editor.
4. Phone app cache error. Clear cache: Settings → Apps → Phone → Storage → Clear cache.

If the problem persists, try resetting the Phone app** (the same Storage menu has a Reset option) and this won’t delete contacts, but will return the standard display settings.

5 How to put a photo in contact with WhatsApp and Telegram

Messenger avatars (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) don't always sync with the phone book, and users often wonder why there are photos in their phone contacts and there are no photos on WhatsApp. Let's figure out how to fix this.

For WhatsApp:

• 🔄 WhatsApp photos are taken from Google Contacts or phone memory, but only if the contact is stored in an international format (for example, the number is stored in the phone, +79XXXXXXXXX, not 89XXXXXXXXX).
• 📱 If the photo doesn't show: Open a WhatsApp contact chat. Tap the person at the top. → «Information» → «Edit. Add the photo manually (if available).

For Telegram:

• 🤖 On Telegram, contact avatars are not synchronized with the phone book, and the photo will only be visible if the person has installed it in his profile.
• 🖼️ To add a photo to the contact on Telegram: Open chat with the user. → «Information» → «Change the photo (if you create a local contact).

Important: WhatsApp may not display a photo of a contact if the number is saved without a country code. Correct the format of the number in the phone book, and the avatar will appear automatically.

💡

If you often communicate with a person in multiple instant messengers, use the Sync.ME app (available on Google Play), which automatically pulls up avatars from social networks and shows them in the phone book and calls.

6 Problems and Solutions: Photos are not saved, lost or lost

Even after successful installation of an avatar, Redmi 9 users sometimes face its disappearance, and consider typical scenarios and ways to eliminate them.

Problem 1: Photo is reset after the phone is restarted.

• 🔋 Reason: Cache error of the Contacts or Phone app».
• 🛠️ Solution: Clear the cache of both applications in Settings → Annexes.

Problem 2: The avatar disappears after the MIUI update.

• 🔄 Reason: Reset application settings in a major update.
• 🛠️ Solution: Reassign photos via Google Contacts (web version) as cloud data is less likely to crash.

Problem 3: You can’t cut the photo (the “Done” button is inactive).

• ✂️ Reason: Bug in the Standard Editor MIUI.
• 🛠️ Solution: Cut your photo in advance in the Gallery or through a third-party app (e.g. Photo Editor).

Problem 4: The photo is there, but it is blurry or pixelated.

• 📏 Reason: Too low resolution of the original image.
• 🛠️ Solution: Use a photo at least the size 500×500 It's pixels — 1000×1000.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to sync contacts, turn it off temporarily. There have been cases where Xiaomi cloud has reset avatars in conflict with Google account. → Accounts. → Mi Cloud and turn off contact sync.

7. Alternative methods: third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work or you need advanced features (for example, mass installation of avatars), you can use third-party applications.-3 Verified options for Redmi 9:

To set up a photo through Simple Contacts:

1. Download the app from Google Play and open it.
2. Give access to contacts.
3. Find the right contact and tap on it.
4. Click on the photo icon → select the source (gallery or camera).
5. Save the changes.

💡

Third-party contact apps may conflict with Xiaomi’s standard Contacts app.If the avatars are no longer displayed after installing the alternative software, go back to the standard app or clear the cache.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos of contacts in Redmi 9