Personalizing a smartphone interface is not just a fashion nod, it’s a way to instantly identify a caller. Owners of Xiaomi devices and the Poco sub-brand often face the need to assign a unique image to a particular subscriber that will be displayed on the entire screen during an incoming call. The standard MIUI shell or its modern version of HyperOS provides flexible tools for managing contacts, but hidden synchronization nuances can confuse an inexperienced user.
The process of installing an avatar can vary depending on where your phone book is stored: in your device memory, in your Google account or in your Mi Account cloud service. Local storage provides maximum speed, but makes it impossible to quickly restore the list of numbers if you lose your gadget. Properly configuring visual design of calls requires understanding these differences so that the image is correctly displayed on you and, in some cases, broadcast to the interlocutor.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods of photo assignment, work with contact groups, and identify the reasons why the image may not be saved. You will learn how to circumvent the limitations of the system and use third-party applications to create stylish call processing. Visual identification is a small thing that greatly improves the comfort of using a smartphone in everyday life.
Basic installation of photos through the standard application Contacts
The easiest and most obvious way to add an image is to use the built-in Contacts app, which is installed by default on all Xiaomi and Poco smartphones. This method is suitable for quickly installing an avatar on one particular number. Open the application and find the desired subscriber in the list or use a search by name. Click on the contact card to reveal details.
At the top of the screen, where the initial or standard gray stub is usually displayed, you'll see an edit button or a camera icon. When you click on it, the system will suggest you choose the source of the image: take a picture right now or choose a file from the gallery. The MIUI image editor allows you to fraternize the photo by overlaying a round or square mask, which is especially important for correct display on different types of screens.
After selecting and framing a photo, click Save. It is important to note that if your contact is linked to a Google account, the change may take some time to sync with the server. In some cases, especially with a weak Internet connection, the photo may temporarily not show until the background process of data exchange between the device and the cloud is completed.
- 📸 Open the Contacts app and select the right subscriber from the list.
- ✏️ Click on the edit icon (pencil) or directly on the circle with initials.
- 🖼️ Select “Upload from Gallery” or “Take Photos” via Camera.
- 💾 Confirm the choice by framing and click "Save" to fix changes.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using SIM-Operator card for storing numbers, you will not be able to add a photo directly. SIM-The cards have a very limited amount of memory and only support text data (name and number.
Setup via Phone and Google Contacts
An alternative and often more reliable way is to use Google’s Phone app, which is also often preinstalled on Poco devices.The interface of this app may differ from the standard Chinese or global variant of MIUI. Find a subscriber in the recent call list or in the contacts tab, then click on the edit icon, usually located in the top right corner of the screen.
When working with Google Contacts, it is important to keep in mind that all changes are automatically synced with your account, which means that the photo you install will appear on all devices where you log in to the same account, including tablets and other smartphones. Cross-platform synchronization is a key advantage of this method, since losing your phone will not lead to loss of visual information about your interlocutors.
If you have multiple contacts apps installed, the system may ask which app to use. Always choose the one that is the main one for your phone book. Otherwise, you can create a duplicate contact: one with a photo in the Xiaomi app, another without it in Google, which will lead to confusion when incoming calls.
Creation of contact groups with a common image
The MIUI shell allows you not only to assign photos to individuals, but also to create groups with unique ringtones and images. This is useful for categorizing calls, such as "Work", "Family" or "Delivery." To create a group, go to the "Groups" section of the contact app and click the add button. Here you can set the name and select a common background image.
Adding members to the group is done manually from an existing phone book. Once the group has been formed and assigned an image, any call from the group member will be accompanied by a predetermined visual design if the contact does not have an individual photo.
Group management is especially important for business users who need to quickly identify the type of call, so you can assign different color schemes or themed images to different categories of people, and this creates an additional visual clue before you even look at the name of the caller.
☑️ Planning of contact groups
Use of third-party applications for calls
Standard features sometimes limit the user's experience, such as installing video instead of static photos or using complex animated themes, and third-party apps from the Google Play store, such as Truecaller, Contacts+ or specialty "Callers" with number-detection features, exist for this purpose.
These applications often request advanced permissions to access the phone book and display on top of other windows. Once installed and configured, they completely replace the standard incoming call interface, you get the ability to set high-quality HD images, add social profiles, and even identify spam calls with visual indications.
However, the use of third-party software has its disadvantages: first of all, it is an increased consumption of battery and RAM resources, and some applications may contain advertising or require a subscription to fully access the design functions.
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party calling apps, be sure to give them all the permissions you have requested, including access to contacts and phone. Without this, the app will not be able to display photos correctly and detect incoming calls, which will cause malfunctions.
Problems with synchronization and display of photos
It's a fairly common situation: you've set up a photo, but when you call it in, it doesn't show up, or you see the old version of the image, and most often the problem is the app cache or the sync delay. To fix this, go to your smartphone settings, select Apps, find Contacts, and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with the Clear All button, which will delete the data.
Another reason could be duplicated records, because the phone book can have two cards of the same person, one with a number and a photo, the other with only a number, and the system can pull data from an empty card, and the problem can be solved through the "Contact Connect" function, which automatically finds duplicates and merges them into one record with a full set of data.
It’s also worth checking your display settings. Some versions of MIUI have a filter that hides contacts without numbers or certain types of accounts. Make sure the display settings select “All contacts” and activate the contact display from all synced accounts.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Method of decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photo not visible on the call | Contact on SIM-map | Copy into the memory of the phone |
| An old photo is displayed | Cash app. | Clear the cache in the settings |
| Photos available, but of poor quality | Synchronization compression | Use a high resolution source |
| Contacts are duplicated | Multiple accounts | Use the association function |
Hidden display settings
Specificity of work in the shell of HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS operating system, which gradually replaces MIUI on Xiaomi and Poco devices, the contact management interface has undergone visual changes. The logic has remained the same, but the location of elements may have shifted. Now, editing the contact profile is most often available through the bottom action bar or long-pressed avatar.
The integration with the ecosystem in HyperOS has gone deeper. A photo installed in contacts can now be automatically used in desktop widgets, in the Security app, and even displayed on the lock screens of a Mi Band or Mi Watch smartwatch if paired with a smartphone. This creates a single information space for the user.
If your photos are gone after you upgrade to HyperOS, don't panic. Check your privacy and permission settings. The new security system could automatically restrict the Contacts app from accessing the gallery, and allow access again when you first request or in your privacy settings, so that all images return to their places.
💡
For the best display quality on high-resolution screens (AMOLED 120Hz), use photos at least 1080x1080 pixels in size. Smaller images may appear blurry when stretched to the full screen.
💡
Using Google Contacts cloud sync is the most reliable way to save your contacts photos, ensuring that they are restored even when you completely replace your smartphone.