Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 offer ample personalization options, but some features are hidden in the depth of the menu or require a custom approach. One of the frequent problems users have is the inability to install a full-screen photo of the caller with standard means. The MIUI system installed on the device by default trims images to a square or round format in the phone book.
But there's a proven way to get around this limitation and enjoy big photos when you make incoming calls, which you don't need superuser rights or complex manipulation of system files, but rather, you need to use built-in shell tools or third-party, but secure applications from the manufacturer.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods, from the standard gallery to specialized themes, you will learn why a normal photo is cropped and how to make your Redmi 9 screen display the image of the interlocutor with the highest quality and effect.
Features of the work of the contact book in MIUI
MIUI, which is based on Android, has its own unique features for displaying multimedia content. Unlike pure Android, it uses a more aggressive thumbnail caching system and strict requirements for image proportions. When you keep a photo in contact in a standard way, the system automatically crops it, leaving only the center part.
This is done to ensure uniformity of the contact list, where all the avatars are the same size. However, when an incoming call is made, the lock screen or the call interface may behave differently depending on the design topic set. Some themes ignore full-size photos by forcibly introducing them into a circle, while others allow the image to occupy the entire available display area.
It is important to understand that the resolution of the original file also plays a critical role. If the photo is of low quality or non-standard aspect ratio, Xiaomi compression algorithms can further degrade its appearance.
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Use photos with a resolution of at least 1080x1920 pixels for better display quality on the Redmi 9 screen.
Image preparation: requirements and formats
Before you try to install a full-screen photo, you need to properly prepare the source file. Standard image requirements in the phone book are often different from the requirements for full-screen call mode. For Redmi 9 with its HD+ resolution screen, a vertical image will be optimal.
If you try to set a horizontal photo, the system will either cut it on the sides or leave black fields on the top and bottom, which is unaesthetic. The best solution is to use portrait shots where the face is the center of the frame, which will ensure that the face of the caller is properly positioned in any interface.
You also have to look at the file format, and the formats that are most compatible are the formats. JPG and PNG. Format PNG It is preferable if you want to keep maximum detail without compression artifacts, although it takes up more space in the device's memory. JPG high-quality.
- 📐 The aspect ratio of the image must be 9:16 or 9:18 for full screen coverage.
- 🖼️ The resolution of the photo must match or exceed the resolution of the smartphone screen (minimum) 720x1560).
- 💾 The optimal file size should not exceed 2-3 MB so as not to overload the cache of contacts.
- 🎨 Avoid photos with small details in the background, as they can ripple when zooming in.
Method 1: Installation through a standard gallery
The easiest and most affordable way to do this, which doesn't require you to install any additional software, is to use the built-in gallery, which works in most cases unless you have a third-party theme on your device that blocks this feature, and the algorithm is simple enough to be understood even by beginners.
First, open the Gallery app and select the image you want. Click on the "More" button (usually three dots in the corner of the screen) and in the menu that appears, select "Install as" and then the system will offer options: "Wallpaper", "lock screen" and what we need, Contact.
Once you select Contact, you'll open up a list of your phone book, find the right person and confirm the action, and the system will suggest framing the image, and at this point, it's important to stretch the allocation to the maximum extent possible to capture as much of the photo area as possible, although this method does not always get a full screen.
☑️ Installation algorithm through the Gallery
If the photo still appears in a small circle after installation, then the active theme does not support full-screen mode for the standard method, in which case you should try to change the theme to the standard one or move to the next, more effective method.
Method 2: Use of the Photo Card Contacts app
The most reliable way to ensure full-screen display of photos in Xiaomi Redmi 9 is to use the official application from Google or specialized utilities such as Contacts with Photo Cards. Often this application is already preinstalled in the system, but hidden or not used by default.
The principle of this method is that the application creates special call cards that overlap the standard incoming call interface, which allows you to display a high-resolution image without cropping or distorting. First, make sure that the application is installed and has the necessary permissions.
You need to go to the app settings and activate the big photo display function, and then when you call in, you don't see a standard MIUI plug, but a beautiful, high-quality photo on the entire display, which is especially true for those who like visual style and want to see who's calling right away.
What to do if the app is not found in the store?
Importantly, using third-party call handlers can consume a little more battery power, as they require constant access to the screen and camera (for the approximation function).However, on a modern Redmi 9 battery, this impact will be minimal and almost invisible in everyday use.
Customization of design themes for large avatars
One of the main reasons why photos don't stretch to the full screen is because of the active theme of the design, and many users download beautiful themes from MIUI Themes without thinking about how they can change the behavior of the call system, and some themes are hard-wired to define the size and shape of the avatar, ignoring the settings of the contact itself.
To see if the theme affects the display, try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme, and if the photo gets big after that, then the problem is the design of the current theme, and you have two options: to accept a small photo or find a theme that supports fullscreen avatars.
When looking for a new topic, look for screenshots of the incoming call screen in the description. Theme writers often show what the call looks like. If the picture is full-screen, the topic is likely to fit you, and the topic description may also indicate compatible features.
| Type of topic | Full screen support | Impact on the battery | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Classic) | Tall. | Low. | Use it for the test. |
| Animated themes | Low. | High. | Avoid for this purpose |
| Topics from designers | Medium | Average. | Check the screenshots |
| Minimalist themes | Tall. | Low. | The best choice |
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Changing the theme of the design is the fastest way to change the type of incoming call without installing additional software.
Solving quality and pruning problems
Even if all instructions are followed, users may encounter a situation where a photo looks blurry or cropped, often due to the cache of the Contacts or Phone app, which stores smaller copies of images for quick download, and sometimes these copies are not updated when the photo is replaced with a better one.
To solve this problem, you need to clear the cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Contacts and Phone (or Mi Dialer) in the list. Go to each of them, select Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All, otherwise you may lose your call history, although contacts are usually synced with your account.
⚠️ Note: Before clearing your data, make sure your contacts are saved to a Google or Mi Cloud account. app data reset can delete local call history and selected numbers.
Another reason for poor quality can be automatic sync compression. If you sync contacts through Google, try uploading high-quality photos directly through Google Contacts web interest, and then updating sync on your phone. This often helps bypass aggressive compression of the mobile version of the app.
If you use SIM-card for storing contacts, installing a large photo will not work technically, since the memory SIM-The card is limited and does not support large graphics files, in which case you need to copy the contacts to the memory of the phone or to the Google account.
Additional settings and advice
For owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9, there are other ways to make calls more informative, such as adjusting different sounds and vibrations for different contacts, which, combined with a large photo, creates a unique profile of the caller.
Also worth mentioning is the Smart Response feature, which can automatically send messages or drop a call if you don't care about the caller's photo, and although this doesn't directly apply to photo installation, it's part of MIUI's overall contact management culture.
Remember to update the Contacts app and system components regularly through the GetApps store or Play Market. Developers are constantly improving their image processing algorithms, and in new versions of the software, display problems can be solved automatically.
- 🔄 Check system updates regularly in the About Phone section».
- 📸 Take new photos for contacts in good lighting for better quality.
- 🗑️ Remove duplicate contacts so that the system does not get confused, which photo to display.
- 🔒 Check the permissions for the Phone app so it has access to the gallery.
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party applications for calls from unknown sources, always check them for viruses.