Getting a photo to contact on a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is a simple but not always obvious task, and many users find that standard MIUI methods don’t work because of the firmware or the Contacts app versions. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods, from basic setup through the phone book to using a Google account and third-party apps.
The Redmi Note 7 was released in 2019 with MIUI 10 based on Android 9, but today many devices are upgraded to MIUI 12-14 (Android 11-12), which means that the interface and the layout of the features may have changed, we took into account all the nuances and prepared a universal instruction that will fit regardless of the firmware version.
If you've tried to add a photo through a standard app, but it didn't work out, don't get upset. Maybe the problem is syncing contacts or setting privacy. Then you'll find step-by-step solutions, including a hidden method through editing. VCF-A file that works even on locked devices.
1. Standard method: through the "Contacts" application
The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (or Phone in some versions of MIUI), which works on most Xiaomi devices, but may vary depending on the firmware version.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
- 🔍 Find the contact you need in the list and click on it to open the card.
- ✏️ In the upper right corner, tap on the pencil icon (Edit).
- 🖼️ Click on the camera or plus icon next to the photo box (if not, see the problem section below).
- 📸 Select the source: Take a photo, Gallery or Download (for cloud services).
- ✅ Cut the photo in a circle (if required) and save the changes.
If after these actions the photo is not displayed in calls or messages, check:
- 🔄 Synchronize your contacts with Google or Mi Account (see Section 3).
- 📱 Contacts version – update it through Play Market.
- 🔒 Privacy settings in MIUI (section).
☑️ Preparation before installation of photo
2. Alternative method: through Google Contacts
If the standard method didn’t work, try setting photos through Google Contacts, a method that works even on older versions of the Redmi Note 7, as it uses cloud sync.
Step-by-step:
- Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
- Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your Redmi Note 7.
- Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
- Click on the camera icon in the top left corner of the contact card.
- Download a photo from the device or make a new one through the webcam.
- Save the changes and wait for the synchronization (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
After that:
- 🔄 On the phone, open Settings. → Accounts. → Google and make sure that your contacts sync is enabled.
- 📱 Restart the device if the photo does not appear immediately.
- ⚠️ If the contact is duplicated (for example, there is a copy of the SIM-Delete the take – priority is given to the cloud version.
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If your photos in Google Contacts aren’t synced, try manually updating the data: open the Contacts app. → Settings (⚙️) → Contact management → Update.
3 Problems and Solutions: Why the Photo Is Not Installed
Sometimes Redmi Note 7 users find that the photo button is simply missing or not working.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| There is no "Add a photo" button. | Contact saved on SIM-map | Move the contact to your phone or Google account |
| Photos don't show up in calls | Synchronization disabled | Enable sync in Settings → Accounts → Google |
| Contact app flies out | An outdated version of MIUI | Update the firmware through Settings → System Update |
| Photo resets after rebooting | Conflict with MIUI Optimizer | Add the Contacts app to auto-clean exceptions |
Pay special attention to the contacts on SIM-In Redmi Note 7 (as in all Xiaomi smartphones), it is impossible to add a photo to the contacts saved on the map. SIM, since SIM Toolkit doesn't support this feature. Solution:
- Open contact on SIM-map.
- Press More. → Export (or copy to your phone).
- Save the contact in the device memory or Google account.
- You can now add a photo in the standard way.
How to transfer all SIM contacts to your phone at once?
⚠️ Note: If you use two Google accounts on the same device, the photo may not appear in all apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram). To fix this, make sure that the contact is saved in the main account that is used by default.
4.Configure the display of photos in calls and messages
Adding a photo to a contact is only half the battle, and to make it appear on incoming calls and in SMS, you need to check the additional settings.
For calls:
- 📞 Open the phone application.
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Contact display.
- 📱 Make sure you select all contacts (not just the phone book).
- 🖼️ Enable the option to show contact photos (if any).
For communications:
- 💬 Open the Messages app.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Contact display.
- 🔄 Enable synchronization with contacts.
- 📌 If you use Google Messages, check the settings in the app itself.
If the photo is still not shown, try:
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
- 📱 Clear the cache of the applications Contacts and Phone in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔧 Reset the Contacts app settings (Warning: This will remove user settings, but not the contacts themselves!).
5. Hidden method: editing VCF-file (for advanced ones)
If none of the above methods worked, you can manually edit the contact file in.vcf format. This method requires a little more effort, but it is guaranteed to work even on locked devices.
Instructions:
- Export Contact: Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → Export Choose vCard (.vcf) format and save the file in your phone’s memory.
- Open the.vcf file in any text editor (e.g. QuickEdit or Notepad++ on PC).
- Find the PHOTO string. If it's not there, add before END:VCARD: PHOTO;ENCODING=BASE64;JPEG: [there will be encoded photo]
- To get a coded photo: 🖼️ Turn your photo into BASE64 via an online service (for example, base64-image.de). 📋 Copy the code and paste it into.vcf instead of [there will be a coded photo].
Contacts → Settings → Contact Management → ImportThis method is useful if:
- 🔒 You have a corporate phone with restrictions on editing contacts.
- 📱 You use custom firmware where standard features don’t work.
- 🖥️ You need to massively add a photo to a large number of contacts (you can automate through the script).
⚠️ Note: When editing.vcf manually, it is easy to make syntax errors that will result in loss of contact. Always back up before making changes! For security, check the file through vCard validator (e.g. iCalendar Validator).
6. Use of third-party applications
If you don’t like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use third-party contact management apps, which often offer more features, including mass photo addition, cloud backup, and social media integration.
Top.-3 apps for Redmi Note 7:
| Annex | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|
| Truecaller | ✅ Automatic addition of photos from social networks ✅ Blocking spam ✅ Cloud backup | ❌ Requires access to contacts and calls ❌ Advertising in the free version |
| Simpler Contacts | ✅ Minimalist interface ✅ Quick search ✅ Support for topics | ❌ No automatic addition of photos ❌ Paid for some functions |
| Contacts+ | ✅ Integration with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn ✅ Combination of duplicates ✅ Customizable fields | ❌ High battery load ❌ A complex interface for beginners |
How to add a photo via Truecaller (for example):
- Install the app from the Play Market and sign up.
- Allow access to contacts and calls (required!).
- Open the contact you need in Truecaller.
- Click on the camera icon next to the name.
- Select the source of the photo (gallery, camera, social networks).
- Save the changes – the photo is automatically synced to the standard contacts.
Warning: Apps like Truecaller collect data about your contacts and calls, and if privacy is more important to you than convenience, use offline solutions like Simpler Contacts or standard MIUI tools.
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The app side is convenient, but may conflict with MIUI system services. Check the Redmi Note 7 compatibility reviews before installing.
7.Photo optimization for contacts: sizes and formats
To ensure that the contact photo is clearly displayed and without distortion, it must meet the MIUI specifications.
Optimal parameters:
- 📏 Size: 720×720 pixels (minimum pixels — 200×200, maximum — 2048×2048).
- 🖼️ Format: JPEG or PNG (transparently).
- 🎨 Color model: RGB (not CMYK).
- 🗜️ Weight: up to 5 MB (optimally up to 500 KB).
How to prepare a photo:
- Use cropping applications, for example: 📱 Photo Editor (built-in in the MIUI). 🖼️ PicsArt or Snapseed for Advanced Editing.
Cut the photo to square (aspect ratio 1:1).
Reduce the resolution to 720×720 if the source is too large.
JPEG
If the photo looks blurry after downloading:
- 🔍 Check if it is not stretched in a round frame (in the MIUI photo clipped downtown).
- 🖼️ Try uploading a different version of the photo (for example, with a different background).
- 📱 Update the Contacts app – image processing improved in new versions.
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For a contact photo to be displayed on WhatsApp, it must be linked to a number in Google Contacts. Standard MIUI photos in the messenger are not shown!