How to set a photo on the contact in Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: 5 proven ways

Introduction: Why to set up photos for contacts

Modern smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, they have become personal assistants, storing all the important information. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is no exception: its address book is able to store not only names and numbers, but also photos of contacts. It is not just an aesthetic addition, but a useful feature that helps to quickly identify the caller, especially when there are hundreds of entries in the phone book.

Research has shown that visual memory is 20-30% more efficient than textual associations, which means that when you see a photo of a contact on a screen during an incoming call, you can more quickly orient yourself to answer, and in this article, we will explore all the possible ways to install a photo on contacts in the Redmi Note 10S, from standard methods to little-known life hacks.

Method 1: through the standard “Contact” application

The most obvious and simple method is to use the built-in Contacts app (aka Contacts or Phone in the English version of MIUI), which requires no additional software installation and works on all versions of the Redmi Note 10S firmware.

To add a photo:

• 📱 Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the desktop)
• 📇 Go to the “Contacts” tab in the lower menu
• 🔍 Find the right contact in the list or use the search
• ✏️ Click on the contact, then tap on the Edit icon (pencil in the upper right corner)
• 🖼️ Touch the round camera icon next to the contact name
• 📸 Select the source: “Photos”, “Gallery” or “Upload” (for cloud services)
• ✅ Cut the photo in a circle (if necessary) and save the changes

The photo has a resolution of at least 300×300 pixels

Contact is stored in the phone book, not on the phone SIM-map

On the smartphone there is enough free memory

The photo does not contain any superfluous objects (it is better to use a portrait)-->

Important: If a contact is synced to a Google Account, changes will affect all devices you are logged in to, which is convenient, but sometimes leads to version conflicts, as we will discuss in the next section.

⚠️ Note: When cutting photos in MIUI There's a minimum size limit, so if you try to zoom in too much, the system will give you a "failed to cut" error. Solution: pre-slice the photo in any graphics editor.

Method 2: Sync with Google Contacts

If you use Google Contacts to store your address book, you can add photos not only from your smartphone, but also through the web version of the service, which is especially useful when you need to massively edit contacts or download photos from your computer.

Instructions for the web version:

1. Open your browser and go to contacts.google.com
2. Sign in with the same account as the Redmi Note 10S
3. Find the right contact in the list and click on it.
4. Click on the camera icon in the upper right corner of the contact window
5. Download a photo from your computer or take a picture through a webcam
6. Save the changes – they sync with the phone for 1-2 minutes

The advantage of this method is that you can upload photos in batches (up to 25 pieces at a time), which saves time with a large amount of contacts. However, there is a nuance: MIUI sometimes caches older versions of photos, so after synchronization, you may need to force the restart of the Contacts application.

Through the application Contacts on the phone

Importing with SIM-map

I sync with Google/Akkount

I use third-party apps (Truecaller, etc.)

Another way.-->

Method 3: Using the Truecaller application

Truecaller is known primarily as a number identification service, but it also offers advanced contact management features, including photo installation, with the main advantage of automatically adding avatars from social networks (if the contact is registered with Truecaller).

How it works:

• 📲 Install Truecaller from Google Play
• 🔑 Register (confirmation of phone number will be required)
• 🔍 Find the right contact in the list or through search
• 🖼️ Click on the camera icon next to the name
• 📸 Select the source of the photo (gallery, camera or offered options from social networks)
• ✅ Save – the photo will appear in standard Contacts MIUI

Truecaller can automatically substitute photos from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles if the contact allows for this in the privacy settings, which eliminates the need to manually upload each person's photo. However, it's worth remembering security: Truecaller collects data about your contacts, which can be critical for some users.

⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. India), Truecaller displays phone numbers in an international format by default (+7 instead of 8. This may lead to duplication of contacts in MIUI. To avoid the problem, before installing the photo, check the format of the number in the application settings.

Method 4: Transfer of photos from SIM-map

If your contacts are stored on SIM-You may have noticed that the pictures are not attached to them. SIM-The cards only support text data, but there's a workaround: import contacts into your phone's memory first, and then add photos to them.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Contacts → Contact Management (three dots in the upper right corner)
2. Select “Import/Export” → “Import from SIM-card”
3. Specify where to save contacts: “Phone” or “Google”
4. After importing, open each contact and add a photo via editing (as in Method 1)

Pay attention: SIM-Cards have a limit on the number of characters in a single contact (usually up to 140 characters per name). + If data is cut off when importing, try splitting the information into multiple records or use a cloud backup.

💡

Before importing with SIM-Maps make backup of contacts through Settings → Google → Backup. It'll help you recover data if something goes wrong.

Method 5: Mass installation of photos via Excel and Google Contacts

For those with hundreds of contacts, manually adding photos can take hours. Fortunately, there's a way to automate the process with Google Sheets and Google Contacts. This method requires some Excel skills, but saves you a lot of time.

Algorithm of action:

1. Export contacts from MIUI to.vcf: Settings → Google → Backup → Export contacts
2. Import.vcf to Google Contacts via the web version
3. Export your contacts from Google to.csv ("More" → "Export")
4. Open the resulting.csv in Excel or Google Tables
5. Add a Photo column and paste links to photos (they should be uploaded to the public, for example, to Google Drive)
6. Save the file and import it back to Google Contacts

Important: Google Contacts only support uploading photos via direct links to images in JPEG, PNG or GIF formats. The file size should not exceed 5 MB, and the recommended resolution should be from 300×300 to 1200×1200 pixels.

💡

Mass uploading photos via CSV is only suitable for Google Contacts. The standard MIUI app doesn’t have this feature, so you’ll have to use workarounds.

Solving the problem: why the photo is not displayed

Sometimes users find that the installed photos are not shown on an incoming call or in the contact list, the reasons can vary from firmware bugs to incorrect settings. Let's consider the most common cases and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The photo is in contact, but not shown when you call.

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – often helps reset the cache of the Phone app»
• 📱 Check the display settings: Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Contact display
• 🔧 Make sure that the contact is saved in the phone book, not on the phone. SIM-map

Problem 2: The photo is cropped incorrectly or distorted.

• 🖼️ Use square images (aspect ratio 1:1)
• 📏 Minimum recommended size — 500×500 pixel
• 🎨 Cut the photo in advance in the editor (for example, in Snapseed or Lightroom)

Problem 3: The photos disappeared after the MIUI update.

• 🔄 Restore contacts from Google backup
• 📥 Resave the photo manually (sometimes it helps to re-add)
• 📧 Check if the synchronization settings in the Settings have gone wrong → Accounts. → Google

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI (For example, 12.5 and 13) there is a bug that prevents contact photos from showing up in the Messages app, even though they are visible in Phone. Solution: clear the Messages cache in the settings or update the firmware to the latest version.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions