How to set a photo in the Xiaomi Redmi T9: 3 working methods + problem solving

You want to make sure that when you call in, the Xiaomi Redmi T9 displays a subscriber's photo instead of a boring icon? It's a simple procedure to set a photo up on a contact, but there are nuances in MIUI that are not mentioned in the standard instructions, like why sometimes the photo doesn't show up in messengers or after syncing with Google, even though the phone book is fine.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to add photos to contacts on the Redmi T9 (including the T9 Pro and T9 Prime models), as well as typical errors that cause the image to “disappear” or not load, and pay special attention to the hidden MIUI settings that affect the display of avatars in calls and notifications.

If you've tried to add a photo but it doesn't appear in the right apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram), don't rush to blame your smartphone. Most often, the problem lies in the sync settings or image format, and we'll show you how to fix it without resetting.

To start, check which version of MIUI is installed on your Redmi T9. It depends on the availability of some features. Path: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If you have version 12.5 and higher, all the methods in this article will work. Older versions (such as MIUI 11) may need an update.

1. Method 1: Add a photo through the standard MIUI phone book

The most obvious and quick method is to edit the contact directly in the Contacts app (a human icon on the home screen), which is suitable for local contacts that are saved only on the phone, not in a Google account.

Open the Contacts app and find the contact you want in the list. Click on it to open the card. In the upper left corner, you'll see an empty avatar box (or a standard icon if you've already added a photo), and tap on this box, and the options menu will open:

• 📸 Take a photo – immediately opens the camera to take a new picture.
• 🖼️ Select from Gallery – Allows you to upload an existing image.
• 🎨 Creating an Avatar is a Tool MIUI to generate stylized images (not available on all versions).

If you select a photo from a gallery, the system will automatically crop it to a circle, you can zoom in with your fingers to select the desired area, and once confirmed, the photo will be saved and displayed in calls, messages and notifications.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI Default compresses photo contacts until resolution 720×720 If you download an image with a resolution above (for example, 4K), It will be automatically reduced, but the quality will remain acceptable to the avatar.

To ensure that the image is displayed correctly, we recommend using images with an aspect ratio of 1: 1 (square). If you upload a horizontal or vertical photo, the system will crop it in the center, which can lead to the loss of important details (for example, the face in the group picture).

Use a square image (1:1)

Resolution of at least 500×500 pixels

JPEG or PNG format (without transparency)

The face must occupy at least 60% of the area

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2. Method 2: Synchronize photos through Google Contacts

If your contacts are saved to your Google account (rather than locally on your phone), adding a photo through the standard Contacts app may not work, in which case you need to edit the contact directly in Google Contacts, and then wait for sync.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same Google account that is linked to your Redmi T9.
3. Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
4. In the upper left corner, click on the camera icon (or an existing photo, if any).
5. Download the image from the device or make a new one through the webcam.
6. Save the changes.

Then go back to your smartphone and force your contacts to update:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Click on your account, then turn on the Contacts slider (if it is turned off).
3. Slip on the three dots in the top right corner and select Sync Now.

Usually, the photo appears on the phone within 1-2 minutes, and if it doesn’t, check your internet connection or restart your device.

⚠️ Note: If you have added a photo via Google Contacts, but it does not appear in Redmi calls T9, Check the settings of the Phone app. Go to the phone settings. → Contact display → Show contacts from and make sure you select “All contacts” or “Google».

Method 3: Using the “Truecaller” app for avatars

If standard methods don't work, or if you want contact photos to be displayed even to people who aren't saved in your phone book, you can use Truecaller, which automatically uploads avatars from social media and open sources.

Install Truecaller from Google Play and follow the following steps:

• 📥 Launch the app and allow access to contacts.
• 🔍 Find the right contact in the search for Truecaller.
• 🖼️ If a contact has a public photo (such as from Facebook or LinkedIn), it will show up in the profile. click Save to add it to the phone book.

Truecaller can automatically update your contacts’ photos if they change their social media avatars.This is convenient, but keep in mind that the app collects data about your contacts (this is spelled out in the privacy policy).

To have photos from Truecaller displayed in the standard Phone app, make sure that the MIUI settings include the option “Show photos from Truecaller.” Path: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Additional settings → Caller Identification.

4.Why is the photo of the contact not displayed in calls or messengers?

You added a photo, but it doesn't appear on an incoming call or on WhatsApp/Telegram?

• 🔄 Messenger cache: WhatsApp and Telegram cache photos of contacts. Try clearing the app cache or restarting your phone.
• 📱 Display settings: B MIUI There's an option called "Show contact photos in notifications." Check it along the way: Settings. → Notifications and status bar → Additionally. → Showing photos of contacts.
• 🔗 Account Sync: If the contact is saved in multiple accounts (e.g. Google and Google) SIM-The photo may be "conflicting." Combine duplicate contacts.
• 🖼️ Inappropriate format: MIUI Does not support animated photos (GIF) or transparent images (PNG Use the standard channel. JPEG.

If the problem only occurs on WhatsApp, open the contact chat, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select View Contact. Here you can manually update the photo by clicking on the camera icon.

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To have a contact photo displayed in message notifications, turn on the “Show sender photo” option in MIUI settings: Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification settings → Additional.

5. How to change or delete the photo of the contact?

If you want to update or remove your avatar, do the following:

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
2. Slip on the current photo (or an empty field if there is no avatar).
3. In the menu that opens, select: 🖼️ «Change the photo to replace the image. 🗑️ «Remove" - to remove the avatar.

Save the changes.

If a photo has been added via Google Contacts, it can only be deleted via the web version of the service (contacts.google.com).

On the Redmi T9 with MIUI 12.5+, there is another way to delete a photo: a long tap on the avatar in the contact card will cause a context menu with the option “Delete” that works only for local contacts.

6. Additional MIUI chips for working with contacts

MIUI offers several hidden features that make it easier to manage photo contacts:

• 🔍 Photo search: Contacts can search for contacts not only by name, but also by image. To do this, tap on the magnifying glass icon and select the tab Photos».
• 🎨 Automatic cropping: When adding photos MIUI Offers you to cut it in the face automatically (if there is a person in the picture). → Additionally. → Pruning in the face.
• 🔄 Backup: To avoid losing contact photos when resetting your phone, back up via Settings → The phone. → Backup. Photos are saved to a file with the.mia extension.

Another useful feature is group photos for contacts, so if you have multiple numbers of the same person (for example, work and personal), you can assign different photos for each room.

1. Open the contact card.
2. Slip on the number you want to change the photo for.
3. Select “Change” and add an image.

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If you call the same person often, add them to Favorites in the Phone app. For this, a long click on the contact → Add to Favorites. The photo will be displayed on the home screen in the Quick Access widget.

7. Solving problems with displaying photos

If the contact photo doesn’t show up despite all the effort, try the following steps:

1. Check Permits: Make sure the Contacts and Phone apps have access to storage and camera. path: Settings → Apps → Permissions.
2. Update MIUI: Older firmware versions (below 12.0) have bugs with avatars. Check for updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.
3. Reset your application settings: Go to Settings → Apps → App management → Phone → Storage → Reset settings.
4. Check the contact format: If the contact is saved SIM-You can't add a photo to it. You can transfer it to your phone or your Google account.

If the problem persists, try an alternative contact app like Simple Contacts or Contacts+. They often work better with avatars than the standard MIUI app.

⚠️ Note: On some Redmi models T9 with custom firmware (unofficial versions) MIUI) Contact photos may not be displayed due to lack of support for Google Contacts Sync. In this case, only flashing to the official version will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos of contacts on Xiaomi Redmi T9