How to install video on a call on Xiaomi: a complete guide with nuances

Why Xiaomi Call Videos Are Cool, But Not Always Easy

The video on the incoming call is one of those Xiaomi chips that makes the smartphone really personal. Instead of a boring ringtone, you see your favorite clip, meme, or cat record every time someone calls. But here's the problem: in MIUI, this feature is hidden so deep that many users do not even know it exists, and those who tried to customize often encounter errors like "File is not supported" or "Video is not played."

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can install video on a call, from standard MIUI tools to workarounds for models where the function is turned off by default. You'll learn which video formats work without glitches, how to cut the video under the smartphone screen and what to do if the melody from the video disappears after the system update, and also a unique lifehack for owners of Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5, where video on a call can be animated using a hidden developer mode.

What Xiaomi smartphones support video calls

Not all Xiaomi devices can play video when a call is made, but here are the key points:

• 📱 Flagship models (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold 2/3) — out-of-the-box support MIUI 13+.
• 📱 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note) 11/12, POCO X4/X5) — Requires manual inclusion through Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Video of the call.
• 📱 Budget models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4) — Often devoid of function due to a weak processor.
• 📱 Outdated devices (up to) MIUI 12) – video calls only work through third-party applications.

To see if your smartphone supports the feature, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone. If it says MIUI 14/15, the odds are high. Redmi and POCO on MIUI 12.5 may need a firmware update.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 NFC) Video Call Features May Disappear After Update MIUI. In this case, it will help to reset the settings to the factory or roll back the firmware through Fastboot.

Video requirements: format, size and duration

Not every video is suitable for calling Xiaomi, and the system has strict file requirements.

• 🎬 Format: only.mp4 or.3gp. Others (e.g..mov,.avi) are not supported.
• 📏 Permission: no higher 1920×1080 (Full HD). For budget models optimal 1280×720.
• ⏱️ Duration: 3 to 30 seconds. Videos shorter than 3 seconds will be looped, videos longer than 30 seconds will be clipped.
• 🔊 Sound: must be embedded in a file. Separate audio track is not supported.
• 📁 File weight: up to 10MB. Exceeding leads to the error "File too large".

If your video doesn't meet the requirements, you need to convert it.

• 🖥️ On PC: HandBrake (free), Adobe Premiere Rush (for precision trimming).
• 📱 On the phone: CapCut, InShot (there are templates for cropping under the call).

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Use CloudConvert to quickly convert video to.mp4 with the right parameters. Select the Preset "For mobile" and specify the resolution of 1280×720 for better compatibility.

Pay special attention to aspect ratio. For most smartphones, Xiaomi is perfect for 9:16 (vertical video). If you download horizontal video (16:9), it will be cropped around the edges or stretched, which will spoil the quality.

Method 1: Install video via standard MIUI settings

If your smartphone supports the function, the easiest way is to use the built-in tools. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Open Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Video on the call.
2. Click Add Video and select a file from the gallery.
3. Cut the video (if required) with the built-in editor.
4. Save and assign the video to a specific contact or for all calls.

Check the format (.mp4 or.3gp)

Cut the video to 3 to 30 seconds

Make sure the sound is embedded in the file

Compress the file to 10MB (if necessary)-->

If the video item on the call menu is not available, it means:

• 🔄 Your version. MIUI outdated - update the firmware.
• 📵 The feature is disabled for your model – try the way with a third-party app.
• 🔧 You need to activate hidden settings (see Method 3).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (for example, MIUI EU) Video calls may not work due to regional limitations, and if you do, you can also stream to a global or Chinese version.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Applications

If the standard method doesn't work, Google Play apps will come to the rescue.

• 🎵 Video Ringtone Maker – allows you to create a video ringtone from any file, even if it does not meet the requirements MIUI.
• 📹 Zedge – a library of ready-made video ringtones with the ability to download and install in one click.
• 🔧 Ringtone Maker – supports video clipping and conversion to the desired format.

Instructions for Video Ringtone Maker:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Select a video from the gallery or record a new one.
3. Cut the fragment (maximum 30 seconds).
4. Click Save as a ringtone and select the Video Ringtone.
5. In Xiaomi settings, assign the created video to the call.

Third-party apps have the advantage of bypassing MIUI restrictions, such as installing up to 1 minute of video (though only the first 30 seconds will play) or using.mkv formats (after automatic conversion).

Method 3: Activate a hidden function through developer modes

On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro or POCO F4), the video call feature is hidden in the developer menu to enable it:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the video item on the call (experimental function) and turn it on.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

After that, a new section will appear in Settings → Sounds and Vibrations. Please note that on some firmware, this item may be called differently, for example:

• Animated ringtone (for POCO X5)
• Multimedia Call (for Xiaomi 13 Lite)
• Dynamic Ringtone (in English versions of MIUI)

⚠️ Attention: Enabling experimental features can lead to unstable phone performance. e.g. on Redmi K50 After activating the video on the call through the developer mode, some users complained of hanging when the call is in. If you encounter such a problem, turn off the function and reset settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings).

Problem Solving: Videos are not played or slow down

If the video doesn’t work, check out these points:

If nothing helps, try:

1. Delete the cache of the Phone application (Settings → Applications → Phone → Memory → Clear the cache).
2. Disable battery optimization for the Phone application (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
3. Set an alternative call (such as Truecaller) and assign a video through it.

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On Xiaomi with a Snapdragon 4xx processor (like the Redmi 9A), video on the call will slow down due to weak iron, in which case it is better to use a static image with music or a short video lasting 3-5 seconds.

Bonus: How to Make a Call Video Unique for Every Contact

You can assign different videos to different contacts.

1. Open the Contacts app and select the contact you want.
2. Click Edit → Default Call → Video.
3. Select a file from the gallery or create a new one through the editor.
4. Save the changes.

This method only works for contacts stored in the phone's memory, and Google contacts will need to use a workaround:

• Create a local contact with the same number.
• Assign a video to him.
• Sync changes with Google Contacts (sometimes the video is automatically transferred).

On Xiaomi 13/14, there is another feature: you can assign video calls to groups of contacts (for example, "Family" or "Work").

1. Create a group in Contacts.
2. Go to Settings → Sounds → Video to call for groups.
3. Select a group and assign a video.

FAQ: Frequent questions about video calls to Xiaomi