How to put your photo on the phone Xiaomi: 5 ways + problem solving

Personalized photos of contacts in Xiaomi not only make it easier to find subscribers, but also make the smartphone interface unique. However, many users face difficulties: somewhere the “Add Photo” button is hidden in the depths of the menu, somewhere the image is not saved after synchronization, and some Redmi or POCO models do not have the function in the standard application. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of installing photos on the contact, from basic to little-known life hacks for MIUI 12-14.

We'll focus on the problems that arise when you sync with a Google Account or Mi Account, and how to get around the restrictions on older versions of firmware. If you want contact photos to be displayed not only in the phone book, but also on WhatsApp, Telegram or incoming calls, here are solutions for each case.

Before you get to the instructions, check the version of MIUI on your device: Setting path → About phone → MIUI version. This depends on the availability of certain features. For example, MIUI 14 introduced the option of automatic facial recognition for contacts, but MIUI 12 did not.

1. Standard method: through the "Contacts" application

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (or Phone on global firmware) that works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9A, POCO M4 Pro and the flagship Mi 13 Ultra.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background).

2. Find the right contact in the list and tap it.

3. At the top of the screen, click on the camera icon (or the plus in the circle if the photo is not already installed).

4. Select the source of the image:

• 📷 Take a photo – activated smartphone camera.
• 🖼️ Gallery – a selection of existing photos.
• 🎨 Avatars - standard icons from MIUI (not available on all firmware).

5. Cut the photo in a circle (if required) and save the changes to the button Ready or OK.

- Check that the contact is saved in the phone book (not only in the phone book). SIM-map)

Make sure the photo has a resolution of at least 300×300 pixels

Disable VPN – it can block gallery access in some regions

Update the Contacts app to the latest version on Google Play

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⚠️ Note: If the photo is not displayed when an incoming call is saved, go to Settings → Annexes → Contacts → Permits and enable access to Phone and Warehouse.

2. Install photo via Google Contacts (synchronization)

If you use Google Account to sync your contacts, you can add photos via the web version of the service, which is convenient because the images will be available on all devices where you are logged in under the same account (including iPhones or tablets).

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to:

https://contacts.google.com

2. Sign up with your Google Account (the same as Xiaomi).

3. Find the right contact and click on it.

4. Click on the camera icon in the upper right corner (near the name).

5. Download the photo from your computer or select from Google Photos.

After sync (usually takes 1-5 minutes), the photo will appear on your Xiaomi.

• 🔄 Check the synchronization enabled: Settings → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization of contacts.
• 📶 Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (preferably via Wi-Fi).
• ⚙️ Update Google Contacts app in Play Market.

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If a photo in Google Contacts is displayed but does not appear on Xiaomi, try removing the contact from the phone book and syncing it back to Google.

3. How to put a photo in contact through MIUI-chips (hidden functions)

MIUI offers some non-obvious ways to add photos that even work on budget models like the Redmi A1 or POCO C40. One of them is using the built-in contact editor through Settings.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Contacts → Contact Management.

2. Select the contact for which you want to set the photo.

3. Slip on the profile icon (by default - a gray blank with the first letter of the name).

4. In the menu that opens, select Change Photos and follow the standard procedure.

Another life hack is the use of a voice assistant:

Okay, Google, show me the contacts [name of subscriber]

After opening the contact card in voice, say:

Add a photo.

This method only works on global firmware with a pre-configured voice assistant.

4. Problems and errors: photo is not saved or displayed

Even after successfully adding photos, Xiaomi users often encounter bugs, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13 and later, after updating the firmware, the cache of the Contacts application may be reset. To avoid losing photos, make a backup through Settings before updating. → Memory. → Backup.

5. Alternative methods: third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., Redmi 7A with outdated firmware), you can use third-party apps.

1. Truecaller

• 🔍 Automatically pulls up photos from social networks (VK, Facebook, Instagram).
• 🛡️ Blocks spam calls.
• ⚠️ Requires access to contacts and the internet.

Download: Google Play

2. Sync.ME

• 📞 Shows photos of contacts when incoming calls even if they are not saved in the phone book.
• 🌐 Sync with LinkedIn and other business networks.

3. Contacts+

• 🎨 Advanced Photo Editor with Filters.
• 📊 Grouping of contacts by category (work, friends, family).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party applications, contact photos may be stored on developers' servers. Before installing, check the privacy policy (Privacy Policy section in the application description).

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Third-party contact apps are useful if standard MIUI features don’t work, but remember: they can collect data about your subscribers. Always read reviews and ratings before installing.

6 How to make a photo of a contact appear on WhatsApp and Telegram

Many Xiaomi users wonder why the photo added to the phone book does not appear in messengers, because WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber use their own contact databases, not directly related to the system.

To make the photo appear everywhere:

1. Open WhatsApp (or another messenger).
2. Go to the Chats tab and tap on the new chat icon (pencil in the lower right corner).
3. Find the contact you want on the list and keep your finger on it.
4. In the menu that opens, select View Contact.
5. Slip on the camera icon next to the name and add a photo.

For Telegram, the path is a bit different:

Open chat → Tap on the contact name → Click on the avatar → Change the photo

If the photo in the messenger is not updated after changes in the phone book, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the messenger (close in multitasking and reopen).
• 📥 Update the application to the latest version.
• 🗑️ Clear the messenger cache in Settings → Annexes → [Name of messenger] → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

7 How to transfer contact photos to a new Xiaomi phone

When you change your smartphone (for example, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 13T), photos of contacts may not automatically transfer.

Method 1: Through MIUI backup

1. On your old phone: Settings → Memory → Backup → Create a backup (select Contacts).
2. Copy the backup file (.mbk) to your new phone (via Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or cable).
3. On the new phone: Settings → Memory → Restore from backup.

Method 2: Export/import through VCF-file

1. Open Contacts. → ⋮ (menu) → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to the vault.
2. Transfer the resulting contacts.vcf file to your new phone.
3. Import it through the same menu.

⚠️ Note: When exporting to VCF Contact photos are not always saved. To ensure that images are transferred, use Google Contacts (the method described in section 2).

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos of contacts in Xiaomi