Adding a photo to a contact on Xiaomi smartphones is a simple but useful feature that helps quickly identify subscribers in a call list or messages. However, users often wonder where this photo is stored, why it is not displayed on WhatsApp or Telegram, and how to sync images between devices. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to add photos to contacts on Redmi, POCO and other devices with the MIUI shell, and also solve typical problems.
Although the process seems intuitive, there are nuances to each method, such as photos added through the standard Contacts app may not sync with Google Account, and high-resolution images are sometimes cropped automatically, and we tested all methods on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 and put together checklists for quick problem solving.
If you want contact photos to be displayed on all messengers (including Viber and Signal), it’s important to understand the difference between on-premises and cloud storage.
1. Method 1: Through the standard "Contacts" application
The most obvious method is to use the built-in Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on a green background), which works on all Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 11, regardless of the version of MIUI. The main advantage is that the photo is stored locally and immediately displayed in the call log.
To add a photo:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Find the contact you want in the list or use the search (lamp at the top of the screen).
- Slip on the contact, then click the Edit button (pencil in the upper right corner).
- Tap the camera icon next to the name field (or above it, depending on the MIUI version).
- Select the source: 📷 Take a photo - immediately from the smartphone camera; 🖼️ Gallery – Choose from existing images; 🎨 Avatars – use standard icons from MIUI.
Cut the photo in a circle (if necessary) and save the changes.
Once saved, the photo will appear in the call log and in the Messages app, but if the contact is synced with Google, the local photo may not appear in other services (e.g., Gmail).
Contact is not duplicated in the phone book |
Photo has a resolution of at least 300×300 pixels |
The device has enough free memory|
Google sync is disabled (if local storage is required)-->
2. Method 2: Through Google Contacts (cloud sync)
If you use Google Account to sync contacts, the added photo will be available on all devices where you are logged in, a method that is suitable for users who want to see avatars on Gmail, Google Meet or other Android smartphones.
Instructions:
- Open the Google Contacts app (if not, download from the Play Market).
- Find the right contact and tap it.
- Click Change (pencil at the top).
- Touch the camera icon next to the name.
- Select the source of the photo (camera, gallery or Google Photos).
- Cut the image and save it.
Important: sync can take a few minutes. If the photo doesn't show up right away, check your internet connection or force your contacts to update in your Google account settings (Settings → Accounts → Google → Sync).
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To speed up sync, open Settings → Apps → App Management → Google Contacts → Memory and click Clear Cache. This often helps when updates freeze.
Method 3: Through the Phone app (fast access)
In MIUI, you can add a photo to your contact directly from the Phone app (green handset), which is convenient if you often call the same caller and want to quickly assign an avatar to him.
How to do this:
- Open the Phone app.
- Go to the Contacts tab (bottom of the screen).
- Find the right contact and hold it with your finger for 1-2 seconds.
- In the menu that appears, select Edit.
- Slip the camera icon next to the name and select a photo.
This method is identical to the first one, but saves time if you are already in the Phone app. However, note: if the contact is duplicated (for example, there is both a phone book and a phone book). SIM-The changes may not be saved, so first combine the duplicates.
Method 4: Via MIUI Cloud (for backup)
Xiaomi’s cloud (MIUI Cloud) not only allows you to reserve contacts, but also save photos attached to them, which is useful if you plan to change your smartphone or reset your settings to factory settings.
To upload a photo of your contact to the cloud:
- Make sure the sync function is enabled: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts (the slider must be active).
- Add a photo to the contact in any of the ways described above.
- Wait for automatic synchronization (or manually run it by pulling the screen down in the Mi Cloud section).
Example of settings in Truecaller:
- Install the app from the Play Market and sign up.
- Allow access to contacts and storage.
- Open the contact card in Truecaller and click Edit.
- Upload a photo or select from the options offered (if the contact is in the Truecaller database).
Please note that these apps may request access to personal data. Check permissions and reviews in the Play Market before installing.
Through the standard "Contacts" app |
Through Google Contacts |
Through MIUI Cloud|
I use third-party apps (Truecaller, etc.)|
I don't add photos to my contacts.-->
6.Why is the contact photo not displayed on WhatsApp/Telegram?
One of the most common problems is that the added photo is visible in the phone book, but it's not shown in the messengers.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photos are in your contacts, but not on WhatsApp | Contact saved on SIM-card, not in the phone's memory | Transfer the contact to the phone book (Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → From SIM to Phone) |
| Photo clipped or distorted | The messenger automatically changes the proportions. | Upload a square photo (resolution of 500×500 pixels) |
| Photo not updated on Telegram | Messenger cache not updated | Clear the Telegram cache in the app settings |
| Photos can only be seen on one device | Contact is not synced with Google | Enable sync in Settings → Accounts → Google |
If the problem persists, try removing the contact and re-create it by putting the photo on the first save, and check if the battery optimizer is blocking messengers (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization).
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WhatsApp and Telegram cache photos of contacts. After changing the avatar, it can take up to 24 hours for the update to appear in messengers.
7.How to change or delete the photo of the contact?
If you want to update the avatar or remove it altogether, do the following:
Photo change:
- Open the contact in the Contacts app.
- Press Edit.
- Slip on the current photo and select a new one.
Photo deletion:
- In the edit mode of the contact, click on his photo.
- Select the Remove option (basket or cross).
- Save the changes.
If a photo has been added through Google Contacts, the changes are synced automatically, and for local contacts, the deletion will only occur on that device.
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To remove photos from your contacts, use the Contact Editor app (available on Play Market), which allows you to selectively clear avatars for multiple contacts at once.
8. Solving common errors
When working with photos of contacts on Xiaomi, users face typical problems.
⚠️ Warning: If the contact disappeared from the list after adding a photo, check if it is hidden in the display settings. → Settings → Display contacts and select All contacts.
Error 1: Photos are not saved
- 📵 Check if there is enough memory on the device.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it solves cache issues.
- 🛠️ Update the Contacts app through Play Market.
Error 2: Photo is displayed blurry
- 🖼️ Use the original photo with a resolution of at least 500×500 pixel.
- 🔍 When pruning, do not increase the scale - it reduces the quality.
- 📱 Check the screen settings: sometimes the problem is in the power saving mode enabled (Settings) → Display. → Image mode).
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) when adding a photo through MIUI Cloud may experience an error called “Can’t download” in which case use Google Contacts or local save.