How to add a photo to a contact on Xiaomi: all the ways for MIUI 12, 13 and 14

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. Despite the apparent obvious, many users face difficulties: the desired menu item is not located, the photo is not saved after synchronization, MIUI suddenly resets. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to attach images to contacts, from standard tools to bypassing system constraints.

Features of the process depend on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13 or 14), smartphone models (e.g., Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5), and where the contact is stored - in the device memory, on SIM-We have taken into account all the nuances and prepared universal instructions that will work even on older devices like Redmi 5 Plus or the new flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Why can’t I add a photo to my Xiaomi contact?

Before we get to the instructions, let’s look at the typical reasons why a function might not work:

• 📱 Contact saved on SIM-map – these records do not support photo attachment in most versions MIUI.
• ☁️ Google sync is disabled – without it, changes may not persist after the reboot.
• 🔄 The outdated version of the "Contacts" app - in MIUI 12 and below the interface is different from the current versions.
• 🚫 Manufacturer restrictions on certain models (e.g, POCO M3) function hidden in the developer settings.
• 📸 Inappropriate photo format – the system may not receive images with a resolution higher 2048×2048 or in.webp format.

If you tried to add a photo through the standard Contacts app, but after saving the changes did not appear, check Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync. Often the problem is solved by enabling this option. It is also worth updating the Contacts app through Google Play - many avatar display bugs are fixed in new versions.

Method 1: Add a photo through the standard "Contact" application

This is the simplest and most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model, the instructions are relevant for MIUI 13/14, but with slight differences will fit for older versions:

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Find the contact you need in the list and tap it to open the card.
3. In the upper right corner, click on the "Edit" icon (pencil).
4. Slip on the empty mug with the camera in the upper left corner (or on the current avatar, if you already have one).
5. Select the source of the photo: 📷 Take a photo – immediately take a picture of the contact through the camera. 🖼️ Gallery – select an existing image from your phone’s memory. 🎨 Avatar – Create a stylized image using tools MIUI.

"Done."

"OK"

"Save."

If the photo doesn't show up in the contact list or in the Phone app after saving it, try restarting your smartphone. Sometimes MIUI caches old data and requires a restart to update the interface.

Method 2: Change photos through Google Contacts (synchronization)

If you use a Google Account to store contacts, it's easier to change avatars through the web version of the service, which ensures that the photo is saved even after you reset your phone or switch to a new device.

1. Open contacts.google.com on your computer or phone and log in with the same account as you do on Xiaomi.
2. Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
3. In the card that opens, click on the camera icon in the upper left corner (near the name).
4. Select the source: 🖼️ Upload a photo – upload an image from the device. 📷 Take a picture – take a photo through a webcam (on a PC) or a phone camera. 🎨 Create an avatar – generate an image based on initials.

Cut the photo in a circle (if necessary) and save the changes.

After that, wait for sync (usually takes 1-2 minutes) and check the display of the photo on your smartphone. If the changes are not applied, go to Settings → Accounts → Google and manually update the sync of contacts.

💡

If the photo doesn’t sync, try deleting your Google account on your phone and adding it again, which often solves the problem of “hung” data.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (Truecaller, Sync.ME)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., older Xiaomi models like the Redmi 4X), you can use third-party apps that not only allow you to add photos to your contacts, but also offer additional features like call identification or backup.

Truecaller

The app automatically pulls up photos of subscribers from social networks and open sources, but also allows you to add your images:

1. Install Truecaller from Google Play and complete the registration.
2. Open the app and find the right contact.
3. Slip on the contact avatar and select "Change photo".
4. Download an image from the gallery or take a new picture.
5. Save the changes – the photo is synchronized with the system contacts.

Sync.ME

This application specializes in synchronizing contacts with social networks (Facebook, VK, Twitter) and allows you to manually assign photos:

1. Download Sync.ME and connect social media accounts (optional).
2. Find the contact in the list and click on the pencil icon ("Edit").
3. Select "Add Photos" and upload the image.
4. Confirm the save - the photo will appear in the system phone book.
5. Import the contact back to your phone or Google Account: In the same menu, select "Import from your device." Specify the.vcf file and select the target storage ("Device" or "Google").

Now edit the contact and add the photo in any of the ways described above.

After that, the original contact was SIM-The card can be deleted as it will be duplicated in the phone's memory. To avoid confusion, we recommend that you move all contacts from the phone. SIM Google Accounts – This Will Remove Sync Problems in the Future.

💡

Contacts to SIM-The card does not support photos, but they can be transferred to the memory of the phone or Google Account for further editing.

Optimization of photos for contacts: sizes and formats

To ensure that the photo is correctly displayed in MIUI and not cropped during synchronization, follow the following recommendations:

For quick optimization of photos, you can use applications like Photo Resizer or PicsArt. If you want the avatar to look the same on all devices (for example, on Xiaomi and iPhone), save it in.png format with a transparent background - this will prevent the appearance of white fields after pruning.

💡

To prevent the photo from stretching, use the cropping tool in the standard Xiaomi gallery: open the image → click “Edit” → select “Pruning” → set the ratio 1: 1.

Problem Solving: Photos are not saved or are lost

If you add a photo to it or it doesn’t appear in some apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram), check out the following:

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO F3) post-update MIUI 14 contacts are reset, and this is due to a bug in the sync module. Solution: Turn off and turn on Google sync again in your account settings.

• 🔄 Resetting the cache of the Contacts app: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Find Contacts and select Clear Cache. Reboot your phone.
• 📱 Checking the contact store: Open the contact → "Edit" → See where it is stored (the device, SIM or Google, if indicated "SIM", Move the contact to another storage (see instructions above). ☁️ Forced Synchronization: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Google. Turn off contact sync, wait 10 seconds and turn it on again.
• 🛠️ Software Update: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Contact photo bugs fixed in the latest versions MIUI. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.