How to add a photo to the contact Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways + error solving

Adding a photo to a contact on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a simple but useful feature that helps you quickly identify subscribers in your phone book, messengers and call log. Despite the intuitive MIUI interface, many users face difficulties: where to click, why a photo is not saved, or how to sync avatars between devices. This article covers all the current ways, from standard addition through the Contacts app to synchronization through Google Account and solving typical errors.

The Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC/M2004C3LG) features a MIUI 12/13 shell with a unique design for the Contacts app, which is different from pure Android. We’ll break down the nuances for both versions of the firmware, and we’ll also explain how to avoid common problems, such as when a photo of a contact is not displayed in all messengers or disappears after a system update.

Preparation: what photos are suitable for contacts

Before adding a photo, make sure it meets MIUI specifications.The system automatically crops and zooms images, but some formats can cause errors.

Basic rules:

• 📏 Resolution: optimal from 300×300 before 1000×1000 Smaller photos will be stretched and lose quality.
• 🖼️ Format: supported JPEG, PNG, WEBP. GIF and HEIC (iPhones are not working.
• 🎨 Content: Avoid complex backgrounds – the system cuts the photo in a circle, so important details (face) should be in the center.
• 📁 Source: Photos can be selected from the gallery, downloaded from the messenger or make a new one through the camera directly in the process of editing the contact.

Important: MIUI compresses contact photos to 100KB when saved, so detail may decrease.If you need to maintain original quality, use Google Contacts (more on that below).

If you plan to use one photo for all services (for example, to show it on WhatsApp or Telegram), it is better to upload it through Google Contacts – more about this in the next section.

Method 1: Add a photo through the standard “Contacts” app

This is the fastest method that works without the Internet, and the instructions are relevant for the Redmi 9 with MIUI 12-14 firmware.

Steps:

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 want in the list or use the search bar at the top.
3. Slip on the contact to open his card.
4. Click on the camera icon (📷) In the top left corner next to the name, if you already have a picture, tap it.
5. Select the source: 📸 Take a photo and the camera will start. 🖼️ Select from the gallery - the application "Photos" will open». 🎨 Sticker – you can choose emoji instead of photo (not available in all versions) MIUI).

"Save."

If the camera button is inactive (grey), it means that the contact is saved to the camera. SIM-Transfer it to your phone or Google Account (instruction below).

Method 2: Sync photos through Google Contacts

This method is suitable if you want a photo of a contact to be displayed on all services (WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail) and synced between devices, and you need the contact to be saved in your Google Account.

Instructions:

1. Open Google Contacts (if there is no app, download it from the Play Market).
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Find the right contact and tap it.
4. Click on the camera icon (📷) top-right.
5. Select the source of the photo (gallery, camera, Google Photos).
6. Cut the photo in a circle and save the changes.

After that, the photo will appear on all devices where you are logged in to this Google Account. To make changes to Redmi 9, sync:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and turn on the Contacts switch**.
3. Press "Sync"** (circle arrow icon).

⚠️ Note: If the photo is not displayed in messengers (for example, WhatsApp), check that the contact is saved in Google Account, not in the phone memory. To do this, open the contact card in the standard Contacts app and see which account is listed at the top (should be Google»**).

💡

If the photo in Google Contacts is not updated on your phone, try removing the contact from your device memory and re-sync it from Google. → «More» (⋮) → «Delete» → Select "Delete from the device».

Method 3: Add a photo through the application "Phone" (call log)

If you need to quickly add a photo to a contact you recently spoke to, you can do it directly from the call log.

How it works:

1. Open the phone app** (pipe icon).
2. Go to the tab "Journal"** (bottom of the screen).
3. Find the number in the list and tap it.
4. In the card that opens, click on the contact icon (or “Create contact”**> if it is not already available).
5. Fill in the name and click on the camera icon (📷) near-name.
6. Select a photo and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: If you use two Google accounts on your phone, contact photos may be duplicated or conflicted. To avoid this, leave only one account to sync contacts or manually combine duplicates in Google Contacts (via the web version of contacts.google.com).

Additional features: stickers, emojis and animated avatars

The latest versions of MIUI have the option of using stickers or emoji instead of photos, which is convenient if you don’t have the right photo or want to personalize your contact.

How to add a sticker or emoji:

1. Open the contact card in the standard Contacts app.
2. Tap the camera icon (📷) near-name.
3. Select the stickers or emoji tab (if any).

Animated avatars are also available on some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14).

1. Set up a photo of the contact as usual.
2. In the contact card, tap the photo and select “Animate”** (if available).
3. The system will automatically create a short animation based on a static photo.

These features only work in standard Xiaomi applications (calls, SMS) and are not displayed in third-party messengers.

💡

Stickers and emojis as contact avatars are unique features of MIUI, which is not found in pure Android. However, they are not synced with Google Contacts and are only visible on this device.

Optimization Tips: How to Make Contact Photos Comfortable

To make contact photos not only beautiful, but also functional, follow these recommendations:

• 🔄 Uniformity: If you add photos for all contacts, try to use the same style (for example, only black and white portraits).

For business contacts, you can use company logos instead of personal photos, for example, a food delivery contact will fit the service logo.

1. Cut it in a square format (like the Photo Editor app).

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos of contacts on Redmi 9