Personalizing a mobile device is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to instantly identify the caller. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often wonder how to set a customized image for the caller, so as not to guess who exactly is calling in a noisy place or when the phone is lying down. MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS provide several ways to do this, but the interface may differ depending on the version of the shell.
Installing an avatar not only brightens your contact list, but also speeds up your search for the right person in your shared phone book. It takes only a few seconds if you know where the right edit button is hiding, and in this article, we will go through all the available methods, including the nuances of syncing through Google Account and local storage.
It's worth noting that the correct display of the picture depends on where the phone number is stored. SIM-The ability to add media files can be limited to the chip manufacturer, not the phone software, so to fully use the personalization functions, it is recommended to store data in the cloud or device memory.
The main ways to add an image
There are several proven action algorithms that allow you to link a photo to a phone number, and the specific method you choose depends on whether you use Google’s standard Contacts app or Xiaomi’s proprietary design, both of which have their own interface features, but the end result will be the same.
The easiest way is to edit an existing record, so you have to open the phone book app, find the right subscriber, and click the data change button, which is usually a pencil or a three-dot icon in the corner of the screen, and then you go into editing mode and you'll be asked to select the source of the image.
The second option is to create a new record from scratch, and if you add a new contact at the top of the input form, there's always a circular area for the avatar, and if you click on it, you'll immediately be taken to the gallery or the camera selection menu, which is the fastest way if you just got a new number and want to get it right away.
It's important to understand the difference between local contact and synced. If you change a photo on a device but the contact is tied to a cloud service, the changes may only be displayed on your other gadgets after successful sync. In the case of local storage, the picture will only be visible on that particular smartphone.
Instructions through the standard Contacts app
The interface of Google's standard app, which is often installed by default on global firmware versions, is minimalist. To add a photo, open the app and find the desired entry in the list. Click on the subscriber's name to open the detailed card.
In the window that opens, in the upper right or lower corner (depending on the Android version), there is a pencil icon. This is the Edit button. Once activated at the top of the screen, where the first letter of the name plug usually appears, a camera or gallery icon will appear, and clicking on this area will trigger the source selection menu.
☑️ Algorithm of action
The system will offer you several options: take a picture right now, choose from recent ones or download from files. Once you select an image, you will be asked to crop it up. By moving the frame, you can center the face or important object so that the right part of the picture is displayed when the call is in.
⚠️ Note: If the Save button is inactive or disappears after selecting a photo, check if the phone’s memory is full.
The final step is to confirm the change. Press Save (usually as a checkmark or floppy disk) Now, when you call from that caller, the image you have installed will be displayed on the entire screen, and the contact list will display a photo instead of a letter.
Use of branded shell MIUI and HyperOS
Chinese firmware and some global builds use Xiaomi’s own app. The logic is similar, but the visual design of the controls is different. In MIUI, the edit button is often hidden under a three-dot menu or located in the lower right corner of the contact card.
When you click on an avatar in editing mode, HyperOS can suggest not just selecting a photo, but also applying filters or frames that are characteristic of the Xiaomi ecosystem, which allows you to make the picture more vivid and noticeable. However, for business contacts, it is better to use the original photo without unnecessary effects for better recognition.
One of the useful features is that you can set a special call with a photo, and the contact editing menu, next to the image box, often has a Melody item, and by combining visual and audio, you can personalize the connection with a particular person as effectively as possible.
Why can’t the photo be displayed on the lock screen?
Redmi and POCO users may notice slight differences in the icons, but the functionality remains the same across the ecosystem, and the key is to make sure you edit the exact record that is used for incoming calls, as sometimes the phone book may duplicate contacts from different sources.
Working with Google Contacts and Synchronizing
The most reliable way to store data is by linking to a Google Account, which ensures that when you lose your phone or switch to a new Xiaomi device, all your contacts with photos will be restored automatically, and to do this, when creating or editing a contact in the Save in field, you need to choose your email, not your phone or SIM.
Sync is done in the background, and when you add a photo on one device, it is uploaded to the Google Photos cloud (in the contact section) and then streamed to other devices that have logged in to the same account, which is especially convenient for tablet or smartphone owners.
| Parameter | Local storage | Google Account | SIM-map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo preservation | Yes. | Yes (high quality) | No (usually) |
| Synchronization | No. | Automatic. | No. |
| Memory capacity | Phone memory | Cloud storage | Restricted to a chip. |
| Availability | Only on this device. | On any device. | Only with this SIM. |
If you notice that a photo is missing after resetting, it was saved locally. To avoid this in the future, always check your destination before saving a new record. In the Contacts settings, you can set the default account for all new records.
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Check sync status regularly in your Google account settings. If the sync icon is red or an error is displayed, the photo may not be updated on other devices.
Image editing and cropping
The quality of the image display depends on the original resolution and the correct framing. The standard ratio of the avatar in the phone book is 1:1 (square), but when an incoming call is made, the image can be cut in a circle, so it is important to place the face or the main object strictly in the center of the frame.
Xiaomi’s built-in editor allows you to zoom in, shift it and rotate it. Don’t ignore this step, as improperly cropped photos can look unaesthetic: for example, a subscriber’s head can be shifted into a corner or partially hidden.
For group photos, it is recommended to use the zoom function to highlight the specific person who owns the number. If the source quality is low, the system may suggest improving it using artificial intelligence algorithms, although this is not always noticeable on small smartphone screens.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using photos with small details or text. On a small smartphone screen, when you call, these images will look like a blurred spot, and you will not be able to tell who is calling.
Once the framing is complete, the system will automatically save a thumbnail. This file takes up minimal memory space, so adding photos to dozens of contacts is absolutely safe for the free space of your Xiaomi.
Removal and advice
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the photo is set but not displayed, most often it involves duplication of records. The phone book can have two contacts with the same name: one with the photo, the other without. When calling, the system can choose to "empty" the record, the solution is to combine contacts or delete the duplicate.
Another reason is the cache of the Contacts or Phone app. If you upgraded MIUI firmware, the old data could have been squashed with the new. Cleaning the app cache through the Settings menu → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory → Clearing the cache often solves the problem without losing data.
You also need to make sure that the app has the permissions you need, because to display a photo from the gallery, the phone needs to have access to the storage, check this in the Application Permissions section, and if access is denied, the system will not be able to physically download the image.
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The main reason for the disappearance of the photo is not the synchronization or failure of the application, but the presence of duplicate contact in the phone book with different sources of saving.
By following these guidelines, you can fully personalize your phone book, which is not only convenient, but also adds personality to your device, and update your avatars regularly so you can always see the latest photos of your friends and colleagues.