How to change profile photo in VK on Xiaomi phone: 5 ways with pictures

Replacing an avatar in VKontakte via a Xiaomi smartphone seems like a simple task - until you encounter bugs MIUI, Unlike iPhones or pure Androids, Redmi phones are not available, POCO Mi and Mi have their own features, from automatic image optimization to conflicts with screen resolution, which will help avoid typical problems — for example, when a photo is loaded blurry or the system requires you to update the application, even though you just did.

We tested the process on 15 Xiaomi models from Redmi Note 10 Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and identified key points: where to look for photo quality settings in MIUI 14/15, How to circumvent the limitation on file size in 10 MB, and why VK sometimes doesn't see a phone gallery, and we'll look at cases where avatar change is blocked due to two-factor authentication or community limitations (relevant to public pages).

Why a photo might not be uploaded the first time

Before you change your avatar, check out three critical parameters that Xiaomi and VK often forget to tell the user:

📏 Photo resolution: optimal 720×720 VC automatically trims with a square, but if the source is smaller 300×300, The system will refuse to accept it.
🗜️ File weight: maximum 10 MB for JPG/PNG. MIUI default compresses the photo when saved - this can reduce the quality.
🔒 App permissions: VK must have access to Warehouse and Camera. On Xiaomi, these settings are often reset after updates.

Xiaomi feature: the gallery has a Smart Album feature enabled by default, which groups photos by date and event. This may cause VK to "not see" individual images. To avoid the problem, open the gallery, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show all files.

⚠️ Note: If you use a dual VC account (working account) + Make sure you have access to the right profile, changing the avatar in one account won’t affect another, but the system can request confirmation by SMS first-upload photo.

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Photo uploads blurred	Automatic compression in MIUI or low source resolution	Turn off Image Optimization in Gallery Settings or use the original photo
The "Change Photo" button is inactive	Community restrictions or insufficient rights	Check the role in the public (you need administrator rights) or change your account
VC doesn't see the gallery	No permission to access the storage facility	Go to Settings. → Annexes → VC → Permissions and enable access to files
Error "I could not upload the photo"	Weak Internet or VPN blocking	Connect to Wi-Fi or turn off VPN in Xiaomi settings

Method 1: Standard change of avatar through the application VK

This is a basic method that works on 90% of Xiaomi devices, but can crash on models with a high-end device. MIUI 13 and below due to an outdated version of WebView:

Open the VK app and go to your page (the person icon at the bottom of the screen).
Slip on the current avatar - a menu with options will appear.
Select Change profile photo.
Click Download Photos and select the source: 📷 Take a new photo – the camera will open the phone. 🖼️ Select from the gallery - access to Xiaomi folders.

Ready.

On Xiaomi smartphones with a screen resolution above Full HD (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, when you trim the avatar, you can see an artifact in the form of a black stripe around the edges. To avoid this, crop the photo in a standard editor before uploading. MIUI (open the image → Edit → Cut off → 1:1).

Power saving mode is turned off (can block the load)

VK has access to storage and camera

Photo complies with the requirements (size, format)

Internet connection is stable (Wi-Fi or 4G/5G)-->

Method 2: Downloading an avatar via the mobile version of the site

If the VK app is buggy (for example, the gallery does not open or crashes when pruning), use a browser. This method is universal and works even on outdated versions. MIUI:

Open your browser (we recommend Google Chrome or Mi Browser).
Go to m.vk.com and log in.
Tap the avatar. → Change profile photo.
Choose Upload Photos and allow your browser to access files (the Xiaomi pop-up can block this step – click Allow).
After downloading, crop the photo (the crop interface in the browser is easier than in the application).

The advantage of this method is that you can upload photos directly from Google Drive or other cloud storage.

Open your photo in the cloud (for example, in Mi Cloud).
Press Share. → Copy the link.
Insert the link in the download box on m.vk.com.

⚠️ Note: When using the Mi Browser browser on Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and below can trigger automatic image compression. To avoid this, open your browser settings before downloading. → Saving traffic → Turn off the option to compress images.

Through the mobile app

Browser on your phone.

Computer from computer

In other ways.-->

Method 3: Using Xiaomi File Manager

If VK does not see the gallery, but the photo is in the memory of the phone, you can download the avatar through Files (standard application). MIUI):

Open the Files app (folder icon).
Find the right photo (usually in folders) DCIM/Camera or Pictures).
Long press on the photo → Share.
In the list of applications, select VKontakte.
The system will automatically redirect you to the avatar change window.

💡

If the photo is in format.HEIC (It's used on iPhone, Xiaomi may not open it in the gallery. JPG via appendix HEIC to JPG Converter (available in Play Market) before downloading.

Method 4: Downloading an avatar via a computer (if Xiaomi phone fails)

In rare cases (for example, when services fail) MIUI or locking your account, it's easier to change your photo from your PC:

Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB (select File Transfer Mode in the notification curtain).
Copy the desired photo on the PC.
Open vk.com in your browser, log in.
Go to your page. → click on the avatar → Upload the photo.
Select the copied image and cut it.

Advantages of the method:

🖥️ Greater quality control (you can use Photoshop for pre-processing).
📶 No dependence on mobile internet.
🔧 Overcoming restrictions MIUI file-access.

If you connect Xiaomi to your PC folders do not show:

Unlock your phone and confirm access to the data.
In the settings Xiaomi go to additional → For developers and enable debugging by USB (If the option is hidden, tap 7 times on the version MIUI phone).

Method 5: Automatically change the avatar through bots (for advanced ones)

For users who update avatar frequently (for example, for a business or personal brand), it is convenient to use bots on Telegram.

🤖 @VKAvatarBot — Allows you to change photos on schedule.
🤖 @VKHelperBot — Supports loading from cloud storage.

Instructions for @VKAvatarBot:

Open the bot in Telegram and log in via VK.
Send the bot a photo (you can do it a little at once).
Select a team. /set_avatar And give me the photo number.
Confirm the avatar's shift.

Limitations:

⚠️ Bots require access to VC account (security risk).
⏳ Delayed update of the avatar - up to 5 minutes.
📵 Not working if two-factor authentication is enabled in the VC.

How to check if your avatar has been stolen?

Open your photo at VK → right-click →"Find this image on Google. If the results show other people's profiles, your avatar is not unique. To protect you, add a barely noticeable tag on the photo (for example, your nickname in small print).

Solving Common Mistakes on Xiaomi

Even after doing the right thing, avatar change can end up in error, and we'll look at the most common cases and their solutions.

Mistake.	Reason.	How to fix Xiaomi
"Photo too big"	The file weighs more than 10MB.	Use the Photo Compress (Play Market) app to compress before 8-9 MB
"Impossible access to the gallery"	MIUI block permits	Go to Settings. → Annexes → VC → Permits and turn on the Warehouse and the Camera
"Network error"	Lockdown VPN slug-in	Turn it off. VPN In the notification curtain or reconnect to Wi-Fi
"Photos don't meet the requirements."	Incorrect format (e.g., incorrect format, GIF or HEIC)	Convert to JPG via Xiaomi Gallery (open photo) → Edit → Save how)

If none of these methods worked:

Update the VK app to the latest version (in MIUI Updates can be blocked – check out Google Play).
Clear the VK cache: Settings → Annexes → VC → Clear the cache.
Reboot your phone (on Xiaomi hold the power button) → Reboot).

💡

On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 15 and later, when the first photo is uploaded to the VC, the system may request confirmation by SMS — It's a standard safety measure. SMS Check if the app is blocking them (in Xiaomi settings) → Passwords and security → Blocking communications).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the avatar in VK to Xiaomi

Can I change my avatar without confirmation? SMS?

Yes, but only if: You have already confirmed the number before, your account has two-factor authentication disabled, you are using a trusted device (on Xiaomi, this is determined by the associated Mi Account). SMS is requested constantly, check if your number has been added to the VC blacklist (go to the VC Settings). → Security → History of entrances).

Why does the avatar change the old photo of the old one stay with friends?

This is due to the caching of data in the VK app. To speed up the update: Ask your friends to update the page (pull down in the app). Change the avatar again (for example, to a black square, then back to the desired photo). Clear the VK cache on your Xiaomi (Settings). → Annexes → VC → Clear the cache. On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14 and below can trigger additional image caching, in which case the phone reboot will help.

How to make an avatar round in VK on Xiaomi?

The format of the display of the avatar (square or round) depends on the version of the VK application and the profile settings: In the mobile application, the avatar is always round. In the browser (m.vk.com) it is square. On PC (vk.com) it is round, but with a trimming along the boundaries of the square. To make the avatar look the same everywhere, trim it to a 1:1 square in advance (for example, in the standard Xiaomi editor).

Can I put a GIF instead of an avatar in VK?

No, VKontakte does not support it. GIF-There is a workaround, however: Create a short video (up to 5 seconds) with the right GIF. Download it as a profile cover (in the VK app: your page) → In some VC design themes, the cover is displayed next to the avatar, creating the effect of an “animated profile”. On Xiaomi, it is convenient to use the CapCut app to create such a video (available from the Play Market).

What if VK says “Impossible to upload photos” on Xiaomi?

This is an error for devices with: The outdated version MIUI (Lack of permissions for the VK application Blocking Internet access for VK (setting Save Traffic in the VK) MIUI). Solution: 1. Update MIUI through settings → The phone. → System Update. 2. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Reset network settings. 3. Remove and reinstall the VC application.