How to set a photo for contact in Xiaomi: all ways with pictures

Contact photos on a smartphone are not just decoration, but a convenient way to quickly identify a caller. On Xiaomi devices (including Redmi and POCO), adding avatars to subscribers has its nuances due to the features of the MIUI shell. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from standard editing through the phone book to synchronization with Google Contacts and hidden firmware functions.

Many users face problems: photos don’t show up in calls, are reset after an update or duplicated, we’ll show you how to avoid these errors and customize the display of avatars perfectly, and we’ll also reveal the little-known MIUI 14/15 chips that make it easier to work with contacts.

If you’re using a Xiaomi smartphone based on Android 13/14, some menu items may be different from those described – this is due to Xiaomi’s policy of gradually updating the interface.

1. Standard method: through the "Contacts" application

The most obvious method is to edit the contact directly in the standard Contacts app (or Phone in some versions of MIUI), which works on all models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

Open the app and find the contact you want, click on it, then tap the camera icon in the upper right corner (or the gray silhouette of the person if the photo is not already installed), and the system will suggest selecting the source:

• 📷 Take a photo – an instant shot through the main or front camera
• 🖼️ Gallery – Selection of finished image from device memory
• 🎨 Avatars – a collection of standard icons from Xiaomi (available on all models)

Once you select a photo, you can crop it (the tool will appear automatically) and save it. Importantly, if the contact is synced with Google Account, the changes will apply to all devices where sync is enabled.

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If you crop a photo, the system offers too small a region, you can pinch the angle of the frame and pull it out. In MIUI 14+, you can zoom in with gestures.

2. Install photo via Google Contacts

If you use Google Contacts as your primary storage, you can add photos via a web version or mobile app, which is convenient for mass editing or when you need to install the same photo on multiple devices.

Instructions for the web version:

1. Go to contacts.google.com and log in.
2. Find a contact and click on the camera icon in the card.
3. Download a photo from your computer or select from Google Photos.
4. Save the changes – they sync with the phone for 5-10 minutes.

In the Google Contacts mobile app, the path is open contact → click Change (pencil) → tap on the avatar → select the source. Note: if MIUI has Google sync disabled, the photo will not show up!

3. Problems with displaying photos in calls

A frequent complaint by Xiaomi users is that the contact photo is visible in the phone book, but not shown when the call is in.

A critical feature of MIUI is that if a contact is saved simultaneously in Google and Mi Account, the system can only show photos from one source. To fix this, export the contacts to a VCF file, delete all duplicates, then import back.

4. Alternative methods: through messengers and third-party applications

If standard methods don't work, you can go a workaround. Many messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) allow you to set up photos for contacts, which are then displayed in the Xiaomi phone book.

For example, on WhatsApp:

1. Open the contact chat.
2. Tap by name at the top. → «Viewing the contact».
3. Click on the camera icon next to the photo → select the image.

After that, the avatar can appear in standard calls (depending on the version of MIUI).

Third-party contact management apps like Truecaller or Drupe also offer advanced avatar features, including automatic recognition of photos from social media, but beware: these programs require broad permissions and can collect data.

✅ Read the safety reviews in the Play Store

✅ Check the list of permissions requested

✅ Make sure the app has been updated in the last 3 months

✅ Create a backup of contacts (Contacts) → More. → Exports)

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5. Hidden MIUI chips for working with contacts

The MIUI shell contains several non-obvious functions that simplify the work with photo contacts:

• 🔍 Photo search: In Contact → Search can be entered name and the system will show thumbnails of avatars for quick navigation.
• 🎨 Auto-cutting: In MIUI 15 appeared AI tool that automatically crops the photo in the face (included in the camera settings).
• 🔄 Mass editing: Clutch your finger on the contact in the list → Choose a few → click "Edit» → Set the same photo for the group.
• 📱 Quick view: On the main screen, swipe down the phone icon – a quick access panel to frequently used contacts with photos will appear.

Another useful option is to categorize your photos, for example, you can assign different icons for "Work," "Family," or "Friends."

1. Open contact. → «Edit».
2. Slip on the “Group” field and select a category.
3. Save – the system will automatically assign a standard group icon (it can be replaced with your own).

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In MIUI 14+, the function “Live photos” for contacts appeared: when you click on the avatar during the call, a short video is displayed (if it is attached to the contact).

6. Backup and restoration of photo contacts

When you reset your phone or flash it over, all your contact photos can disappear if they're not stored in the cloud, so you can avoid losing:

Method 1: Export via MIUI

1. Open Contacts → More (three points) → Contact Management → Import / Export.
2. Select “Export to the device” → mark the necessary contacts.
3. The.vcf file will be stored in the MIUI/backup/Contacts folder.

This file also stores photos, but they are encoded in base64. To extract images, you will need special software (for example, VCF Photo Extractor).

Method 2: Sync with Mi Account

If you use a Mi Account, photos are automatically backed up in the Xiaomi cloud to check:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
2. Make sure that the synchronization of contacts is enabled.
3. Open i.mi.com on PC – all avatars should be displayed there.

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To speed up the recovery of contacts after resetting, before you start setting up your phone, connect to Wi-Fi and wait until you complete sync with your Mi Account, which will take 5-15 minutes depending on the number of contacts.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Xiaomi users experience that most of the problems with photo contacts arise from three reasons: incorrect synchronization settings, conflicts between accounts and cache errors.

⚠️ Note: If you deleted a photo of a contact in Google Contacts and it still appears on your phone, it is a cached version. Clear the cache of the Contacts app in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X5) post-update MIUI 14 the ability to set photos for contacts saved on SIM-Solution: Move your contacts to your phone memory or to the cloud.

Another common mistake is duplicate contacts, where the same subscriber is saved to both Google and MI Accounts, the system can show different photos in different applications.

• Open Contacts → Management → Combine Contacts.
• Select duplicate records and combine them.
• Set a priority source for your photos (usually Google).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions