Smartphone personalization is not just a way to stand out, it’s also an effective tool for navigating contacts. When a familiar face is displayed on the screen during an incoming call, you don’t need to strain your eyes to read the subscriber’s name. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often encounter nuances of the MIUI interface or the new HyperOS that are different from standard Android.
The process of installing an image may seem simple, but system limitations or sync features with a Google account sometimes make their own adjustments. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways of assigning an avatar to a subscriber, from basic methods through the phone book to advanced editing techniques.
You will learn how to crop a photo properly so that your face does not get lost in a round call window, and what to do if the image is not saved after rebooting, and we will also touch on the topic of group avatars and automatic uploading of photos from social networks, which is relevant for modern versions of firmware.
Image Preparation and Format Requirements
Before you get to the settings, you need to make sure that the source file meets the technical requirements of the system. Although modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful graphics processing processors, the use of excessively heavy files can lead to delays in displaying Caller ID. The optimal solution is to use images in JPEG or PNG format.
Picture resolution plays a key role in display quality. If you choose an image that is too small, the system will stretch it, which will result in pixels and blurring. On the other hand, a 4K or 8K photo will be redundant, since the lock screen and call window are fixed in size.
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Use square images with a resolution of at least 500x500 pickels for the best quality after framing the system.
It's important to consider the framing aspect. Because the contact avatars in MIUI are usually round, the center of the photo must contain a face or an important object. The edges of the image will be cropped, so group shots or landscapes are not suitable for this purpose.
- 📸 Select a photo where the face is well lit and is in the center of the frame.
- 💾 Make sure the file is stored in internal memory, not on a remote server, to avoid download delays.
- ✂️ Cut the extra edges in the gallery in advance, leaving a margin of space around the object.
Standard way to install photos through the Contacts app
The most common method available on all firmware versions is the old MIUI 12/13 and the new HyperOS, which ensures that the image is tied directly to the phone book entry and synced to the cloud.
To start, open the standard Contacts app (an icon with a person's silhouette) find the right subscriber in the list or use the search bar at the top of the screen. If the contact is not already on the list, you must create it first by clicking on the plus in the corner.
When you open your subscriber card, look at the top of the screen, and where the first letter of the name or the standard gray plug usually appears, you can find the editing area, click on the Change button (the pencil icon) or directly on the avatar area if the interface allows direct access.
☑️ Algorithm of action
In the edit menu that opens, click on a circle with a letter or a current photo. The system will tell you to choose a source: take a picture on the camera, select from the gallery or search in the files. Choose the Gallery and specify the image you want. Next, the framing step, which we will talk about below.
Add a photo through the editing menu of the card
Xiaomi’s editing interface has its own features that can confuse users who have switched from other brands. Unlike pure Android, there are more preview and visibility settings available.
When you're in contact editing mode, scroll down to the photo block. Click on the camera in the corner of the circle, you activate the file selection. The system can request permission to access media files if you're doing it for the first time -- be sure to agree, otherwise the feature won't work.
⚠️ Note: If you edit the contact saved on SIM-map, add a photo will not work. SIM-cards have limited memory and do not support storage of graphic data. Move the contact to the phone memory or Google account.
Once you pick a photo, the system will offer a cropping tool, which is a critical step: Move the frame so that your face occupies most of the circle, but does not crop the top or chin. Remember, the lock screen can display an avatar larger than the contact list.
Finish the process by clicking the tick or Save button, the changes will take effect instantly, and if you have sync enabled, a new photo will appear on all devices that have logged in to the same account.
Set up an avatar when creating a new contact
The most logical thing to do is to add a photo when you create a new record, so you don't have to go back to editing later, and the contact process in MIUI is optimized for quick input.
Click on the new contact button. At the top of the form, you'll see a large circle with the camera icon. Click on it before entering the name and number. A gallery will open where you can immediately select the appropriate portrait.
The advantage of this method is that you can see what the contact will look like on the list, and after you pick the photo and crop it, fill in the other fields: name, number, address. Press Save.
It's worth noting that when you create a contact, the system will suggest you choose a save location. For photo addition and sync, choose Google or Phone. SIM is best ignored for modern smartphones.
Framing and displaying finesse
Xiaomi’s shell framing tool allows you not only to resize the frame, but also to rotate the image, which is useful if the original photo was taken in a vertical orientation and the face is turned.
When framing, pay attention to the grid. The center point should match the nose or the center of the face. This will provide a symmetrical display. Some users prefer to make avatars in black and white or apply filters directly in the editor to match the style of contacts to the design.
| Parameter | Recommendation | Impact on the view |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPEG / PNG | Basic quality |
| Size | 500x500 px | Clearness on screen |
| Orientation | Square. | Uniform framing |
| von | monotonous | Contrast of the face |
If the photo is dark, use built-in brightness and contrast tools before saving.A bright face against a dark background will look much more spectacular when an incoming call is made, especially at night.
Problems with saving and synchronizing photos
Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after installing a photo, it disappears after rebooting or does not appear in the interlocutor (when using messengers), most often the problem lies in the conflict of contact sources.
MIUI and HyperOS can duplicate records, one copy in Google, another in your phone's memory, if you change a photo in one copy and the caller is identified through another, the avatar won't show up, so you can combine contacts or delete duplicates.
How to combine duplicate contacts?
The problem may also be in the cache of the Contacts app. If the photo is constantly “flying”, try clearing the cache: go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Contacts → Memory → Clear the cache. This will not delete your data, but update the thumbnail database.
⚠️ Attention: Clearing the data (not cache) of the Contacts application can cause the avatars to temporarily disappear until they are re-synchronized with the cloud.
Group avatars and smart albums
Recent firmware versions have enabled users to assign photos to groups as well as people, which is convenient for quickly identifying calls from work, family or delivery services.
Create a group in the Contacts app, add the right people to it, then you can set a common image in the group settings, and when any member calls, this picture will be displayed unless the individual photo for a particular number is given priority.
Xiaomi also supports the Smart Albums feature, which automatically recognizes faces in gallery photos and can suggest that you connect them, saving time as the system finds the best portraits.
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Individual contact photos always take precedence over group photos, and if you set an avatar to a number, that person will call, and that person will be the one who will call, and that person will be the one who will be the one who will call, and that person will be the one who will call the group settings.
Using personalized images makes communication more convenient and enjoyable, and by following these guidelines, you can fully visualize your phone book.