Call personalization is not just an aesthetic fad, it’s a way to instantly visualize an incoming call. Mi flagship devices often face nuances of the MIUI shell that are different from pure Android. Installing a subscriber avatar requires a clear understanding of exactly where the image database is stored and how it syncs with the phone book.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can add photos to your phone numbers, how to avoid common errors when the picture is not displayed on an incoming call, and how to properly sync with your Google or Mi Cloud account, which will ensure that the data is saved even after resetting.
Image Preparation and Format Requirements
Before you start editing the phone book, you need to make sure that the source file meets the technical requirements of the system. The optimal resolution for the avatar is from 500x500 pixels and above, so that when zooming to the full screen there is no soap or pixelation. The system automatically crops the image into a circle, so the center of the photo should be the most informative.
Use JPG or PNG formats, as they are most stably processed by the MIUI 11/12 system algorithms installed on the Xiaomi Mi 9. If you take a photo from social networks, make sure that it is saved in full quality, not as a thumbnail.
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Save the original photos in a separate folder on the cloud disk so that in case of loss of the phone, you can quickly restore personalization of contacts.
And it's worth noting that vertical portraits are often cut down by the system, and it's better to have a square image in advance with the person's face in the center, which ensures that when you call, you see exactly what you planned, not the cropped top or shoulder.
Standard method through the Contacts app
The most direct and reliable way to link an image is to use the built-in Contacts app. Open the call menu, find the right subscriber in the list or through a search. Click on the name to go to the subscriber card, where all the available information is displayed.
At the top of the screen, where the initials are usually gray, there should be an edit button or a pencil icon, and you click on it, you get into data editing mode, and you need to find the image field or the Add photo button.
☑️ Algorithm of action
The system will tell you to choose the source: take a picture with the camera or choose from the Gallery. After you select the image, you will see a framing interface. Move the frame to center the face, and confirm the action. It is important to press the Save button or the tick in the corner of the screen, otherwise the changes will not be recorded in the database.
⚠️ Note: If the photo did not appear after saving, check whether the restriction on access to memory for the Contacts app is worth in the privacy settings.
Installation of photos through the Gallery
An alternative that is often faster if you've just taken a picture or downloaded a picture. Open the Gallery app and find the image you want. The bottom menu often has a "More" button (three dots) or a "Send" button.
You need to find Set as or Assign Contact in the action list. MIUI may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. The system automatically prompts you to select a contact from the phone book.
This method is convenient because you can immediately see how the picture looks in full size before it is cropped. You can pre-edit the photo with built-in Mi Edit tools, applying filters or changing the brightness to make the face more visible against the dark background of the lock screen.
Secret editing menu
Once you've chosen the contact, the system will redirect you to the crop window, make sure that you've chosen the right face, especially if you're seeing a group of people, and the final action is to confirm that you've saved the change.
Sync with Google and Mi Cloud account
For owners of Xiaomi Mi 9, it is critical to understand the difference between local storage and cloud sync. SIM-The image may not sync when switching to a new phone.
When you add a photo through your Google account, the image will automatically be pulled to any Android smartphone when you log in to your profile, eliminating the need to manually configure the phone book after you purchase a new device.
| Storage type | Synchronization of photo | Risk of loss | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone memory | No. | High-pitched | Only on this device. |
| SIM-map | No. | Medium. | Text only, photos are often not saved |
| Google Account | Automatic. | Low. | Everywhere (Android, Web, iOS) |
| Mi Cloud | Automatic. | Low. | Only Xiaomi/Huawei devices |
To check where the contact is being maintained, open the editing and look at the form header. It should include the account name, for example, ivan.ivanov@gmail.com. If it says "Phone" or "SIM", it is better to copy the contact to the Google account for reliability.
Configure the display in the application Phone
Sometimes the photo is installed but not displayed on the full screen during the incoming call, depending on the theme settings and the Phone application, a separate component is responsible for this in MIUI, which can conflict with third-party themes of design.
Go to the Phone app settings (three dots or gears in the dialing interface). Find the section related to call visualization or Contact Display. Make sure it doesn't tick "Show system avatars only" or any such restriction.
You should also check permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Contacts. Make sure you allow access to Memory and Contacts. Without this right, the application will not be physically able to read the image file and display it.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party Themes can block full-screen display of your photo. Try switching to a standard theme if you have problems.
Integration with messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram)
Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Mi 9, allow you to pull up avatars directly from instant messengers, which eliminates the manual addition of photos for each number.
In the Contacts app settings, look for "Integration with Messengers" or "Social Networks" and check the boxes in front of Viber, WhatsApp and Telegram, and the system will request permission to access the data of these apps.
- 📱 Viber: automatically pulls up a photo if the number is saved in the phone book and registered in the application.
- 💬 WhatsApp: requires a separate permission to synchronize contacts within the messenger.
- ✈️ Telegram: Often uses its avatar servers, which can be updated regardless of the phone book.
If the photo from the messenger is not displayed, try to find a contact in the messenger itself, click on the avatar and select the option "Save to Contacts" or "Update" This will force the current image to be recorded in the local database.
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Automatic synchronization with instant messengers saves time, but requires a stable Internet connection to update avatars at each launch.
Problem Solving and Frequently Asked Questions
Even if all instructions are followed, there may be technical failures: the application cache can store old thumbnails, which prevents new photos from appearing, in which case you need to clear the Contacts cache through the application management menu without deleting the data (contacts).
If the photo disappears after a reboot, there may be a problem with file system format or contact database damage, and in rare cases, removing the contact and creating it again, linking it directly to a Google account, bypassing local storage, helps.