How to set a photo on the contact in Xiaomi Redmi 7: 3 proven ways

Installing a photo on a Xiaomi Redmi 7 phone seems like a simple task, but many users are faced with the nuances of not saving, cropping incorrectly or not showing up at all in calls. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways โ€“ from standard MIUI tools to circumventing restrictions through Google services.

The feature of Redmi 7 (codenamed onc) is the firmware version: on devices with MIUI 10-12, the contact algorithm differs from the newer models. For example, there is no built-in synchronization with Mi Account for avatars, and the photo is cropped according to strict rules (square 720ร—720 pixels), We took these subtleties into account and prepared instructions that are guaranteed to work.

Important: If you are using doubles SIM-cards, photos can be duplicated or lost when you change the slot.

Method 1: Through the standard "Contact" application

The most obvious method is editing the contact through the built-in app. However, there are pitfalls here: MIUI sometimes resets avatars after updating or rebooting. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid errors.

Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person's silhouette on a green background) and find the contact you want and tap it. In the upper right corner, click three dots. โ‹ฎ โ†’ You can edit. You can see a camera icon next to the name field -- click on it:

  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Take a photo โ€“ activates the camera for instant snapshot;
  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Select from Gallery โ€“ Allows you to upload an existing image;
  • ๐ŸŽจ Create an avatar โ€“ generation of an emoji-based image (not available in all versions) MIUI).

Once you pick a photo, the system will suggest cropping it, and here's the key: MIUI automatically centers the image over the face, but if there are more people in the photo, it can cut the wrong piece. To fix that, you can manually drag the edge of the cropping, holding your finger on the screen.

Make sure the contact is saved in the phone book, not on the phone. SIM-map|

Photo at least 720ร—720 px| resolution

The pruning has captured a face or key object|

Google sync enabled (if you need to save for a long time)-->

Save the changes with the Ready button in the upper right corner. If the photo doesn't show up right away, reload the Contacts app (swipe it from the multitasking menu).

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If the avatar is gone after saving, check if Hide Contacts Without Numbers is enabled in the app settings. It can filter the display of avatars.

Method 2: Google Contacts (Secure Option)

Synchronizing with Google Contacts solves two problems: photos are saved in the cloud and not lost after a phone reset, and correctly displayed in other services (Gmail, Hangouts), this method is especially relevant for Redmi 7, where local avatars sometimes โ€œflyโ€ after MIUI updates.

Steps:

  1. Open Google Contacts in your browser (we recommend Chrome for stability).
  2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
  3. Find the contact you want and click on it. In the upper right corner, click on the camera icon.
  4. Upload the photo (maximum size โ€“ 25 MB, optimal โ€“ 1-2 MB).
  5. Cut the image in a circle (Google uses a different cropping algorithm than MIUI).

After saving, wait until synchronization (usually takes 1-5 minutes) to speed up the process:

  1. On the phone go to Settings โ†’ Accounts โ†’ Google.
  2. Slip on your account and turn on the Contact Sync slider.
  3. Press More. โ†’ Synchronize now.

If the photo does not appear in the phone book, check:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Is the synchronization in the account settings disabled;
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ The contact is saved in Google, not in the phoneโ€™s memory. SIM;
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Are there any errors in the Contacts app (try clearing the cache in Settings) โ†’ Annexes).

In memory of the phone |

Nana SIM-map|

On Google Contacts |

In Mi Account|

Another option-->

Method 3: Using third-party applications

If standard methods don't work (for example, due to a bug in MIUI), you can use third-party applications. We tested 5 popular programs and selected the two most reliable ones for Redmi 7:

AnnexPlusesConsReference
Contacts+Automatic pruning on the face, backupAdvertising in the free versionGoogle Play
TruecallerIdentifies spam calls, integration with social networksRequires registration, collects dataGoogle Play

Instructions for Contacts+:

  1. Install the app and give access to contacts.
  2. Find the right contact and tap on it.
  3. Click on the camera icon in the upper right corner.
  4. Select the source of the photo (gallery or camera).
  5. Cut the image (the app offers templates for social networks).
  6. Save the changes โ€“ the photo is automatically synchronized with the system contacts.
How to remove an avatar from Truecaller?
If you have installed a photo through Truecaller, but want to return the standard view, open the contact in the application, click on the avatar and select "Delete photo." After that, restart the phone - the changes will apply to the system contacts.

โš ๏ธ Note: When using third-party apps, photos may be duplicated, for example, if you installed an avatar and in Contacts+, And in Google Contacts, the system will display the last image saved. To avoid confusion, select one primary method.

Why is the photo not displayed in the calls?

A frequent complaint from Redmi 7 users is that the avatar is visible in contacts, but not shown when an incoming call is made.

  • ๐Ÿ“ต Contact saved on SIM-Map: Move it to your phone or Google memory. SIM-Cards do not support the storage of photos.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Cache failure: Clear the cache of the Phone app (Settings) โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Phone. โ†’ Memory. โ†’ Clear the cache).
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ bug MIUI: Some firmware versions do not show avatars if the contact has multiple numbers.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Energy saving: Turn off battery optimization for the Contacts app (Settings) โ†’ Battery โ†’ Optimizing the battery โ†’ All applications โ†’ Contacts โ†’ No restrictions).

If the problem persists, check the display settings:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Phone โ†’ Notifications.
  2. Make sure the slider Show photo of the contact is turned on.
  3. Reboot the phone.

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On Redmi 7 with MIUI 11 and below, photos in calls may not show due to performance limitations, the solution is to upgrade to MIUI 12+ or use an alternative call (such as Google Phone).

Optimizing photos for contacts

Poor or improperly cropped photos may look blurry or ugly.

  • ๐Ÿ“ Permission: Optimal size โ€” 720ร—720 px (MIUI automatically scales to this format).
  • ๐ŸŽจ Format: Use JPEG or PNG (GIF and WEBP may not be supported).
  • ๐Ÿ‘ค Composition: The face should occupy at least 60% of the frame, otherwise when trimming will get an empty background.
  • ๐ŸŒˆ Contrast: Avoid dark or too light photos โ€“ they will be poorly visible on the lock screen.

To prepare a photo:

  1. Open it in the Gallery app.
  2. Click Edit โ†’ Cut off.
  3. Select the ratio 1:1 (square).
  4. Adjust the brightness and contrast (section Correction).
  5. Save a copy (Save as a new file).

For mass processing, use Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed. These apps allow you to apply the same settings to all photos (useful if you want to unify avatars for all contacts).

Solving the double problem SIM-map

On the Redmi 7 with two SIM-With cards, photos of contacts can be duplicated or lost when you change the slot. MIUI Creates separate profiles for each number:

  1. Open Contacts โ†’ Settings โ†’ Contact Management.
  2. Choose to Join Contacts.
  3. The system will show duplicates - tap on Combine next to each.
  4. After combining, check that the photo is displayed for both numbers.

If after the merger the avatar disappeared:

  • Open the contact and re-set the photo.
  • Make sure that the primary number (to which the calls come) is listed first in the profile.

โš ๏ธ Attention: When using two SIM-Images from different operators (e.g. MTS and Tele2) may not sync between them, so the solution is to save all contacts on Google or on the phone, avoiding saving them on the phone. SIM.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

We have collected common mistakes of Redmi 7 users when working with photos of contacts and ways to prevent them:

Mistake.Reason.Decision
Photo cuts crookedMIUI automatically centers on contrast objectCut the photo in advance in the Gallery with a ratio of 1: 1
Avatar disappears after updateResetting the cache of system applicationsSave your contacts to Google or back up via Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ Backup
Photo not displayed on WhatsAppWhatsApp is using its avatarsOpen a WhatsApp chat, tap on the contact name and set the photo separately

Another common problem is blurry avatars, which happens when the original photo is low resolution, and MIUI stretches it to 720ร—720 px.

  • Use a photo with a resolution of at least 1080ร—1080 px.
  • Before downloading, increase sharpness in the editor (for example, in PicsArt).
  • Avoid compressed images (for example, sent via messengers).

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If you downloaded a photo from a social network (VK, Instagram), it can be compressed. Before using it, open it in your browser on your PC, right-click and select Save as, so you get the original permission.

Can I install a GIF as a photo of a contact?
No, Redmi 7 doesn't support animated avatars. MIUI converts GIFs to static images (first frame). Use third-party apps like Zedge for animation (but they only work inside their interface).
Why is the contact photo shown in a square rather than a circle?
It depends on the version of MIUI. In firmware before MIUI 12, the contacts show avatars in square, and in calls they show round. You can't change this, but you can crop the photos in advance to a round shape in the editor (for example, in Canva).
How to transfer photos of contacts from your old phone to Redmi 7?
There are three ways: Through Google Contacts: Export your contacts from your old phone to your new phone. VCF-File, import them to Google, then sync with Redmi 7. via Mi Mover: Use Xiaomi's official Mi Mover app (available in Settings โ†’ Additional. Through SIM-Map: Move the contacts to SIM, But remember, the photo will not be saved on it โ€“ only numbers and names.
Can I take different photos for a single contact (for example, for work and personal number)?
No, MIUI doesnโ€™t support multiple avatars for a single profile. The solution is to create two separate contacts with different photos and merge them through Settings โ†’ Combine contacts, but in this case only one (last installed) photo will appear.
How to return standard avatars (letters instead of photos)
Open the contact, click Edit, then tap on the photo and select Delete. If the avatar is left, clear the Contacts app cache (Settings โ†’ Apps โ†’ Contacts โ†’ Memory โ†’ Clear the cache).