How to set a photo on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Want to make your contacts look brighter and more personal in Xiaomi? Adding photos to subscribers not only makes it easier to find the right person, but also makes the smartphone interface more personalized. MIUI There are several ways to assign an image to a contact, from standard editing through the Contacts app to syncing with a Google Account or Mi Cloud.

Many users face difficulties: photo is not saved, sync is lost, image is not displayed in all messengers. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of installing photos on contact in Xiaomi (including the models of Redmi, POCO and Black Shark), and also tell you how to avoid typical errors. Whether you are using MIUI 14 or newer version, the instructions are suitable for all modern firmware.

If you call the same person often, a picture of them on the incoming call screen will save you seconds to find a name. And in messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, a contact avatar makes conversations visually more pleasant. But how do you add an image so that it can be displayed everywhere — in calls, messages, even in Google Contacts?

The answer is simple: you need to know where the contact is stored (in the phone’s memory, SIM-map or cloud) and how data is synchronized, for example, if you add a photo through a standard Contact app, but the contact is saved on the computer. SIM, This image may not be displayed in other services!

1. Standard method: through the “Contacts” application in MIUI

The easiest method is to edit the contact directly in Xiaomi’s proprietary app, which works on all models, from the Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and does not require an Internet connection.

1. Open the Contacts app** (an icon with a person’s silhouette on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Find the contact you want in the list and click on it to open the card.
3. In the upper right corner, tap the pencil icon (✏️) — It's an edit button.
4. Touch the camera icon (📷) Next to the contact name, you'll see a menu with options:

• 📸 Take a picture – immediately opens the camera for a new photo.
• 🖼️ Select from Gallery – Allows you to upload an existing image.
• 🎨 Create an avatar – generation of a stylized image (not available on all models).

After selecting a photo, cut it (if necessary) and press Ready. The image will be saved and displayed in calls, messages and contact lists. If the photo does not appear immediately, restart the phone or check if the sync is disabled (more on this below).

Contact Sync enabled (Settings → Accounts → Mi/Sync)

Contact saved on the phone, not on SIM-map

Photography complies with requirements (up to 5 MB, JPG/PNG format)

The "Contact" app is updated to the latest version-->

⚠️ Note: If the contact is saved SIM-The map, the added photo will be visible only in the “Contacts” app Xiaomi. To the image is displayed in WhatsApp, Telegram and other messengers, transfer the contact to your Google account or MIUI.

2. Add photos via Google Contacts (cloud sync)

If you use a Google Account to store your contacts, changing your photo through Google Contacts ensures it is displayed across all Google services (Gmail, Meet, Messages) and most instant messengers, which is especially useful if you have multiple Android devices.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your phone or computer and go to contacts.google.com.
2. Sign in with the same account that is linked to your Xiaomi.
3. Find the contact you need in the list and click on it.
4. Click on the camera icon (📷) top left corner of contact card.
5. Download the image from the device or make a new one through the webcam (on PC).
6. Save the changes – the photo syncs with the phone for 1-2 minutes.

To speed up synchronization on Xiaomi:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Make sure the Contact Switch is on.
3. Put three points on it (⋮) In the upper right corner and select Sync Now.

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If a photo in Google Contacts is cut curved, upload a square image (for example, 500×500 pixels) – so it will appear correctly on all devices.

3.Use Mi Cloud to sync contact photos

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically synchronizes contacts (including photos) between the brand’s devices. If you have multiple Xiaomi or Redmi smartphones, this method will allow you to move avatars of contacts without unnecessary actions.

How to add a photo via Mi Cloud:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account on new models).
2. Make sure you are logged in. If not, sign in or create a new account.
3. Go to Mi Cloud → Contacts and enable synchronization (the slider must be active).
4. Return to the Contacts app, find the contact you want, and add the photo in the standard way (as in the first section).
5. Wait for the synchronization (usually takes a few seconds).

Important: Contact photos uploaded via Mi Cloud may not show up on WhatsApp or Telegram, as these messengers pull data from Google Contacts or local memory. If you want cross-platform compatibility, use the method from the second section.

⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to factory settings, contacts from the Mi Cloud will recover automatically, but photos can take longer than usual (up to 10 minutes!

4. How to make a photo contact right during a call

Few people know, but in MIUI you can add or change a photo of a contact right during an incoming/outgoing call, which is convenient if you suddenly need to mark a subscriber, but there is no time to get into the settings.

Instructions:

1. When calling (incoming or outgoing), tap the contact icon (a round button with the default letter or photo).
2. In the menu that opens, select Edit Contact.
3. Click on the camera icon (📷) Next to the name and select the source of the image (camera or gallery).
4. Cut the photo and save the changes. A new photo will appear as soon as the call is complete.

This method works even if the contact is saved. SIM-In this case, the photo will be visible only in the Xiaomi Calls app. For full synchronization, transfer the contact to the phone memory or Google Account.

In the annex “Contacts”

Through Google Contacts on your computer

During the call.

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5. Problem Solving: Why Contact Photos Are Not Shown

Sometimes users find that the added photo is not shown in calls, messengers or even in the contact list itself.

• 🔄 Sync Disabled: Check your account settings (Settings) → Accounts. → Google/Mi Account. → If the sync is off, turn it on and wait for the data to update.
• 📱 Contact on SIM-Map: Transfer the contact to your phone or Google Account. Open the contact card to do this. → More (⋮) → Exports/imports → Save in....
• 🖼️ Inappropriate Photo Format: Use Images in the Format JPG or PNG No larger than 5MB. Avoid HEIC (iPhone format – Xiaomi may not handle it correctly.
• 🔄 App cache: Clear the cache of the Contacts and Phone apps (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 📱 Update MIUI: On older versions of firmware (MIUI 12 and below) there may be bugs with the display of photos. Update the system in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

If the problem persists, try to delete and re-add the contact. In extreme cases, reset the Contacts app settings (Settings → Apps → Contacts → Storage → Reset), but note that this will delete all local data (except those synchronized to the cloud).

6. Optimization of contact photos: sizes, formats, tips

To make your contact photos look clear and load quickly, follow these guidelines:

• 📏 Size: Optimal resolution — 500×500 pixels (square) Maximum file size — 5 MB.
• 🖼️ Format: Preferably JPG (less weight) or PNG (Best quality. Avoid WEBp or HEIC.
• 🎨 Background: For avatars, use images with a monochromatic background - so the face will be better visible on the lock screen.
• 👤 In Xiaomi, photos of contacts are cut in a circle, so place your face in the center.

If you want a photo of the contact to appear on the lock screen during the call, enable the appropriate setting:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen.
2. Select the Lock screen style → More
3. Activate the option to “Show a photo of a contact”** (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).

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JPG photos with a resolution of 500×500 pixels load faster and display correctly 99% of the time.

7. Alternative methods: messengers and third-party applications

If standard methods do not work, you can use messengers or specialized applications for contact management.

• 💬 WhatsApp: Open a chat with a contact → press three points (⋮) → Viewing the contact → Edit the photo. It's only saved on WhatsApp, but it's visible to other users.
• 📱 Truecaller: The app automatically pulls up photos from social media.Install it from Google Play and allow access to contacts.
• 🔄 Sync.ME: Service syncs photos of contacts with Facebook, VK And other social networks, which is useful if you have a lot of subscribers without avatars.

Please note that third-party apps like Truecaller or Sync.ME require access to your contacts and personal data.

⚠️ Note: Some messengers (e.g. Viber) cache contact photos and don’t update them automatically.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos of contacts in Xiaomi