Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often want to personalize their device, making it not just a functional gadget, but a reflection of their own style. Standard tunes preinstalled by the manufacturer quickly get bored, and static pictures on the call screen seem boring. Which is why the video installation feature on the call becomes one of the most popular features in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS. This allows you to revive the interface and instantly recognize the incoming call not only by sound, but also by visual range.
However, the process of setting up a video call is not always obvious to beginners, since the standard Calls interface does not have such an option by default. Android system and Xiaomi’s proprietary shell require the use of additional tools or special theme settings to implement this feature. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to put a video on a call to Xiaomi, including the use of built-in themes, third-party applications and system features of live wallpaper.
Before you start setting up, it's important to understand that a video call is not just a file that you can select from a list of tunes. The video sequence must be properly processed by the system or a third-party application to be launched at the time of the incoming call. Usually, this uses the video wallpaper function or special themes that contain video content. Without using such tools, the system will perceive the video file simply as a media file to be viewed in a gallery.
There are several ways to activate this feature, and the specific way you choose depends on the version of your MIUI or HyperOS operating system, as well as the region for which the smartphone is released. In some firmware (for example, Global), functionality may be limited compared to the Chinese versions, but workarounds are always there. We will look at universal solutions that work on most current models, from Redmi Note to flagship Xiaomi.
It’s also worth noting that using video as a call can consume more power than standard audio files. The smartphone battery will drain a little faster on frequent incoming calls if the screen remains active with video content. However, modern shell optimizations allow you to minimize this expense, making video calls a comfortable and practical solution for daily use.
Using the “Themes” app to install video
The easiest and safest way to do this is to use the standard Theme app. Xiaomi’s theme catalog contains a huge range of free and paid designs, many of which include dynamic elements. You don’t have to search for a video separately, just choose a theme that says “Video Call” or “Dynamic Ringtone”.
Once you download the theme, you don't have to use it completely. The MIUI shell allows you to only embed a video ringtone from the theme, leaving the remaining icons and wallpaper unchanged. To do this, open a profile in the the theme app, find the downloaded set, and select the "Configure" option from the application menu, where you can tick only the item responsible for the call and apply the changes.
⚠️ Note: When downloading themes from third-party sources or unofficial directories, there is a risk of downloading malicious code. Use only the proven Themes app built into the system.
If you want to use your own video, the standard theme app may not allow you to download an arbitrary file directly without creating your own theme. However, some versions of the shell have a feature called Video Wallpaper, which is integrated with the theme store. Go to the video wallpaper section inside the application, find the video you like and click the installation button. In the menu that appears, select "Install as a ringtone."
- 🎨 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Search for “Video Ringtone” or “Video Call».
- 📥 Download your favorite theme or video wallpaper.
- ⚙️ Click "Apply" and select the setting only for the call.
If your region has little video content, try changing the region in the Themes app settings to India or Indonesia, where the selection is usually richer. Once the content is selected, the system will automatically process the file and prepare it for playback when the incoming call is made.
Setup through the application "Video wallpaper"
Special attention should be paid to the system application Video Wallpaper, which is often pre-installed on Xiaomi smartphones, designed to set dynamic backgrounds, but also allows you to assign video to an incoming call. If you do not have this application in the Tools folder, it can be found and updated through the Themes app in the Profiles -> My Resources section.
The principle is to select a video from a gallery or download a new one from an online app directory. Once you select the video, the system will offer several applications: set as a home screen wallpaper, lock screen or video call, a native method that is best optimized for battery life and does not require superuser rights.
Path to settings: Settings -> Wallpaper -> Video wallpaperInside the app, you can edit a video, cut it, apply filters, or change the playback speed. This is especially useful if the original file is too long or doesn't fit the format. After editing, click the installation button and confirm the action. Now, when the incoming call plays the selected video.
What to do if the video wallpaper app doesn’t work?
Use of third-party applications for video calls
If standard methods don't meet your requirements, or if you want to install a specific MP4 file from your phone's memory, third-party applications will come to the rescue, the leader in this niche is the Video Caller ID app or similar programs from the Google Play Store, which intercept incoming calls and display a video on top of it, creating a native video call effect.
Once you install an app, you'll need to give it a number of permissions, which are access to contacts, phone, storage, and critically, the right to "display over other windows." Without the last permission, the video won't be able to appear on the screen during the call, and the setup process usually takes no more than a couple of minutes.
| Annex | Functional | Advertising | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Caller ID | Choosing video for contacts | Got it. | Android 7.0+ |
| Flash & Video Caller ID | Effects and videophones | There is. | All versions of MIUI |
| Clip Now | Personalization of calls | Minimum | Android 8.0+ |
In the app settings, you can assign one video to all incoming videos or select unique videos for each contact from the phone book, which creates a high level of personalization, but it is worth considering that third-party applications can consume more RAM resources, especially on older smartphone models.
- 📲 Download the Video Caller app ID Play Market.
- ✅ Provide all the requested permissions.
- 🎬 Select a video from the gallery to install.
- 📞 Assign video to contact or all calls.
Preparation of video file: formats and parameters
The quality of video calls depends on the source file. Not every video will look good on the screen of a smartphone, and not every format is supported by the system without conversion. The optimal format for video calls on Xiaomi is MP4 with H.264 codec. This format provides good quality with a relatively small file size.
Video resolution should match your device’s screen resolution or be less. Downloading 4K video to call doesn’t make sense, as the smartphone screen won’t display all the details and the CPU load will increase. It’s recommended to use 1080x1920 (vertical orientation) or 1920x1080 (horizontal) videos to fill the entire screen without black fields.
⚠️ Attention: Horizontal videos on a vertical screen can be displayed with black bars on the sides or stretched.
The duration of the video also matters. Because the call can last a long time, and the video is usually short, the system will loop the playback; the optimal length is from 5 to 15 seconds; too long videos can be mishandled by some video calling applications; if your file is too large, use video editors to crop it.
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Use vertical video (9:16) for video calls, as the smartphone is most often held vertically during a conversation, and this will ensure that the screen is full without trimming the edges.
Solving video calling problems
Users may experience a situation where the video is not played, the sound is missing or the call is with a standard melody. One of the common reasons is the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which kills background processes. To make the video call work consistently, you need to add a video calling app to the battery exclusions.
Go to Settings -> Battery and Performance, find the app you are using and select No Limits mode. Also check if Do Not Disturb or Quiet Mode is enabled, as these can block media content from playing when you call. Sometimes it helps to reboot your smartphone after you set new settings.
If the video twitches or slows down, it may be that the file has too high bitrate or unpopular codec, in which case it is recommended to convert the video to a lighter format, and the problem may lie in a crowded system cache, which should be cleared through the standard Security application.
☑️ Checklist of diagnostic problems
The impact of video calls on autonomy
The use of animated wallpaper and video calls inevitably affects battery life. The screen is the most energy-intensive element of a smartphone, and its constant activation with a bright video stream increases charge consumption. However, on modern devices with batteries from 4500 mAh and above, this effect is almost invisible within one day of use.
If you notice that your smartphone is starting to run out faster, try lowering the brightness of your video or using less saturated colors in your video, and you can also turn off video calls for contacts who rarely call, leaving this feature only for select numbers, which will help balance aesthetics and energy efficiency.
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Optimization of video calls is achieved by using lightweight MP4 files in a vertical format and setting exceptions in energy saving for the corresponding application.