Modern Huawei and Honor smartphones are equipped with magnificent displays with minimal frames, which creates the effect of complete immersion in the image. However, when there is an incoming call, the user often sees a small photo of the other person surrounded by a huge amount of empty space or a blurry background, which is not always aesthetically pleasing. This happens because standard system algorithms EMUI or Magic UI by default adapt the picture to the old format without using the entire usable screen area.
Many device owners wonder why their high-quality pictures are displayed so modestly, despite the high resolution of the display. In fact, the solution lies in the settings of the Contacts application or in the way the image is pre-processed before saving. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods that allow you to stretch your avatar to the entire display during an incoming call.
The implementation of the full-screen photo function depends not only on the model of your Huawei P40 or Honor 9X, but also on the version of the installed shell. Interfaces are constantly updated, moving menu items and changing the logic of the gallery. Therefore, if you do not find an exact match with the name of the item, look for similar options in the personalization section.
Why the contact photo does not occupy the entire screen
The main reason why the contact image is displayed only in the central part of the screen is the difference in proportions. Standard photos are often 4:3 or 1:1 (square), while modern smartphone displays are elongated and have aspect ratios of 19.5:9 or even 20:9. The system tries to fit the entire picture without cutting off important parts of the face, which causes voids to form on the sides or top and bottom.
The second factor is the limitations of the Phone or Contacts application itself. In some firmware versions Android developers deliberately leave space to display the caller's name, call reset button or information widgets, believing that a full-screen photo will interfere with the perception of the interface. However, for most users, aesthetics and quick visual identification of the caller come first.
⚠️ Attention: On some older Huawei models with EMUI version below 9.0, the full-screen photo function may not be technically available without using third-party launchers or themes.
It is also worth considering that the quality of the source file plays a role decisive role. If you try to stretch a small, low-resolution image across the entire screen of a modern flagship like Huawei Mate 30 Pro, the image will become grainy and unclear. The system can automatically limit scaling to prevent "pixelation" from appearing, which spoils the experience of using the device.
Standard installation method via the Contacts application
The easiest and most reliable way to change the display of your avatar is to use the built-in phone book functionality. This method does not require the installation of additional software and guarantees stable operation of the system. You need to find the desired number in the list and initiate the process of editing the subscriber card.
Open the application Contact and find the desired person. Click on his name to open detailed information. In the upper right corner or directly on the current photo area, you will see a pencil icon or an “Edit” button. After clicking, the system will prompt you to select the image source: take a new photo or select from the gallery.
When selecting a photo from the gallery important pay attention to the cropping tool. The editing interface usually offers a circular or square selection area. Your task is to bring the image as close as possible (zoom it) so that the face fills the entire available cropping area. Don’t be afraid to cut off unnecessary background details, the main thing is that the key facial features fit into the frame.
☑️ Correct installation of the photo
After confirming the selection, the system will process the image and save it in the contact database. Now, when there is an incoming call from this subscriber, the phone will try to display a new avatar. If you are not satisfied with the result and the black fields remain, try repeating the procedure, choosing another photo with a better angle or higher resolution.
Using the gallery for pre-processing
Often the built-in contact editor is too primitive and does not allow flexible control of proportions. In such cases, it is advisable to prepare the image in advance using the powerful tools of Huawei System Gallery. This gives you full control over how much of the photo is visible during a call.
Go to the app Gallery and open the desired photo. Click on the "Edit" button (usually an icon with sliders or a pencil). Select the Crop tool. Here you can manually set the proportions. For full-screen mode, it is best to choose a format that is as close as possible to the screen of your smartphone, or simply crop the photo so that it is vertical and narrow.
Key point: When cropping in the gallery, try to leave a little space above and below the face, as the call interface may overlap these areas with controls. After editing, save the photo as a copy so as not to lose the original.
Use the "Portrait" function in the gallery to blur the background before installing the photo - this will make the profile picture more professional and hide the crop borders.
Now return to contacts, select edit the caller and indicate the image you just processed. Since the proportions have already been adjusted, the system will not have to decide on its own how to fit the picture, and it will occupy the maximum possible area. This method is especially effective for group shots where you need to highlight one specific person.
Theme and lock screen settings
The appearance of the call screen directly depends on the active theme. In the Huawei theme store (Themes) there are thousands of options that radically change the call interface. Some themes are specially designed to display contact photos on the entire screen, ignoring standard system limitations.
Go to the application Themes and enter queries like “Full screen call”, “Big photo” or “Full screen contacts” in the search. Look at the screenshots in the topic descriptions: if they show that the photo takes up the entire display, then this option is right for you. Installing such a theme will apply the new style to all incoming calls automatically.
| Theme type | Display features | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Photo in a circle/square, blurred background | All Huawei models |
| Minimalistic | Large photo, minimum buttons | EMUI 10+ |
| Custom (Third-Party) | Full screen photo, animations | Depends on Android version |
| Dark theme | Emphasis on contrast, photo may be smaller | All models |
After applying the theme, be sure to reboot smartphone for the changes to take effect correctly. Sometimes the interface cache may retain old display settings, and only a hard reboot will refresh the system's visual components. If the theme does not work, try resetting the lock screen settings in the personalization menu.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party themes from unofficial sources may contain ads or unstable code. Download designs only through the official “Themes” application from Huawei.
What to do if the theme is reset?
Sometimes the system automatically returns the standard theme after a software update. In this case, simply go to the Themes application, go to the “My Themes” section and reapply the selected design.
Third-party applications for call management
If standard system tools do not give the desired result, specialized applications from the store Google Play or AppGallerycome to the rescue. These apps completely replace the standard call interface, offering advanced customization options, including setting any images to fill the entire screen.
A popular solution is an application Truecaller or specialized call launchers, such as Call Screen - Phone Dialer. After installing such an application, you will need to give it permissions to access your contacts and phone. In the settings of the application itself there is often a section “Appearance” or “Call Background” where you can upload your photo.
The advantage of third-party solutions is flexibility: you can set up different photos for different groups of contacts, add a video background or even animation. However, it is worth remembering that such applications consume more battery resources and may be slower than Huawei's native dialer.
Third-party applications give maximum freedom of customization, but require permanent permissions to work in the background and access to your personal contact data.
Before installing, carefully read user reviews for your phone model. What works perfectly on Huawei P30may conflict with the interface of newer models in the series Mate 40. Make sure that the application has not been updated for a long time and is compatible with your version of Android.
Solving problems with black bars and quality
Even after all the settings, you may encounter black bars remaining at the edges of the screen. This is often due to the fact that the photo resolution does not match the screen resolution. For example, if the screen has a height of 2400 pixels, and the photo is only 1000, the system will stretch it, but the proportions may be disrupted, or there will be unfilled areas.
To eliminate this defect, use photo editors with the “Canvas Size” function. Increase the image size to the resolution of your screen (you can find it in your phone settings: Settings → Screen → Resolution). Fill the empty fields with a color similar to the background, or simply stretch the image if the quality allows.
Another common problem is the low clarity of the photo during a call. The system can compress contact images to save space in the database. Try to save the photo in a format JPG with high quality, but not exceeding the size of 5-10 MB. Files that are too heavy (for example, RAW or uncompressed PNG) may not be processed correctly by the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Application interfaces and settings may vary depending on the region where the smartphone is delivered and the specific firmware version. If you do not find the described item, check the current documentation on the official Huawei support portal.
Is it possible to install video instead of photos?
You cannot install video on a call using standard Huawei tools. To do this, you will need special applications like “Video Live Wallpaper” that emulate a video background, but this can consume a lot of battery.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did the contact photo become small again after a firmware update?
Updates to the EMUI or Magic UI system often reset the settings personalization or change interface display algorithms. You will need to re-edit the contact and save the photo, perhaps with new cropping options corresponding to the updated version of the skin.
Is it possible to set different photos for the lock screen and call screen?
In standard Huawei settings, these images are usually synchronized: what you put in the contact is displayed everywhere. However, by using third-party themes or calling apps, you can separate these settings and make a unique design for each scenario.
How to take a full-screen photo for an unknown number?
For unknown numbers that are not in your phone book, it is impossible to set a personal photo. You can only change the general background of an incoming call through theme settings or special applications, but a specific avatar will appear only after saving the number to contacts.
Does the photo format (vertical or horizontal) affect the result?
Yes, this is critically important. For full-screen mode on a smartphone, vertical (portrait) photographs are best suited. Horizontal photos, when stretched, will either be cut off on the sides beyond recognition, or will be displayed with large black margins at the top and bottom.
Where are contact photos stored in the phone's memory?
Usually they are stored in the hidden system database of the Contacts application and are not visible to the user as separate files in the gallery. If you delete the original from the gallery, the photo in the contact will remain, since it has already been copied and processed by the system when saving.