Seeing contact photos in Messages makes texting more personal and helps you quickly identify who you’re chatting with. On your iPhone 11, you can display photos for individual contacts, group chats, or even default placeholders for unknown numbers. If you’re wondering how to show contact photos in Messages on an iPhone 11, this guide will walk you through the process step by step.
Why Display Contact Photos in Messages?
Contact photos in Messages provide:
Quick visual identification of contacts
Personalized messaging experience
A professional or fun look for group chats
Easier navigation in long conversations
Step 1: Ensure Contacts Have Photos
Before Messages can show contact photos, you must assign a photo to each contact.
How to Add a Photo to a Contact
Open the Contacts app on your iPhone 11.
Select the contact you want to add a photo for.
Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
Tap Add Photo or the current photo circle.
Choose one of the following:
Take Photo – capture a new picture
Choose Photo – select an image from your photo library
Edit Photo – zoom or crop as needed
Tap Done to save changes.
Tip: You can assign custom photos for family, friends, or work contacts for easier identification in Messages.
Step 2: Enable Contact Photos in Messages
After adding photos to your contacts, you need to make sure the Messages app is set to show them.
Steps:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone 11.
Scroll down and tap Messages.
Tap Share Name and Photo.
Toggle on Share Name and Photo if you want your photo to appear when you message others.
For received messages, iOS automatically shows contact photos if they are assigned in Contacts.
Note: Contact photos may only appear in bubble style conversations, not in full-screen message previews.
Step 3: Adjust Message Display Settings
Open Settings → Messages.
Scroll to Show Contact Photos (some iOS versions).
Toggle it on.
On iOS 14 and later, contact photos are shown automatically in group and individual conversations once enabled in Contacts.
Step 4: Use Group Chat Photos
For group chats in Messages:
Open a group conversation.
Tap the group icon at the top.
Tap Change Name and Photo.
Choose a photo, Memoji, or emoji for the group.
Tap Done.
This helps visually differentiate between individual chats and multiple group chats.
Tips for Contact Photos in Messages
High-quality images look better in Messages.
Update photos periodically to keep them fresh.
Use Memojis or emojis as fun contact pictures.
iCloud sync: Enable iCloud for Contacts to ensure photos appear across devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are some contact photos not showing?
Ensure the contact has a photo assigned, and that Show Contact Photos is enabled in Settings.
2. Can I use different photos for iMessage and phone contacts?
No, iOS uses the same contact photo across apps.
3. Do photos appear for unknown numbers?
No, contact photos only appear for saved contacts.
4. Will my photo show to everyone I message?
Only if you enable Share Name and Photo in Messages Settings.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to show contact photos in Messages on an iPhone 11 makes texting more engaging and easier to navigate. By assigning photos to contacts and enabling display settings, your messages become more personal and visually appealing.
With these simple steps, you can make your iPhone 11 messaging experience both organized and fun.
