How to change photos on Xiaomi: from wallpaper to editing in the gallery

Why are there so many ways to work with photos on Xiaomi?

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco and Black Shark work on the proprietary shell MIUI, It offers unique image tools, and unlike the naked Android, it has an AI-enabled editor, Mi Cloud cloud storage, and even the ability to change wallpaper directly from the system menu, but this variety is often confusing: where exactly you need to click to crop a photo, change the background of the desktop or edit a picture before sending?

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to change photos on Xiaomi devices - from basic (replacement of wallpaper) to advanced (editing in the Gallery using AI, working with Google Photos, transferring files to PC). MIUI (12, 13, 14) and popular models: Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, Poco F5. If you are looking for a specific method, use the table of contents or FAQ end-of-life.

⚠️ Important: some features (such as the Magic of Cloning in the Editor) are only available on flagships with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets and later. 10A, Poco M5) Some of the tools may not be available.

1. How to change the wallpaper on the Xiaomi desktop

The easiest way to change the look of a smartphone is to change the background pattern. MIUI This is done in 3 clicks, but there are nuances with animated wallpaper and theme of the design.

Instructions:

• 📱 Long pressing on the free space of the desktop → pick Wallpaper.
• 🖼️ Scroll down to My Wallpapers (there are images you uploaded) or select from the categories offered (Abstraction, Nature, Super Wallpapers).
• ✅ Click on your favorite photo. → Apply. Select where to change: Lock screen, Desktop or Both.

🔹 Super Wallpapers (available on Xiaomi) 11/12/13/14, Redmi K50, Poco F4 GT) — It's animated wallpaper with 3D-They take up more memory, but they look impressive:

1. Go to Settings → Wallpapers → Super Wallpapers.
2. Download your favorite package (such as Mars or Earth).
3. Use it as a normal wallpaper (see the instructions above).

⚠️ Warning: If artifacts (blurring, cropping) appear on the lock screen after the wallpaper change, check the aspect ratio of the original image — 1080×2400 (for most models; or 1440×3200 (flagman 2K-screen).

2. editing photos in the standard Gallery MIUI

Built-in Gallery on MIUI — It's not just a viewer, it's a full-fledged editor with AI features, and you can crop, you can customize color, you can add filters, you can even remove unwanted objects from a photo without a trace (the Magic of Cloning function.

How to open the editor:

1. Open the Gallery app (a flower icon).
2. Select a photo. → Click Edit (the pencil icon at the bottom).
3. In the bottom panel will appear tools: Pruning, Filters, Correction, Effects, AI.

🔹 Top.-5 usefulness of the editor:

• ✂️ Cut and turn – change proportions (1:1 for Instagram, 16:9 for wallpaper) or align the horizon.
• 🎨 Filters - more than 20 pre-installed styles (from Vivid to Retro). MIUI 14 there are filters with the effect of the movie.
• 🤖 AI retouching -- automatically smooths skin, removes red eyes, and lightens shadows. Works better on portraits.
• 🧹 Cloning magic (available on flagships) – allows you to remove unnecessary objects (for example, garbage on the street or random people).
• 📊 Correction – manually adjusting exposure, contrast, saturation and color temperature.

⚠️ Warning: After editing, the original photo is not automatically saved, so as not to lose the source:

1. Before editing, click Copy (the icon of the two sheets at the top).
2. Or save the edited version as a new file: Save as a copy.

Transfer photos from Xiaomi to your computer: 4 proven ways

If you want to make room on your phone or edit your photos on a big screen, you're going to have to migrate them to your PC, and let's look at all the current methods, from wired connectivity to cloud services.

🔹 Method 1: Possible USB-cable (fastest cable)

• 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC with a cable (preferably original).
• 📱 On the Xiaomi screen, select File Transfer Mode (if a notification appears).
• 🖥️ Open this computer on your computer. → Find the Xiaomi device → Go to the Internal Storage folder → DCIM → Camera.
• 📂 Copy the desired photos on the PC (you can just drag the mouse).

⚠️ If the PC can’t see the phone, check it out:

• 🔄 Switch the connection mode in the Xiaomi notification curtain (should be File Manager (MTP)).
• 🔧 Install Mi drivers PC Suite (download from the official website).
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue).

🔹 Method 2: Through Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

If you have Mi Cloud sync enabled, photos are automatically uploaded to the cloud to be accessed from your PC:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section.
3. Mark the right photos. → Click Download (Shoot down arrow icon).

📌 Restrictions: only 5GB of space is available for free. You need to subscribe to an increase in volume (from 99) ₽/month).

💡

If you want to transfer a photo from your PC back to Xiaomi, use the same Mi Cloud: upload files via the web interface, and they are automatically synced with your phone when you connect to Wi-Fi.

🔹 Method 3: Google Photos (alternative to Mi Cloud)

Google Photos offers unlimited storage for compressed photos (up to 15 MP) and 15 GB for originals.

1. Install the Google Photos app from the Play Market.
2. Run it and enable Backup and Sync.
3. On PC, open photos.google.com → Choose a photo → Download.

🔹 Method 4: Wi-Fi (without wires)

You will need to use Send Anywhere or Xender:

1. Install the application on your phone and PC.
2. On the phone, select a photo. → Send. → Generate a 6-digit code.
3. On PC, enter this code in the Receive field.

⚠️ Transfer speed depends on the power of the Wi-Fi router. on Xiaomi 13 Pro with Wi-Fi 6E Files are transmitted at speeds up to 50 MB/s.

4. How to change profile photo in Mi Account and apps

The profile photo is displayed in Mi Account, Contacts, Messages and some system applications, and can be changed through your phone settings and web interface.

🔹 Method 1: Through phone settings

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Click on the current avatar → Change profile photo.
3. Select the source: Gallery, Camera or Upload (if the photo is on the cloud).
4. Cut the image in a circle and save it.

🔹 Method 2: Using the web version of Mi Account

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Point cursor to avatar → Change.
3. Upload a new photo (maximum size – 5 MB).

⚠️ Note: if you use Xiaomi for work, please note that your profile photo in Mi Account may be displayed on corporate services (e.g. Mi Team) to hide the avatar from colleagues:

1. Go to Account Settings → Confidentiality.
2. Turn off the option to Show profile photos in work applications.

5. Advanced stunts: RAW-Photos, night mode and manual settings

If you are taking photos in Xiaomi format RAW or use a professional mode, standard editor MIUI It might not be able to handle the processing.

🔹 Work with RAW-photo

Files.DNG (RAW) They take up to 50MB each, but they allow you to flexibly adjust your white balance and exposure:

• 📱 On your phone: use Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed (free in Play Market).
• 🖥️ On PC: Adobe Lightroom Classic, Darktable (free analogue).

🔹 Night mode and long exposure

Xiaomi. 12S Ultra, 13 Pro and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ There's Night Shooting Mode with manual shutter speed settings (up to 30 seconds) to avoid blurring:

• 📸 Use a tripod or a stable surface.
• ⏱️ Set a delay timer (2 or 10 seconds) in the camera settings.
• 🔦 Turn off the flash - it spoils night shots.

🔹 Manual camera settings (Professional mode)

In Pro mode, you can manually configure:

• 📐 Excerpt (from) 1/4000 before 30 s)
• 🎯 Focal distance (if there is zoom)
• 🌡️ White balance (from) 2500K before 10000K)
• 📊 ISO (sensitivity, from 50 to 3200)

📌 Advice: to shoot the starry sky set ISO 3200, exposure 20-30 c and focus on infinity.

💡

RAW-Photo and Professional mode are available only on models with a main camera from 48 MP and above (for example, Xiaomi). 11T Pro, Redmi Note 11 Pro+, Poco F4 GT).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you're working with photos on Xiaomi, users are faced with common mistakes, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

🔴 Problem 1: Photos are not saved in the Gallery

If the photos taken on camera do not appear in the Gallery:

• 🔍 Check the folder. DCIM → Camera via any file manager (e.g. Google Files).
• 📁 Perhaps the photos are saved on SD-Go to the camera settings. → Storage and select Internal Memory.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the Gallery doesn’t update the library.

🔴 Problem 2: Gallery Editor is not open

If nothing happens when you click Edit:

• 🛠️ Clear the Gallery cache: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Update the Gallery app through Play Market.
• 📥 Install an alternative editor (e.g., PicsArt or PicsArt) VSCO).

🔴 Problem 3: Wallpaper resets after update MIUI

After major updates (e.g., with the MIUI 13 by 14) custom wallpaper can be reset:

• 📁 Save the wallpaper to the Pictures folder → Wallpapers.
• 🔄 Once updated manually, re-apply them (see Section 1).
• 📱 Use third-party wallpaper apps (like Backdrops) that save settings regardless of the system.

🔴 Problem 4: Mi Cloud photos are not synced

If the photos are not uploaded to the cloud:

• 📶 Check Wi-Fi connection (mobile download may be disabled).
• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Gallery and enable Auto Sync.
• 🔋 Make sure that the battery saving mode does not block the Gallery.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions