How to put a full screen photo on Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Putting your favorite photo on the full screen of Xiaomi’s smartphone seems like a simple task — until you encounter cropped edges, black stripes or distorted proportions. The problem is that most modern Xiaomi devices (including the Redmi Note, POCO X and flagship Mi lines) use displays with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, 20:9 or 21:9, whereas standard photos are most often in the format of 4:3 or 16:9. As a result, when trying to stretch the image to the entire screen, the system either trims parts of the picture or leaves empty fields on the sides.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to correctly install a photo on the full screen without loss of quality – from built-in tools. MIUI We will pay special attention to the nuances for different models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra with curved screen or Redmi). 10C s HD+-display) and explain why sometimes it is better not to stretch, but to adapt the image under the screen.

Spoiler: If you want to avoid distortion, the best way to do this is to pre-cut the photo in the editor, taking into account the aspect ratio of your smartphone, but more on that in the image preparation section.

1. Method: Using the standard MIUI gallery

The built-in Gallery app in MIUI allows you to quickly set the photo to the full screen, but with limitations. The algorithm automatically crops the image in the center, which can lead to the loss of important details (for example, the head of the person in the portrait or the top of the landscape).

1. Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want.
2. Click on the icon "More" (three dots in the upper right corner) → Set as → Wallpaper.
3. In the window that opens, select Lock Screen, Main Screen, or Both Screens.
4. Use your fingers to zoom in and move the image so that important elements don’t get cut off.
5. Click Apply in the lower right corner.

⚠️ Attention: On models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi) K50) When you install dark wallpaper, the system can automatically turn on the "Always-On Display" mode, which will increase battery consumption. → Screen. → Always-On Display and select Off..

If black stripes remain on the sides after using the wallpaper, this means that the aspect ratio of the photo does not coincide with the screen ratio, in this case, pre-trimming (see section 3) or using third-party applications (section 4) will help.

2. Method: Customizing wallpaper through "Themes"

The Themes app offers more options for adapting photos to the screen than a standard gallery, where you can not only stretch the image, but also apply blurring, darkening or even animation effects (on supported models).

• 📱 Open the Themes app (if it is not on the home screen, search through the system search).
• 🖼️ Go to the Wallpaper tab. → My wallpaper. → press + (plus-plus).
• 📂 Choose a photo from the gallery or download a new one from the collection MIUI.
• ✂️ At the pruning stage, enable the option to stretch (if available) or manually adjust the image under the screen.
• 🎨 In the Effects tab, you can add blurring of the edges (Boke), dimming or even paralax effect (on models with a high-performance model). MIUI 13+).

The advantage of this method is that you can save the original photo without cropping, adding blur at the edges. This is especially useful for portrait shots where it is important to keep the whole face. However, on budget models (for example, Redmi A1 or POCO M4), some of the effects may not be available due to the limitations of iron.

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If you are setting a photo on the lock screen, check if the weather or notification widget is blocking it. In MIUI 14, you can turn off the display of widgets on the lock through Settings → Lock screen → Lock style → Clean.

3. Method: Pre-shooting of photo in the editor

The most reliable way to avoid distortion is to crop your photo in advance to your screen's aspect ratio, with both built-in MIUI tools and third-party editors like Snapseed or Lightroom.

1. Find out the aspect ratio of your model’s screen: Xiaomi 13/12 series, Redmi Note 11/12, POCO F4/F5 → 20:9 (or 19.5:9). Redmi 10/9 series, POCO M4/M5 → 19.5:9 or 20:9. Xiaomi Civi, Mix 4 → 19.5:9 with curved edges.

Photo editor

Xiaomi

Pruning

20:9

Adjust the position of the frame so that important elements remain in the visible area.

Save the modified photo and set it as wallpaper through the gallery or "Themes".

🔍 Why does it matter? If you just stretch a 4:3 picture onto a 20:9 screen, people's faces can become deformed (verticalized) and text becomes unreadable.

For models with camera perforations (such as Xiaomi 11T or Redmi Note 11 Pro), leave free space at the top when trimming, otherwise important elements can hide under the notch. In the Snapseed editor, you can turn on the grid with a safe zone to visualize the area that will be covered.

Method: Third-party applications for wallpaper

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, try specialized apps that offer more options for adapting photos to the screen, including automatic edge filling (with AI) and support for animated wallpaper. Best options for Xiaomi:

• 🌄 WallpapersCraft - wallpaper database with filters by resolution (there is a section specifically for 20:9).
• 🎨 Zedge – supports live wallpaper and adaptation to screen cutouts.
• ✂️ Crop & Set Wallpaper – allows you to accurately crop the photo under the aspect ratio of your smartphone.
• 🤖 Muzei Live Wallpaper – automatically adjusts the wallpaper under the screen and changes them on schedule.

How to use (example: Crop & Set Wallpaper):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select a photo from the gallery.
3. Press Crop and specify the aspect ratio (e.g. 20:9).
4. Activate the Fill Screen option if you want to stretch the image without empty fields.
5. Apply wallpaper to the main screen, lock screen or both.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Zedge) may request permissions to access files and notifications. MIUI Third-party wallpaper is sometimes reset after the system update. To avoid this, save the original photos to the folder. DCIM/Wallpapers.

📏 Find out the aspect ratio of your screen

✂️ Cut the photo in the editor taking into account the camera cutout

🔍 Check if important elements are being distorted

📲 Keep the result in high resolution (minimum) 1080p)

🔄 Apply through “Themes” or a third-party application

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5. Method: Using Live Wallpapers (live wallpaper)

If you're bored with static wallpapers, try live wallpapers, which not only fill the entire screen without empty fields, but also add animations like moving clouds smoothly in the landscape or flickering stars. MIUI has built-in support for live wallpapers, but it will require third-party software to work properly.

How to install live wallpaper on the whole screen:

1. Download the 3D Parallax Background or Kappboom app (for animated wallpaper).
2. Select a template or upload your photo (the app automatically adapts it to the screen).
3. Adjust the animation speed and effects (like the response to the phone’s tilt).
4. Apply wallpaper through the app menu. MIUI may require confirmation in battery settings (allow auto-run for the app).

💡 nuance AMOLED-Screens: Live wallpaper with a dark background (such as space or night city) will save battery power compared to light animations. 12S Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro with displays 2K+120 Hz animated wallpaper can slightly increase energy consumption (5-10% in standby mode).

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Live wallpaper works best on Xiaomi’s flagship models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processors. On budget smartphones (such as the Redmi 10A with the Helio G25), animation can slow down.

6. Method: Manual permission modification (for advanced)

This is a method that's suitable for those who are willing to dig into the system settings, and it allows you to force the screen resolution to be changed so that the photo is displayed without cropping, but requires super-user rights (root) or use of the image. ADB-team. ⚠️ Warning: Incorrect actions can lead to interface failures!

Instructions via ADB (without root):

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode).
2. Install. ADB-computer-driver.
3. Open the command line and type: adb shell wm size 1080x2340 (replace 1080x2340 with your screen resolution; you can find it in Settings → Screen → Screen Resolution).
4. Restart the device. Now, when you install the wallpaper, the photo will stretch to the changed resolution.

⚠️ Important: After such manipulations, some applications (such as games or banking services) may not display correctly:

adb shell wm size reset

This method is relevant for Xiaomi with non-standard screens (for example, the Mix Fold 2 with an internal display 2160×1914).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you have the right full-screen setup, you can get into trouble. TOP-5 problems and ways to correct them:

• 🖼️ Photo cropped at the edges: Try cropping the image in advance in the 20:9 editor.Use the Wallpaper Set & Crop app for an accurate fit.
• 📵 Black stripes on the sides: Enable the option to Stret in wallpaper settings (not available on all models).Add edge blur via the Blur Wallpaper app.
• 🔄 Wallpaper resets after rebooting: Set wallpaper through Settings → Wallpaper, not through the gallery. Turn off battery optimization for the Themes app in Settings → Annexes → Battery management.
• 🎭 Colors or contrast distorted: Check if Live Colors mode is enabled in Settings → Screen. → Screen Colors. Turn off Adaptive Brightness in Settings → Display. → Adaptive brightness.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge after changing wallpaper: If you use live wallpaper, reduce the animation frame rate in the application settings. AMOLED-Choose dark wallpaper on screens - they save charge.

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On models with MIUI 14 and later, wallpaper is automatically optimized for the camera notch. If the photo still crops, try turning off the option Adaptation for cutouts in the theme settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions