How to add a photo to the desktop of the Xiaomi phone: step-by-step instructions

Personalizing your smartphone starts with a desktop, which is the first thing you see when you unlock. Installing your favorite photo as a wallpaper on Xiaomi may seem like a simple task, but users often wonder why the image is cropped, how to install live wallpaper, or why the original photo loses quality. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 15), including hidden features and solutions to typical problems.

Xiaomi firmware features built-in wallpaper resolution and automatic framing. For example, if you try to set a vertical photo (porteter orientation) on a horizontal screen, the system can crop it around the edges or stretch it out by distorting the proportions, we will show you how to avoid this, and we will also talk about a little-known method of installing wallpaper through ADB for advanced users.

If you are using the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or the flagship Xiaomi 13 series, the instructions will be universal - the difference is only in the location of some menu items. MIUI for POCO Some tips for setting up animations will be useful.

1. Standard method: through the gallery

The most obvious method is to choose a photo straight from the standard Xiaomi Gallery, which is suitable for 90% of users and works on all versions of MIUI, including the latest MIUI 15.

Open the Gallery app and find the image you want. Tap it to open it in full screen, then tap the More icon (three dots in the lower right corner) and select Set as Wallpaper. The system will offer three options:

• 📱 Desktop wallpaper - the photo will be only on the main screen;
• 🔒 Lock screen wallpaper – the image will appear on the locked screen;
• 📱🔒 Wallpaper on both screens - one photo and there.

After the selection, the system will redirect you to the wallpaper editor, where you can:

• 🖼️ Change the scale – move the image with your finger to select the visible area;
• 🔄 Turn around - if the photo is inverted;
• 🎨 Apply filters – add blur or dimming (not available on all models).

Note that if the photo is less than 1080×2400 (for most modern Xiaomi), the system will automatically stretch it, which can degrade the quality. To avoid pixelation, use images with a resolution of at least 1440×3200.

💡

If you need to install one photo on your desktop and the other on your lock screen, select Desktop Wallpaper first, then repeat the process for Lock screen Wallpaper with another image.

2. How to avoid cropping photos: the secrets of framing

The main problem with installing wallpaper on Xiaomi is automatic framing, which cuts the photo using the "fill-in" algorithm, which can make important details disappear outside the visible area.

Before installing wallpaper, edit the photo in any graphics editor (for example, Snapseed or Lightroom):

• 📏 Keep proportions: For most Xiaomi, the optimal aspect ratio — 9:20 (for example, 1080×2400).
• 🖌️ Add fields: If there is text or logo in the photo, place them in the center, leaving empty space at the edges.
• 🔍 Check out the preview: in the wallpaper editor MIUI It shows a gray frame, and everything outside of it will be cut.

If you do not want to edit the photo, use manual zooming:

1. In the wallpaper editor with two fingers, reduce the scale of the image so that it fully fits into the frame.
2. Move the photo so that important details are in the center.
3. Click Apply - the system retains the selected position.

On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 Pro with curved screens, the trim works differently: the system takes into account rounded edges, so the sides of the photo will be cropped more strongly than on flat displays.

3. Installation of wallpaper through system settings

Alternative way - through the Settings menu → Wallpaper. This method is convenient if you want to choose photos from cloud storage (for example, Google Photos) or downloaded files:

1. Go to the settings → design → Wallpaper.
2. Select My Wallpaper tab (or Gallery, depending on the MIUI version).
3. Click Select a photo and specify the path to the image in the phone’s memory.
4. Edit the position and scale, then save.

The advantage of this method is access to live wallpaper and animations, and there is a tab on Wallpaper Live, where you can select dynamic screensavers (such as Earth or Ocean) that respond to touch.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), the option Blurr Wallpaper on the lock screen is available in this menu, and if you turn it on, the background on the locked screen will be slightly blurred, which adds to the depth effect.

Use the image with a resolution ≥1440×3200|

Observe proportions 9:20|

Place key elements in the center |

Check the preview in the MIUI | editor

Keep the original (in case of error)-->

Third-party wallpaper annexes

If standard MIUI features don’t suit you, try specialized apps that offer more framing options, support for animated wallpapers, and even interactive screensavers (responsive to the time of day or the weather).

Top.-3 apps:

• 🌄 WallpapersCraft - more than 100,000 HD-There's a category for Xiaomi where the photos are already adjusted to the proportions. MIUI.

How to install wallpaper through a third-party application:

1. Download and install one of the apps (such as WallpapersCraft) from Google Play.
2. Select the image you like and click Install.
3. The system will redirect you to the standard MIUI editor – edit the position and save.

Important: Some apps (like Zedge) require permission to Overlay over other windows. To give it, go to Settings → Applications → Special Accesses → Overlay and turn on the switch for the desired application.

💡

Third-party apps often offer wallpaper in 4K resolution, but on Xiaomi's Full HD screens (like the Redmi Note 11), the difference will be subtle. The optimal resolution is 1440×3200 for most models.

5. Live wallpaper and animations on Xiaomi

Live Wallpapers add dynamics to the desktop, and on Xiaomi, you can install them in two ways: through built-in MIUI options or third-party apps.

Built-in live wallpaper in MIUI 14/15:

• 🌊 Ocean - waves react to phone tilt;
• 🌍 Earth is a rotating planet with clouds;
• ⏳ Clock – Animation showing the current time.

To activate them:

1. Go to the settings → Design → Wallpaper → Live wallpaper.
2. Select the animation you like and click Apply.
3. Set the animation speed (if available).

For more advanced effects, use apps like KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker or Wallpaper Engine (requires ROOT on some devices) to create interactive wallpapers with:

• 📊 Weather widget;
• 🎵 Music visualizer;
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.

⚠️ Warning: Live wallpaper increases battery consumption by 5-15% (based on Xiaomi tests) 11T If you notice a quick discharge, go back to static photos or reduce the frequency of animation in the settings.

6. Advanced method: installation via ADB

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on custom firmware), you can install wallpaper through ADB. This method is suitable for advanced users and requires connecting the phone to a PC.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
2. Enable USB Debugging on Xiaomi: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (tap 7 times), then Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging on USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell cmd wallpaper set --stream /sdcard/Download/your_image.jpg (replace the path with the current one).
4. For the lock screen use: adb shell cmd wallpaper set --stream /sdcard/Download/your_image.jpg --which lock

This method bypasses MIUI resolution and proportion restrictions, but has risks:

• 🔌 Demands. USB-Debugging that may not be safe on public PCs;
• 📱 Some custom firmware blocks wallpaper commands;
• 🔄 After rebooting, the wallpaper may reset (on some devices).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with a locked bootloader (Redmi Note 10, POCO X3 etc.) teams ADB Wallpaper may not work without unlocking Bootloader.

Comparison of wallpaper installation methods

FAQ: Frequent questions