Smartphone personalization isn’t just about changing wallpapers, it’s about creating a unique digital environment that reflects your style. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often wonder how to change the label on the lock screen to display motivating quotes, important information or just funny phrases. This feature is available in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS, but its implementation can vary depending on the software version and the firmware region. Deep customization allows you to turn the standard screen into a personal information tabloid.
It's worth noting that standard tools can change not only the text itself, but also its location, as well as add additional widgets. However, for complete freedom of action, including custom fonts or complex formatting, third-party solutions may be required. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from built-in functions to advanced utilities, you will learn to manage Always On Display and customize static text.
Before you start making changes, it’s important to understand that the menu interface may vary slightly across models. For example, on Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 14, items may be called differently than on the budget Redmi Note. However, the logic of the system remains the same for all devices of the brand. We will look at the nuances for different versions of Android and shells, so that the instruction is useful to each user.
Use of built-in features of the theme design
The easiest and safest way to change the text you see is to use the Themes app, which is a standard tool that's pre-installed on all of the company's smartphones, where developers create whole design complexes where the sign on the locked screen is part of the design, and to find the right option, you have to open the app and go to Profile → Settings → Lock screen, and that's where the basic customization tools are hidden.
Inside the lock screen settings, there is often an option called Online Resources or Wallpaper Carousel. The carousel allows you to automatically change images and accompanying text at certain intervals. You can choose a category like Travel or Motivation, and the system will select the appropriate captions for you, which is a great option for those who like variety and do not want to manually edit the text every day.
⚠️ Note: When installing themes from third-party sources or a global directory MIUI Themes carefully check the permissions of the application. Some themes may request access to contacts or geolocation, which is not required to change the picture.
If you want a static signature that you've invented, standard themes can be limited. However, newer versions of HyperOS have the ability to edit the style of the watch and add a signature directly to it. You need to press the lock screen for a long time (or use edit mode through settings), select the style of the watch, and enter the desired text in the "Signature" field, this can be your name, phone number in case of loss or a favorite quote.
Always on Display (AOD)
Always On Display allows you to display information even when your smartphone is in sleep mode, and it's the perfect tool for placing a permanent text message. To activate and configure it, go to Settings → Lock screen and find "Always On Display." Here you can choose from a variety of designs, many of which support text editing.
Unlike a standard lock screen, AOD works on OLED-matrixes, highlighting only the necessary pixels. This allows you to save battery power with minimal energy consumption. In AOD style settings, you can often choose to display the current time, date and short text line. Some designs even allow you to insert small emoji or symbols next to the text, which makes the inscription more expressive.
It is important to consider that on some models with budget screens, AOD may not be available or work in limited mode (for example, only when connecting to a charge).If you do not find this item on the menu, your Redmi or Poco model may not support this technology at the hardware level, in which case you will have to limit yourself to a standard lock screen.
Effects of AOD on the battery
For users who care about aesthetics, you can adjust the position of the text, you can move the text above or below, change its size relative to the dial. Recent updates to MIUI 14 and HyperOS have added support for dynamic elements, where text can smoothly appear when notified, which makes interaction with the device more lively and enjoyable.
Use of third-party applications to block
When built-in capabilities aren't enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue. There are many locker programs that completely replace Xiaomi's standard lock screen. Apps like Hi Locker, KLCK Kustom Lock Screen Maker or Acme Locker provide almost limitless spelling capabilities. You can use any typeface, color, animation, or even interactive elements.
However, the use of third-party lockers has its own peculiarities: once installed, Android will require it to be given extended access rights, including permission to display on top of other windows and access to notifications. Without these rights, the application will not be able to work correctly. In addition, aggressive battery optimization in MIUI can kill the process of a third-party locker, so it must be added to exceptions and fixed in memory.
- 🔓 Hi Locker is a simple application with lots of ready-made templates where it is easy to change text and fonts without a deep knowledge of design.
- 🎨 KLCK — A powerful tool for professionals, allowing you to create from scratch, using variable systems (weather, charge, time).
- 🚀 Acme Locker is a lightweight solution with a minimalist design that perfectly mimics the style of iOS or pure Android, supporting custom inscriptions.
The main advantage of these programs is independence from the version of MIUI. Even if you have old firmware, you can get a modern lock screen with any text, but there is a disadvantage: unlocking can take a fraction of a second longer, and sometimes conflicts with the fingerprint scanner under the screen. Testing a particular application on your model is a must before constant use.
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When installing a third-party locker, be sure to turn off the “Advanced Lock” in the MIUI security settings to avoid face unlock conflicts or fingerprints.
Editing through the app “Themes” (detailed analysis)
Back to the standard Themes app, because it's the most stable method. In some regions (like India or Russia), the app's functionality is wider than in Europe. To find hidden text-change options, try the following sequence: open "Themes," click on the profile icon (the person on the top right), then select Settings → Lock screen. Here it can be "Block screen header" or similar.
If there is no standard field for typing, you can try to install a theme that has editable text initially. When searching for themes, type in "Text" or "Quote." Many theme authors make the input fields active. Once you install such a theme, go to its settings (usually through a long press on your desktop or in the Topic app) and find the editing field.
| Type of topic | Ability to edit text | Difficulty setting up | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard MIUI | Low (through styles only) | Low. | Minimum |
| Theme with widgets | High (depending on the author) | Medium | Average. |
| Third-party locker | Maximum | Tall. | Elevated. |
| HyperOS style | Medium (signature only) | Low. | Optimal. |
Remember that after a system update, some customized themes may stop working correctly, in which case it is recommended to temporarily switch to a standard theme, update the system components, and then re-use your favorite theme, which helps to reset possible errors of caching graphic elements.
☑️ Checking before changing the topic
Change of system font
Often, users want to change not so much the text as the visual perception of it. Replacing the system font is a radical way to change the appearance of any inscription on the lock screen. The theme store has a "Fonts" section, where thousands of options are available, from handwritten to Gothic. Installing a new font automatically changes the display of time, date and any user signature.
To apply the font, go to Topics → Profile → Fonts. Choose your favorite and click “Download” and then “Apply.” The system will warn you that some characters may not display correctly if the font does not support Cyrillic. So always check the preview font in Russian before installing it so that the inscription does not turn into a set of squares.
Some fonts may be too thin or bold, making it harder to read on a locked screen. The best choice is fonts with clear outlines and an average marking weight. If you don't like the typeface you've chosen, you can quickly remove it through the same profile section by returning the standard Roboto or MI Sans system font.
Solving Customization Problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the changes made are not saved or displayed incorrectly. This may be due to a crowded cache of the Themes app or an error in the system process miui.home. First of all, try to clear the cache: Settings → Apps → All Applications → Themes → Clean. After that, restart the device.
If you use a third-party locking app and it crashes all the time, check your power saving settings. MIUI is known for its aggressive background process policy. Go to Settings → Battery → Search and App Management, find your locker and select No Limits mode. Also enable auto-start for this application.
⚠️ Warning: Installing modified themes or fonts from unverified sources (not from the official store) can lead to advertising throughout the system or, in rare cases, a software failure (bootloop.
If the lock screen stopped responding to touches after changing the theme, safe mode will help diagnose the problem. Press the power button, and when the turn off icon appears, press it with your finger until you suggest that you go to safe mode. If this mode displays the message correctly (standard), then the problem is exactly in the third-party software or theme.
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Most of the problems with displaying text are solved by resetting the theme settings to standard or cleaning the cache of the system application "Themes".