How to change the wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 9: all working ways

The lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 9 — This is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and it's the way you look at it, and many users have difficulty changing the standard wallpaper. Somewhere the button is hidden in the depths of the menu, some where the system requires additional permissions, and sometimes the changes simply do not apply. 9 (including Redmi models 9A/9C/9T) differentially MIUI — from 12 before 14.

It's important to understand that the manufacturer updates the interface periodically, and the settings may vary, and we've taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that work even after the updates, and if you want to change the image, adjust the dynamic wallpaper, use your own photos or fix the errors when applying the changes, here you will find the answers to all the questions.

Why can’t you change the lock screen?

Before we get to the instructions, let’s look at the typical reasons why Redmi 9 might ignore your attempts to change wallpaper:

• 🔄 An outdated version MIUI: In the firmware older MIUI 12.5 some of the lock functions work differently. MIUI 11 there is no separate section for lock screen wallpapers – they have to be changed through the general theme settings.
• 🔒 Parental Control Limitations: If a child’s Safe Mode or profile is activated on the device, some settings are blocked.
• 📱 shell conflict: Launchers like Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher can intercept wallpaper control, but not always correctly handle the lock screen.
• 🖼️ Inappropriate image format: MIUI It works poorly with files in.webp or.bmp. The best option is.jpg or.png with a resolution of at least 1080×2340.

Another common problem is image caching, which means that the system can save old wallpaper in the buffer and display it even after a change, in which case it helps to clear the cache of the Theme application or reboot the device.

Method 1: Standard change through theme settings

This is the simplest and most official method that works on all versions of Redmi 9 without root rights. MIUI 12.5 and newer:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on the home screen or in the app menu).
2. Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
3. Choose one of the proposed categories: 🌄 Dynamic wallpaper - animated screensavers (consume more battery). 📸 My wallpaper - you can upload your own image here. 🎨 Recommended - Collections from MIUI (requires an internet connection).

Apply

Lock screen only.

If the Lock Screen partition is missing, you have an older version of MIUI 11 or lower installed on your device, in which case the lock wallpaper changes with the desktop wallpaper - there is no separate setting.

- Resolution of at least 1080×2340 pixels

JPG or PNG format (without transparency)

- The file weighs no more than 5MB.

The picture does not contain important elements at the edges (they will be cut)

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Method 2: Using a gallery to install custom wallpaper

If you don't like standard MIUI wallpaper, you can upload your own image.

1. Download or prepare a photo on your phone (for example, in the DCIM or Pictures folder).
2. Open the Gallery app and find the image you want.
3. Slip on it, then click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Set as → Lock screen wallpaper.
4. Adjust the scale and position of the picture, then click Ready.

Next, execute commands in the terminal (command line) in order:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/lockscreen.jpg /data/system/users/0/




chmod 644 /data/system/users/0/lockscreen.jpg




setprop sys.lockscreen.wallpaper /data/system/users/0/lockscreen.jpg




reboot

Once you reboot, the wallpaper on the lock screen will change to your image, a method that bypasses the limitations of MIUI, but requires caution - the wrong commands can disrupt the system.

💡

If ADB issues a “permission denied” error, try getting root rights through Magisk first or temporarily disable MIUI protection in the developer settings (Disable MIUI Verification).

Problem Solving: Wallpapers are not changed or reset

Sometimes, when you change the wallpaper on the lock screen, it goes back to the standard wallpaper or it doesn't show up correctly.

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting the theme settings to the standard:

1. Go to Settings → Themes.
2. Choose My Subjects → Reset to standard.
3. After resetting, reapply your wallpaper.

💡

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 14, the lock screen wallpaper is tied to the theme of the design. If you use a third-party theme, return the standard one first, then change the wallpaper, and then apply the custom theme again.

Alternative methods: third-party applications

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use third-party apps, and we tested a few options and selected the most reliable ones:

• 📲 Wallpaper Changer — allows you to set wallpaper separately for locking and desktop, supports automatic shift on a schedule.
• 🎨 Zedge is a huge database of wallpaper and sounds with preview capability.
• 🔄 Muzei Live Wallpaper creates dynamic wallpapers based on your photos or artwork.

When using third-party applications, consider:

⚠️ Note: Some applications for wallpaper change (for example, GO Locker may conflict with MIUI and cause a system error UI. Check the reviews of Redmi 9 users before installing.

If you have chosen the app, but the wallpaper still does not apply, try:

1. Disable battery optimization for this application.
2. Give all the permissions requested (storage, overlay of windows).
3. Reboot the phone after installing the wallpaper.

How do you get back the standard wallpaper?

If you are not satisfied with the experiments with wallpaper, you can return the original MIUI screensavers in two ways:

Method 1 (quick):

1. Open the settings → Themes → Wallpaper.
2. Select the Lock Screen section.
3. Scroll down and click Reset to Standard.

Method 2 (complete reset of topics):

1. Go to Settings → Topics → My themes.
2. Select Reset all theme settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After resetting, the wallpaper on the lock screen will return to factory wallpaper (usually an abstract gradient or landscape from MIUI).If you want to save your wallpaper but return the standard lock view, just reset the wallpaper without affecting the other theme settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about wallpaper on Redmi 9