Changing the wallpaper to the Xiaomi Redmi Note seems like a simple task — until you encounter the nuances of the MIUI shell. Even experienced users are sometimes surprised to find that standard methods do not work on new versions of the firmware, and live wallpaper suddenly “eats” battery charge. This article will not just list ways to change the background, but also reveal the hidden features of MIUI 14/15, which allow you to customize the animation of the wallpaper depending on the time of day or even synchronize them with the weather.
We tested all the methods on Redmi Note 10/11/12/13 models with the latest firmware versions (including HyperOS for new devices). Particular attention was paid to the typical problems: why wallpaper is reset after a reboot, how to return standard background images from Xiaomi if they disappeared from the gallery, and what to do if the screen remains black after a change of the theme. Spoiler: 80% of the time it is not a system failure, but one little-known setting → Display → Additional.
1. Standard method: through screen settings
The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It works on all Redmi Note models, but the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. For example, in MIUI 14, the wallpaper item is displayed on the main settings screen, and in HyperOS, it had to be searched for in the Personalization section.
To change the wallpaper through the system menu:
- Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
- Go to Wallpaper or Personalization → Wallpaper (for HyperOS).
- Select the source: 📸 Gallery - their own photos 🌄 Standard - wallpaper from Xiaomi 🎨 Live wallpaper - animated background pictures 🔄 Daily Wallpaper – automatic change on schedule
Castle.
Home.
⚠️ Warning: If after selecting wallpaper, the screen flashes and returns to the old background, check if the power saving mode is on. MIUI It can block wallpaper changes to save resources. → Battery → Energy saving regime.
2. Quick change through the context menu of the desktop
Not everyone knows that you can change the wallpaper on the Redmi Note in two touches without going into the settings, which works on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS, but requires free space on the desktop (if all cells are occupied by shortcuts, the menu may not appear).
Instructions:
- Touch and hold the empty space on your desktop (not on the icon!).
- In the menu that appears, select Wallpaper (or Style in HyperOS).
- The algorithm is the same as in the first method: source selection → image → application.
💡 Useful Lifehack: If you need to quickly return standard Xiaomi wallpapers, but they disappeared from the gallery, use this method. System background images are stored separately and are always available through the context menu, even if you deleted them from the folder MIUI/wallpaper.
Make sure the screen brightness is >50% (otherwise the colors will be distorted)
Turn off reading mode in Settings → Display
Check the space available (live wallpaper requires up to 100 MB)
Close all apps (especially games) – they can block changes)-->
3. Live wallpaper: how to turn on and why they brake
The animated backgrounds look impressive, but have two serious drawbacks: they drain the battery 10-15% faster and can slow the interface on budget Redmi Note models (for example, on the Note 10 Lite or Note 9 Pro). MIUI 14+ Optimized live wallpapers that consume less resources.
To set up a live wallpaper:
- Hold your finger on the desktop → Wallpaper → Live wallpaper.
- Choose one of the options: 🌊 Ocean - waves react to phone tilt ⚡ Energy: Abstract Particles That Change Color 🌌 Space - stars and nebulae (most resource-intensive) 🎨 Customized – downloaded from the Topic
Apply
Home.
Castle.
⚠️ Warning: If after installing live wallpaper, the phone starts to warm or discharge quickly, check the animation settings. → Wallpaper. → You can also limit the frequency of staffing (FPS) It's 30 instead of 60, and it's going to reduce the load on the processor without a significant loss of quality.
| Wallpaper type | Battery consumption | Impact on productivity | Recommended models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (static) | No. | No. | All models. |
| Live (MIUI standard) | +5–8% | Light braking. | Redmi Note 11/12/13 |
| Live (downloaded from Themes) | +10–15% | Notable lags | Redmi Note 10 Pro+, Note 12 Pro |
| Interactive (responds to touch) | +12–20% | Strong brakes. | Not recommended. |
4. Xiaomi's Hidden Wallpaper: Where to Find Exclusive Background Pictures
Xiaomi regularly adds hidden wallpapers to the firmware that are not displayed in the standard menu, such as MIUI 15, which hides background images with abstract patterns created in collaboration with designers from Google Arts & Culture.
Method 1: Through a File Manager
- Open Files (standard Xiaomi app).
- Go on the path: Internal memory → MIUI → wallpaper.
- In a file. default_wallpaper You will find all the system wallpapers, including hidden ones.
- Click on your favorite picture → Set as wallpaper.
Method 2: Through Themes (for new firmware)
- Open the Topic app.
- Go to Wallpaper section. → Special collections.
- Scroll down – there may be hidden wallpaper packs (like MIUI Anniversary or Xiaomi Design Awards).
💡
To check how much wallpaper is optimized for AMOLED, turn on Dark Theme mode in Settings → Display. If the background images look harmonious, they fit your screen.