Smartphone personalization is the first thing that many users start with when they buy a new device. The lock screen is a kind of calling card of a gadget, and standard images installed by the factory often seem boring or irrelevant. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have the widest possibilities for changing the visual style of the interface thanks to the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS.
The process of replacing a static image or adjusting an automatic slideshow takes only a few minutes, but requires understanding the logic of the system. In this article, we will examine not only the basic methods through standard menus, but also hidden features, such as the Wallpaper Carousel, which turn the lock screen into a dynamic gallery.
It's worth noting that the settings interface may vary slightly depending on the Android operating system version and regional firmware. However, the basic algorithms of action remain the same across the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem. Let's look at how to make your smartphone unique and visually pleasing for daily use.
Basic change of static image through settings
The easiest and most reliable way to change the background is to use the built-in system settings menu, which is universal and works even if the standard Gallery or Themes app has been removed or modified. First, you need to unlock the device and find the Settings icon on your desktop or in the notification curtain.
In the menu that opens, you should scroll down to the personalization section. In current versions of HyperOS, this item is often called Wallpaper and Personalization, whereas in older versions of MIUI it can be simply called Wallpaper.
The system will offer several categories: system wallpaper, live wallpaper and a selection from your own gallery. You need to select Wallpaper or My photos to access the file system. Here you can select any saved image that will become a new background. Once selected, the picture will open in preview mode with the possibility of framing.
⚠️ Note: When selecting very heavy images in high resolution (e.g., high-resolution, 4K or RAW-The system can automatically compress them or suggest that they be reduced in size. This is normal behavior, since the lock screen is optimized for certain formats, and excessive resolution will not improve the quality, but can take up extra space in the cache.
Once you've selected the right area of the image, you'll see three application buttons on the screen, and it's important not to confuse them so that the result is as expected. You can only set the image to the lock screen, to the desktop, or to both screens.
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Use images with dark tones to make AMOLED-screens to save battery power and make time and widgets more readable.
Using the Wallpaper Carousel for Dynamic Change
One of the most popular features in Xiaomi shells is the Wallpaper Carousel, which allows you to automatically change the image on the lock screen every time you turn on the screen or swipe your finger, which creates a sense of novelty and eliminates the need to manually search for new pictures.
To activate this feature, go to the wallpaper selection menu and find the wallpaper carousel section (or Glance in some regions), where you can select thematic collections: nature, cars, space, art or celebrities, and the system will regularly update the database of available images over the Internet.
The carousel settings allow you to flexibly control the behavior of the feature, such as allowing or disallowing the display of advertising blocks and news that are sometimes found in free versions of the service, and adjusting the change rate: change the image every time the screen is turned on or every few hours.
- 🎨 Thematic selections: choose categories by interests, from abstraction to landscapes.
- 🔄 Automatic Update: New images are uploaded in the background without user input.
- 👍 Interactivity: the ability to like your favorite images so that they appear more often.
- 🚫 Content Control: The ability to hide certain types of images or sources.
It is important to understand that the carousel requires an active connection to the Wi-Fi network or mobile data, and if the Internet is not available, the system will show the last image uploaded or return to the static background you chose earlier.
Use of your own photos from the Gallery
Using personal photos is the most popular way to design a smartphone; photos of children, pets, travel or loved ones create an emotional connection with the device; the process of installing your own photo is slightly different from choosing system pictures and requires access to files.
Open the Gallery app and find the photo you want. Click on it to open the full screen, then call the additional menu (usually three dots in the corner or swipe up). In the action list, select Set as wallpaper. The system will automatically redirect you to the crop editor.
Here lies an important nuance: the proportions of the smartphone screen rarely match the proportions of the photo taken on the camera (usually 4:3 or 16:9 versus 19.5:9 or 20:9 in modern screens), you have to choose which part of the frame to leave visible. Move the image with your finger to find the best angle.
⚠️ Warning: If you plan to use a photo with text or important details around the edges, make sure they are not overlaid by the watch widgets or date. MIUI HyperOS watches are usually located in the top or center of the screen, which can cover people’s faces in group pictures.
After framing, the system will suggest effects, so you can leave the photo as is, or you can apply a filter, change the brightness or contrast directly in this menu, which is convenient if the original image is too dark or faded for good display on the display.
☑️ Checklist for photo preparation
Set up live wallpaper and video backgrounds
Live Wallpapers are animated images or short videos that respond to touch or just play back in a loop, making the interface deeper and more modern, but requiring more CPU resources.
Xiaomi’s standard set already has several live wallpaper options, often timed to coincide with the release of new smartphone models or holidays. To activate them, you need to go to the wallpaper selection menu in the Live Wallpaper tab. Here are animations with nature, abstraction and brand effects.
There is also the option to set a video from your gallery as a background, but this may require a third-party app or theme from the GetApps store. MP4-The file on the lock screen is not always possible, as the system limits formats for the sake of saving energy.
The use of video backgrounds directly affects the autonomy of the device. Dynamic picture constantly uses the graphics accelerator, which leads to a faster discharge of the battery compared to a static image. AMOLED-Black screens can be more energy efficient.
How to install video wallpaper through themes?
Comparison of Wallpaper Sources and Their Impact on the System
Users often have difficulty deciding which source of images to choose: standard, carousel or third-party applications. Each method has its own technical features, impact on performance and display quality.
Below is a table that will help you compare the main characteristics of different ways to install the background on the lock screen in Xiaomi and Redmi devices.
| Parameter | Static photo | Wallpaper carousel | Live wallpaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery consumption | Minimum | Low (only when loading) | High-pitched |
| Internet traffic | No. | Required for an update | Required for download |
| RAM load | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| Diversity | Depends on the user. | Automatic. | Restricted to recruitment |
As you can see from the table, the middle ground for most users is the use of a carousel or the rare manual change of static photos, which provides a balance between visual appeal and maintaining battery power during the working day.
If you notice that your smartphone is running slower or discharges faster after installing new backgrounds, try going back to a simple static image, which will help diagnose whether heavy graphics are causing problems with system optimization.
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For maximum performance and autonomy, use static images in JPG format with a resolution corresponding to the screen matrix.
Solving and resetting display settings
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the selected wallpaper is not applied, displayed in black or constantly reset to standard ones, this can be caused by cache errors, conflicts or failures in the system application Themes.
The first step in solving the problem should be to clean the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find in the list of “Themes” or “Wallpaper”, click Clear cache. Don’t confuse it with cleaning the data, as this will remove all the themes and settings you downloaded.
If the problem persists, check if any third-party theme is activated that forcefully changes the wallpaper. In the Themes app, go to profile and select the Classic or Default theme to reset all visual changes to factory.
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Niagara, etc.), they can intercept control of the lock screen or desktop, in which case you need to change the wallpaper through the launcher settings, not through the Android system menu.
In rare cases, it helps to reboot the device in safe mode, which eliminates the impact of malware or erroneous scripts.Plug the off button and hold your finger on the “Stop” icon on the screen until the prompt to go to safe mode appears.