Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their customization, but the standard shell MIUI, and now HyperOS, dictates its own design rules. Often device owners are faced with an intrusive “Wallpaper Carousel” that constantly changes pictures without the owner’s knowledge, or simply can not find a hidden setting for installing a static image from a personal gallery.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to personalize the lock screen, learn how to turn off automatic background changes, set your own photos and use advanced tools to create a unique interface.
The customization process may vary depending on the software version, but the basic principles remain the same: UI personalization is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a way to make the device more comfortable and recognizable.
Disconnecting Wallpaper Carousel on Xiaomi
Before installing your own image, you need to remove the system obstacle in the form of wallpaper carousel, which is the default service activated on most global versions of firmware and replaces your static images with advertising content or stock photos.
First, you need to go to the lock screen settings. Go to the Settings menu, then select Always on and Lock screen. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be simply called Lock Screen, and that's where the master switches that control how the system behaves when the display is activated are hidden.
Find the wallpaper carousel and click on it. Inside you'll see the switch Turn on the wallpaper carousel. Put it inactive. The system can warn you that some features will become unavailable, but it's necessary to install your photos.
⚠️ Attention: Once the Wallpaper Carousel is turned off, daily notifications with new background images from Xiaomi will stop coming.If you want to completely clear the screen, also turn off the option to Receive content regularly in the same menu.
Now that the intrusive service is disabled, the system will allow you to select a static image. However, sometimes you need to additionally click on Wallpaper in the main settings menu to apply the changes permanently. Make sure that the Lock Screen section does not tick the "Random Wallpaper".
Installation of images from the Gallery through the standard menu
The easiest and most reliable way to install your wallpaper is to use the built-in functionality of the gallery, which works on all models, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi Ultra series. The algorithm of actions here is extremely simple and does not require the installation of additional software.
Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want to see on the locked screen. Click on the three dots in the lower right corner or swipe up to open the action menu. In the list that appears, select Set as wallpaper.
The system will give you two options: set the image on the Lock screen or on the desktop. Choose the first option. After that, the system can suggest cropping the image or applying filters. If you want to leave the photo original, just click Apply or Ready.
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Use photos with at least a resolution 1080x2400 pixels for perfect display on modern AMOLED-Xiaomi screens without loss of quality.
It is important to note that when installed through the gallery, sometimes the depth effect is applied, which slightly blurs the image when unlocked. If you want a strictly static frame with no effects, make sure that the preview menu has turned off additional animations.
Setup through the “Themes” app
The standard Themes app on Xiaomi smartphones has much more functionality than it seems at first glance, and this is where you can find not only ready-made packages, but also configure the source of images for the lock screen more flexibly.
Launch the Themes app and go to profile by clicking on the person icon in the lower right corner. Select Wallpaper. Here you will see the tabs Everything, Video, GIFs and most importantly Local. Going to the Local tab, you will access all the images stored in your device's memory.
Select the photo you want. Unlike the gallery, you can often preview how the wallpaper will look along with the watch and notification widgets. Click Apply, and then select Apply to the lock screen.
| Method of installation | Advantages | Deficiencies | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the Gallery | Quickly, available from any photo | Minimum display settings | Quick installation of one photo |
| Through the Topics app | Preview of widgets, access to local files | Requires you to log in to your Mi Account (sometimes) | Precise interface fitting |
| Third-party launchers | Maximum customization, slideshow | Battery consumption, complexity of setting | Advanced users |
Using the Themes app is especially relevant if you want to create a style where lock wallpaper is combined with icons and fonts. The visual integrity of the interface increases the usability of the smartphone.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Use of third-party apps for slideshows
If you don't have enough standard functionality and want to automatically change photos from a particular album (slideshow) on the lock screen, you'll need third-party solutions. Standard MIUI can't make slideshows from a personal gallery on a locked screen without the Carousel.
One popular solution is the Lock Screen app - Custom Wallpaper or Google Play analogues. Once you install it, you will need to give it special permissions. In the Settings menu, find the App section, select the installed app, and find the Other Permissions item.
It's critical to enable Display on top of other apps resolution and Auto Run. Without these settings, HyperOS or MIUI will simply kill the application process to save power, and your wallpaper will stop changing.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party screen locking applications can consume a significant amount of battery power. Be sure to set the power saving mode for such an application to "No restrictions».
Once set up, select the album in the gallery that you can use as the source. You can adjust the frame rate, for example, every 5 minutes or every time you activate the screen, and this creates a dynamic and lively interface that doesn't replicate the boring standard picture.
Why does the system reset the lock settings?
Solving problems with the use of wallpaper
Quite often, users are faced with a situation where seemingly all settings are correct, but the wallpaper does not apply or is reset after a reboot. This may be due to a conflict of the tone or cache of the system.
The first thing to try is to reset the theme to the standard one. Go to the Themes app, go to the profile and select the Classic or Default theme. Apply it. Often after that, the system lets go of capturing the lock screen settings, and you can safely put your photo.
The problem can also be in file format. Although Android supports most formats, JPEG or PNG images are best suited for the lock screen. HEIC files (from the iPhone) may not display correctly without conversion.
If nothing works, try clearing the Topic app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Themes → Memory → Clear the cache. Don’t worry, your installed themes and wallpaper won’t be deleted, only temporary files will be reset.
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Resetting theme to a standard (Classic) is the most effective way to unlock the possibility of changing wallpaper if the system prohibits changes.
Features of work in HyperOS
With the release of the new HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has changed the logic of personalization somewhat, with new features such as the Portrait Gallery on the lock screen, which automatically cuts the object into the photo and hides it behind the clock numbers.
To activate this effect, when you install wallpaper through the standard menu, look at the Effects or Portrait button, and the system will analyze the image itself and suggest composition options, which allows you to create a professional-looking lock screen without using Photoshop.
However, HyperOS also has enhanced protection against non-sanction change settings. If you can't select "Set Lock on Screen," check if Simple Mode or Child Mode is on, and these modes have severely limited customization options.
Now you know how to take full control of the look of your smartphone: Experiment with images, use quality photos and enjoy a unique interface that reflects your style.