How to install your wallpaper on Xiaomi smartphone: all ways from simple to complex

Installing custom wallpaper on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you face the limitations of MIUI. The system often blocks changing background images through standard settings, offering instead a set of preset themes. This is especially true for the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Mi 13 models, where the manufacturer actively promotes the branded theme store.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to install any image as wallpaper, from basic gallery techniques to advanced ADB and third-party launchers, how to get around MIUI restrictions without root rights, what image formats are supported, and why wallpaper sometimes flies off after a system update, and a unique trick to create custom theme through APK, which works even on locked downloaders.

Why is Xiaomi blocking the installation of its wallpaper?

The manufacturer deliberately restricts the freedom to select background images for three reasons:

• 💰 Monetization of themes. MIUI It's integrated with the Mi Themes store, where users buy premium wallpaper and icons, and their images violate this business model.
• 🎨 Design uniformity. Xiaomi strives for visual interface coherence, where wallpaper is matched to system colors and style MIUI.
• 🔒 Security: Some custom wallpapers may contain malicious code (e.g., through animated images.GIF or.APK-topic).

The limitations are different: you can't install wallpaper from the gallery, you can cut it automatically at screen resolution, and on some models (like the Redmi 10C), the system resets the background completely after the reboot, and then we'll show you how to get around each of these limitations.

Method 1: Installation through a standard gallery (works on 60% of models)

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI gallery.It’s suitable for most smartphones, but may not work on devices with a heavily customized shell (like the POCO Launcher or Mi Mix Fold).

1. Open the Gallery app and select the desired image.
2. Slip on the icon "More" (three dots) → "Install as".
3. Select Wallpaper and adjust the framing area (if required).
4. Click “Apply” and choose where to set the wallpaper: on the lock screen, the home screen or both.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) This method only works for static images in the format.JPG or.PNG. Animated.GIF or.MP4 (Live wallpapers will require additional actions, which we will discuss below.

Upload the photo to a resolution of at least 1080×2340 (for Full HD+)

Convert the format to JPG/PNG (if the image is in HEIC or WEBP)

Cut the important elements in the center (MIUI cuts at the edges)

Check that the file is less than 10 MB (otherwise the gallery will not open it)

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Method 2: Using the Themes app to bypass restrictions

If the gallery refuses to install wallpaper, try to trick the system through the app “Themes” (Mi Themes), which works even on locked devices and does not require superuser rights.

1. Download any image to the DCIM/Camera folder (this directory is important!).
2. Open the “Themes” app → go to the “Wallpaper” section.
3. Slip on the icon "My Wallpaper" (usually in the upper right corner).
4. Select your image from the list and apply it.

🔹 Why does it work? Themes has extended access rights to system resources, so it can set wallpaper even where the standard gallery blocks this feature. MIUI.

💡

If your image doesn’t appear in the My Wallpaper section, move it to the Pictures/Wallpapers folder and restart the device.

Method 3: Installation via ADB (for advanced users)

If previous methods didn’t work, you’ll need to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that works on all Xiaomi models, but requires a computer connection and basic command line knowledge.

📌 What's the matter:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (settings) → The phone. → 7 times to tap the version MIUI → return to additional settings → For developers → set up USB).
• 🖼️ Image in format.JPG or.PNG, renamed wallpaper.jpg and placed in the root of internal memory.

🛠 Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and allow debugging.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and do:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/wallpaper.jpg /system/priv-app/MiuiHome/wallpaper.jpg




chmod 644 /system/priv-app/MiuiHome/wallpaper.jpg




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If the smartphone does not boot after completing the commands, try resetting the settings via Fastboot with the fastboot erase userdata command.

Method 4: Third-party launchers (Nova, Lawnchair, Hyperion)

If you're tired of MIUI restrictions, the most radical way is to install an alternative launcher, which will allow you not only to change the wallpaper without restrictions, but also customize icons, gestures and animations.

🔝 Top.-3 launcher for Xiaomi:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports live wallpaper (.MP4,.GIF), icon-grid settings and gestures.
• 🎨 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher optimized for Xiaomi.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – maximum customization, including dynamic wallpaper based on the time of day.

📱 How to install:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play or APKMirror.
2. Open the app and allow access to the storage.
3. Go to the launcher settings → “Wallpaper” → select your image.
4. Click "Install" and confirm the action.

✨ Bonus: Nova Launcher allows you to set up automatic wallpaper changes on a schedule. Use the Nova Backup module or the Wallpaper Changer app.

Method 5: Creating a custom theme through APK (for enthusiasts)

This is a method that is suitable for those who want to not just change the wallpaper, but completely remake the appearance of MIUI for themselves. We will use the Mi Theme Editor tool and manual assembly of a.mtz file.

🛠 Step-by-step instruction:

1. Download Mi Theme Editor (available for Windows/macOS).
2. Prepare: Image for wallpaper (resolution at least 1440×3200 for modern smartphones); Icons (if you want to replace them,.PNG format, size 192×192); Notification sounds (optionally, format.MP3).

Mi Theme Editor

.mtz

MIUI/theme

"Themes."

"My themes."

💡 Tip: If the topic does not apply, check the version MIUI. Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi has tightened the signature verification of the themes. ADB forced-installation:

adb shell am start -n com.android.themes/.activity.ThemePreviewActivity -d file:///sdcard/MIUI/theme/your_theme.mtz

💡

Creating a custom theme is the only way to install live wallpaper (video backgrounds) on Xiaomi without root rights. Standard methods only support static images.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully installing wallpaper, users experience typical errors, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

• 🔄 Wallpaper is reset after resetting → Install them via Nova Launcher or use the Wallpaper Set & Forget app (fixes the background in the system).
• 🖼️ Image is cropped or stretched → Check the aspect ratio. Xiaomi is suitable for most 9:20 (for example, 1080×2400).
• 🚫 Can't be installed. GIF/MP4 → Use the Nova launcher + module KLWP animated.
• 🔒 The system requires unlocking the loader → In the models with MIUI 13+ this is a prerequisite for ADB-Instructions for unlocking: the official website of Xiaomi.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO F4 GT) Maybe there's no file. MIUI/theme. In this case, create it manually through a file manager with root or ADB:

adb shell mkdir /sdcard/MIUI/theme

FAQ: Answers to popular questions