The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a barrier to your data, but a full-fledged information hub. It displays notifications, quick actions, weather widgets and even smart home controls. But not everyone knows that this screen can be flexibly customized to their needs, from changing wallpaper to fine-tuning security.
In this article, we will discuss all the ways to personalize the lock screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO shelled MIUI 14/15. You’ll learn how to change the background image, add widgets, configure notification displays, and even activate hidden features like Always On Display (AOD). We will focus on security issues – from a simple PIN-code to the fingerprint scanner and face recognition.
Important: The instructions are relevant for all modern models, including Xiaomi 14/13/12, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5. If you have a device on Android One (for example, Mi A3), some of the features may be missing – this is a feature of “pure” Android.
1. How to change the wallpaper on the lock screen
Changing the background is the easiest way to refresh the look of a smartphone, and on Xiaomi, there are a number of ways to do this, and not all of them are obvious.
Basic method:
- Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
- Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
- Choose the category: Recommended, Live Wallpaper or My Wallpaper.
- Click on the image you like and confirm the application.
Alternative method (if there is no application of the Topic):
- 📱 Put your finger on the empty spot on the main screen. → Wallpaper. → Lock screen.
- 🖼️ Select the Gallery to upload your photo.
- 🔄 In some models (POCO F4, Redmi K50) You can install different wallpaper for the main screen and lock.
Hidden Opportunity: If you want the wallpaper to automatically change, activate Dynamic Wallpaper in the theme settings. The system will select images based on the time of day or your preferences.
2. Set up widgets and quick actions
The lock screen on Xiaomi can display useful information before unlocking the device.
| Widget/element | Functionality | How to turn it on |
|---|---|---|
| Weather. | Temperature, precipitation, forecast for the day | Settings → Lock screen → Widgets → Weather |
| Calendar | Date, day of the week, upcoming events | Settings → Lock screen → Style → Show date |
| Music player | Managing playback without unlocking | Automatically appears when playing tracks |
| Smart home. | Quick buttons for Mi Home devices | Settings → Lock screen → Smart home |
| Lantern/camera | Shortcuts for quick access | Settings → Lock screen → Labels |
On the other hand, always on display (AOD) (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi, and others K60) The widgets are displayed even when they're off. AOD:
- Go to Settings. → Always on screen.
- Choose the display style: Digital Watch, Analog Watch or Image.
- Set up a schedule or activate the Up mode to wake up.
⚠️ Warning: Widgets on the lock screen can reduce battery life. If you notice a fast battery drain, turn off unnecessary items in Settings → Lock screen → Widgets.
Disable unnecessary widgets|Set up weather updates on schedule|Remove the shortcuts of rarely used functions|Check the settings. AOD low-charge-->
3.Security: PIN, pattern lock, fingerprint and Face ID
Setup the lock screen protection is a critical step for the security of your data. There are several authentication methods available on Xiaomi, each with its own pros and cons.
To change or add the unlock method:
- Open Settings → Password and Security → Screen Lock.
- Enter the current password (if installed).
- Choose the desired method: 🔢 PIN-code is fast but less reliable. 🔄 pattern lock - convenient, but you can peek. 🔐 Password is the most reliable option. 👆 Fingerprint – Quick and secure (requires scanner). 😊 Facial recognition is convenient, but less reliable than a print.
New models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) Dual authentication – a combination of fingerprints and PIN-code for enhanced security. Activated in Settings → Password and security → Additional settings.
⚠️ Note: If you use facial recognition, note that this method is less reliable than a fingerprint. An attacker can unlock the phone with your photo (on some models). PIN + print.
On devices with MIUI 15 has a "Private Security" feature - it allows you to hide notifications on the lock screen for certain applications (for example, messengers or banking programs). → Notifications → Confidentiality of notices.
4. Hidden functions of the lock screen
MIUI hides some useful things that many users don't know about.
- 🔍 Lock screen search: Swipe down the center of the screen to quickly find apps or contacts (not working on all models).
- 📱 Double tap to wake up: Activated in Settings → Display. → Double tap to wake up, lets you turn on the screen by touching it twice.
- 🔋 Battery Charge Display: In Settings AOD You can include a percentage charge or battery icon.
- 🎵 Managing Sign Music: On Some Models (POCO F4 GT) You can switch tracks by swiping your finger on the screen off.
Another little-known possibility is to set up the unlock animation to change it:
- Go to Settings → Design → System animation.
- Choose the animation style when unlocking (e.g., Smooth Appearance or Blurring Effect).
On devices with AMOLED-screen (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60 Pro) Black mode can be activated AOD, This saves battery power by displaying only the necessary elements on a black background.
How to return the standard lock screen after a crash?
5. Solving common problems
Sometimes users experience lock screen problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The lock screen does not respond to touch | Sensor or software failure | Reset the device. If it doesn't work, check the screen protection (film/glass). |
| Fingerprints are not working. | Scanner contamination or software failure | Wipe the scanner, re-register the print, or update the MIUI. |
| AOD is not included | Disabled in settings or battery saving | Check the settings → Always on screen → Schedule. |
| Wallpaper is reset after resetting | Application Failure Topics | Clear the theme app cache in the settings. |
| Notifications are not displayed | Privacy settings | Check Settings → Notifications → Privacy on the lock screen. |
If the widgets are missing or the lock screen style has changed after the MIUI update, this may be due to Xiaomi’s new policy on optimizing the interface.
- Check for updates to the Themes app on Google Play.
- Reset the themes to factory (Settings → Themes → Reset).
- If the problem persists, try installing an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher).
⚠️ Warning: If you forget your password or pattern lock and Find Device is disabled, the only way to unlock your smartphone is hard reset, which will delete all data! On new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13) before reset, the system can request Mi Account credentials.
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If the lock screen starts to brake after installing live wallpaper, try turning it off and select a static image. Live wallpaper consumes additional CPU and battery resources.
6. Personalization for different Xiaomi models
Not all lock screen features are available on all Xiaomi devices, and here’s what you’d expect from different lines:
- 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14, Mix Fold: Support for Always On Display with animation. Facial recognition in 3D (Dynamic wallpaper with paralax effect.
On foldable smartphones (Xiaomi Mix Fold 3), the lock screen adapts to the size of the display, for example, on the external screen only watches and notifications are displayed, and on the internal screen – full widgets.
For devices with MIUI for POCO (e.g., POCO F5), additional lock screen themes are available that can be downloaded in Settings → Themes → POCO Launcher.
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Before buying a Xiaomi smartphone, check whether the Always On Display model and fingerprint scanner support these features greatly affect the usability of the lock screen.
7. Battery optimization with active lock screen
Widgets, AOD and frequent weather updates can significantly reduce battery life. Here's how to reduce battery consumption without losing functionality:
- ⚡ Turn off unnecessary widgets: Only leave those you actually use (such as weather and clocks).
- 🕒 Set up a schedule. AOD: Turn it on only during business hours or when the device is charged.
- 🔄 Reduce the frequency of weather updates: In the weather widget settings, select the update once every 2-3 hours instead of "real time".
- 🌙 Use dark wallpaper: AMOLED-Black screens do not consume energy.
- 🛡️ Turn off animations: In Settings → Registration → Select the system animation without animation.
On models with adaptive refresh rate (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi K60), the lock screen automatically switches to 1 Hz in AOD mode, which saves charge. Check if this feature is included in Settings → Display → Screen refresh rate.
If you notice that the battery is going down too fast, check the consumption statistics in Settings → Battery → Battery Use. If the Android System or MIUI Launcher is leading the list, this may indicate excessive activity of the lock screen widgets.