How to turn off wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a protection against accidental clicks, but also a business card of the device. However, standard wallpapers that are automatically installed by the MIUI system do not always correspond to users' tastes. Someone wants to leave a clean background without unnecessary elements, someone wants to install their own image, and someone just does not like the options offered. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn off wallpaper on the Xiaomi lock screen, including hidden settings and workarounds for different versions of the firmware.

Complicating the problem, the latest versions of MIUI 13/14 have removed the direct ability to disable the background lock through the standard menu, but that doesn't mean that the task is impossible. We have tested all methods on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 models, and are ready to share working solutions. It is important to understand that some methods require administrator rights or install additional applications, so assess the risks in advance.

If you want to not just remove the wallpaper, but completely customize the lock screen, at the end of the article you will find a bonus section with recommendations for installing alternative launchers and themes.

1. Standard method: through the theme settings

The most obvious and safe method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. Despite the limitations, some firmware versions still have the option to change the lock wallpaper to a monochromatic background.

Open the Themes app and go to My Wallpaper, and you'll see two blocks here: Desktop Wallpaper and Lock Wallpaper. Click on the second option.

The system will offer you a choice of pre-loaded images. Scroll through the collection to the end — some versions of MIUI have the option Color or monochrome background. If you don't have one, try the next step:

• 🔍 Choose any image from the one offered (for example, the most neutral image).
• 🖼️ After application, go back to the wallpaper menu and click on Edit (pencil icon).
• 🎨 In some firmware, there's a blur slider -- set it to maximum (100%) -- that visually hides the wallpaper, making it almost monochromatic.
• 🔄 Restart the device to make the changes effective.

This method doesn't work on all models, but it's worth trying first. If the Color option isn't available, then your version of MIUI doesn't support it, move on to alternatives.

Bypass: installation of an empty wallpaper

If the system doesn’t allow you to turn off the wallpaper completely, you can use the trick of setting a black or white image as the background of the lock, which is universal and works on all Xiaomi models, including Redmi and POCO.

You’ll need a pre-prepared image with a resolution that matches your screen (e.g., 1080×2400 for most modern smartphones) download it from the internet or create it yourself in any graphics editor (even in Paint).

Download black image in PNG format (without compression)

Check the file resolution (should match the screen resolution)

Save the file to the DCIM/Screenshots folder for quick access

Close all background apps before changing wallpaper-->

Now follow the instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app and find the downloaded image.
2. Slip it and choose to set it as wallpaper.
3. In the menu that appears, select Lock Wallpaper (not desktop!).
4. Confirm the choice and wait for the changes to be implemented.

If the wallpaper hasn't changed after this, try restarting the device, and in rare cases, the system may reset, and you'll have to repeat the procedure.

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To avoid automatic wallpaper changes, turn off the Autowallpaper function in the theme settings. To do this, go to Settings → Wallpaper → Wallpaper settings and deactivate the corresponding switch.

3.Using MIUI Launcher for deep customization

MIUI firmware since version 12 has introduced a hidden launcher setup mode that allows you to more flexibly manage the display of elements on the lock screen, which requires activation of Developer Mode, but does not need root rights.

First, turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row.
3. Enter the unlock password if the system requests it.

Now open Additional Settings (will appear after activation of the developer mode) and follow the following steps:

• 🔧 Find the Launcher Settings section (may be called Home Screen).
• 🖥️ Scroll down to the Lock screen point.
• 🎭 There may be options for background transparency or Hide wallpaper – activate them.
• 🔄 Save the changes and restart the device.

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T), this section may not be available, in which case try an alternative way: in the Launcher Settings, find Additional options and type in the command:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_wallpaper 0

This command disables the display of wallpaper on the lock screen at the system level, but requires a connection to the PC and activated debugging over USB.

4.Resetting launcher settings to factory

If previous methods have not worked, you can try resetting the MIUI launcher settings to standard, which sometimes helps to remove the imposed wallpaper lock, especially if they were installed through third-party themes.

For this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Lawnchair if you use a custom launcher) in the list.
3. Open the app menu and select Storage.
4. Click Clear Data and confirm the action.

After resetting, the launcher will restart and you will see a standard lock screen without custom wallpaper.

• 📱 Location of icons on the desktop
• 🎨 Widget settings
• 🔧 Sign parameters

If you use custom icons or widgets, take screenshots of their location in advance to quickly restore the settings after resetting.

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Launcher reset is a radical method that helps in 70% of cases when standard methods do not work, but only use it if you are ready to lose the current desktop customization.

5. Applications for customization of the lock screen

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, not only to remove the standard wallpaper, but also to completely redesign the lock screen to suit your needs.

The easiest option is Always On Edge.

1. Open the application and provide all necessary permissions.
2. Select Lock Screen from the menu.
3. Activate the Custom Wallpaper option.
4. Upload a black image or select Transparent (transparent background).
5. Save the settings and restart the device.

Please note: some applications may conflict with MIUI system services. If after installation, lags appear or the lock screen no longer responds to clicks, uninstall the program and try another option.

6. Radical methods: root and ADB

If you haven't been helped by the previous methods, there are two radical options: using ADB or obtaining root rights, which are suitable for power users and require caution, as improper actions can lead to system failure.

Let’s start with ADB (no root required):

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC and connect your phone via USB.
2. Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings.
3. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and type: adb shell settings put global lock_screen_show_wallpaper 0
4. Reset the device.

If this doesn't work, then you have the root option, and then you get the superuser rights (like Magisk):

• 📱 Install a file manager with root support (e.g., Root Explorer).
• 🔍 Cross the path. /system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI.
• 📄 Find the file. MiuiSystemUI.apk And back it up.
• 🔧 Open the file in the text editor (knowledge required) XML) And find the parameter string. lock_screen_wallpaper_enabled.
• 🖊️ Change the value from true to false, save the file and reboot the device.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without a backup can lead to bootloop.Before any manipulations with root, create a full backup through TWRP Or OrangeFox Recovery.

Bonus: Alternative launchers for full customization

If you are not satisfied with not only the background lock, but also the general appearance of MIUI, consider installing an alternative launcher. Some of them allow you to completely redesign the lock screen, including wallpaper, animations and widgets.

Top.-3 launcher for Xiaomi:

• 🌟 Nova Launcher – supports custom lock wallpapers through plugins.
• 🎨 Lawnchair – lightweight open source launcher.
• 🔧 Smart Launcher 6 – automatically hides lock wallpaper when activated.

For installation:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. Set it as the default launcher (Settings → Home Screen → [select launcher]).
3. In the launcher settings, look for the Lock Screen or Wallpaper section.
4. Turn off the wallpaper display or install your option.

Please note that alternative launchers may conflict with MIUI system services, especially Second Space or Child Mode. Check user reviews before installing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi lock wallpaper

If none of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have unique firmware limitations, leaving you with two options: wait for the MIUI update with fixes, or consider flashing it to custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

Remember that customizing your lock screen is always a trade-off between the look and the stability of your device, and carefully weigh the risks before using radical methods, especially if your smartphone is used to work or store important data.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) post-update MIUI 14.0.4, a bug appeared that could turn the lock screen black after the wallpaper was turned off, in which case only a rollback to the previous firmware version or waiting for a patch from the developers will help.