How to remove live wallpaper on Xiaomi: all ways to disable animation

Live wallpaper on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO models) look spectacular, but often cause increased battery consumption, overheating of the device and even slowing the interface. Especially relevant problem for budget models with limited resources – for example, the Redmi Note 10 or POCO M4 Pro, where background animation can eat up to 15-20% of the charge per hour of active use.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable live wallpapers, from standard MIUI settings to hidden functions and commands via ADB. You’ll learn how to completely remove animations, replace them with static wallpaper, or limit live backgrounds to the lock screen only. Instructions are relevant for MIUI versions 12, 13 and 14 (including global and Chinese firmware).

Why Wallpaper is harmful to the smartphone: 3 key problems

Before we get into the instructions, it’s important to understand why animated backgrounds are worth turning off — especially on mid-range and budget-sized devices.

• 🔋 Battery consumption: Live wallpaper uses a processor and graphics accelerator, which increases power consumption on the computer. 10-30% (It depends on the model. For example, on Xiaomi. 12T With the wallpaper, autonomy falls on the ocean. 2-3 hour.
• 🔥 Overheating: A graphics chip (Adreno or Mali) that is constantly running raises the body temperature, and in hot weather, this can lead to trottling (automatic performance reduction).
• 🐢 Lags of the interface: On weak chipsets (for example, Snapdragon) 4xx or Helio Gxx) background animation conflicts with system processes, causing slowdowns when swiping and opening applications.

Also, live wallpaper is often reset after MIUI updates, forcing users to re-set the background. And in some firmware (for example, on POCO F3), the animation turns on itself after the device is rebooted.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models on the MIUI 12-14.

Instructions:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to Wallpaper → Lock screen or Home screen (depending on where you want to remove the animation).
3. Select the category Static or Colored (without marking "Live").
4. Apply the selected wallpaper by clicking Install.

If the live wallpaper has been installed through third-party apps (such as Zedge or WallpapersCraft), it can also be removed through wallpaper settings:

• 📱 Click the empty space on the home screen → Wallpaper. → Remove the live wallpaper.
• 🔄 If the option is missing, try changing the wallpaper to standard, and then return the old (the animation should disappear).

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11) after changing the wallpaper, the animation can be saved in the notification panels or the multitasking menu.In this case, you will need to completely disable through the Developer Settings (see Method 3).

Method 2: Remove live wallpapers through "Screen settings"

V MIUI 13/14 And we have a separate section for managing the animation interface, where you can turn off the live wallpaper globally, and this method works even if the wallpaper was installed through the interface. APK-file.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Go to Additional Screen Settings → System Animation.
3. Turn off the slider Animated wallpaper (or select the option No animation).
4. Restart the device to apply the changes.

If the system animation section is missing, then your firmware does not support this function. In this case, try resetting the theme settings:

• 🎨 Go to Settings. → Topics → Reset to standard.
• 🔄 Confirm the action – it will remove all user wallpaper and return the system.

💡

If after disabling the animation wallpaper became blurry, try to install them again through the Gallery app, selecting the original resolution.

Method 3: Disconnect via Developer Settings (for power users)

This method allows you to completely block the work of live wallpaper at the system level, including background processes, suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader or root rights, but some commands work without them.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Settings: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI Version.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find options: Turn off window animation (set 1x or off). Turn off transition animation. Background processes → limit to 2-3 processes.

ADB

adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0


adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0




adb shell settings put global animator_duration_scale 0

After applying these settings:

• ✅ The wallpaper animation will disappear on the home screen and in the lock.
• ✅ Reduce the load on the processor (especially noticeable on Snapdragon) 6xx/7xx).
• ❌ Some visuals in games and apps may be missing (e.g., smooth transitions to Instagram).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and new (e.g. Xiaomi) 14) shutdown ADB In this case, return the standard values with the command: adb shell settings put global. window_animation_scale 1

Method 4: Remove live wallpaper through Safe Mode (if nothing helps)

If the live wallpaper is not removed by standard methods or returned after a reboot, the problem may be in conflict with the established themes or viruses, in which case Safe Mode will help.

How to start:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button and hold it until the MI logo appears.
3. Once the logo appears, release the power button and immediately press Volume Down.
4. Hold the volume down until the phone boots into Safe Mode (there will be a sign at the bottom of the screen).

In safe mode:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🗑️ Find apps called Live Wallpaper, Dynamic Wallpaper, or Theme Store and clear their cache/data.
• 📱 Install static wallpaper through the Gallery.
• 🔄 Restart your phone in normal mode.

If the problem was in a third-party application, the live wallpaper will disappear after the reboot. If not, then the animation is built into the MIUI system files, and a deeper cleaning will be required (see Method 5).

💡

Safe mode disables all third-party applications, so if the live wallpaper is missing in it, one of the software you installed is to blame. Most often it is applications for themes (Mi Theme Editor) or launchers (Nova Launcher).

Method 5: Radical solution – reset theme settings (last chance)

If all previous methods failed, you'll have a complete reset of the theme settings, which will remove all custom wallpaper, fonts and styles, but return the system to factory status.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Themes.
2. Go to My subjects. → Settings (⚙️) → Reset to standard.
3. Confirm the action (a password may be required).
4. After resetting, restart the device.

What will be dropped:

• 🎨 All installed wallpaper (including live).
• 🔤 Custom fonts and icons.
• 📱 Lock screen settings (clock, widgets).
• ⚙️ Color schemes and notification styles.

After discharge:

• ✅ The live wallpaper will be removed without the possibility of restoration.
• ⚠️ You will have to re-configure the appearance of the system.
• 📲 It is recommended to install static wallpapers through the Gallery immediately to avoid automatic animation returns.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4 GT) Resetting theme can cause the Always-on Display to fail. If the clock on the screen is off after the procedure, reinstall the theme through the Mi Theme Store.

How to prevent automatic inclusion of live wallpaper in the future

Even after you turn off, live wallpaper can turn on itself after you update MIUI or reset your settings. To avoid this, follow these tips:

• 🚫 Turn off automatic theme updates: Go to Settings → Topics → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update themes and deactivate the option.
• 🔒 Block background processes of the "Themes" application: C Settings → Annexes → Application management → Select Subjects Limit background activity.
• 📵 Remove the cache of system applications: Settings → Memory. → Cleanup → Select "System applications" → Clean up
• 🛡️ Use alternative launchers: Install Nova Launcher or Lawnchair – they ignore system wallpaper MIUI.

If you often encounter spontaneously enabled animations, check your device for viruses using Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes. Some adware programs (e.g. com.live.wallpaper.virus) are replacing system wallpaper.

FAQ: Frequent questions about live wallpaper on Xiaomi