How to change the background of the alarm clock on Xiaomi: setting the lock screen

Smartphone personalization is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to make interaction with the device more convenient and enjoyable. The lock screen is one of the first points of contact of the user with the gadget, and this is where the alarm clock is most often displayed. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices, working on the shells of MIUI or the new HyperOS, often wonder how to change the standard image to more interesting. The standard black background can seem boring, and the static picture is uninformative.

The process of changing the background depends on what you want to see when the alarm rings: a static image, a slideshow of photos or full-fledged live wallpaper with animations. Android system in conjunction with Xiaomi's branded add-ons provides several levels of access to these settings. Some of them are hidden in the depth of the menu, others require the use of specialized themes. It is important to understand the difference between desktop wallpaper and lock screen, since the settings for them are often separated.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the customization methods available. We will look at the regular system tools that do not require additional software installation, and we will also turn to proven third-party solutions. You will learn to manage the Wallpaper Carousel, customize themes and fix common problems with displaying graphics. Regardless of the model of your smartphone, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 14, you will be able to find the right option.

Use of built-in themes and the Mi Themes store

The easiest and most reliable way to dramatically change the visual style of the lock screen, including the moment the alarm goes off, is to use the official Mi Themes store (or simply "Themes"). Unlike simply installing a picture from a gallery, the themes offer comprehensive solutions with unique fonts, icons and, most importantly, special lock screens (Lock Screen).

To get started, you need to open the Themes app pre-installed on your device. In the bottom navigation bar, select the Profile tab (human icon), and then go to the Topics section. Here you can search by typing keywords like “Clock”, “Alarm” or “Minimal”. When choosing a theme, pay attention to the preview: usually shows what the lock screen will look like. After installing the the the theme, the system will suggest using all the components or select only the Lock Screen.

Not all themes are free, but there's a filter in the store that allows you to only display free content, and there are online themes that load content dynamically, and if you want to make the most of your look, search for themes is the first step to take, and it's a safe method to ensure that you're compatible with your version of MIUI or HyperOS.

🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the search section.
🔍 Enter “Lock screen” or “Clock” to search for specific designs.
⬇️ Download your favorite theme and click the Apply button.
⚙️ In the application menu, select only the Lock Screen component if you do not want to change the rest.

⚠️ Warning: When installing themes from third-party, unofficial sources (not through the Mi Themes store), you risk disrupting the stability of the system or getting a virus.

📊 Which lock screen style do you like more?

Strict minimalism

Bright animation and live wallpaper

Gallery photos

Standard black background

Customization of wallpaper carousel for dynamic background

Wallpaper Carousel is one of the most popular features of the MIUI shell, which allows you to automatically change the background image on the lock screen. When you wake up your phone in the morning to turn off your alarm, you will see a new picture each time. It can be nature, architecture, space or abstraction in high resolution.

To activate or configure the Carousel, go to the Settings menu of your smartphone. Find the Always On and Lock screen (the path may vary slightly depending on the OS version). Here you will see the Wallpaper Carousel. Inside this menu, you can select categories of images, how often they change, and even subscribe to specific collections. This is a great way to refresh the device's experience without manually changing pictures.

It's important to distinguish between wallpaper carousel and regular live wallpaper. Carousel changes high-quality static images, while live wallpaper uses animation, which can consume more battery power. If your goal is the background at the time of the alarm clock ringing, Carousel is often the optimal balance between beauty and energy efficiency. You can also add your photos to special albums that will be transcribed to the carousel.

☑️ Setting up the wallpaper carousel

Go to the smartphone settingsSelect Lock Screen and Always On ScreenTurn on the wallpaper carouselSelect image categories

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Users often forget that the Wallpaper Carousel can work in conjunction with smart locking, which means that the system can analyze the time of day and suggest appropriate images, such as cheerful landscapes in the morning, calm tones in the evening, this detail makes smartphone use more personalized. Don't be afraid to experiment with refresh rate settings to find the perfect rhythm for yourself.

Installation of live wallpaper and video backgrounds

For those who want to see movement and dynamics when the alarm goes off, there are live wallpapers. Unlike static images, they are encoded animations or short video loops. Xiaomi smartphones have a built-in gallery of live wallpapers, but its content can be limited depending on the region of the firmware (Global, China, EEA).

You can set up live wallpaper through the standard design menu. Press and hold your finger on the empty desktop, then select Wallpaper. At the top of the screen, there is often a switch or a separate tab called Live Wallpaper. Here are animations from abstract particle streams to scenes from movies. Choosing this option ensures that when the screen is activated (and the alarm goes off), you will see smooth animations.

But you have to consider the technical limitations, because the wallpaper uses more CPU resources and therefore drains the battery faster. AMOLED-In the case of a screen, the constant animation on a black background may be less noticeable, but the energy costs will remain.In addition, some heavy live wallpaper can cause micro-delays when unlocking the device on older Redmi or Poco models.

Type of background	Impact on the battery	Visual effect	Difficulty setting up
Static image	Minimum	High quality, no movement	Low.
Wallpaper carousel	Low.	Frequent change of pictures	Medium
Live wallpaper (systemic)	Average.	Smooth animation	Low.
Video wallpaper (third-party)	High.	Full video	Tall.

How to install a video from the gallery on the background?

To install your own video, you will need a third-party application, since MIUI does not allow you to put any video from the gallery on the lock screen directly. Use applications like "Video Live Wallpaper" by selecting the desired file and setting the lock screen wallpaper in them.> Using third-party applications for customization If the built-in capabilities of Xiaomi are not enough, the Google Play store offers many applications for deep customization. The leaders in this niche are applications like Widgetsmith, KLCK (for widgets) and specialized launchers, but for the alarm clock and screen wallpapers, the most popular applications from Google Screen or the screen locker are better suited applications. When using third-party software, you need to be prepared to grant a wide range of permissions, and the application will need access to over other windows, gallery access, and possibly device administrator rights to intercept the moment the screen is turned on. This is necessary so that the application can display its interface on top of the system lock screen at the time of alarm, the installation process usually follows: You download the app, select the source of the image (local gallery, online services like Unsplash or Pexels), adjust the time and date settings, and then activate the function. Some “heavy” lock screen replacements may conflict with system functions. MIUI, such as a fingerprint scanner or face unlock. 📱 Download a reliable wallpaper app from Google Play (e.g. Google Wallpaper). 🔐 Provide the necessary permissions to display over other windows. 🖼️ Select an image or video to install on the lock screen. ✅ Confirm the replacement of the standard lock screen if the system requests. ⚠️ Warning: Third-party lock screens can block the system alarm widgets or make it impossible to use a fingerprint scanner to quickly unlock. Changing the background is only half the battle. To make the alarm look really stylish, it is important to set the time and date mapping correctly on top of the selected image. MIUI HyperOS is responsible for this separate setup block. Go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Watch format (or Watch Style). Here you can choose font, color and dial location. If you set a dark, saturated background, white or neon digits will look most contrasting. If the background is light, you may want to switch to the dark style of the watch. Some themes offer their own watch styles that can't be changed in the system settings while the the the theme is active. It's also worth paying attention to the Double Tape function to turn on. It allows you to see the time and background without pressing the power button. This is especially convenient in the morning when you need to quickly look at the time, make sure that the screen doesn't fully include the new feature in the screen. Solution: background does not change or resets Xiaomi users sometimes face a situation where the set background alarm is spontaneously reset to a standard or not applied after a reboot. MIUI, It kills the personalization processes to save energy. If you use a third-party wallpaper app, make sure to add it to the battery exceptions. → Annexes → All apps, find your wallpaper app, select Activity Control, and set No Limits. Also check if Dark Mode is enabled in global settings, as it can force light wallpaper to dark, distorting the idea. Another reason may be a crowded theme cache. If you’re using the Mi Themes store and the background is gone, try clearing the Themes app cache through the application management menu. In rare cases, re-using the theme or resetting the lock screen settings to factory settings, followed by re-setting. If the problem persists, check for system updates, as new Xiaomi patches often fix bugs related to graphics rendering. 💡Aggressive energy savings in MIUI — The main reason why third-party live wallpaper or carousel stop working is always to add such applications to battery exceptions. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Can I put my photo from the gallery on the lock screen without the Carousel? Yes, you can do it through the standard menu. Press and hold your finger on the desktop, select Wallpaper, then Local or Gallery. Select a photo and click Apply by selecting the Lock Screen option. However, to automatically change photos, it is better to use the Carousel. Why does the alarm look old after setting the theme? Not all topics change the interface of the system application "Clock" (alarm clock). The themes mainly affect the lock screen and desktop. To change the appearance of the alarm clock itself (the dial inside the application), you need a theme that supports the customization of system applications, or a separate setting of the watch widget. Do live wallpaper affect the speed of the smartphone? On modern models of Xiaomi with a good amount of RAM, the impact is minimal. However, on budget devices (Redmi Go, old Mi) complex live devices can cause quicker blocking from the screen from the relays. Go to the Carousel settings, look for “Recommendations” or “Get Updated Content” and turn it off. Also, in the general system settings under “Security and Privacy”, you can limit personalized advertising. Does HyperOS support older MIUI themes? In most cases, HyperOS maintains full compatibility with themes for MIUI 14 and earlier. However, some complex themes with deep system changes may not work correctly.