How to quickly and easily change the background on the phone Xiaomi: all the ways

Why Xiaomi’s standard wallpaper may not suit users

Xiaomi smartphones come with pre-installed wallpapers that often look too bright or don’t match personal preferences. Many users find standard backgrounds quickly boring, especially if they are too corporate with a brand logo or abstract patterns. Plus, factory wallpapers are rarely optimized for specific models — on the Redmi Note 12 they may look different than on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra due to the difference in the aspect ratio of the screen.

Another common problem is the blurring of wallpaper when stretched onto the big screen, especially on 2K+ or QHD+ flagships, where low-quality images lose detail. Some users also complain that system wallpapers do not support dynamic effects (such as paralax when tilting the phone) that are available in third-party applications. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the background, including hidden MIUI and HyperOS features, and how to avoid typical errors when installing new wallpapers.

Method 1: Change the background through a standard gallery

The easiest and fastest method is to use the built-in Xiaomi gallery, which is suitable for most models, including the Poco X5, Redmi 12 and Xiaomi 14. The main advantage of this method is that there is no need to download additional applications, and the wallpaper is automatically adjusted to the screen resolution.

To change the background through the gallery:

• 📂 Open the Gallery app and select the folder with images.
• 🖼️ Find the photo you want to use as wallpaper and tap it to open.
• ⚙️ In the lower right corner, press three dots (⋮) and choose to Set How → Wallpaper.
• 🔄 The system will suggest cropping the image - adjust the area and press Ready.

If you want to change the wallpaper automatically, MIUI 14 and HyperOS have a dynamic wallpaper feature to activate:

1. After selecting the image in the gallery, tap on the Effects (the magic wand icon).
2. Choose Dynamic Wallpaper and adjust the animation speed.
3. Confirm the changes – now the background will smoothly shift when the phone is tilted.

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If the wallpaper looks blurry after installation, try selecting an image with a resolution of at least 1440×3200 For modern smartphones, for models with AMOLED-screens are better to use dark wallpaper - this will reduce battery consumption.

Method 2: Using the Themes app for unique wallpaper

Xiaomi’s Themes app offers thousands of free and paid wallpapers optimized for different models, and you can find both static images and live wallpapers with animations (for example, falling snow or moving clouds). The main advantage of this method is that the wallpapers automatically adjust to the screen resolution and support the Super Wallpapers function (3D-effects MIUI 12+).

Instructions for installation through “Themes”:

• 🎨 Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
• 🔍 Go to the Wallpaper tab and select a category (e.g. Nature, Abstraction or Live Wallpaper).
• 👆 Slip on the image you like and click Apply.
• 📱 Choose where to apply wallpaper: on the lock screen, the Main screen or both at once.

Please note that some of the wallpapers on the Topics require payment or subscription to Xiaomi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: Before downloading paid wallpaper, check if AutoWrite option is activated in the Mi Account settings. → Xiaomi account → Payments and subscriptions if you don’t plan to use premium content.

Method 3: Installation of wallpaper through third-party applications

If built-in options are not enough, you can use third-party services.

• 🌄 Zedge – more than 10 million wallpapers and live backgrounds with user ratings.
• 🎨 Backdrops – Minimalist wallpaper with support 4K and AMOLED-optimization.
• 🖥️ WallpapersCraft – Wallpapers sorted by resolution and style (e.g. Dark or Minimal).
• 📱 Muzei – automatically changes wallpaper from art museum collections.

To install wallpaper through Zedge (in the example):

1. Download the app from Google Play and open it.
2. In the Wallpaper section, select a category (e.g., Abstraction or Games).
3. Slip on the image you like and click Install.
4. Select the trim area (for Xiaomi, it is better to use Fit to Screen mode).
5. Confirm the installation – the wallpaper will be applied automatically.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Zedge) request storage and location permissions. waive unnecessary permissions manually through Settings → Annexes → Permits to avoid collecting unnecessary data.

Check the screen resolution of your smartphone|Download the wallpaper in format PNG (quality-free)|Turn off mobile data if you download large files over Wi-Fi|Check the reviews of the app on Google Play-->

Method 4: Set up different wallpapers for the main screen and lock

Xiaomi smartphones can have separate wallpapers for the home screen and lock screen, which is convenient if you want to, for example, use a minimalist background on the desktop and a bright image on the lock. MIUI HyperOS.

How to set up different wallpaper:

1. Open Settings → Wallpaper (or pinch the empty space on the home screen and select Wallpaper).
2. Select the image for the Main Screen and click Apply.
3. Return to the wallpaper menu and select another image for the Lock screen.
4. Confirm the changes – now each screen will have its own background images.

If you want the wallpaper on the lock to change automatically, activate the function Dynamic lock:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Lock screen.
• 📅 Enable the Wallpaper Automan option and select the image folder.
• ⏱️ Set a shift interval (e.g., Every Day or Every Week).

Method 5: Creating live wallpaper from video (for advanced users)

On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 13+ or HyperOS, you can turn any video into live wallpaper. This feature is hidden in the settings and requires the preparation of a video file.

• 🎞️ Duration: 5-15 seconds (cyclic reproduction).
• 📏 Permission: 1080p or 4K (depending on the phone model).
• 🔄 Format: MP4 or MOV codeced H.264.

Instructions for creating live wallpaper from the video:

1. Place the video in the DCIM → LiveWallpapers folder (create it manually if not).
2. Open the settings → Wallpaper → Live wallpaper.
3. Select your video from the list and click Install.
4. Set up the trimming area and playback speed.

⚠️ Warning: Live wallpaper from the video significantly increases battery consumption (up to) 15-20% To save charge, limit their work to only the lock screen or use low-bitrate video (up to) 5 Mbit/s).

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Video wallpaper is not supported on all Xiaomi models. If the feature is not on the menu, check the compatibility of your device on the official MIUI website or use third-party applications like Video Live Wallpaper.

Problem Solving: Wallpapers don’t change or are displayed incorrectly

Sometimes when you change the wallpaper, you get some mistakes: the image is cut curved, the background is not applied or goes back to the standard.

If the wallpaper is set but doesn’t look right on screens with a cutout (like the Xiaomi 13T with a camera hole), try:

• 🖼️ Use wallpaper with asymmetrical design (for example, with a main accent at the bottom).
• ⚙️ Manually adjust the pruning area, moving the image upwards.
• 📱 Install special wallpapers for Notch screens (available in Zedge or WallpapersCraft).

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing wallpaper to Xiaomi