Replace the screensaver when you turn on the Xiaomi phone: 3 proven ways

When you turn on a Xiaomi smartphone, the first screensaver to appear on the screen with the brand logo is the so-called boot animation. Many users do not know that this image can be replaced with your own, adding personality to the device. However, the process is not as simple as changing the wallpaper on the desktop: you will need access to system files or even unlock the bootloader.

In this article, we will discuss all the working methods for replacing the screensaver on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones, from the official capabilities of MIUI to manual editing of files via ADB. You will learn which models support changing the screensaver without root rights, and where you will need to install custom firmware. We will also warn about the risks of “bricking” the device if you do not act correctly with system partitions – this information is not in 90% of the surface guides.

Why you can’t just replace the image through the settings

Unlike desktop wallpaper, bootlogo is stored in the protected /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/logo section.

• 🔒 Security: Modifying system files can compromise firmware integrity and open vulnerabilities.
• 📱 Brand uniformity: Xiaomi wants all devices to have a recognizable look when turned on.
• ⚠️ Damage risk: Incorrect file replacement leads to bootloop ( looped download) or complete device failure.

Therefore, standard MIUI means to change the screensaver can not be - you will need one of the solutions:

1. Use built-in themes with alternative animation (not working on all models)
2. Install custom software through an unlocked bootloader.
3. Manually replace files via fastboot or ADB (requires technical skills).

Method 1: Official MIUI themes (without root)

The safest method is to use themes from the official MIUI store, which change not only the wallpaper, but also the animation of the download, but this only works on a limited number of models (mostly the flagships of the Mi series and POCO F).

How to check for support:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. In the search, enter a boot animation request or a boot screensaver.
3. If you have a [Boot] sign, your device supports changing the screensaver.

How to apply the topic:

Download your favorite theme from the official store |Click "Apply" and confirm installation |Reboot the phone - a new screensaver will appear when you turn on |Check if your fingerprint settings are lost (sometimes you need to reset)

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⚠️ Warning: After installing a custom theme, Face Unlock support may disappear on some Redmi Note models 10/11. This is due to the conflict of system animations and facial recognition module.

Method 2: Replacement with Magisk (root required)

If your device supports root rights through Magisk, you can install a module to replace the screensaver.This method works on most Xiaomi models, but requires an unlocked bootloader and a TWRP installed.

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (you will have to wait 7-15 days for confirmation).
2. Install custom recovery TWRP for your model (see instructions on 4PDA or XDA Developers).
3. Sweep Magisk through TWRP to obtain root rights.
4. Download the BootAnimations module or Logo Changer from the Magisk repository.
5. In the module, select your.zip file with animation (you can create yourself or download ready-made).
6. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a MediaTek processor (e.g., Redmi Note 11 on Dimensity 920), installing the wrong Magisk module may result in a loss of power. IMEI. Before experimenting, check compatibility on forums.

Method 3: Manual editing via Fastboot (for experienced)

This method is suitable for users who do not want to install Magisk, but are willing to work with the command line.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Unlocked bootloader on the phone.
• 🖼️ Image in.img format with the resolution that matches the screen of your device (for example, 1080x2400 for POCO X3 Pro).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in fastboot mode (press Power + Vol Down when the device is off).
2. Check the connection command: fastboot devices should appear serial number of the device.
3. Download the original logo.bin for your model (you can extract from the official firmware via MIUI bootloader).
4. Edit the file in a Hex editor (such as HxD) by replacing the graphics block with your picture.
5. Fastboot flash logo logo.bin
6. Reboot the device: fastboot reboot

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Before editing logo.bin Make it backup with the command fastboot dump logo logo_original.bin. This will help restore the screensaver if something goes wrong.

The main difficulty of this method is the correct alignment of the data in the binary file. If the picture is offset even by 1 byte, the phone will either not show it or not load at all. To simplify the task, you can use ready-made utilities like Xiaomi Logo Changer (available on GitHub).

How to create your own screensaver: technical requirements

If you want to use your own image, it must meet the strict requirements:

• 📏 Resolution: Must be exactly the same as your device’s screen resolution (e.g, 2400×1080 For the Redmi Note 11 Pro+).
• 🎨 Format:.png only without compression (24-bit) img (for fastboot firmware).
• 🖌️ Color gamma: Avoid transparency (alpha channel is not supported in the logo.bin).
• ⚖️ File weight: no more than 1-2 MB (depending on model).

To convert images to logo.bin, you can use:

• AIK (Android Image Kitchen) – for unpacking and packaging boot.img.
• Xiaomi Logo Editor is a specialized tool for Xiaomi devices.
• GIMP + DD Convert plugin – for manual editing of binary files.

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On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) The screensaver may be displayed with distorted colors due to the features of the color profile!

Possible problems and solutions

Even if you follow the instructions accurately, you can get errors.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔍 Compatibility of your model with the chosen method (on forums) 4PDA lists of supported devices).
• 📋 Integrity of downloaded files (damaged archives are a common cause of errors).
• 🔧 Version MIUI (on some firmware, for example MIUI 14 for Redmi K50, Changes to system partitions are blocked).

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing the screensaver on Xiaomi