How to change wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

The lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on Xiaomi, and its appearance sets the mood for the whole day. Standard wallpaper from the manufacturer quickly become boring, and the ability to personalize the device to your preferences is one of the key features of MIUI. However, not all users know that changing the background on the lock screen is different from replacing the wallpaper on the main screen, and often face difficulties.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to change wallpaper on the lock screen for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard MIUI 12/13/14 settings to hidden features and third-party applications. You’ll learn how to bypass system limitations, what image formats are supported, and what to do if new wallpapers are not used. And we’ll reveal several life hacks to create a unique lock design that even experienced users don’t know about.

Why can’t you just change the lock wallpaper on Xiaomi as it is on the home screen?

Many Xiaomi users are faced with confusion: why does the background change only on the home screen when changing wallpaper through the gallery, and the lock screen remains the same? The reason is the MIUI architecture, where these two elements are considered separate entities. Unlike pure Android, where the wallpaper is synchronized automatically, Xiaomi's firmware uses a dual wallpaper system:

• 📱 Main screen – controlled through the standard wallpaper menu and supports dynamic themes.
• 🔒 Lock screen – has separate settings, often hidden in the depth of the menu or requiring additional actions.

Moreover, in some versions of MIUI 13/14, the blocking function may be blocked for certain regions or models (for example, for devices with global firmware Redmi Note 11 or POCO X4 Pro).

⚠️ Note: If you are using a Xiaomi corporate smartphone with pre-set security policies (for example, through Mi Enterprise), the ability to change the lock wallpaper can be disabled by the administrator).

Method 1: Standard change via MIUI settings (for most models)

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for most modern devices (Xiaomi 12/13/14, Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F4/X5 and later) with current firmware versions.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (in some versions, the path may differ: Settings → Display → Lock screen).
3. Select the Wallpaper of the lock screen or the Background of the lock screen.
4. Click Select Wallpaper and specify the source: 🖼️ Gallery – upload your own image. 🌄 Topics – Choose from Xiaomi Collection (requires Internet connection). 🎨 Dynamic wallpaper - animated backgrounds (not available on all models).

Apply

If the lock screen wallpaper is not on the menu, then your model uses an alternative method (see Method 3). Also check if the Second Space mode is activated in the settings - it can block wallpaper changes.

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)

Turn off the power saving mode (can block changes)

Make sure the image has a resolution of at least 1080×1920 pixels.

Make a backup of the current wallpaper (Settings → Themes → My Wallpaper)

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Method 2: Using the Themes app for unique wallpaper

Themes app (Brush icon) is Xiaomi's official deep customization tool, and you can not only download new wallpapers to lock, but also use entire themed packages, including animations and sounds. Here's how it works:

1. Open the Themes app (if not, download from the Mi App Store).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Select the category of Lock screen (or use the filter by wallpaper type).
4. Click on the image you like and select Apply only to the lock screen.

⚠️ Attention: Wallpapers from the app Topics may contain hidden advertising or tracking. Before downloading, check the rating of the topic and reviews of other users. This is especially true for topics from third-party developers (labeled as "User Users' Feeds").

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when buying a new phone

Never change.

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Method 3: Alternative methods for older models or custom firmware

If your Xiaomi is running MIUI 11 or older (e.g. Redmi 8, Mi A2, POCO F1), or you have custom firmware installed (LineageOS, Pixel Experience), the standard methods may not work.

Method A: Through the launcher settings

Some versions of MIUI Launcher allow you to synchronize the wallpaper of the main screen and lock:

1. Hold your finger to the free space on the main screen.
2. Select Wallpaper Settings.
3. Activate the option Apply to the lock screen (if available).

Method B: Use ADB-Teams (for advanced users)

If you have unlocked bootloader and enabled debugging over USB, you can apply wallpaper through ADB:

adb shell cmd overlay enable --user current com.android.theme.icon_pack.filled.android


adb shell cmd overlay enable --user current com.android.theme.icon_pack.circular.android

After that, standard MIUI wallpapers will be available for editing. Careful: improper use of ADB can lead to system failures.

Method C: Third-party annexes

For rootless devices, apps like Wallpaper Changer or Lock Screen Wallpaper Changer (available on Google Play) will work around the limitations of MIUI, but require permission to Overlay Windows.

Image Requirements: resolution, format, optimization

To make the wallpaper on the lock screen look clear and without distortion, the image must meet the MIUI specifications.

• 📏 Permission: Minimum 1080×1920 (Full HD) For most models. For flagships. (Xiaomi) 13 Ultra, Redmi K60 Pro recommended 1440×3200 (QHD+).
• 🖼️ Format: Supported JPEG, PNG, WEBP. GIF and APNG They only work for dynamic wallpapers.
• 🎨 Color gamut: Avoid dark wallpaper with small details - they will be poorly visible on the wall. AMOLED-Screens in Always-on Display.
• 🔄 Orientation: Vertical (portrait) Horizontal images will be cropped.

Use tools like Adobe Photoshop Express or Canva to optimize:

1. Cut the image to the aspect ratio of 9:19.5 (standard for modern smartphones).
2. Increase contrast by 10-15% to make the wallpaper read well in bright light.
3. Save the file with 80-90% quality (to avoid compression artifacts).

💡

If the wallpaper looks blurry, try turning off Adaptive Brightness in the display settings. Sometimes MIUI automatically lowers the clarity to save battery life.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you have set up the wallpaper correctly, the lock screen may not apply or not display correctly. Here are the typical errors and how to fix them:

Problem 1: Wallpaper does not change after use

Causes and solutions:

• 🔄 System Cash: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics and clear the cache.
• 📱 Reboot: Sometimes you need to restart your phone to apply changes.
• 🔒 Topics Block: In some regions (e.g. EU), Xiaomi restricts customization. Try changing region in your Mi Account settings.

Problem 2: Wallpaper is cut or stretched

This is due to a resolution mismatch. Use the Google Play's Wallpaper Set & Scale app to manually fit the image under the screen.

Problem 3: Dynamic Wallpapers Are Not Working

Make sure that:

• 🔋 High performance mode enabled in battery settings.
• 📶 Power saving mode is disabled for the Topic application.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (dynamic wallpaper supported with the MIUI 12.5+).

💡

If the lock screen starts to brake after changing the wallpaper, return the standard settings or select a static image. Animated backgrounds consume up to 5-7% of the additional battery charge per day.

Hidden chips: how to make the lock screen unique

MIUI offers some little-known features for advanced lock screen customization.

• 🎶 Music visualization: Enable the display of album covers on the lock screen via Settings → Lock screen → Musical notices.
• 📅 Block Widgets: Add weather, calendar or steps (activation required in Settings) → Lock screen → Widgets).
• 🔐 Double Wallpaper: Set different backgrounds for the home screen and lock through Settings → Wallpaper. → Double wallpaper (available on MIUI 14).
• 🖼️ Collage wallpaper: Create a collage of several photos directly in the Gallery app (optional Create wallpaper).

For owners of devices with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K50 Ultra) has an optional life hack: use black wallpaper with colored elements. This not only looks stylish, but also saves battery life, since the pixels are black in color. AMOLED lightless.

If you want to go a step further, consider installing a custom launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair).

• Set up the transparency of the lock screen.
• Add animations when unlocking.
• Use wallpaper with paralax effect.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions