How to change wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi without wallpaper carousel: all ways

Why is Xiaomi’s standard wallpaper carousel not always convenient?

Xiaomi’s lock screen is the first thing you see when unlocking a smartphone, and its appearance directly affects the overall perception of the device. However, many users face the limitations of the standard wallpaper carousel feature in MIUI: it offers a limited set of images, often duplicates the desktop background and does not allow you to use your own images without unnecessary manipulation. Moreover, after system updates, the wallpaper interface can change, which causes confusion even for experienced Redmi or POCO owners.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to replace wallpaper on the Xiaomi lock screen without using a standard carousel – from built-in MIUI tools to third-party applications and hidden features. All methods are tested on MIUI 12-14 firmware and are relevant for models from 2020-2026. Importantly, some solutions require permission to change system settings, so before you start, check the limitations of your version of Android.

If you’re tired of the monotony of standard backgrounds or want to install a unique image that doesn’t sync with your desktop, these instructions will help you get around the limitations of MIUI without rooting or complex manipulation.

Method 1: Using a built-in theme editor (without third-party applications)

The safest method is to use the hidden theme editing feature in MIUI. It does not require additional software installation and works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with a firmware version at least MIUI 12.5.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Wallpaper (or themes, depending on version).
• 🎨 Choose My Wallpaper or Local (if available).
• 🖼️ Click on the Lock screen (sometimes this option is hidden under the button More or Settings).
• 📁 Select from the gallery and specify the desired image.
• ✅ Confirm the changes with the Apply or Install button.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F5) The lock screen option may not be in the wallpaper menu, in which case move to the next method.

Upload the desired image to the phone gallery

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Turn off the wallpaper sync with the desktop (if enabled)

Make a backup of the current theme settings-->

Method 2: Disabling the synchronization of desktop wallpaper and lock

By default, MIUI synchronizes lock screen and desktop wallpaper, which limits the ability to set different backgrounds. To get around this, you need to disable the binding in the theme settings. This method works on all devices with MIUI 13+, but may require additional actions on older versions.

How to turn off synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Wallpaper.
2. Choose any wallpaper for the desktop (this is a temporary action).
3. At the bottom of the screen, find the Sync switch with the lock screen and turn it off.
4. Return to the gallery and manually set the right background to lock through the Lock screen menu.

⚠️ Warning: If the wallpaper on the lock screen does not change after the synchronization is disabled, try restarting the device.

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If the option is not available, try changing the firmware region to "Global" or "EEA" through Settings → Additional → Region. This may reveal hidden features.

Method 3: Using the Themes application for manual installation

Xiaomi’s official Themes app allows custom wallpapers to be installed not only on the desktop but also on the lock screen – provided you use local files rather than downloading themes from the store.

Step-by-step:

• 📲 Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
• 🔍 Go to Wallpaper section. → My wallpaper.
• 📂 Select Locals and find the desired image in the gallery.
• 🖼️ Click on the image and at the bottom of the screen select Only the lock screen.
• 💾 Save the changes and apply the theme.

If the option is not Lock screen only, try the following workaround:

1. Install wallpaper on the desktop through the Themes app.
2. Return to Settings → Wallpaper and manually turn off synchronization (see Method 2).
3. Set another background on your desktop – the lock screen will remain with the previous image.

Method 4: Third-party customization applications (without root)

If the built-in MIUI tools don't allow you to change the lock screen wallpaper, third-party utilities will come to the rescue. We tested 3 reliable applications that work without rooting and do not violate Xiaomi's security policy, all of which are available on Google Play and are compatible with Android 10-14.

The best applications for changing wallpaper:

Instructions for Wallpaper Changer:

1. Install the app and grant permissions to access the storage.
2. In the settings, select the Lock screen as target.
3. Upload the desired image to the application folder or select from the gallery.
4. Click Apply and confirm the replacement.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Zedge) may not work on the MIUI If the wallpaper doesn't change after installation, check the battery optimization settings for the application: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Optimize the battery and disable restrictions for the selected utility.

Method 5: Manual change through ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the option remains with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) which requires connecting the phone to a PC and basic command line knowledge, but allows you to bypass any limitations of MIUI. Warning: incorrect commands can cause system failures, so follow the instructions carefully.

What you need:

• 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — 7 times tap, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🖼️ Image in.png or.jpg format, renamed to lockscreen_wallpaper And put in the Download folder on the phone.

Commands to execute (enter in turn in ADB Shell):

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/Download/lockscreen_wallpaper /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_lockscreen




chmod 644 /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_lockscreen




reboot

⚠️ Note: This method may not work on devices with MIUI 14 If the wallpaper hasn't changed since the reboot, check the path to the wallpaper file in your firmware version, which may be different: /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_info.xml.

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Using ADB is an extreme method that should only be used if other methods have failed. Always back up your data before changing system files.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully changing the wallpaper on the lock screen, Xiaomi users may face unexpected difficulties.

Problem 1: Wallpaper is reset after reset.

• 🔄 Check if Auto Update Themes is included in Settings → Topics.
• 📁 Make sure the image is stored in internal memory (not on the computer). SD-map).
• 🔧 If a third-party app is used, add it to the Battery Optimization Exclusions.

Problem 2: The image is cut or stretched.

• 📏 Use a photo with an aspect ratio 19.5:9 or 20:9 (for example, 1080×2400 pixel).
• 🎨 Edit the image in any graphics editor so that important elements are in the center.
• 🔍 In the wallpaper settings (Settings) → Wallpaper. → Settings) check the Fitting option and select Centered.

Problem 3: The Lock Screen option is not on the menu.

• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI through settings → Updating the system.
• 🌍 Change the firmware region to Global or EEA (see method 2).
• 🔧 Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher) that can reveal additional settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions