How to change the wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 3 proven ways

The lock screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is the first thing you see when you unlock a smartphone, and the overall impression of the device depends on its design. Many users want to personalize the phone, but face difficulties: somewhere there is no menu item, somewhere the new background does not apply, and sometimes the system completely resets the settings after rebooting. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to change the wallpaper on the lock screen, including hidden MIUI functions and bypassing restrictions for older versions of the firmware.

If you've tried to change the background through standard settings, but it didn't work out, don't give up. Your version of MIUI may require a different approach. We've tested the instructions on the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI firmware 11, 12, 12.5 and 13, so you'll definitely find a solution for your case.

Before you start, make sure that the phone has enough free memory — sometimes the system does not allow you to change the wallpaper due to lack of space for cache. Also check if the power saving mode is on: it can block the background processes responsible for applying new backgrounds.

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1. Standard method: through the theme settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It works on most firmware versions, but may vary depending on the regional build. If you have a global version of MIUI (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5.4), follow this instruction:

Open the Themes app (an icon with a brush and palette). If it is not on the home screen, search the system (Conductor → Search → “Themes”). Inside, go to “My Wallpaper” or “Block screen” – the name may vary.

Here you will see two tabs:

• 📱 «Main screen" - background of the desktop.
• 🔒 «The lock screen is what you need.

Choose any background you like, or click Add Wallpaper to upload your image from the gallery. Once you select, the system will suggest cropping the image, fit it under the screen so that important elements don't crop. Press "Apply" and wait for confirmation.

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If there is no lock screen tab in the Topics section, try updating the app via Google Play or clearing its cache in Settings → Apps → Application Management → Topics → Memory → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 11 for Redmi Note 8 Pro) standard lock screen wallpaper can automatically sync to the desktop background.To turn this off, go to Settings → Lock screen → Additionally. → Synchronize wallpaper and deactivate the option.

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2. Alternative method: through the gallery

If the Themes section doesn't open or doesn't have the right options, try changing the wallpaper directly from the gallery, which works even on custom firmware and older versions of MIUI.

Open the Gallery and find the image you want to set as the background. Slip it, then click on the three dots in the upper right corner (or the "More" button) and select "Set as" → "Block screen wallpaper".

If there is no such item, try another way:

1. Open the image in the gallery.
2. Click on the icon "Share" (arrow up).
3. In the list of applications, find “Wallpaper” or “Themes” and select it.
4. Confirm the use of the background for the lock screen.

⚠️ Note: Some users complain that after this method, the background of the desktop and the lock screen become the same. To avoid this, turn off the synchronization of wallpaper in the settings before using (see previous section).

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3.For Advanced: Manual Replacement through File Manager

If standard methods fail (e.g., due to firmware glitch or regional version limitations), you can manually replace the background through system files, which requires root rights or access to hidden folders via ADB.

First, download any image in.jpg or.png format with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels (native-resolution screen Redmi Note 8).

Then proceed with the steps:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and turn on “Debugging by USB” (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap → For developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Open the command line on your PC and type in: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system
3. Copy your image into the system folder with wallpaper: adb push /sdcard/your_wallpaper.jpg /system/media/theme/default/wallpaper/lockscreen.jpg (substitute your_wallpaper.jpg in the name of your file).
4. Set the correct access rights: chmod 644 /system/media/theme/default/wallpaper/lockscreen.jpg
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Mistakes with system files can result in loss of warranty or device brik.If you are unsure of your skills, use the first two methods.

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4. Problem Solving: Why Wallpaper Doesn't Change

Sometimes users find that new wallpapers are not used or reset after a reboot, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the lock screen settings to factory:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → More.
2. Select "Reset settings."
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

✅ Check the free space on the phone (minimum 500 MB)

✅ Turn off the power saving mode

✅ Update the “Themes” app to the latest version

✅ Prepare an image in permission 1080×2340

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5. How to install live wallpaper on the lock screen

MIUI supports live wallpapers, but not all of them work on the lock screen. To set an animated background, follow this instruction:

Download the live wallpaper app from Google Play (like Live 4K Wallpapers or WallpapersCraft). Make sure it supports MIUI - check out reviews from other Xiaomi users.

After installation:

1. Open the app and select your favorite live wallpaper.
2. Click "Install" → "Block screen wallpaper".
3. If there is no option, use the workaround: 📲 Set the wallpaper on the main screen. 🔄 Go to Settings. → Lock screen → Style and select "Dynamic». 🔄 Return to the gallery and apply the live wallpaper again - now they should appear on the lock.

⚠️ Warning: Live wallpaper can significantly increase battery consumption (up to 10-15% per hour in standby mode).If you notice a quick discharge, return to static backgrounds or turn off animations in wallpaper settings.

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6. Top.-5 lock-screen applications

If you’re tired of standard MIUI wallpaper, try these apps from Google Play. they’re all compatible with Redmi Note 8 and support background lock settings:

• 🌄 WallpapersCraft is a huge base HD-wallpaper with filters by resolution (there is a section specifically for Xiaomi).
• 🎨 Zedge - live wallpaper, 4K-backgrounds and the ability to create your own design.
• 🖼️ Backdrops – minimalist wallpaper with adaptive color palette.
• 🌌 AMOLEDWallpapers – Dark Wallpapers for the AMOLED-screen (saves battery power).
• 📱 Muzei Live Wallpaper – automatically changes the background of art collections.

Before installing, check the wallpaper resolution – it must be at least 1080×2340, otherwise the image will be stretched. Also pay attention to reviews: some applications may contain advertising or collect data.

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Google Play apps often offer more options than standard MIUI themes, but may require additional permissions (storage, internet access).

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7.How to return standard MIUI wallpaper

If after the experiments you want to return the factory wallpaper MIUI, do the following:

Go to Topics → My Wallpaper → Lock screen and select Standard or Default. If you don't have that option, try resetting:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find “Themes” and click “Memory” → “Clear Data”.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After that, the system will return to the factory wallpaper, and if that doesn’t work, then only a complete reset remains (but this is an extreme measure, since all data will be deleted).

⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the Themes app data will delete all your saved themes and settings. Pre-backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup.

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FAQ: Frequent questions