How to change wallpaper to Xiaomi from the gallery: all ways and life hacks

Replacing wallpaper on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones through the gallery seems like an easy task, but many users face unexpected nuances: the photo is cut curved, blurred, then not saved at all after the reboot. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods for installing wallpaper from personal photos, from the basic method through theme menu to hidden MIUI features that are not written in the official instructions.

We will pay special attention to problems with screen resolution (for example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra with 3200×1440 or POCO F5 with 2400×1080), and explain why some images “don’t want” to be installed as wallpaper.

Why can’t you change the wallpaper through the gallery?

The Mi Community and 4PDA forums regularly complain that the gallery's "Set as Wallpaper" feature is inactive or not working properly.

• 📱 An outdated version MIUI — firmware MIUI 12.5 The wallpaper trimming algorithm worked differently, and some formats (e.g.,.webp) were not supported.
• 🖼️ Inappropriate photo resolution – if the image is less than screen resolutions (e.g, 1080×1920 For the Redmi Note 12 s 2400×1080), The system automatically stretches it, resulting in loss of quality.
• 🔒 Manufacturer restrictions – on some models (for example, Xiaomi Civi 3) wallpaper from the gallery can be installed only on a closed screen, and for the main screen you need to use themes.
• 🛠️ Failures in the work of “Tem” – if the application com.miui.miwallpaper was disabled or its data is reset, the wallpaper installation function may disappear.

Before you go to the instructions, check if your firmware is up to date. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If the version is below MIUI 13, we recommend updating - this will solve most wallpaper problems.

Method 1: Standard installation through gallery

This is the most obvious method, but it doesn't work the same on all devices.

1. Open the Gallery app (an icon with a flower on a blue background).
2. Find the right photo and tap it to open in full size.
3. Click on the three dots in the lower right corner (or swipe up on some models).
4. From the menu, select “Install as” → “Wallpaper” (or “Desktop background” on older versions of MIUI).
5. The crop editor will open. You can see here:

• 🔄 Scaling the image with two fingers.
• 🖼️ Move the frame to select the desired area.
• 🎨 Apply blur (option appears after clicking on the magic wand icon).
• 🔒 Lock for both screens (main and lock) or select separately.

After setting up, click Apply or the tick in the top right corner. If the button is inactive, try repeating the action with another image - perhaps the current one has an incompatible format.

Method 2: Through the Themes app (if the gallery is not working)

If the gallery does not have the option to “Install as wallpaper”, use the built-in Themes app (com.miui.miwallpaper).This method is suitable for all models, including the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Redmi K60:

1. Open the "Themes" (icon with brush and palette).
2. Go to the “Wallpaper” section in the lower menu.
3. Slip on the icon "+" or "My Wallpaper" (depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Select “From the Gallery” and select the photo you want.
5. Set up the trim and apply the changes.

The advantage of this method is the ability to save wallpaper in the Mi Account cloud and sync it between devices. However, be careful: if you use live wallpaper (for example, with the paralax effect), they can slow down on weak chipsets (for example, the Snapdragon 680 in Redmi Note 11).

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If the wallpaper looks blurry after installation, try turning off the option "Adaptive blur" in the theme settings. AMOLED-screen.

Table of compatibility of formats and permissions

Not all images are suitable for wallpaper on Xiaomi. Below is a table with recommended options for popular models. If your device is not specified, focus on the screen resolution (you can find it in Settings → Display → Screen Resolution).

Critical information: On devices with a Snapdragon 4 series processor (such as the Redmi 10A), live wallpaper can cause overheating and accelerated battery discharge. If the phone warms after installing animated wallpaper, go back to static.

How to cut the wallpaper without loss of quality?

One of the most common questions is why the wallpaper becomes blurry after being pruned in the MIUI editor, and the problem is the compression algorithm that the system uses to avoid that.

1. Use source codes with resolution margins, like screens. 2400×1080 take a size photo 3000×2000.
2. Turn off Adaptive Blurr in the theme settings (Themes → Settings → Additional).
3. Cut in third-party editors (such as Snapseed or Lightroom) before installation.

If you want the wallpaper to look the same on the home screen and lock screen, in the MIUI editor, click on the Double Screen icon (two rectangles) to allow you to customize the positioning separately for each screen.

What if the wallpaper is not saved after rebooting?

Sometimes users encounter a bug when the wallpaper is reset to standard after the device is restarted.

• 🔄 Cache failure of the Themes app – try clearing the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse.
• 📁 Damage to the wallpaper file - if the photo was stored on SD-Transfer it to the internal memory.
• 🔧 Error in Power Saving Settings – Add the Topics app to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).

If the problem recurs, try installing wallpaper through ADB (advanced users only). To do this, connect your phone to your PC and follow the command:

adb shell cmd wallpaper set /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/your_image.jpg

Replace the path with the one that's relevant to your file. After you execute the command, restart the device.

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If the wallpaper is only reset on the lock screen, check if the Dynamic Wallpaper function is enabled in the security settings (Settings → Lock screen → Additional).

Hidden MIUI functions for working with wallpaper

MIUI 14/15 has little-known options that make it easier to work with wallpaper:

• 🌄 Automatic change of wallpaper by time of day – in the application “Themes” you can configure different wallpaper for the morning / day / evening.
• 🎨 Color palette from wallpaper – the system automatically selects colors for icons and menus based on your wallpaper (included in Settings) → Display. → Color scheme).
• 🔒 Password protection of wallpapers on some models (for example, Xiaomi) 13T) You can block the change of wallpaper without input PIN-code.

To activate these features, upgrade the Themes app to the latest version via the Mi App Store. On Android 13+ devices, Google Wallpapers integration is also available - download the app from the Play Market and select wallpapers through it.

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If you don't like the standard wallpaper editor in MIUI, install a third-party app like the Wallpaper Engine (requires root) or Zedge (free), which offers more tools for cropping and effects.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Now you know all the ways to install gallery wallpaper on Xiaomi, and you can solve problems. If none of the methods worked, check the integrity of the firmware — you may need to reinstall MIUI via Fastboot.