Why Xiaomi TV Wallpapers Are Boring and How to Replace Them
Xiaomi TVs are some of the most popular on the market due to their combination of price and functionality. However, even the most advanced models like the Mi TV Q2 or Redmi Smart Fire TV come with a limited set of standard wallpaper. After a couple of weeks of use, the monotonous background of the desktop becomes annoying, especially if you are used to customizing on smartphones of the same brand.
Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to change the background, from built-in tools to third-party solutions. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for models on Android TV and Google TV, including hidden features and circumventing restrictions, you will learn how to install your own images, live wallpaper, and avoid common download errors.
Importantly, the procedure differs depending on the firmware version and model, for example, on the Mi TV P1 with PatchWall, the algorithm is one, and on the Xiaomi TV A Pro with pure Android TV 12, it is completely different, and we took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions.
Method 1: Standard Replacement through TV settings
The easiest method that works on most Xiaomi models is to use built-in functionality. It does not require an Internet connection or additional devices, but has a limitation: you can choose only from preloaded wallpaper.
Instructions:
- Turn on the TV and go to the main screen (click the Home button on the remote).
- Select any blank area of the screen (not the app icon!) and press the OK button for 2-3 seconds.
- In the menu that appears, select Wallpaper or Desktop Background (the name depends on the model).
- Scroll through the list of available wallpaper and select your favorite. To preview, click OK.
- Confirm the choice with the button Apply or Install.
⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. PatchWall 3.0) may not have this method. If the menu doesn't appear, move on to the next method.
Method 2: Download wallpaper through the Mi Home app
Mi Home not only allows you to control smart devices, but also adjust some settings of the TV, including the background of the desktop.This method is suitable for models with support for the Xiaomi ecosystem (for example, Mi TV 4S or Mi TV 5 Pro).
Step-by-step:
- 📱 Install the Mi Home app on your smartphone (available for Android and iOS).
- 🔗 Connect the TV to the same Mi Account as the smartphone (check in settings) TV Accounts section).
- 🖼️ In the app, go to the Devices section → [Your TV] → Screen settings → Wallpaper.
- 📤 Upload your own image (at least resolution) 1920×1080 full HD models) or select from the app gallery.
- 🔄 Wait for sync (may take up to 1 minute) and restart the TV.
Important: Mi Home supports image formats only in.jpg and.png. You can’t download files in.webp or.heic.
Resolution of at least 1920×1080 (for 4K – 3840×2160)
JPG or PNG format (without transparency)
- File size up to 5MB
16:9 aspect ratio (for most Xiaomi models)
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Method 3: Using a file manager (for advanced users)
If standard methods don't work, you can manually replace wallpaper through the TV file system, which requires developer mode activation and is suitable for users who are ready for experimentation.
Algorithm of action:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → On TV. → Click 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI TV" After that, the section For developers will appear in the settings.
- Enable the debugging option in it. USB Connect the TV to your PC via USB Type C cable (you need it) OTG-adapter for most models).
- Download and install ADB Tools (e.g. Google’s Platform Tools) on your PC.
- Open the command line in the adb folder and execute: adb connect [IP-Address of your TV: Adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system (IP-The address can be found in the settings of the TV network).
- Copy your image (pre-renamed in the default_wallpaper.jpg) to folder: adb push C:\path\to file.jpg /system/media/theme/default_wallpaper/
- Reboot the TV with the reboot command.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in ADB We recommend you to back up your current wallpaper by the team:
adb pull /system/media/theme/default_wallpaper/default_wallpaper.jpg C:\backup\What if the wallpaper has not changed after the replacement?
Method 4: Live Wallpaper through Third Party Apps
For users who want a dynamic background, live wallpaper will suit. On Android TV, they can be installed through the app store, but with reservations:
The best apps for live wallpaper on Xiaomi TV:
| Annex | Features | Compatibility | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallpapers Craft | 4K-wallpaper, paralax support | Android TV 9+ | 4.5/5 |
| Backdrops | Daily change of backgrounds, collections of artists | Android TV 10+ | 4.7/5 |
| Kodi | Built-in wallpaper + support for plugins | All versions. | 4.3/5 |
| Aerial Dreams | Exciting video wallpaper (requires good iron) | Android TV 11+ | 4.8/5 |
How to determine:
- Open the Google Play Store on your TV (if not, install it via APK from a flash drive).
- Find one of the listed applications and install it.
- Launch the application and select the favorite background.
- Apply it through the app menu (usually the Set Wallpaper button).
💡
For smooth work of live wallpaper on Xiaomi TV, turn off the energy-saving mode in the screen settings. Otherwise, the animation will slow down.
Method 5: Alternative launchers for full customization
If you don't want to change the wallpaper and want to completely change the interface, consider installing an alternative launcher, which will radically transform the appearance of the TV, but will require more effort.
Top.-3 launcher for Xiaomi TV:
- 🎯 ATV Launcher is a minimalist interface with support for widgets and gestures. TV 9–12.
- 🖥️ HalLauncher – imitates the classic Windows-style, convenient for working with files.
- 🎮 Game Launcher – Optimized for gamers, with quick access to emulators.
Installation instructions:
- Download. APK-a launcher file to a flash drive (for example, from the APKMirror website).
- Connect the flash drive to the TV through USB-port.
- Open the File Manager on TV, find the APK and install it.
- In the TV settings, select the new launcher as the standard application (Settings → Applications → Default Launcher).
💡
Alternative launchers may conflict with Xiaomi’s proprietary services (such as PatchWall). Create a restore point in your system settings before installing.
Frequent problems and their solutions
When changing wallpaper to Xiaomi TV, users encounter common mistakes, and we have collected the most common ways to fix them:
Problem 1: Wallpaper is reset after reset.
- 🔄 Check if the energy saving mode is enabled in the screen settings.
- 📁 Make sure that the image is stored in internal memory, not on a removable medium.
- 🔧 Update the TV firmware to the latest version.
Problem 2: The wallpaper app is not installed.
- 📱 Check the compatibility of the application with the Android version TV on your model.
- 🔓 Enable installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Security → Unknown sources).
- 🖥️ Try to install it. APK through ADB (see method 3).
Problem 3: The image is stretched or cropped.
- 📏 Use images with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a resolution that matches yours TV.
- 🎨 Edit wallpaper in a graphic editor (such as Photoshop or GIMP) before loading.
- 🔍 In wallpaper settings, select the screen size mode instead of stretch.