Personalizing the interface of a smartphone is the first thing a user does after buying a new device. Xiaomi owners often find that the standard set of images does not reflect their individuality. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide powerful tools to customize the appearance of the system. You can literally change a static picture to a dynamic one or set your own photo in a couple of touches.
However, the process of setting the background may vary depending on the version of the operating system and the model of the gadget. Some settings are hidden deeper, and some are actively imposed by the system advertising or paid themes. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of working with the image gallery, how to activate live wallpaper and what to do if standard methods do not work.
Classic method through system settings
The most obvious and reliable method of replacing the background is to use the built-in configuration menu. To get to the desired settings, you need to unlock the device and find the Settings icon. Next, you need to scroll down to the Wallpaper section, which is usually located at the top of the menu or in the personalization category.
In the window that opens, the system will offer several categories: static images, live wallpaper and themes. If you want to just select a picture from preinstalled, just click on the one you like and confirm the action with the Apply button. It is important to note that the system will immediately ask whether you want to install the image on the lock screen, desktop or both screens at the same time.
💡
To save battery power on AMOLED screens, choose a completely black static wallpaper - this reduces the power consumption of pixels.
If the standard gallery is empty or doesn’t contain what you want, you can use the Download More button or the plus icon that often leads to the Themes store.There the content is updated regularly, but be prepared for the presence of advertising. For users who appreciate minimalism, it is better to immediately go to download your files through the file manager.
Installation of image from the Gallery
Often, users want to see their favorite self-made or downloaded image on the screen, and the standard settings menu can be unnecessarily complicated, so the easiest way to open the Gallery app, select the photo you want, and click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen.
In the drop-down menu, you will see the option to Set as wallpaper. The system will suggest selecting the framing area if the proportions of the photo do not match the screen resolution. Once you confirm the choice, Xiaomi will offer several options for use: install on the desktop, on the lock screen or use both.
If the image resolution is low, the system can warn you that the image will look blurry, in such cases it is better to search for the file in higher quality or use special photo improvement algorithms built into some versions of MIUI.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Working with live wallpaper and video walls
Modern Xiaomi smartphones support video installation as a desktop background, which makes the interface dynamic and attractive. However, it is worth remembering that constant animation consumes more energy than a static picture. To activate this feature, go to Settings → Wallpaper → Live wallpaper.
You can choose one of the system videos or download your own. To upload your own video file must be stored in the device memory. In some versions of the shell, you first need to install the Live Wallpaper plugin from the store if it is not preinstalled. After selecting the video, the system will suggest that you configure its playback: whether to run it when unlocked or only on the desktop.
Super Wallpapers technology, which debuted in the MIUI 12, which allows you to create amazing planet-scale effects when you unlock the device, and these wallpapers are not available on all models, but they can be found in the theme store or installed through third-party devices. APK-Files that are compatible with your version of Android.
Where can I find hidden wallpaper?
Use of the Application Themes (Themes)
Themes Store is the central hub for customizing any Xiaomi device, where you can find not just pictures, but entire sets that change icons, fonts and sounds. To access wallpaper, open the Themes app and go to the Wallpaper tab in the bottom menu.
The store interface allows you to sort content by popularity, novelty and category. A unique feature is the preview capability: once you select a set, you can see what it will look like on your screen before you install it. Many designers create free, high-quality packages that weigh little and load quickly.
It's important to distinguish between free and paid themes. Paid themes are often marked Pro or a lock icon. However, even paid sets can sometimes be "tried" during the trial period. If you find the perfect background, but it's part of a paid theme, you can often only install wallpaper without buying the entire icon pack.
| Type of content | Where to find out. | Impact on the battery | Memory requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static wallpaper | Settings/Gallery | Minimum | Low (2-5 MB) |
| Live wallpaper | Topics/Settings | Medium/High | Medium (10-50MB) |
| Video wallpaper | Gallery/Files | High. | High (depending on the video) |
| Super Wallpapers | Topics/Plugins | Average. | High (50-100MB) |
Setting up wallpaper carousel
The Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance) feature allows you to automatically change the image on the lock screen every time you turn on the screen, which creates a sense of novelty without the need for manual intervention. You can customize this feature through Settings → Wallpaper → Wallpaper Carousel.
You can choose the categories of images that you're interested in: nature, cities, art, or sports. The system will upload new images from the cloud when you have an Internet connection. This is convenient, but it requires stable connectivity and consumes traffic.
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper carousel can block notifications or widgets on the lock screen in some versions MIUI. If you stop seeing messages from messengers on a locked screen, check the settings of this feature.
For those who don't want to depend on the Internet, there's an option to create their own carousel, so you can create an album in a gallery, add a photo, and select the source of "Album" in the carousel settings, and then the images will only change from your personal collection.
💡
Wallpaper carousel is a great way to diversify the visual experience, but it’s worth turning off if it’s critical to see notifications on a locked screen without unnecessary action.
Solving and eliminating errors
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the wallpaper is not applied, “float” when scrolling desktops or displayed in low quality. Most often the problem lies in the discrepancy between the resolution of the picture and the display parameters. Modern smartphones have an aspect ratio of 20:9 or 19.5:9, and ordinary 16:9 photos can be cropped.
Another common problem is resetting the wallpaper after a reboot or system update, which can happen if the image file has been deleted or moved, and if you install wallpaper from the Downloads folder and then clear the cache, the system could lose its way to the file, in which case the image will return to the standard one.
It is also worth mentioning the bug of "black wallpaper" on some models with AMOLED-If you put a dark picture on the phone, you stop responding to touch or you go into a reboot cycle, it's a rare software failure, and it helps to boot in safe mode and reset the theme settings to standard ones.