Smartphone personalization is not just a fashion homage, but a way to turn a standard device into a unique gadget that reflects your personality. Owners Xiaomi and Redmi often face the desire to change the standard, tired look of the lock screen, which goes “out of the box.” Fortunately, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide tremendous opportunities for this, far beyond simply changing the picture.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the ways you can transform your interface, from built-in features to deep customizations through third-party apps. The lock screen is the first thing you see when you wake up a device, so its aesthetics directly affect the visual perception of the entire system.
Before you start, it’s worth noting that most manipulations are safe and do not require Root rights. However, when experimenting with system themes, always remember to return the standard settings to the original state if the result does not suit you.
Use of the built-in “Themes” application
The easiest and most reliable way to radically change the look of the lock screen is to use the official theme store. This built-in Themes app (or Themes) contains thousands of design options created by both Xiaomi itself and independent designers.
When choosing a new topic, it is important to pay attention to the lock screen preview, since some author's works only change the icons, leaving the system lockscreen unchanged. To find the desired style, type keywords into the search bar, for example, "minimalism", "anime" or "neon".
- 🎨 Open the Topics app and go to the Profile or My Pages tab».
- 🔍 Click on the “Search” button and enter the desired design style.
- ⬇️ Download your favorite theme and click the "Apply" button».
- ⚙️ In the application menu, make sure that there is a tick opposite the item "Block screen».
⚠️ Note: Some topics may contain ads or require you to watch videos to unlock.Always check other users' reviews before installing.
It's worth noting that the theme's application not only affects the lock screen, but also the control panel, app icons, and system sounds. If your goal is to change only the lockscreen, you can go back to the settings after applying the theme and choose the standard wallpaper style, while saving new fonts or icons if you like them.
Setting up live wallpaper and Always on Display
Modern. AMOLED-Redmi Note and Mi flagship series screens allow you to use Always On Display (AOD). It is not just a black wallpaper with a clock, but a full-fledged element of style that remains active even in sleep mode.
To set up, go to Settings and find Always On and Lock. Here you can choose a static image, animated GIF, or even a special AOD format that responds to touch, which adds premium and functionality to the device.
Live Wallpapers are another powerful tool, and unlike static images, they can respond to device tilts or display dynamic effects, but it's worth remembering that active animation on a locked screen can slightly increase battery consumption.
- 🖼️ In the wallpaper menu, select the category "Live wallpaper».
- 🔋 Turn off animations if you want to save battery power.
- 🕒 Set up a work schedule AOD, so it doesn't burn all night.
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Use dark live wallpaper with a black background for AMOLED-screens – this significantly reduces power consumption compared to bright images.
It's important to distinguish between live wallpaper and video wallpaper. The former are system optimized and consume less resources, while the latter can be heavy video files that load the processor even in the background. For everyday use, it's better to choose optimized options from the system gallery.
Customization of watches and widgets on the lock screen
One of the most notable parts of the lockscreen is the watch, and the new MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS have the ability to change not only the color, but also the font, size and location of the dial, allowing you to create a unique design without installing third-party themes.
To access the editor, press and hold your finger on the lock screen (in some versions, you need to click on the edit button in the corner).The system will offer several options for displaying time: large numbers, minimalist text or classic analog style.
| Type of display | Description | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Large print | Numbers occupy 60% of the screen, minimalism | All versions of MIUI 12+ |
| Classic. | Standard top location | All versions of Android |
| Widget slider | Clock with additional data (weather) | MIUI 13, HyperOS |
| Animated | Dynamic change of color or shape | Only then. |
In addition to the clock, you can display widgets on the lock screen: steps, weather, headphone charge or calendar, which turns a locked screen into an information bar, but overloading with widgets can make it difficult to quickly unlock the device.
☑️ Checking widgets
Application of third-party launchers and applications
If the standard functionality of Xiaomi is not enough for you, applications from the Google Play Market come to the rescue. Programs like Hi Locker, Lock Screen & Notifications or CM Locker allow you to completely replace the system lock screen with a custom one.
Such apps give access to hundreds of pre-made styles, the ability to add slider passwords, news widgets, and even unlock games.Installing a third-party lockscreen requires special permissions such as "Above Other Windows" and access to notifications.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party screen locking apps may conflict with system security features such as a fingerprint scanner or face unlock.
When using third-party solutions, be prepared for the fact that they can consume more power than the native system, and some features, such as fast start of the camera on the volume button, may stop working correctly.
Why can third-party blockers slow down?
Editing system fonts and UI elements
Changing the font is an easy way to refresh the interface without installing heavy themes. The Theme Store has a separate Fonts section where you can download and apply new fonts, which will change the time display on the lock screen and throughout the system.
For advanced users, there is the possibility of manual replacement of system font files through the root file manager, but this method is not recommended for beginners because of the risk of getting a “brick” instead of a working smartphone.
Additionally, you can find options to zoom in on text or resize interface elements, which indirectly affects how the lock screen looks, with large text making the watch more visible, and small text making room for widgets.
- 🔤 Get into Themes -> fonting.
- 👁️ Use preview to evaluate readability.
- ✅ Apply the font and restart the device for correct display.
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Changing the font is the easiest way to personalize, and it doesn’t affect smartphone performance and battery.
Solving problems and resetting settings
Sometimes, after installing a new theme or updating the system, the lock screen may behave incorrectly: widgets disappear, the fingerprint scanner does not work, or time is lost, in which case the first step is to check whether the installed theme does not conflict with the current version of Android.
If problems persist, it is recommended to reset the lock screen settings. To do this, go to Settings -> Password and Security -> Privacy (or a similar path in your version of MIUI) and find the lockscreen settings reset point. This will return the standard wallpaper and widgets.
In the rare cases where the interface freezes, it may be necessary to clear the Themes app cache or even remove updates. To do this, go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps, find "Themes" and select "Clear Data."