How to change the screensaver on the lock screen Xiaomi: 5 ways for all versions of MIUI

The lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on a Xiaomi smartphone, and the overall impression of the device depends on its appearance. Standard MIUI wallpapers become boring over time, and users want to personalize the gadget to their own style. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to change the screensaver on the lock screen, including hidden features of MIUI 14, circumventing restrictions on some models and using third-party tools.

It's important to understand that the process can vary depending on the firmware version and the phone model. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 Pro, the algorithm is almost identical, but the owners of Xiaomi 13 Ultra have additional animation options available, we took into account all the nuances and prepared a universal guide that will help even if the standard settings do not work.

Why Xiaomi can not simply change the lock wallpaper as on the desktop

Many users find that the gallery or wallpaper menu does not have a separate option for the lock screen. This is not a coincidence, but a feature of the MIUI shell. By default, the system synchronizes the background of the desktop and locks, but there are ways to separate them:

• 🔒 Manufacturer restrictions: Xiaomi blocks direct background locking on some models due to security policies (e.g., on devices for the Chinese market).
• 📱 Version. MIUI: In the firmware older MIUI 12.5: "Different Wallpaper" is available on budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) She may be absent.
• 🛠️ Technical nuances: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro) the system automatically optimizes the screensaver colors to save energy.

Interestingly, on some versions of MIUI for the global market, the option to change the background lock is hidden in the depth of the menu. For example, in MIUI 13 for Xiaomi 11T, the path to settings is different from what MIUI 14 offers on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+.

Method 1: Standard change via MIUI settings (works on 80% of devices)

This is the easiest method that is suitable for most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 12.5 and later.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to Wallpaper (or Lock Screen on some models).
3. Select the Lock Screen tab - if it is not, tap three points in the upper right corner and activate the option Different wallpaper.
4. Click Change Wallpaper and select the source: 🖼️ Gallery - their own photos; 🌄 Themes - standard wallpaper MIUI; 🎨 Live Wallpaper – Animations (not available on all devices).

Apply

If your device does not have a lock screen tab, the manufacturer has restricted this function, in which case move on to the following ways.

Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version

Make sure that the image you select has a resolution of at least 1080×1920

Turn off the power saving mode (can block changes)

Make a backup of the current wallpaper (Settings) → Wallpaper. → Save)-->

Method 2: Using the "Themes" application for unique screensavers

The Themes app (pre-installed on all Xiaomi) offers thousands of free and paid wallpapers, including animated ones, which works even on devices where the standard shift is blocked:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush and palette).
2. Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
3. Select your favorite screensaver and click Apply.
4. If required, confirm the download of the theme (some wallpapers require the installation of a full theme).

Method 4: Manually modifying through file manager (for power users)

This method is suitable for devices where standard methods are blocked, but requires caution. On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, this method can lead to a reset of wallpaper after a reboot.

1. Download your favorite image and rename it in lockscreen_wallpaper (jpg or.png format).
2. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as MiXplorer).
3. Cross the path: /data/system/users/0/ and find the wallpaper file or wallpaper_lock (It can be called differently depending on the model).
4. Replace the existing file with your image, retaining the original name.
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Incorrectly changing files in the folder /data/system/ It can cause a malfunction of the interface, and we recommend you to back up the original file beforehand.

An alternative path for some models:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.systemui/files/wallpapers/

Method 5: Resetting wallpaper through ADB (advanced method)

If previous methods have failed, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer connection and USB debugging, but it works on all versions of MIUI.

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and activate Debugging over USB.

adb shell cmd overlay enable-exclusive com.android.systemui --user current

Then apply the new wallpaper through the standard menu - now the option should appear.

After changing the wallpaper, turn off the exclusive mode:

adb shell cmd overlay disable-exclusive com.android.systemui --user current

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB This can cause system services to fail if you interrupt the process or enter the command incorrectly.

💡

ADB-All teams work with Xiaomi regardless of the version. MIUI, But you need to pre-set up the debugging, and this is a technique that's often used to unlock hidden functions.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful wallpaper changes, users are confronted with bugs, and we've collected typical situations and ways to fix them:

If your problem is not described in the table, check:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes bugs are patched).
• 📱 Reset the lock screen settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the lock screen settings.
• 🛠️ Remove the app cache Settings and Themes in Settings → Annexes → Application management.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions