How to change the screensaver on the Xiaomi phone: from static to live wallpaper

Personalization of the interface is the first thing that a user turns to after buying a new smartphone, and the question of how to change the screensaver on a Xiaomi phone, invariably tops the list of popular queries. Owners of brand devices often find that standard images preinstalled by the system quickly become tedious, and the process of replacing them in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS has its own unique features that differ from pure Android. A properly selected background image not only pleases the eye, but also allows you to quickly navigate the lock menu, especially if you use the “Second space” function or multiple users mode.

Modern AMOLED screens, which are equipped with flagship and mid-budget models of Redmi and Xiaomi, are capable of displaying deep black and saturated shades, so it is important to know how to activate special image formats for maximum quality. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to change the background, from classic galleries to hidden features of the system application “Themes”, which allow you to create dynamic scenes and customize the display of time.

Standard method of changing wallpaper through system settings

The most obvious and quick way to change the visual design of the lock screen and desktop is to use the built-in settings menu, which is available on all current firmware versions. First, you need to unlock the device and find the Settings icon on your desktop, which usually looks like a gray gear. After logging into the menu, you will need to scroll down to the wallpaper and personalization section, where all the main interface customization tools are concentrated.

In the window that opens, the system will offer several categories of image sources: a local gallery, an online Xiaomi directory and special effects. If you want to install your own photo taken by the camera or downloaded from the Internet, you should select the Gallery or Local, after which the file manager will open to select a specific file. that when you select an image, the system will automatically offer to fram it for your screen resolution, and also immediately apply it either to the lock screen, or on the desktop, or on both screens at the same time.

You should pay attention to the Wallpaper Carousel feature, which is often turned on by default on new Xiaomi devices.This mechanism automatically changes images on the locked screen every time the device wakes up, downloading content from the online directory. If your goal is a static picture that you chose yourself, make sure you turn off this service, otherwise your personal screensaver will be periodically replaced by advertising or news slides from the manufacturer.

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To save battery power on AMOLED-On screens, choose wallpaper with a predominance of black color, since such pixels simply turn off and do not consume energy.

Using the “Themes” application for enhanced features

The Themes app (or Themes) is the central hub for customization in the Xiaomi ecosystem and offers much more features than a standard gallery. Here you can find not just static pictures, but entire design packages that include icons, fonts and, of course, high-quality screensavers optimized for specific smartphone models. To access the extensive wallpaper database, you can open the app, go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower navigation menu and choose the category of interest, whether it is nature, abstraction, cars or anime.

One of the key features of this method is the ability to install live wallpapers that move when interacting with the screen or just while the smartphone is running. These screensavers can display the current time in the form of complex animations, respond to the tilts of the device thanks to a gyroscope or even show the weather in a dynamic format. However, it is worth remembering that active animation on the desktop can consume additional battery life, so on devices with a small battery, this should be treated with caution.

The installation process from the Themes app is as simple as possible: once you find the image you like, you click Download and then Apply. The system will determine where the graphics fit best, but you can manually select the target screen. In addition, there are often always On Display-enabled wallpapers in the app that continue to display time and notifications even when the screen is off, if this feature is supported by your display matrix.

Customize live wallpaper and depth effects

Xiaomi’s live wallpaper technology has evolved dramatically, and it’s not just short video loops, but complex scenes that respond to user actions. New versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 have added support for depth effects, where time on the lock screen is partially overlapped by foreground objects, creating the illusion of three-dimensional space. To activate such effects, you need to search the Themes section for the Effect Wallpapers or Super Wallpapers section.

Super wallpapers are highly detailed models of planets or the globe that can be rotated with your finger directly on a locked screen. When unlocking a smartphone, the camera’s “flight” animation into the object is smoothly animated, creating an impressive visual transition. It’s important to understand that enough free RAM is required to work properly for such heavy graphic elements, so on budget models with 4 GB of RAM and less, the system can automatically limit fps or turn off complex effects to maintain performance.

Users can also adjust the behavior of live wallpapers through the Settings → Wallpaper → Live Wallpaper settings, where you can adjust the volume of the soundtrack (if any), turn off the animation when you leave your pocket to save energy, or prohibit video playback in charge-saving mode, giving you the flexibility to manage the balance between the beauty of the interface and the autonomy of the device.

Installation of your own photo or pictures from the gallery

Often users want to see their favorite pet, family or landscape from a vacation, which requires knowing the correct algorithm for installing an image from their personal gallery. Open the Gallery app, find the desired photo and click on the three dots in the upper right corner or the “More” button. In the drop-down menu, select Set as wallpaper, after which the system will suggest selecting a framing area.

The critical point is aspect ratio. Modern Xiaomi smartphones have 20:9 or 19.5:9 elongated screens, while most photos are taken in 4:3 or 16:9. When installed, the system will automatically trim the edges from above and below unless you apply background blur. The blur feature (Blur) automatically fills empty side areas with stretched and blurred edges of the main image, avoiding black bars on the sides of the screen.

⚠️ WARNING: When you set up photos with fine details or text, make sure they are not overlaid by watch widgets or app icons. Best of all, portraits with a shifted center or landscapes with a clear separation into the sky and the ground.

For users who want to create a slideshow from their photos, there is a Wallpaper Slideshow feature that allows you to select an album in a gallery that will be broadcast on the lock screen at a given time interval. It is a great alternative to the standard Xiaomi carousel, since you have full control of the content and do not depend on the Internet connection to download new pictures.

Comparison of wallpaper formats and their effect on the battery

The choice of type of screensaver directly affects the power consumption of the device, especially if used AMOLED-To help you determine, we have compiled a comparative table of the different wallpaper formats available on Xiaomi and Redmi devices.

From the table it is clear that for maximum autonomy it is best to use static images with a predominance of dark tones. AMOLED-The screens don't illuminate black pixels, which on a day-scale gives you significant cost savings, especially in Always On Display mode. 3D-The scenes can be consumed up to 5-10% battery charge per day simply due to the constant rendering of the graphics by the processor and GPU.

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The optimal choice for daily use is a high-resolution static image with a dark background, which provides a balance between aesthetics and battery life.

If you notice that your smartphone starts to run out or heat up faster after installing a new theme, try going back to the standard static wallpaper to test your hypothesis. It’s also worth considering that some “heavy” themes can conflict with specific versions of Android, causing micro-lags when you scroll through desktops.

Solution: if the screensaver does not change or is reset

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the set screensaver spontaneously changes to the standard or does not apply at all, most often due to the work of aggressive algorithms for system optimization or the conflict of access rights in the application Themes. The first thing to check whether the “Carousel wallpaper” mode is included in the lock screen settings, since it takes precedence over user settings.

The second common reason is to clear memory with third-party antiviruses or a built-in cleaner that can remove the cache of live wallpaper, perceiving them as temporary files.To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Themes, select Resolution and make sure the app is allowed to run in the background and autorun.It is also recommended to clear the the theme app data, but remember that this will reset the the theme settings itself if you haven't saved them in your Mi Account.

⚠️ Warning: If after resetting settings or updating firmware wallpaper is gone, check for system updates. MIUI/HyperOS This can lead to loss of personalization, and a security patch fixes this problem.

In rare cases, the problem lies in the image file format. The system can not accept WebP or HEIC files (from iPhones) without first converting. If the image is not installed, try opening it in the gallery, taking a screenshot or saving it as a copy in JPG format, and then there should be no problems with application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)