How to put animated wallpaper on Xiaomi: 3 proven ways

Live wallpaper transforms the smartphone screen, making it dynamic and unique. - Xiaomi's shell-like devices MIUI There are a number of ways to install animated wallpaper, from standard tools to third-party applications with advanced capabilities, but not all methods are equally effective: Some require root rights, others only work on certain firmware versions, and still others can slow down the system if the settings are incorrect.

In this article, we will discuss three working methods for installing live wallpaper on Xiaomi, including the Redmi models, POCO and flagship series Mi/Xiaomi. We will pay special attention to the nuances of compatibility with MIUI 12–15 Android 10–14, And we'll also warn you against the typical bugs that lead to lags or animation failures. If you want to not just change the background, but create a truly unique interface, read on.

1. Standard live wallpaper in MIUI: What can be done without third-party applications

Shell MIUI It offers built-in animated wallpaper, but there's a limited choice:

Settings → Wallpaper → Live wallpaper

There are several options available here:

🌊 Waves are dynamic lines that respond to touch.
🌌 Cosmos is a slow-moving star and nebula.
🌈 Color transitions – smooth change of shades (does not work on all models).
📱 System animations – wallpaper with unlock effects (for example, MIUI 14 added "Particle energy").

The main advantage of this method is that there are no risks to the system, and the wallpaper is optimized for Xiaomi iron and does not eat the battery charge.

❌ Few options (usually 3-5 pieces).
❌ No way to upload your animations.
❌ On budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) may slow down.

📊 What wallpaper you prefer on a smartphone?

Standard static

Live (animated)

Topics from MIUI Themes

Photos of themselves

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI Global for Europe, the Live Wallpaper section may not be available, due to regional restrictions, and the solution is to change the region in the Mi Account settings (but this can disrupt services such as Google Pay).

2. Apps for live wallpaper: TOP-5 tested

If there are few built-in wallpapers, third-party apps come to the rescue, and we tested dozens of options and selected the 5 most stable for Xiaomi:

Annex	Pluses	Cons	Compatibility
Wallpapers Craft	More than 1,000 animated wallpapers, support 4K, low-consumption battery.	Advertising is free, some wallpaper is paid.	MIUI 12–15, Android 10+
KLWP Live Wallpaper	Full customization (you can create your own animations), integration with Tasker.	A complex interface for beginners, takes time to set up.	Any Xiaomi, but better on flagships (Xiaomi 13, POCO F5)
Live Wallpapers 4K	Optimized for AMOLED-screens, there is wallpaper with paralax effect.	Some animations are slowed down on weak chips (Snapdragon) 4xx).	MIUI 13+, Android 11+
3D Parallax Background	The depth effect of tilting the phone supports the GIFs.	It puts the battery down hard, it can heat the processor.	Only for models with a gyroscope (Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi) K50)
Muzei Live Wallpaper	Automatic change of wallpaper from gallery or online sources.	Limited animation settings.	All versions of MIUI

To install wallpaper from the applications:

Download the app from Google Play (like Wallpapers Craft).
Open it and select your favorite wallpaper.
Click "Install" - the system will redirect you to the wallpaper menu MIUI.
Select "Live Wallpaper" and confirm the application.

Check the vacant space (minimum 200 MB)

Close the background applications (especially games)

Connect charging (in case of heavy load)

Disable energy saving in battery settings-->

⚠️ Attention: Apps like KLWP They may conflict with systemic themes. MIUI. If after installing wallpaper icons or widgets disappear, reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the data.

3. How to install live wallpaper through APK: method

Some animated wallpapers are distributed as.apk files (such as official wallpaper from Samsung or OnePlus) to install:

Download.apk from a trusted source (we recommend APKMirror).
Allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Annexes → Special permits → Installation of unknown applications → Select a browser/file manager
Set.apk and restart your phone.
Go to Settings. → Wallpaper. → Live Wallpaper – New Options Should Appear on the List.

Important:.apk wallpapers often contain viruses or spyware. Before installing, check the file on VirusTotal and read reviews on forums (for example, check the file on VirusTotal, 4PDA or XDA Developers).

How to remove installed through APK wallpaper?

If the wallpaper started to slow down the system or seemed suspicious, delete them as a regular application: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Find the wallpaper app (usually the title has "Live Wallpaper"). Click "Delete" and confirm. If the wallpaper is left on the list, reset the launcher settings (see the warning above).

This method is suitable for installing exclusive wallpaper, for example:

🎨 Google Wallpaper (e.g., Earth with) 3D-planet).
🐉 Review: Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail).
📱 Wallpaper with effects from manufacturers (for example, Oppo or Realme).

4.Live wallpaper problems on Xiaomi: how to fix brakes and bugs

Animated wallpaper can cause the following problems:

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Wallpaper slows down.	A weak processor or little RAM.	Set up light wallpaper (without). 3D-effects or use muzei.
The battery goes down fast.	Animation is constantly loading GPU.	Turn off wallpaper for sleep time: Settings → Display. → Sleeping mode. → Live wallpaper → Shut down.
Wallpaper disappears after reboot	Conflict with systemic themes.	Set wallpaper through Settings → Wallpaper, not from the app.
Black screen when unlocked	Incompatibility with MIUI.	Reset the launcher settings or remove the wallpaper.

If the wallpaper is not working properly, try:

🔄 Reboot the phone.
🗑️ Clear the launcher cache (Settings) → Annexes → Launcher → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
📱 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes bugs are patched).

💡

If you like it, try to reduce the resolution. To do this, download the video version of the wallpaper (for example, from YouTube to YouTube). 720p), convert.mp4 And install it through the Video Live Wallpaper app, which will reduce the processor load.

5. How to Create Your Animated Wallpaper for Xiaomi

If you want a unique wallpaper, you can make it yourself. Here are 3 ways:

From video: Download video without sound (like Pexels or Pixabay). Cut it to 10-15 seconds in any video editor. Install it via Video Live Wallpaper (available on Google Play).
From the GIF: Find the GIF on GIPHY Or Tenor. Convert to.mp4 through EZGIF. Use the same Video Live Wallpaper app.

V KLWP:

Install. KLWP and import the template.
Add your images or animations through Add → Animation.
Export like live wallpaper.

To create wallpaper from the video, we recommend the following settings:

🎞️ Permission: no higher 1080p (Otherwise, it'll be lags).
🔄 Length: 10-20 seconds (short videos weigh less).
🎨 Format:.mp4 codeced H.264.

💡

Homemade wallpapers in videos consume more battery than standard ones. FPS video up to 24-30 frames / s and turn off background animation in the settings MIUI (Settings → Display. → Animation of the system → Off.).

6. Alternatives to live wallpaper: dynamic themes and widgets

If animated wallpaper doesn’t fit (for example, because of brakes), consider alternatives:

🌈 Dynamic themes MIUI: In Themes → Online, there are themes with animated icons and transitions that are lighter than live wallpaper, but visually just as interesting. Try Neon, Quantum or Dark Matter themes".
⚙️ Animated widgets: Applications like KWGT or UCCW They allow you to create animated widgets (watches, weather, battery) that work on top of the wallpaper and do not load the system.
🖼️ Interactive Wallpaper: Tapet-type apps generate unique wallpapers that change when touched or depending on the time of day.

The advantage of these methods is that they consume less resources, like a widget with an animated watch from the computer. KWGT It loads the processor by 5-10%, while live wallpaper can take up to 30%.

7. compatibility of live wallpaper with different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones work equally well with animated wallpaper. Here is a brief guide to compatibility:

Series of devices	Support for live wallpaper	Recommendations
Xiaomi 13/14 series, Mix Fold	✅ Full support, including 4K-animation.	You can install any wallpaper, including KLWP complex.
Redmi Note 11/12, POCO F4/F5	✅ It supports but can be a lag with 3D-wallpaper.	Use light animations or Muzei.
Redmi 10A/9A, POCO M3/M4	⚠️ Partial support (brakes with complex wallpaper).	Restrict yourself to standard wallpaper. MIUI or static themes.
Xiaomi Pad 5/6	✅ Great support, but high resolution requires optimized wallpaper.	Use permission wallpaper. 2560×1600.

On weak devices (Snapdragon) 4xx, Helio G35) squashing can lead to:

🔋 Fast battery discharge (up to 15-20% per hour in idle time).
🐢 Slowing down interface animations (MIUI squirt").
🔥 Overheating of the processor (especially in summer).

💡

On budget Xiaomi (for example, Redmi) 9C) Instead of live wallpaper, install animated icons through themes. MIUI. They give a similar visual effect, but do not burden the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about live wallpaper on Xiaomi

Can I put a live wallpaper on Xiaomi without root?

Yes, root is not required for most methods. MIUI or third-party apps from Google Play, with the exception of some custom wallpapers (such as those ported from iOS) that require superuser rights.

Why aren’t my Xiaomi’s live wallpaper installed?

Possible reasons: Old version MIUI (Update your firmware. Regional restrictions (try changing region in your Mi Account); conflict with the set theme (reset the theme to standard); memory shortage (release at least 1 GB).

How to turn off the wallpaper if it slows down the phone?

Go to Settings. → Wallpaper, select static wallpaper and apply it. If wallpaper is installed through a third-party application, delete it or disable it in Settings → Annexes.

Can I make a live wallpaper from my video?

Yes, with apps like Video Live Wallpaper or KLWP. The video should be: Short (up to 20 seconds) in format.mp4. With permission no higher. 1080p (Otherwise, it'll be lags).

Are there any live wallpapers that don’t plant a battery?

The most economical options: Muzei - changes wallpapers on a schedule without animation. Wallpapers Craft (Battery Savings mode). Standard wallpaper MIUI (For example, "Color transitions"). Also turn off animation in the developer settings (Settings). → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → For developers → Animation. = 0.5x).