How to put your photo on the lock screen Xiaomi Poco X3: step-by-step guide

Xiaomi Poco X3 is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, but even its owners sometimes face non-obvious settings. One of these tasks is to replace the standard wallpaper with a lock screen with a personal photo. Unlike the main screen, where changing wallpaper is intuitive, it requires knowledge of hidden MIUI functions.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can go from the basic method through the gallery to manually installing it through the file manager (relevant to custom firmware users), and you’ll learn why sometimes photos don’t show up correctly, how to get around system limitations, and what image formats are supported. If you want your favorite photo to come across every time you unlock your phone, read on.

Why can’t you just change the lock wallpaper on the Poco X3?

Unlike pure Android smartphones, where the lock screen and home screen wallpaper change synchronously, MIUI shares these features.

• 🔒 Security: the default system uses static wallpaper so that attackers can not identify the owner from personal photos.
• 🎨 Design: Xiaomi offers branded themes with animations (like Super Wallpapers) that only work on lockdown.
• ⚡ Performance: Dynamic wallpaper on the home screen can slow down, but on the lock – no.

But that doesn't mean that user-generated content is banned. You just need to know where to look for settings. In some versions of MIUI (especially on the Poco X3 Pro or after upgrading to MIUI 14), the path to settings may be different, and we'll talk about that, too.

Method 1: Standard Replacement with Themes (works on 90% of devices)

This is the simplest method, which does not require additional applications, suitable for the Poco X3 NFC and other modifications with official firmware.

1. Open the Themes app** (the icon with a brush on the home screen).
2. Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
3. Click My Wallpaper → Gallery and select the desired photo.
4. Confirm the choice with the Apply button.

If you don't have a lock screen, your version of MIUI uses a combined setting.

1. In "Themes"**, select Wallpaper → Change.
2. Swipe left to the Lock Screen section (it can be hidden behind the Home Screen tab).
3. Slip on the icon + in the lower right corner and select a photo from the gallery.

Photo has a resolution of at least 1080×2340 pixels

Image in JPG or PNG format

The phone has enough free memory (minimum 500 MB)

Power saving mode is turned off (can block changes)

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Important: If you have a black screen or standard wallpaper on your lock after you use the photo, restart your phone. In 10% of cases, the changes only apply after the reboot.

Method 2: Manual file copying (for power users)

If the standard method does not work (for example, due to custom firmware or bugs) MIUI), You can manually replace the wallpaper file, which requires root rights or ADB.

Instructions:

1. Connect Poco X3 to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → Return to Additional → For Developers).
2. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder on your PC.
3. Open the command line in this folder and type:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/Download/your_photo.jpg /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_lock

Where your_photo.jpg — Your file name (it should be in the Download folder on your phone).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you're not sure, use the first method.

Once you copy, restart your phone. If the photo doesn't apply, check the file rights:

chmod 644 /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_lock

Method 3: Using third-party applications (without root)

If the first two methods didn't work, you can use apps from Google Play. X3:

• 📱 Wallpaper Changer – automatically changes the wallpaper on the schedule.
• 🖼️ Zedge – a huge base of wallpaper with the ability to install on lock.
• 🔧 Muzei – creates a blurry background from your photos (ideal for the future) AMOLED-screen).

How to install via Zedge:

1. Download the application and register.
2. Select the Lock Screen Wallpapers section.
3. Click on your favorite photo. → Set Wallpaper → Lock Screen.

If the application asks permissions to Overlay over other windows, provide them in Settings → Applications → Special Accesses.

💡

Before installing a third-party app, check reviews: some wallpapers may contain hidden ads or collect data about your photos.

Table: Supported photo formats and permissions

Not all images will work for a lock screen, but here are the recommendations for the Poco X3 (2400×1080 screen resolution):

For best results, use a 9:20 aspect ratio (vertical orientation) photo, and if the image is horizontal, the system will automatically cut it down the center.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you have installed the photo correctly, there can be bugs on the block, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Photo resets after rebooting: Reason: System resets settings due to memory optimization.Solution: Turn off Adaptive Brightness in Settings → Display.
• 🖼️ Image blurred: Reason: low source resolution. Solution: use the photo at least 1080×2340.
• ⚡ Wallpaper doesn't change at all: Reason: conflict with the theme of the design. Solution: reset the theme to standard (Settings) → Topics → My subjects. → By default).

⚠️ Note: If you use Live Wallpapers, they may conflict with user photos. Before you install a static image, turn off animations in Settings. → Wallpaper. → Dynamic wallpaper.

💡

On the Poco X3 with MIUI 13+, lock wallpaper is tied to Xiaomi’s account, and if you reset your phone to factory settings, you’ll have to reset it.

Bonus: How to make animated wallpaper to lock

Do you want your photo on the Poco X3 lock to move?

1. Install the Video Live Wallpaper app from Google Play.
2. Create a short video (3-5 seconds) or use the finished video.
3. In the app, select a video → Set as Lock Screen.

Limitations:

• 🎥 The video should be in the format MP4 permittingly 1080p.
• 🔋 Animated wallpaper consumes up to 5-10% of charge per hour.
• 🚫 Not working in the energy saving mode.

Use the battery to save money GIF-wallpaper GIF Live Wallpaper. They consume less resources, but only support cyclic animation.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions