Personalizing the interface of a smartphone starts with the main thing — with what you see immediately after you press the power button. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the desire to replace a standard boring image with a personal photo or high-quality art. However, the structure of the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS has its own features that can confuse the inexperienced user. Standard wallpapers often look static and lifeless, without reflecting the personality of the gadget owner.
The process of replacing an image seems trivial, but the system offers many hidden features that many people do not know: you can set up automatic image change, use Wallpaper Carousel or simply pin your favorite photo from a gallery. It is important to understand the difference between a lock screen and a desktop, since the settings for them are separated. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to set images to make your smartphone look truly unique.
It's worth noting that in recent firmware versions, media algorithms have been improved. Now the system better handles high-resolution images, properly scaling them to the camera cutout and dynamic widgets. The quality of the source file plays a critical role: blurry photos on a high-resolution screen will look sloppy. We will also touch on the topic of intrusive advertising, which Xiaomi sometimes implements in standard themes, and explain how to get rid of it when choosing a design.
Image Preparation and Format Requirements
Before you go to the system settings, you need to make sure that the source file meets the technical requirements of your display. Modern screens of Xiaomi smartphones have a high pixel density, so old low-resolution photos can look grainy. The ideal option would be images with a resolution equal to or exceeding the native resolution of your device’s matrix. For FullHD+ screens, the minimum comfortable reference point is a size of 1080×2400 pixels.
The file format also matters. Although the system supports most popular formats, such as JPG and PNG, using the alpha channel (transparency) PNG format can lead to unpredictable results in some launchers. It is best to use standard sRGB color profiles to keep the colors on the screen from going unnatural. If you take photos from social networks, make sure that there is no strong compression that kills the detail when you save them.
The orientation of the image deserves special attention. The lock screen always works in portrait mode, so vertical shots are perfect. Horizontal photos are automatically cropped or scaled, which often leads to the loss of important details at the edges of the frame. Before installation, it is recommended to open the photo in the editor and perform framing, leaving the main composition in the center.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using images with very bright white areas at the top of the screen if you have a device with a AMOLED-The constant display of static bright elements can theoretically lead to uneven wear of pixels (burnout) in the long run.
You can use built-in gallery tools or third-party apps to edit and prepare your photos. The standard MIUI editor has a retouch magic feature and smart framing that helps you adapt your photos to the screen format. Save your prepared files in a separate folder so you don't search for them for long among thousands of other shots at the time of setting.
Classic method of installation through the Gallery
The fastest and most obvious method that most Xiaomi smartphone owners use is to install directly from the gallery app. This method does not require going to the deep settings menu and takes only a few seconds. The algorithm of actions is the same for all models, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 14.
Once you open the image, click on the "More" button (usually the three dots in the bottom corner) or just swipe up to open the operation menu. In the list that appears, select "Install as wallpaper." The system will offer two options: "lock screen" and "Desktop." For our task, choose the first option. If you want the same photo to be everywhere, you can select "Both screens."
☑️ Pre-installing check
The important thing is that after you select the target screen, the system will suggest moving and zooming the image. Don't ignore this step! The preview shows how the photo will fall on the screen with the watch widgets and notifications. Often the system clock overshadows the key elements of the face or object in the photo, so it's worth shifting the picture a little lower or higher.
If you notice that the colors look dull after installation, check the display settings. In Settings → Screen → Color scheme, you can choose “Saturated” or “Classic” mode, which will change the perception of the installed wallpaper. Also, it is worth considering that on screens with a high refresh rate (120 Hz), unlock animation can be superimposed on a static photo, creating a depth effect.
Using the “Themes” application for customization
Xiaomi’s official Themes store is a powerful tool that is often underestimated as a source of only paid content. However, this is where the best options for fine-tuning the lock screen are hidden, not available in the standard gallery. In the app, you can find not just static pictures, but entire scenarios with animations, live widgets and interactive elements.
To install your photo through this app, go to the Profile tab (the person icon in the lower right corner). This is the Wallpaper section. Unlike the gallery, this section allows you to manage a library of images designed specifically for the interface design. You can upload a photo from the device's memory by clicking on the plus icon or selecting Local.
The advantage of using the Themes app is that it can add additional effects, some themes allow you to add filters, change the style of displaying hours and dates on top of your photo, and create a unique design that will differ from the standard Android solution, and it is easier to manage the collection, you can create wallpaper packs and quickly switch between them.
Be careful when downloading free themes from an online directory. Often, along with a beautiful lock screen design, you get intrusive ads in the notification curtain or on the lock screen itself. Always check the reviews and author ratings of the topic before installing. If the topic is labeled “Premium” or has suspiciously many downloads from an unknown developer, it is best to refrain.
Setting up the wallpaper carousel (Glance/Lock Screen Magazine)
One of the most talked-about features in the MIUI shell is the Wallpaper Carousel (known in some regions as Glance or Lock Screen Magazine), which automatically changes the image on the lock screen every time you turn on the screen, uploading new photos from Xiaomi directories. For many users, it is a source of annoyance due to advertising, but for others, a way to constantly see new content.
To activate or configure this feature, go to Settings → Lock screen. Here you will find the option "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Wallpaper with tape." Inside the menu you can select categories of interests: nature, cities, art, sports. The system will match the images of the relevant subject. This is a great way to revive the phone without personal involvement, if you set the filters correctly.
However, if your goal is to put a specific personal photo, it is better to turn off this feature, since it takes precedence over static images. The carousel menu has an “On” switch that needs to be put into an inactive state, only after that the system will allow you to fix one image you choose without the risk of automatic replacement after 5 minutes.
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper Carousel consumes mobile traffic to download new images. If you charge every megabyte, make sure the carousel settings have a limit of "Download only via Wi-Fi».
An interesting feature is the ability to add your photos to the carousel. In some versions of the firmware, in the carousel settings, there is a “My Albums” option, where you can add a folder with personal photos, then the phone will cyclically show your photos interspersed with advertising content (unless the ads are turned off in the global account settings).
Addressing scaling and quality issues
A common problem with Xiaomi users is that after installing a beautiful photo, it looks stretched, cropped or blurred. This is due to a mismatch between the aspect ratio of the image and the screen matrix. Modern smartphones have elongated proportions (for example, 20:9), while most photos on the Internet are 4:3 or 16:9. The system tries to “tighten” the picture, which leads to artifacts.
To solve this problem, use the Panorama or Parallax-Effected Wallpaper feature if available in your HyperOS version. But a more reliable way is pre-processing. Open the photo in the editor and set the exact size of the canvas to match your screen resolution (e.g., 1220×2640 for some Poco models). Fill the empty fields with a blurred copy of the main image or a monochrome color to avoid black stripes.
It's also worth checking the "Enlarged Screen" or "One Hand Mode" settings if activated. These features can change the interface's scaling, which indirectly affects how wallpaper is displayed. Resetting zoom to a standard value often returns clarity to the picture.
Why is the photo on the lock screen darker than the gallery?
If nothing helps and the system is persistently spoiling the quality, try converting the image to a JPG format with 100% quality through a computer graphics editor, changing the color profile to sRGB IEC61966-2.1. This is a standard that is guaranteed to display correctly on all mobile devices without color distortion.
Comparison of wallpaper installation methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have prepared a comparative table of the main methods of installing photos on the lock screen in Xiaomi devices. Each method has its advantages depending on your goals: speed, quality or functionality.
| Method | Difficulty | Quality. | Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the Gallery | Low. | Original | Basic framing |
| Annex Topics | Medium | High. | Effects, watch styles |
| Wallpaper carousel | Low. | Variable | Auto shift, news. |
| Third-party launchers | Tall. | Depends on the software. | Full control, widgets |
As you can see from the table, a standard gallery is best for quick installation of personal photos. If you want to create an atmosphere and are willing to take the time to customize, the Themes app will give a more interesting visual result, and the carousel will be suitable for those who like variety and do not want to waste time searching for pictures on their own.
💡
The choice of method depends on your goal: Gallery for personal photos, App Themes for stylization, Carousel for constant updating of content.
Additional features of the lock screen
The lock screen in MIUI and HyperOS is not just a picture, it's an information hub that can display widgets, battery status, steps and notifications. When you install a new photo, it's important to consider how the white or black digits of the watch will be read against it, and if the photo is motley, the text can merge, which will reduce the functionality of the device.
In lock screen settings → Editor (available in some themes) you can change the font of the watch and its position. Try to move the watch down or up to free up the central part of the image for review. You can also include the depth effect, when the clock is partially overlapped with objects in the photo (does not work on all models and requires support from the theme).
Don’t forget to use Always Screen On (AOD) mode. If your photo contains important details, they may not be visible in AOD mode, as it only displays a simplified outline or time. For AOD, it’s better to choose contrast images or use built-in animated screensavers that are activated when the phone is lifted.
⚠️ Attention: Installing heavy animated wallpapers as the background of the lock screen can significantly increase battery consumption. Use them only if the battery life of the smartphone is completely satisfied with you.
Experiment with different images at different times of the day, in the morning, bright, motivating pictures look good, and in the evening, dark colors that do not cut your eyes in the dark. Some users create separate albums "Morning" and "Evening" and change the wallpaper manually or through automation.