How to install wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi with MIUI 12: 3 proven ways

The lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and it sets the mood for the whole day. On Xiaomi with the MIUI 12 shell, you can change the background of this screen in several ways, but not all of them are obvious to users. Unlike newer firmware versions, where the interface is simplified, MIUI 12 retains some hidden settings that allow you to customize the lock deeper than you think.

In this article, you will find 3 working methods for installing wallpapers, from the standard through the gallery to using third-party applications for advanced customization. We will also discuss why sometimes new wallpapers do not apply, how to circumvent the limitations of the system and what to do if the background is reset to the standard after the update. All instructions are tested on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and Mi 11 Lite, but will be suitable for any device on MIUI 12 (including Black Shark and Mi Pad).

Why can’t you just change the wallpaper on MIUI 12?

Xiaomi has traditionally limited the ability to customize the lock screen compared to other manufacturers, and in MIUI 12 this is especially evident: the system does not allow you to directly select any image from the gallery for the lock background, as is done on Samsung One UI or stock Android.

• 🔒 Security: Xiaomi believes that custom wallpapers may contain malicious code (e.g., in.apk or.gif format with animation).
• 🎨 Uniform design: the shell is optimized for specific resolutions and color schemes, so as not to disturb the visual harmony.
• 📱 Performance optimization: System wallpaper loads faster than custom wallpapers, which is important for budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3).

But these limitations are easily circumvented by knowing the hidden features of MIUI or using third-party tools, and we will look at all the ways available, from the simplest to the most flexible.

Method 1: Standard wallpaper change through "Themes" (without root)

This is the official method that works on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12, which does not require superuser rights and is suitable even for beginners, but it has a significant disadvantage: you can choose from pre-installed themes only, rather than upload your image.

To change the background of the lock:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Select the Lock category (sometimes called Lockscreen).
4. Scroll through the list of available wallpaper and tap on the one you like.
5. Click Apply → Lock screen only.

If the desired background is not in the collection, you can download additional topics:

• 🌐 In the same section, tap Wallpaper online (requires an Internet connection).
• 🔍 Use keyword search (e.g. nature, minimalism).
• ⚠️ Note: some topics from the online directory may contain advertising or data collection!

Backup your current settings in Settings → About Phone → Backup >

Close all background applications (especially gallery and launcher)

Connect to Wi-Fi if you plan to download themes online

Check the battery charge (recommended) >30%)-->

Method 2: Install your wallpaper through the "Gallery" (hidden function)

Few people know, but MIUI 12 has an undocumented ability to install custom wallpaper on the lock screen through a standard gallery, a technique that doesn’t work on all devices, but it’s worth a try — especially if you need to put a personal photo or picture from the Internet.

Instructions:

1. Open the Gallery app and find the image you want to use.
2. Tap on the photo, then press the button ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
3. Select Set as → Lock screen wallpaper.
4. If there is no such item, try to hold your finger on the image for 2-3 seconds – sometimes a context menu appears.

If this method does not work, try an alternative:

• 📂 Place the desired image in the folder DCIM → Wallpapers (Create it by hand if you don’t).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🖼️ Go to Settings. → Lock screen and check if your image appears in the list of available wallpaper.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (maximum customization)

If the first two methods don't work, the most flexible option is the Google Play apps, which allow you to set any wallpaper (including live wallpaper), adjust blur, add widgets and even animation. MIUI 12:

To install wallpaper through a third-party application:

1. Download and install one of the apps above.
2. Choose your favorite image or live wallpaper.
3. Click Install and select Lock screen only (or both screens if needed).
4. Confirm the action in the MIUI system window.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, KLWP) They require permissions to access notifications and overlays over other windows, and don't give those permissions to little-known programs, which can be a security risk!

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful wallpaper installation, MIUI 12 users are plagued with bugs, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Wallpaper is reset after rebooting: it's because of memory optimization. Solution - disable Adaptive Blurr in Settings → Lock screen → Additionally.
• 🖼️ Image cropped or stretched: check the aspect ratio of your background.For most, Xiaomi is fine 1080×2340 (cut-out).
• 🚫 You can't put a live wallpaper: in MIUI 12 by default,.gif support is disabled on lock. KLWP Wallpaper Engine (requires) ADB).
• 🔒 The system prevents you from changing wallpaper, so if you have Child Mode or Second Space on, some settings are blocked. → Special facilities.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the lock screen settings:

Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset the lock settings

This will bring back the standard wallpaper, but will allow you to start setting up from a clean slate.

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If you change wallpapers a lot, create a Lockscreen Wallpapers folder at the root of your internal memory and put all the images you like in there, so they're always on hand, so you don't have to search all over the gallery.

How to make animated wallpaper on the lock screen?

MIUI 12 does not support live wallpaper (.gif,.mp4) on the lock screen out of the box, but there are two ways to get around this limitation:

Method 1: KLWP (without root)

KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker is one of the few apps that can bypass Xiaomi's limitations.

1. Install KLWP from Google Play.
2. Download any template with animation (such as Minimal Clock or Wave).
3. In KLWP settings, select Set as Wallpaper → Lock screen.
4. In the MIUI system window, confirm your choice.

Method 2: ADB (for Advanced)

If you're willing to use ADB, you can force support for live wallpaper.

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number).
2. Adb shell settings put global settings lock_screen_allow_live_wallpaper 1
3. Reset the device.
4. You can now install live wallpapers through Google Wallpapers or Zedge.

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB If you're not sure what you're doing, you'd better use the first method. KLWP.

Bonus: How to hide notifications on the lock screen without changing the wallpaper

If you want to leave a beautiful background but hide personal information (messages, calls), do the following:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Lock screen.
2. Choose Do Not Show Notices or Show without Content.
3. For individual apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), set exceptions in the Apps section.

You can also turn off the notification lighting, which spoils the appearance of the wallpaper:

Settings → Lock screen → Notifications highlight → Disable

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On MIUI 12, the lock screen wallpaper and the home screen are set separately, so if you want them to match, you'll have to set the same image twice, first for locking, then for the desktop.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions