If you want to personalize your Xiaomi with unique wallpaper, but don’t know how to download a picture from a gallery?This guide will help you understand the process in 2 minutes – even if you have never changed the background on your smartphone before. We will look at all the current ways for MIUI 14/15 (including Redmi and POCO), and also tell you how to avoid common mistakes when cropping images.
Unlike the standard wallpaper from Themes, your own photos create a truly unique style. But many users face problems: the image is not suitable for resolution, it is cut curved or does not appear in the list of available backgrounds. In this article, you will find not only basic instructions, but also hidden chips that will make the process easier.
Important: the wallpaper installation algorithm may vary slightly depending on the model (Xiaomi 13T Pro, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, etc.) and the version of MIUI. If your interface looks different, check the relevance of the firmware in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
1.Imaging Preparation: Why Wallpaper May Look Bad
Before you set the wallpaper, you should optimize the original photo, because MIUI automatically trims and zooms the images to the screen resolution, which often leads to distortion. Here are the key parameters to look at:
- 📏 Permit: Minimum — 1080×1920 (Full HD), optimal — 1440×3200 (for modern Xiaomi with AMOLED-If the photo is smaller, it gets stretched and loses clarity.
- 🎨 Side ratio: 9:16 (vertical) is suitable for the main screen, 9:19.5 for the lock screen (taking into account the cutout for the front camera).
- 🖼️ Format: Preferred.png (transparency) or.jpg (low weight). Avoid.webp — MIUI Sometimes it is mishandled.
- 🔍 Important elements (faces, text) should be located in the center – so they will not be cut when adapting to the interface.
If your photo doesn’t meet these requirements, use free editors like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile to crop, and alternatively, online services like iLoveIMG, where you can resize in 2 clicks.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 15 automatically compresses wallpaper to 5 MB. If you upload a photo weighing 10+ MB, the system will reduce its resolution, which will lead to a loss of quality.
2. Method 1: Standard Method through Settings (works on all Xiaomi)
This is a universal method that is suitable for all devices on the MIUI, including older models like Redmi 9A or POCO X3. The instructions are relevant for the firmware from MIUI 12 and newer:
- Open the Gallery app and select the photo you want.
- Slap the icon «⋮» (three points) in upper right corner → Choose Set How to Install.
- There will be a menu with options: 📱 Lock screen wallpaper 🏠 Main screen wallpaper 🔄 Wallpaper for both screens
Ready.
If you have to install as not, update the Gallery app via Google Play or check the permissions (see Section 5).
☑️ Preparation for wallpaper installation
Method 3: Method 2: Through the “Themes” app (additional effects)
Themes app allows you not only to install wallpaper, but also to apply dynamic effects to them (for example, paralax when tilting the phone). MIUI 13+:
- Open the themes (pattern icon).
- Go to the Wallpaper tab → tap the icon “+” in the lower right corner.
- Select from the gallery and specify the desired photo.
- Set up the trimming and apply the effects: 🌊 Paralax - background moves when the phone is tilted. 🔄 Blurring – creates a depth effect on the lock screen. 🎨 Color filters – changes the shade of wallpaper.
Apply
The advantage of this method is the ability to save the original photo in My Wallpaper for a quick switch later. 10A, POCO M4).
| The effect | Description | Supported models |
|---|---|---|
| paralax | The background shifts when the phone tilts | Xiaomi 12/13/14, Redmi Note 11/12, POCO F4/5 |
| Blurring | Creates a depth effect on the lock screen | All devices with MIUI 13+ |
| Color filters | Changes the shade of wallpaper (sepia, cold, warm) | All devices with MIUI 12+ |
| Animation when unlocking | The background gradually increases with swipe | Xiaomi 13/14 Pro and POCO F5 Pro |
Method 3: Using a file manager (for power users)
This method is useful if standard methods do not work (for example, after resetting settings or on custom firmware) and requires access to system folders, so it is not recommended for beginners.
- Download a file manager with access to root folders (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer).
- Go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.data/ or /data/system/users/0/wallpaper (depending on the MIUI version).
- Copy your photo into this folder by renaming it: wallpaper_lock — lock-screen, wallpaper_home — mainscreen.
Reset the phone. Wallpaper will apply automatically.
⚠️ Note: Incorrectly changing files in the folder /data/system/ It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.
What to do if the wallpaper is not applied?
5. Solving common problems
Even after installation, the wallpaper may not be displayed correctly, and here are the typical errors and their solutions:
- 🔄 Wallpaper resets after rebooting: Check if power saving mode is on (Settings) → Battery → Power saving mode. Turn it off or add Gallery and Themes to exceptions.
- 🖼️ Photo cropped curve: Use editors to pre-crypt. In Snapseed, select the tool "Cadration» → «Relationship» → «9:16».
- 📱 Wallpaper not displayed in the list: Remove the cache of the Gallery and Themes apps in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔒 You can not install live wallpaper: On some models (Redmi) 10C, POCO M5) Live wallpaper is off at the firmware level. MIUI.
If the wallpaper is used but looks blurry, there is a problem with pixel density (DPI).
##4636##In the Phone Information section, look at the DPI setting. The optimal value for Xiaomi is 400-480. If it is very different, reset the display settings.
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To prevent wallpaper from “sliding” when scrolling the main screen, turn off the paralax effect in Settings → Screen → Additional → Wallpaper Effects.
6. Optimization of wallpaper for AMOLED-screen
If your Xiaomi is equipped AMOLED-display (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro, Redmi K60), Ordinary wallpaper can cause pixel burnout. To avoid this, follow the recommendations:
- 🌑 Use dark themes: In Settings → Screen. → Dark subject, turn on mode. AMOLED Black (if available) This reduces the load on the pixels.
- 🎨 Avoid static elements: Don’t install wallpapers with bright logos or text in one place – they “imprint” on the screen.
- 🔄 Change the wallpaper every 1-2 months: This evenly distributes the load on the display.
- 🖼️ Choose dynamic wallpaper: In Themes → The wallpaper is a section of "live wallpaper", which is constantly changing.
To check the screen for burnt pixels, use the Screen Test app (available on Google Play). Run a color uniformity test - if spots are noticeable, the wallpaper has already harmed the display.
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Nana AMOLED-Never use white wallpaper on screens – this maximizes the load on the pixels and reduces the display life.
7. How to save wallpaper when resetting settings
When you reset your phone to the factory settings, all custom wallpaper is removed.
- Copy the original wallpaper photos to the cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) or to your computer.
- Save the current theme settings: Open Themes → Profile → My Themes. Click on “Save Current Theme” (floppy disk icon).
My subjects.
If you use custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), the wallpaper is stored in /data/system/users/0. Back up this folder via TWRP or ADB:
adb pull /data/system/users/0/wallpaper