How to put wallpaper on Xiaomi phone: 5 ways for MIUI 14 and 15

Why Xiaomi Wallpaper Is Not as Easy as It Seems

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are powered by MIUI, which offers users a wide range of customization options. However, many people find that standard wallpaper changes don’t always work intuitively — especially when it comes to live wallpaper, third-party images or properly zooming on screens with cutouts. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods for installing wallpaper on Xiaomi in 2026, including hidden MIUI 14/15 features and avoiding typical bugs.

The main problem users have is that you automatically blur wallpaper when you install it through a gallery, and it's not a bug, it's a feature of the shell that tries to adapt the image to Always-On Display (AOD), but you can turn it off, we'll talk about it in the relevant section, and you'll also learn how to install animated wallpaper without loss of quality and why some images just don't show up in the list of available backgrounds.

Method 1: Standard wallpaper change via MIUI settings

The most obvious method is to use built-in shell tools, which is suitable for most models, including the Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 and POCO F5/X5.

1. Open the Themes app (an icon with a brush and palette). If it is not on the home screen, search the system (Swipe down the screen → search bar).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Select a category: 🌄 Standard – static wallpaper from Xiaomi; 🎨 Live - Animated background images; 📷 My wallpaper - photos you uploaded.

Click on the image you like, then select Apply on the home screen, Lock screen, or both screens.

An important nuance: if you choose wallpaper from My Wallpaper, the system can automatically crop the image to the screen format. To avoid distortion, crop the photo in proportions of 9:18 (for most modern smartphones) or 9:19.5 (for devices with ultra-thin frames).

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If the wallpaper doesn't apply, check if the energy-saving theme is installed in Settings → Battery → Performance Mode. Some themes block the change of backgrounds.

Method 2: Install wallpaper through the gallery (without blurring)

Many users complain that when installing wallpaper through the gallery, MIUI automatically blurs the image, which is due to optimization for Always-On Display, but the problem can be avoided:

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

1. Open the gallery and select the image you want.
2. Put the button on it. ⋮ (three points) in lower right corner → Set up how → Wallpaper.
3. When the window opens, don't immediately press "Apply." First: 🔍 Remove the box from the point blur for AOD (if there is); 🖼️ Turn off Automatic Pruning and manually adjust the display area; 🎨 Choose the display style: Fill (stretch image), Size (keep proportions) or Center (no cropping).

Click Apply and select screens (main, locks or both).

Do not blur for AOD| Turn off automatic cropping |Select "By size" style |Apply to both screens-->

If you don't have Blurr for AOD in your version of MIUI, the shell is already using the default blur, in which case use Method 4 (installation through third-party applications).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4 Pro after updating to MIUI 15 the blur switching point has disappeared, and this is due to Xiaomi's policy of unifying the interface, and the solution is to use alternative launchers (about them in Method 5).

Method 3: Live wallpaper (animated) - where to download and how to install

MIUI supports live wallpaper, but the choice of wallpapers in the standard catalog is limited. To install animated background images (for example, with paralax effect or dynamic weather), follow the instructions:

Step 1. Download the live wallpaper.

Official sources:

• 🌐 Xiaomi themes – a catalog with certified wallpaper;
• 📱 Annex Topics → tab;
• 🛒 Google Play: Wallpapers Craft, Zedge or Live Wallpapers apps 4K.

Important:

Step 2. Installation

If you downloaded the wallpaper from Google Play:

1. Open the app with live wallpaper.
2. Choose the option you like and click Install.
3. The system will redirect you to Settings → Wallpaper, where you need to confirm the application.

For wallpaper from Xiaomi Themes:

1. Download the file with the.mtz extension.
2. Open Topics → Local and select the downloaded file.
3. Apply the wallpaper to the right screens.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5 Pro) live wallpaper can drain the battery faster. To reduce power consumption, turn off animation in Always-On Display mode:

Settings → Screen → Always-On Display → Animation of wallpaper → Off.

Standard (static) | Live (animated) | Gallery photos | Dark (for AMOLED) | Never mind-->

Method 4: Installation of wallpaper through third-party applications

If the built-in MIUI tools don’t suit you (for example, due to blurring or lack of necessary features), use third-party apps.

• 📲 Wallpapers by Google is the official app with daily high-resolution wallpapers. Supports automatic background change.
• 🎨 Zedge – a large base of static and live wallpapers, including exclusive collections for the AMOLED.
• 🖼️ Muzei – unique wallpaper that changes once a day (Integration with Google Arts & Culture).
• 🔄 Tapet - Abstract Wallpaper Generator with Color Palette Customization.

How to install wallpaper through a third-party application:

1. Download and install one of the apps above.
2. Select your favorite wallpaper and click Set Wallpaper or Set Wallpaper.
3. The system will suggest cropping the image. Turn off Automatic cropping and select Size.
4. Confirm application on the home screen, lock screen or both.

The advantage of this method is that it doesn't blur, because applications bypass MIUI's limitations on image processing. However, be careful with permissions: some applications (like Zedge) request storage and geolocation access.

Method 5: Use alternative launchers for full control

If you want to get rid of the limitations of MIUI completely (including blur, cropping and lack of customization), install a third-party launcher.This software replaces the standard Xiaomi interface, allowing you to flexibly customize wallpaper, icons and animations.

The best launchers for Xiaomi in 2026:

• 🚀 Nova Launcher – the most flexible, with support for gestures, adaptive icons and wallpaper scale adjustment.
• 🎭 Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher optimized for Android 13/14.
• 🖥️ Microsoft Launcher – Integration with Windows, synchronization of wallpaper between devices.
• 🌈 Action Launcher – unique widgets and adaptive wallpaper, changing depending on the time of day.

How to install and customize wallpaper through Nova Launcher:

1. Download Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Assign it to the default launcher (at the first start, the system will prompt you to do this).
3. Press the free space on the main screen → Wallpaper settings.
4. Select the source: 📁 Gallery - their own images; 🌐 Nova Wallpapers - Built-in Collection; 🎨 Dynamic wallpaper - animated background images.

Scope

Displacement

Apply changes to the home screen, lock screen, or both.

Advantages of this method:

• No automatic blurring;
• Support for Scrolling Wallpaper (scrolling wallpaper when flipping screens);
• Configure the transparency of icons and widgets;
• Compatible with wallpaper in APK format (live wallpaper).

⚠️ Note: On some devices (Redmi Note 11, POCO X3 Pro) After installing a third-party launcher, Always-On Display may disappear, due to a conflict of system services, the solution is to return the standard launcher for the lock screen in the Nova Launcher settings. → Settings → Lock screen.

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The launcher side is the only way to completely disable wallpaper blur on MIUI, but they can conflict with Xiaomi's branded features (like AOD or super wallpaper).

Problem Solving: Wallpaper is not installed, blurred or trimmed

Even after following the instructions, Xiaomi users face typical problems, including the most common ways to solve them:

Additional advice:

• 🔄 If wallpaper doesn’t apply, restart your phone – sometimes resetting the system cache helps (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Cache dumping).
• 📵 In the models with MIUI 15 and Android 13+ You may need to allow system settings to be changed (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Changes in system settings).
• 🖥️ For permissioned wallpaper 4K Use files weighing no more than 10 MB – otherwise, the interface may slow down.

If none of the methods worked, check if your device has a global theme that blocks wallpaper change.

Settings → Topics → My themes → Reset to standard

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing wallpaper to Xiaomi