Personalizing the interface of a smartphone starts with the visual design, and the question of how to put a screensaver on Xiaomi is a concern for most new owners of devices of this brand. The lock screen and desktop is the first thing you see after unlocking, so the desire to make them unique and aesthetic is quite natural. In the shell of MIUI, and now HyperOS, developers have provided many tools for customization, go far beyond just changing a static picture.
The process of installing an image depends on whether you are interested in a static wallpaper, a dynamic theme or a functional Always On Display. System settings allow you to flexibly manage the sources of images, whether it is a gallery, an embedded store of certain or third-party applications. Understanding the differences between these methods will help to avoid confusion and quickly achieve the desired result.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to change the appearance of the screen, including hidden features and nuances of working with different versions of the operating system. You will learn how to activate the Wallpaper Carousel, adjust the time of the Always On screen and where to look for high-quality images in high resolution that will not look blurry on the display of your Xiaomi.
Basic installation of static wallpaper through settings
The easiest and most reliable way to change the background is to use the standard system settings menu, which is universal and works the same on all models, from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi. First, you need to unlock the device and find the Settings icon on your desktop, which usually looks like a gear.
In the menu that opens, you scroll down to the wallpaper section, and you'll see a few categories: "Recommended," "Static," "Video," and "Wallpapercarousel." If you select "Static," you'll be in a gallery of preset images, sorted by color or theme, and if you click on your favorite image, you'll see the "Apply" button, and then the system will ask you to place the image on the lock screen, the desktop, or both screens at the same time.
⚠️ Warning: When installing an image from your desktop, make sure it is not too motley, otherwise the application icons may become poorly distinguishable.
If a standard gallery is not enough, you can use your own photo. The same Wallpaper menu often has a + or Local Wallpaper button to select a file from internal memory. Image resolution is critical: modern displays recommend using files at least 1080x2400 pixels in size to avoid loss of quality when zooming.
Use of the "Themes" application for customization
The second, more advanced way of personalizing is to use the official Themes app, which is the central hub for the MIUI and HyperOS interface, and you can find not just pictures, but whole sets that change the style of icons, notification curtains and fonts, but we're interested in wallpaper in this context.
When you start the Themes app, go to the bottom menu and select the Wallpaper tab, and you have a huge catalog of images that are categorized into nature, cities, abstraction, sports, and more, and what's unique about this is that many of the wallpapers here are optimized specifically for AMOLED displays, which saves battery power when you display black.
- 🎨 Convenient sorting allows you to quickly find the image of the desired subject without a long search.
- 📥 Download: All content is downloaded directly from servers, ensuring high quality and virus-free.
- 🔄 Auto Update: Some collections offer weekly automatic background change.
It is important to note that the Themes app requires an internet connection to download content, and the region chosen in the phone settings should be considered: if you change region (for example, to India or the United States), the catalog of available themes and wallpapers can change dramatically, opening up access to exclusive content that is not available in your current location.
How to change the region to access new topics?
Setting up the wallpaper carousel (Glance)
One of the most talked-about features is the Wallpaper Carousel (known in some versions as Glance), which automatically changes the image on the lock screen every time you turn on the screen, allowing you to enjoy the new screensaver all the time without requiring manual intervention.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Lock screen. Find the wallpaper carousel and switch on. Once activated, the system will start downloading new images from the Internet. You can adjust the change rate, select categories (technology, nature, art), and even indicate whether to show promotional images, which are sometimes found in free versions of the service.
☑️ Setting up the wallpaper carousel
The main advantage of the carousel is its dynamism, but there is a downside to this method: constant content updates can consume additional mobile Internet traffic if the device is not connected to Wi-Fi. In addition, some users find frequent change of picture a distraction, preferring static.
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper carousels may conflict with third-party applications to lock the screen. If you notice an unstable lock screen, try turning off the carousel and check the device.
Always on Display and its configuration
For owners of smartphones with AMOLED-The display feature is always on display (AOD). It is not quite a screensaver in the classical sense, but rather an information screen that displays the time, date, notifications and, importantly for our topic, a background image even when the phone is locked and lying on the table.
The settings are made through the settings menu → Lock screen (or "Always on screen"). Here you can choose the display style: classic watch, analog dial, picture or image from the gallery. AOD. You can upload a photo of your pet, your favorite team logo or abstract pattern.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Always mode. | Image burns constantly | High (up to 15% per day) |
| 10 sec mode. | Included when touched or notified | Low (about 2-3% per day) |
| Scheduled. | Works only at specified hours (for example, from 8:00 to 23:00) | Average. |
| Smart mode. | It shuts down when the phone is in your pocket or bag. | Optimal. |
Too bright and white areas in the picture can cause uneven wear of the matrix pixels (burnout) in the long run, it is recommended to use dark tones and avoid static bright elements in the same area of the screen.
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To save battery power when using Always On Display, set up “Schedule” or “10 seconds after touch” mode to keep the function informative, but not waste energy while your phone is in your pocket.
Installation of video screensavers and live wallpaper
Modern Xiaomi smartphones support video installation as a screensaver, which makes the interface lively and interactive. Video wallpaper can respond to touch or simply play in a loop on the lock screen and desktop.
You can use the built-in functionality to install the video saver. The wallpaper menu often has a "Video" section. If there is no video, you can download it from the Topics app in the Video Wallpaper section. After downloading, click "Apply" button. The system will warn that using live wallpaper can increase battery consumption, which is a completely normal reaction, since the processor and video core have to constantly decode the video stream.
- 🎬 Formats: Main formats are supported MP4 and special formats of live wallpaper.
- 🔋 Optimization: In new versions of HyperOS, desktop video can be automatically paused to save energy.
- 📂 Local Videos: You can install your video from the gallery if it meets the duration requirements (usually up to the end of the video). 15-30 seconds) and resolution.
It is worth noting that on some models with entry-level processors, the function of live wallpaper may not work correctly or be available at all due to performance limitations, in which case the system may suggest replacing the video with a static frame from the same video.
Third-party applications and enhanced capabilities
If standard tools are not enough, you can always turn to third-party solutions from the Google Play Store. Apps like Wallpaper Engine (requires a client to install on a PC), Muzei or Walpy offer features that are not available in stock firmware.
The Wallpaper Engine allows you to stream thousands of custom live wallpapers from your computer to your phone, allowing you to access high-quality animations that respond to music or time of day, and you need to install an app on your smartphone and connect it to your PC via Wi-Fi.
Other applications, such as Widgetsmith (if available) or various launchers (Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher), allow you to embed widgets with changing wallpaper directly to the desktop, creating complex compositions. However, installing third-party launchers on MIUI may require additional permissions in the Special Opportunities menu to ensure that the animations work smoothly and are not interrupted by the energy saving system.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party live wallpaper apps often have wide permissions and gallery access.Install only proven high-rated programs to avoid personal data leakage.
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Using third-party launchers and wallpaper apps gives you maximum customization freedom, but can conflict with Xiaomi’s built-in power saving system, requiring manual permissions set up in the Apps section.