Personalizing your smartphone is the first step that a user takes after unpacking a new device. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco have access to powerful MIUI and HyperOS interface tools that allow you to change the look of the screen beyond recognition. Standard wallpaper often seems boring, and the desire to stand out from other gadgets is quite natural.
The process of installing a new image or animation can vary depending on the version of the operating system and the firmware region. In some cases, system constraints can hide the desired functions, but there are many workarounds, you will learn not only to change the picture, but also to control how it is displayed in different modes of operation of the device.
In this guide, we'll look at all the ways that visual design can be replaced, and we'll cover both the standard tools and third-party solutions for advanced users, and deep customization is available to everyone, if you know where to click.
Use of the built-in Themes application
The most obvious and reliable way to change the visual design is to use the Theme System App, which is pre-installed on all the brand’s devices and provides access to thousands of designs created by both the official and community of users, and not just static images, but full-fledged live screensavers with animations.
To get started, you have to run the app and go to the Profile tab or click on the human icon in the lower right corner, and that's where the personalization settings are hidden, which aren't always obvious at first glance. The interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same for all models.
In the profile menu, find the wallpaper option, and the system will offer a few categories: "All", "Static", "Video" and "Superbeats" and the choice of the video category will allow you to install a dynamic screensaver that will move on the lock screen, which creates a premium effect of the device without the need to install heavy software.
- 🎨 Open the “Themes” app and go to the user profile.
- 🖼️ Select the “Wallpaper” section and find the image you like.
- ⬇️ Press the download button and then “Apply».
- 📱 Choose where to use: on the lock screen, desktop or anywhere.
It's important to note that some themes may be paid or require a Premium subscription. However, free content in storage is still the vast majority. If you download the whole theme file, the system may suggest using icons and fonts - be careful when choosing not to change the entire interface at once.
Installation of image from the Gallery
Often users want to see their own photo or a high-resolution image downloaded from the Internet on the screen. In this case, the built-in Gallery app is the main tool, the algorithm of actions here is as simple and intuitive as possible, even for beginners who first took up an Android smartphone.
Open the image in the gallery and click on the “More” button (three dots in the corner of the screen). In the drop-down menu, select “Install as wallpaper.” The system will automatically prompt you to fraternize the image if its proportions do not match the resolution of your Xiaomi display.
Special attention should be paid to the Wallpaper Carousel feature, which is a unique feature of the MIUI shell, which allows you to change pictures on the lock screen automatically every time you wake up the device, you can choose albums from the gallery or subscribe to thematic collections from the manufacturer.
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For the best picture quality, choose images with a resolution of at least 1080x2400 pixels to avoid pixelation (grain effect) on modern screens.
When you install a photo from a gallery, the system may suggest using blurring or dimming effects to make the icons more readable. Don't ignore these settings, as they affect the ergonomics of smartphone use. Too colorful backgrounds can prevent you from quickly finding the right apps.
Setting up screen savers when charging
Many people confuse desktop wallpaper and screen saver, which is activated during downtime or charging of the device. In Android terminology, this is called Screen Saver. On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature allows you to turn the phone into a stylish watch or slideshow while it is standing at the dock.
To activate this mode, you need to go to deep system settings. The path can look like Settings → Screen → Screensaver. In some versions of the firmware, this item is hidden in the menu "Special. capabilities" or called by searching by settings. Once activated, you can choose the display style: watch, photo album or colors.
⚠️ Attention: Constant use of bright screensavers during charging on AMOLED-It is recommended to use dark themes or turn off the screensaver when you are on a long charge.
This feature is especially useful if you're using your smartphone as a desk clock in your office or bedroom, and you can set up only the time and date in large print, which saves energy compared to fully turning on the screen, and it's a great way to recycle old devices into dashboards.
Live wallpaper and super wallpaper
AMOLED display technology, which is widely used in Xiaomi and Poco flagships, is ideal for displaying deep black and bright accents. Super Wallpapers was introduced with MIUI 12 and became the brand’s trademark. It’s not just a video, but a three-dimensional model of the planet that responds to your actions.
When you go from the lock screen to the desktop, you get a smooth zoom from the view from space to the surface of the planet, and you can find them in the standard Topics app in the Recommended section or just by searching for Super.
Effect of live wallpaper on the battery
In addition to super wallpapers, the system has a standard set of "Live Wallpapers" that are cyclical animations: floating bubbles, shimmering gradients or abstract shapes, which are similar to the installation of ordinary pictures, but in the format of a video file, such screensavers bring the interface to life, making it less static and boring.
Third-party customization applications
If built-in tools are not enough, Google Play comes to the rescue. There are many applications that specialize in replacing the standard launcher or lock screen, the leaders in this niche are Widgetsmith, Lock Screen & Password and various launcher variations like Nova Launcher.
Using third-party software gives you access to features that the manufacturer may have blocked, such as installing an iOS-style weather widget or making the lock screen completely transparent, but it’s worth remembering security: apps with overlay rights over other windows can request excessive permissions.
| Annex | Type of content | Impact on the battery | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topics (Mi) | Systemic | Low. | Low. |
| Google Wallpaper | Daily | Low. | Low. |
| Video Live Wallpaper | Video files | Average. | Medium |
| 3D Parallax Wallpaper | 3D effects | High. | Tall. |
When installing third-party launchers on newer versions of Android (12, 13, 14), there may be restrictions on swipe animation. MIUI security sometimes forces the standard launcher back after rebooting. To avoid this, you need to find the option "Extended Settings" in the settings and allow the third-party application to work by default.
☑️ Check before installing third-party software
Solving problems with the use of wallpaper
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the picture is not applied, stretched or displayed with black bars, often due to a discrepancy in the resolution of the screen and the source file. Modern smartphones have elongated proportions (20:9), while many images on the network are 16:9 standard.
Another common problem is Dark Theme, which when you turn on night mode, some wallpapers can invert or become too pale. In the screen settings, there is an option called Adaptation to the theme, which you can turn off so that the colors remain unchanged at any time of the day.
If the wallpaper goes off after the reboot, check for system updates. In rare cases, bugs in a particular version of HyperOS can reset personalization settings. Also make sure the device does not turn on the Power Saving mode, which can limit the performance of live wallpaper to save charge.
⚠️ Warning: Don't download wallpaper from questionable sites promising "exclusive hack themes" MIUI». These files often contain malicious code or ad modules that will slow down your Xiaomi.
To fix stretched images, use a built-in cropper. When you install from the gallery, the system will suggest cutting the extra edges. If you want to save the whole picture, you'd better pre-process it in a photo editor, adding blurred fields on the sides to fill the screen space.
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The quality of the final picture depends on the original file: compressed images from messengers will look worse than the originals downloaded through the browser.