How to put wallpaper on Xiaomi: 5 ways to MIUI 14/13 and older versions

Changing the wallpaper on a Xiaomi smartphone is a simple task, but even here there are nuances that many people do not know about. Standard background images from MIUI quickly get bored, and custom wallpaper allows you to personalize the device to your style. In this article, we will examine all possible ways, from classic installation through settings to using live wallpaper and third-party applications.

The thing about MIUI is that it offers more customization options than standard Android, so you can set up separate lock and desktop wallpapers, and you can use dynamic background images, but what you don't know is that the new versions of MIUI 14/13 have changed the wallpaper selection algorithm, and now some features are hidden deeper in the menu, and we'll show you where to look.

If you want to not just change the picture, but create a unique style for your Redmi, POCO or Mi, this guide will help you understand all the subtleties. From simple static wallpaper to animated backgrounds with the paralax effect, choose any option and follow the step-by-step recommendations.

Method 1: Install wallpaper through standard MIUI settings

The most obvious and quickest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which work on all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13, and does not require installing additional applications.

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the Wallpaper section in the lower menu.
3. Select a category: 🌄 Nature - landscapes, sunsets, mountains; 🎨 Abstraction – geometric patterns, gradients; 🖼️ Minimalism – monotonous backgrounds, simple textures; 📱 Lock screen – adapted for Always-on Display.

Apply

Set on...

V MIUI 14 adds Adaptive Wallpaper, which automatically adjusts to the system's color scheme. To activate it, click on the icon after selecting the background. ⚙️ in the upper right corner and enable the option to Adapt under the theme.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) The topic section can be called "Design." If you can't find the app, check the Tools folder or search the system.

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If the wallpaper in the Them Gallery is not updated, try clearing the app cache in Settings → Apps → Application Management → Topics → Storage → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Using photos from the Gallery

If you want to put your own photo or downloaded image in the background, you can do it directly from the standard Gallery app, which is convenient because it allows you to crop and zoom the picture before installation.

Instructions:

1. Open the gallery and find the image you want.
2. Slip on it, then click on the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
3. In the menu, select Set How → Wallpaper.
4. Adjust the scale and position of the picture with gestures (you can increase or shift the background).
5. Click Apply and select where to install: on the desktop, lock screen or on both screens.

If the image is too small or low resolution, MIUI will automatically stretch it, which can lead to pixelation.To avoid this, use photos with a resolution of at least 1080×2400 (for most modern Xiaomi smartphones).

Method 3: Live wallpaper (dynamic backgrounds)

MIUI supports live wallpaper — animated background images that respond to gestures or change over time. For example, you can set a background with falling leaves, floating bubbles or abstract patterns that move when you tilt the phone.

How to turn on live wallpaper:

1. Clutch the empty space on the desktop and select Wallpaper.
2. Go to the section Live wallpaper (in some versions of MIUI it is called Dynamic).
3. Look at the available options and tap on the one you like.
4. Click Set and select the screen (desktop or lock).

How to install wallpaper from a third-party application:

1. Download and install an app (such as Zedge) from Google Play.
2. Find the image you like and click on it.
3. Select the option to Set as Wallpaper or Download.
4. If the application does not offer automatic installation, open the downloaded image in the Gallery and follow the instructions from Method 2.

Some applications (e.g. KWGT) allow you to create interactive wallpapers with a weather widget, time or battery.

1. Install KWGT and download your favorite template (for example, from the Telegram or Reddit community).
2. Add the KWGT widget to your desktop (press the screen → Widgets → select KWGT).
3. Customize the widget for yourself: change colors, fonts, add the necessary elements.

Method 5: Manual copying of wallpaper via PC

If you want to install wallpaper downloaded on your computer or transfer the background from another device, you can do it manually through a Explorer, which is useful if you don't have access to Google Play or you use custom firmware.

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable and enable file transfer mode (MTP).
2. Copy the image to the DCIM → Wallpapers folder on your phone. If you don't have a Wallpapers folder, create one.
3. Disconnect the device from the PC and open the Gallery.
4. Find the copied image and set it as wallpaper (see Method 2).

If the wallpaper is not displayed in the gallery, update the media base:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MEDIA_SCANNER_SCAN_FILE -d file:///storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Wallpapers/

This command must be entered in the ADB terminal (it requires enabled USB debugging in the developer settings).

⚠️ Note: When manually copying, avoid files with the.webp extension — MIUI It can be incorrectly processed. It's better to use.jpg or.png.

Solving Wallpaper Problems at Xiaomi

Sometimes after the wallpaper is installed, there are bugs: the background is reset, blurred or not displayed on the lock screen.

• 🔄 Wallpaper resets after rebooting: Check if Adaptive Wallpaper is enabled in the theme settings. Turn off battery optimization for the Theme app (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Topics → No restrictions).
• 🖼️ Background blurs or stretches: Use images with the resolution corresponding to your screen (see table above).In wallpaper settings, turn off background blur option.

Wallpaper does not apply on the lock screen

1. Make sure that the security settings do not include Simple Lock Mode.
2. Reset the wallpaper by selecting the Lock screen only option.

If the problem persists, try resetting the Themes app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics.
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. Reboot the phone and reset the wallpaper.

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If the wallpaper is not installed on POCO or Redmi with custom firmware, check if the system applet com.android.themes is removed. APK-topic-file.

FAQ: Frequent questions about wallpaper on Xiaomi