How to set up a slideshow on the lock screen Xiaomi: a detailed guide

The lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on the device. Instead of a static wallpaper, you can set up a dynamic slideshow of your favorite photos that will automatically change pictures every time you unlock. The feature is available on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI (starting with version 12), but many users do not know how to activate it or face restrictions.

In this article, you’ll find unique ways to customize your slideshow, including bypassing the standard MIUI limits on photo count and shift intervals. We’ll take a step-by-step guide to different firmware versions, explain how to add photos from cloud services, and give tips on how to optimize power consumption. If you want your Redmi, POCO, or Xiaomi 13/14 to please the eye with fresh shots every time, read on.

The lock-screen slideshow feature appeared in MIUI 12, but in newer versions (like HyperOS), it has changed, and some users complain that the option disappears after the update or works unstable, and the reasons can vary from firmware bugs to conflicts with the design themes. In this article, we took into account all the nuances and prepared universal solutions.

1 Preparation: Which photos are suitable for a slideshow

Not all images look equally good on the lock screen. For a slideshow, you'd better choose photos with a resolution of at least 1080×1920 pixels (for most Xiaomi smartphones). If the picture is smaller, the system automatically stretches it, which leads to pixelation.

• 📸 Orientation: vertical (portrait) photos are better than horizontal ones.
• 🎨 Contrast: dark or too light images are not visible AMOLED-The best way to do this is to have images that balance light and shadow.
• 👤 Faces: If there are people in the photo, make sure they are in the center - the system can cut the edges.
• 📁 Format:.jpg,.png and.webp are supported. animated.gif does not work.

Important: If you plan to use photos from Google Photos or Mi Cloud, sync them with your device in advance. The slideshow only works with locally stored files (except for MIUI 14, which has partial support for cloud albums).

⚠️ Note: If you use the themes from the Mi Theme Store, some of them may block the slideshow feature. Return the standard theme before setting up (Settings) → Topics → Standard).

2. Standard setting of slideshow in MIUI 12–14

The easiest way to activate a slideshow is through the standard settings. The instructions are suitable for most models: Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 12/13/14 and others.

Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper → Slideshow

Next:

1. Click "Add photos" and select images from the gallery. You can add up to 50 photos (MIUI restriction).
2. Set the shift interval: from 1 minute to 1 day. The optimal option is 10 to 30 minutes, so as not to waste battery power.
3. Turn on the “Show when unlocked” option so that the picture changes every time you turn on the screen.
4. Save the settings and check the result.

MIUI 14 and HyperOS have the ability to select albums from Google Photos, but it doesn't work well. If the photos don't show up, try this:

Reset the lock screen settings|Reboot your smartphone|Update the annex to the Gallery"|Disable battery optimization for Gallery and Settings"-->

3. How to circumvent the limit on the number of photos

The standard MIUI limit is a maximum of 50 photos per slideshow, and if you need more, there are two ways to get around:

Method 1: Using the Favorites folder (Favorites)

Create a Favorites folder in the gallery and add all the photos you need to, and then in the slideshow settings, select this folder as the source, and the system will perceive it as one album, and the restriction will be removed.

Method 2: Wallpaper Carousel App (requires root)

For advanced users, there is the Wallpaper Carousel app (available on XDA Developers) that allows you to:

• 📂 Add an unlimited number of photos.
• ⏱️ Set up an arbitrary shift interval (even 5 seconds).
• 🔄 Use photos from cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox).

Cons: Requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party slideshow apps, turn off battery optimization for them (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Optimize the battery; otherwise, the system may shut down the battery.

4. Energy efficiency optimization: how slideshow affects battery

Dynamic wallpapers consume more energy than static ones, but the effect on the battery can be minimized.

If you notice that the battery is going down faster than usual, check the energy consumption in Settings → Battery → Battery Use. If there is a high percentage of the application "Gallery" or "System settings" - reduce the frequency of changing wallpaper.

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To make sure the slideshow doesn’t interfere with the work, add the Gallery app to the battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications).

5. Problem Solving: Slideshow doesn't work or slows down

If the slideshow doesn’t start after setting up or the photos don’t change, check out the following points:

• 🔄 Reboot: sometimes helps banal smartphone reboot.
• 📲 Updates: Check the relevance of the firmware (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🗑️ Cash: Clear the cache of the Gallery and Settings applications (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Clear the cache).
• 🔧 Resetting: Return the lock screen settings to factory settings (Settings) → Lock screen → Additionally. → Reset the settings).

If the problem persists, try:

1. Remove and re-add photos to the slideshow.
2. Disable and enable the function "Show when unlocked".
3. Set another theme of design (sometimes bugs are associated with custom themes).

6. Alternative ways: slideshow through third-party apps

If the standard feature does not suit, you can use third-party applications.

• 📱 Muzei Live Wallpaper: supports slideshows with photos from Google Photos, Flickr and local folders. Works without root, but requires manual configuration.
• 🖼️ Wallpaper Changer: allows you to set different wallpapers for the lock screen and the main screen, with flexible interval settings.
• 🌄 Zedge: built-in slideshow feature with wallpaper from the community, minus a limited selection of personal photos.

For installation:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and select the source of the photos.
3. Set wallpaper through the app menu (usually there is an option "Apply to the lock screen").
4. Set the change interval in the application parameters.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Muzei) may conflict with the standard slideshow feature MIUI. Before use, disable the system slideshow in the settings.

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The side of the application gives more features (unlimited number of photos, cloud sources), but can drain the battery faster and conflict with MIUI.

7.Slide show on the lock screen in HyperOS: what has changed

In the new firmware HyperOS (which replaced MIUI on some models, such as Xiaomi 14), the slideshow function was redesigned.

• 🔄 Mi Cloud integration: now you can choose photos directly from Xiaomi cloud storage without downloading.
• ⏳ Adaptive interval: the system itself selects the frequency of wallpaper change depending on the user's activity.
• 🎨 Transition effects: there are smooth animations when changing photos (you can turn off in the settings).

To set up a slideshow in HyperOS:

Settings → Personalization → Lock screen → Slideshow

Here you will find additional options, such as “Recommended Wallpaper” (the system selects photos based on your preferences) and “Sync with Mi Cloud”.

8.Security: Can you use a slideshow with confidential photos?

Many users worry that photos from the slideshow may be accessible to outsiders, but the risks are minimal, but there are nuances:

• 🔒 Screen locking: if you have installed PIN-code, pattern lock or fingerprint, photos will only be visible after unlocking.
• 👁️ Preview: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) display a smaller version of the wallpaper when notified. → Notifications → Confidentiality.
• ☁️ Cloud Photos: If you use Mi Cloud or Google Photos, make sure the album is not public.

If you want to eliminate the risk of leakage:

1. Use only local photos (not from the cloud).
2. Turn off the display of wallpaper on the lock screen when notified.
3. Do not add personal data images (passports, tickets, etc.) to the slideshow.

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The slideshow on the lock screen is secure, provided the device is password protected and the photos are stored locally.

FAQ: Frequent questions about slideshows on Xiaomi