How to change the photo on the lock screen Xiaomi: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi’s lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and the overall impression of the device depends on its appearance. Many users want to personalize the phone by replacing the standard wallpaper with their favorite photo, but do not always know how to do it correctly. Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the model of the smartphone (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), the process can be different, and sometimes even completely hidden behind non-obvious settings.

In this article, we will explore all the current ways to change photos on the lock screen, including standard MIUI tools, third-party apps and hidden features. You will learn how to bypass the limitations of the system, why sometimes new wallpapers are not used, and how to return a standard image if something went wrong.

Why can’t you just change the lock wallpaper on Xiaomi like on other phones?

Unlike iOS or pure Android, where changing the lock wallpaper is intuitive, MIUI often complicates the process.

• 🔒 Security Policy: Xiaomi restricts access to system settings to protect the device from accidental changes that could disrupt the lock screen.
• 📱 Wallpaper division: B MIUI Desktop and lock screen wallpapers are set up separately, which confuses new users.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: New versions (for example, transition from the MIUI 12 on MIUI 14) the location of settings can change dramatically.
• 🛠️ Manufacturing restrictions: on some models (e.g, POCO F4 or Redmi K50) The lock wallpaper function can be disabled by default.

Xiaomi also uses cloud-based wallpaper services, and sometimes the system automatically uploads standard images, overwriting user images, especially after updates or resets.

Method 1: Standard change via MIUI settings (for most models)

This is the easiest and safest method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI 12-14.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (or Wallpaper → Lock screen on some firmware).
3. Select the Wallpaper Lock screen or Change wallpaper.
4. Click My Wallpaper or Gallery to upload your own photo.
5. Cut the image to the template (if necessary) and save the changes.

If your menu doesn’t have a Lock Screen option, try an alternative path:

Settings → Display → Additional → Wallpaper of the lock screen

Is the firmware updated to the latest version |Try the settings (loop at the top) |Make sure you use the official MIUI, not custom firmware |Reboot your phone - sometimes the menu "appears" after the reboot-->

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) after the wallpaper change may appear watermark MIUI It's not a bug, because it's the way the system marks the user's images, and you can only remove it through Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Multiple clicks to unlock hidden options).

Method 2: Using the Themes app for unique wallpaper

The Themes app (pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones) allows you not only to download ready-made themes, but also to install your own wallpaper on the lock screen. This method is suitable if the standard method did not work or you want to use animated wallpaper.

Instructions:

1. Open the Topic app (Brush icon).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Select the category of the Lock screen.
4. Click My Wallpaper → Select from the Gallery.
5. Upload the photo, trim it (if necessary) and apply it.

The advantage of this method is access to thousands of free wallpapers from the MIUI community, including dynamic and live wallpapers, but beware: some themes may contain ads or change system fonts.

Own photos|Standard wallpaper MIUI|Animated/live wallpaper|Dark wallpaper for AMOLED|Minimalist abstractions-->

Method 3: Manually modifying through file manager (for advanced)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on custom firmware or after resetting), you can manually replace wallpaper through system files. This method requires root rights or ADB, so it is only suitable for advanced users.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock Developer Settings).
2. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
3. Enter the command to copy your photo to the system folder: adb push /path/to/your/image.jpg /sdcard/MIUI/wallpaper/
4. Rename the file to lockscreen_wallpaper.jpg.
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly changing system files can lead to bootloop (loop loading).Before experimenting, back up via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Table: Compatibility of methods with popular Xiaomi models

How to choose the perfect photo for the lock screen?

Not every image will look good on the lock screen, but here are some key recommendations:

• 📏 Permission: Optimal — 1080×2340 (for most models; or 1440×3200 (for flagships such as Xiaomi 13 Avoid stretched or pixelated pictures.
• 🎨 Contrast: Dark wallpaper saves charge on AMOLED-screens, but the light text of the notifications should remain readable.
• 👁️ Composition: Important elements (faces, logos) place in the center - the edges of the screen can be cut off.
• 🚫 Avoid images with strangers’ faces, brand logos (may be blocked by the system), or too bright colors (tiring eyes).

To create perfect wallpaper, use apps like Canva or Adobe Photoshop Express, where you can set exact dimensions and crop photos under your smartphone screen. It is also useful to use cropping templates that automatically take into account the location of the clock, notifications and interface elements of MIUI.

💡

To check how the wallpaper will look on the lock screen, take a screenshot of the current screen (Power button + Volume down), open it in the gallery and superimpose over your photo in 50% transparency mode, so you will see which elements overlap.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful wallpaper changes, users are confronted with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Wallpaper resets after rebooting: Clear the Topic app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Management → Topics → Clear the cache).
• 🖼️ Photo cuts curve: Use photo editor to manually adjust the image to the aspect ratio of 9:19.5 (for most Xiaomi).
• 🔒 You can not change the wallpaper on the desktop and lock at the same time: This is a feature MIUI — Set them up separately in the wallpaper menu.
• ⚡ After the wallpaper changes, the battery quickly goes down: Live wallpaper or animated themes increase energy consumption.

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the lock screen settings to factory:

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting the lock screen settings

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 14 for POCO F4 GT) After the reset, you may need to re-assign your Xiaomi account, otherwise the wallpaper will not remain.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions