How to change the wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways

Why Redmi 9 Wallpapers Are Boring and How to Replace Them

The lock screen of Xiaomi Redmi 9 is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone. Standard wallpaper from MIUI (even in current versions 14) often look boring or do not match your style. Fortunately, the system allows you to flexibly adjust the background from uploading personal photos to using dynamic wallpaper with paralax effects.

The problem is that not everyone is aware of the hidden features. For example, Redmi 9 can set different wallpapers for the lock screen and the main screen, activate animations when unlocked, or even use live wallpaper (LWP) — but these features are hidden in the depths of the menu. This article will help you understand all the nuances, including bypassing the limitations of MIUI for third-party launchers.

It is important to consider the firmware version: in MIUI 12 and MIUI 13, the path to settings is different from MIUI 14.

Method 1: Change wallpapers through standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in tools. It works on all versions of Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T) and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open “Settings” (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (in some versions of MIUI it is called Lock and Password).
3. Select Wallpaper Lock screen or Lock Style → Change wallpaper.
4. The system will offer options: 🖼️ Gallery - upload your own photo. 🌄 Standard Wallpaper – Collection from Xiaomi (updated with firmware). 🎨 Dynamic wallpaper – animated background images (not available on all versions).

Apply

Install

If you don't have lock screen wallpaper, you have an older version of MIUI (up to 12.5).

1. Return to the main settings menu.
2. Select Wallpaper → Lock screen.
3. Download the image from the gallery or select from the ones offered.

Is there enough free memory (at least 50 MB for image processing)

Photo resolution of at least 1080×2340 pixels (for Redmi 9)

Power saving mode is turned off (can block changes)

- Is the firmware updated to the latest version?-->

Nuance for MIUI 14: New firmware versions have the option to Blurr Background when unlocked, and you can include it in the same wallpaper setting menu to add depth to your image.

Method 2: Using a gallery for quick replacement

Not everyone knows, but Redmi 9 can change wallpaper directly from the Gallery app, a method that is convenient if you update the background often and do not want to climb the settings:

1. Open the gallery and select the photo you want.
2. Slap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
3. In the menu, select Set as → Lock screen wallpaper.
4. If necessary, crop the image (the system will automatically tell you the optimal boundaries).
5. Press Ready or Apply.

If the option is “Install as not available”, update the Gallery app via Play Market or check the permission settings for the application (there should be permission to Change System Settings).

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when buying a new phone

Never change.-->

⚠️ Warning: If the background has not changed after changing the wallpaper through the gallery, restart the device. MIUI caches old lock screen settings.

Method 3: Install live wallpaper (LWP) on the lock screen

Live Wallpapers add animation to the lock screen, but Redmi 9 has limitations. Standard LWPs from the Play Market (like Forest Live Wallpaper or 3D Parallax Background) usually only work on the home screen.

1. Download the supported live wallpaper app (we recommend KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker or Wallpapers Craft).
2. Set wallpaper through the application by selecting the option Apply to the lock screen.
3. If the option is unavailable: 🔧 Use it. ADB-Team (requires PC and debugging on the USB): adb shell settings put global use_live_wallpaper_on_lockscreen 1 📱 Install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) and set up wallpaper through it.

Important: Live wallpaper increases battery consumption by 5-15% (based on tests on Redmi 9 with MIUI 13).If you notice a quick discharge, turn off animations in the app settings or go back to static wallpaper.

Method 4: Applying MIUI themes to a comprehensive design change

If you want to change not only wallpaper, but also fonts, icons, animations, use the built-in Themes app. This is the official customization method from Xiaomi, which does not require root rights:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Lock Screen or My Themes → Setup.
3. Choose your favorite theme from the collection (free ones are marked with a green tick).
4. Click Apply – the system will automatically update the wallpaper, watch style and controls.

The advantage of the method: The theme changes not only the background, but also the style of displaying notifications, time/date font and even unlock animations. For example, the theme “Cosmic” adds a starry sky effect, and “Minimal” removes unnecessary elements from the screen.

Disadvantage: Many premium themes require a fee (between 50 and 300 rubles). To avoid spending, filter out the free options in the Category → Free menu.

💡

If after applying the theme, the wallpaper has not changed, clear the cache of the Themes application in the Application settings → Application Management → Themes → Clear the cache.

Method 5: Third-Party Applications for Advanced Customization

For those who don't have standard MIUI features, there are third-party tools that allow you to install wallpapers with 3D effects, interactive elements or even widgets on the lock screen.

• 🎨 Zedge – wallpaper and live backgrounds with lock screen support (requires permission to change system settings).
• 🖥️ KWGT Kustom Widget Maker – to create custom widgets on top of wallpaper (works with Nova Launcher).
• 🌌 Muzei Live Wallpaper – automatically changes wallpaper from selected sources (e.g. photos from the site). NASA or unsplash).

Instructions for Zedge:

1. Download Zedge from Play Market.
2. In the application menu, select Wallpaper → Lock screen.
3. Select the image you like and click Apply.
4. If the system requests permissions, give access to Wallpaper Settings.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, GO Locker) offer a complete replacement of the lock screen, but on MIUI 13/14 They often conflict with system services, which can cause you to freeze when you unlock or your fingerprint crashes!

Problem Solving: Wallpapers are not changed or reset

Sometimes, after the wallpaper changes, the changes don't apply or the background is reset to the standard.

If the wallpaper is reset after the MIUI update, it is due to Xiaomi's policy: the system returns the standard settings for stability.

1. Back up your wallpaper (copy files from the DCIM/.thumbnails folder to your PC).
2. Remember the path to the gallery image.
3. After updating, re-apply the wallpaper through Settings.

💡

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 14, the lock screen wallpaper is stored in the /data/system/users/0/wallpaper folder. Access is only possible with root rights, so backup through standard means is not possible.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the wallpaper to Redmi 9