How to change the wallpaper lock screen on Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Personalizing your smartphone is the first step that makes a new gadget truly yours. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face the question of how to change the standard image that meets them every time they wake up the device. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to quickly get important information or just cheer themselves up.

Changing the backgrounds of the MIUI shells and the new HyperOS can be confusing because of the abundance of settings and built-in features such as Wallpaper Carousel. However, once you understand the structure of the menu, you can easily control the visual style of your device. In this article, we will look at all the methods available.

We're going to cover not only the basic picture replacement, but also more complex scenarios, including removing intrusive ads and setting up automatic image change, so you won't have to put up with boring default screensavers installed by the manufacturer.

Basic settings through the main menu

The easiest and most obvious way to change the visuals is to use standard system settings, which are universal and work equally well on older firmware and on newer updates, and you don't need to install third-party software.

First, unlock the device and find the Settings icon on the desktop. In the list that opens, look for a section that may be called Wallpaper, Themes, or Lock Screen. The interface may vary slightly depending on the regional version of the software.

Once you log in, the system will offer you several categories: standard wallpaper, live wallpaper or gallery selection. Choose your favorite option and click "Apply" button. The system will specify where to install the image: only on the lock screen, only on the desktop or on both screens at once.

⚠️ Note: When choosing live wallpaper (animated) battery consumption can increase by 5-10% day, as the processor has to constantly process the graphics.

If you want to use your own photo, select the option "Gallery" or "Local Wallpaper". The system will open the file manager where you want to find the folder with images. After selecting the photo, you can fram it, moving the frame to make the composition look perfect on your display.

Use of the “Themes” annex

The central hub for customization in Xiaomi devices is the Themes app, which provides access to a huge library of content created by the company itself and independent designers from around the world, and you can find not just static images, but entire design complexes.

Launch the app and go to the wallpaper tab, and here's a catalog that's sorted by categories: nature, abstraction, animals, technology, etc. You can use filters to find free images or sort by popularity.

• 🎨 Online catalog: Thousands of high-resolution images updated daily.
• 🖼️ Local Gallery: The ability to install any photo from the phone's memory.
• 🎞️ Live wallpaper: Animated backgrounds that respond to touch or time.

And you need to pay special attention to the "Create a Theme" feature, which allows you to take any photo you take, apply filters and fonts to it, and then set the result to the lock screen, which gives you complete control over how your smartphone will look.

It is important to note that some themes in the store may be paid or require a subscription, but the basic functionality of installing your images remains completely free for all users without restrictions.

Setting up and disabling the wallpaper carousel

One of the most talked-about features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the “Glance” (Glance), which automatically changes images on a locked screen to show news, weather and banner ads, which many users find intrusive, but it can be flexibly configured or disabled.

To control the carousel, go to Settings → Lock screen. Here you will see the wallpaper carousel switch. If it is active, you can click on the function name to enter the advanced settings, where you can select the frequency of changes in pictures, the theme (sports, cars, nature) and the content region.

⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper carousel uses mobile internet or Wi-Fi to upload new images, which can lead to unforeseen traffic consumption in the absence of limits.

If you don't need an automatic change, just turn the switch to off. Then the lock screen will return to the static image you chose earlier. This will also remove the ad units that sometimes appear at the bottom of the screen.

For those who like variety but don't want advertising, there's a life hack, and in the carousel settings, you can turn off "Get content online" or select a minimalist mode if it's available in your firmware version, which leaves the image change function, but removes unnecessary interface elements.

Removal of the “Download via Wi-Fi” logo and advertisement

A common problem for MIUI users is the appearance of the “Download over Wi-Fi” logo or advertising slides when the screen is turned on, which is not a virus, but a built-in feature of the promocion system that is activated when certain themes are installed or software is updated.

To get rid of this, you need to go back to the Topic app. In the upper right corner, click on the profile icon (humans). In the profile menu, look for the Settings item. Here you need to find the option "Show ads" or "Receive recommendations" and turn off all the switches.

Settings → Passwords and security → Access to personal data → miui.da → Ban

Additionally, some firmware versions help disable the msa service (MIUI System Ads), find the passwords and security section in the settings, then access to personal data. Find the msa list and disable access. The system will request confirmation three times within 10 seconds, you need to wait and turn off.

Once these steps are done, the phone may need to reboot, and once the system is turned on, the intrusive logos and advertising blocks on the lock screen should disappear, leaving only a clean image.

Comparison of wallpaper installation methods

Different installation methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and understanding the differences will help you choose the best option for your use case. Below is a comparative table of the main methods.

As you can see from the table, standard settings are the most reliable way to avoid unnecessary debris. However, if you need a unique design, the Themes app offers the best tools, although it requires careful installation.

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Use images with a resolution of at least 1080x2400 pixels for high DPI screens to avoid blurring or pixelation.

Use of third-party applications and widgets

If Xiaomi’s standard functionality isn’t enough, Google Play offers a variety of customization apps, like the Wallpaper Engine, which allows you to stream live wallpaper from PC to phone, and Backdrops offers exclusive artwork.

When installing a third-party wallpaper app on Android 12 and above, the system can limit its operation in the background to save energy. To change the wallpaper correctly, you need to go to the battery settings and select the "No Limits" mode for a particular application.

• 🚀 Wallpaper Engine: PC synchronization and complex animations.
• 🎨 Backdrops: Exclusive collections from artists.
• ⚙️ Muzli: Wallpaper with design and technology news.

There are also widgets that change wallpaper depending on the time of day or weather, such as a bright sun image in the morning and a dark theme in the evening for eye comfort, which can be found in the same store or downloaded separately.

⚠️ Note: Third-party applications with rights to change system wallpaper may require broad permissions, which theoretically reduces the level of security of personal data.

Do not forget that the active use of third-party engines for live wallpaper can lead to heating of the smartphone case, especially on models with a high-performance model. AMOLED-screens where each pixel is individually illuminated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The optimal balance between beauty and performance is static dark tone wallpapers installed through the system’s standard menu.