How to change wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all the ways from standard to hidden

Why the Standard Way Doesn't Always Work and What to Do

Changing the wallpaper to Xiaomi Redmi 9 seems like a simple task — until you encounter MIUI bugs. Users often complain that after updating the system, you lose the ability to choose wallpaper from the gallery, and standard themes look irrelevant. In this article, we will analyze 5 working methods, including little-known tricks with developer settings and third-party launchers.

The Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC, M2004C3LGG) has limited memory for the theme: if you download too many wallpapers through Themes, the system can block the loading of new ones. The problem arises when using animation wallpapers - they eat up to 30% of RAM, which leads to lags. We tested all methods on MIUI 12.5-14 (Android 10-11) and found the best solutions for different scenarios.

Method 1: Standard Shifting through “Themes” (official method)

The safest, but not always convenient way, is that MIUI has a built-in Themes app where you can download wallpapers adapted to Redmi 9 (720×1600) resolution, and the problem is that many wallpapers require registration in Mi Account, and some collections are paid.

How to change:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 Go to the Wallpaper tab. → Select a category (Nature, Abstraction, etc.).
• 📲 Click on your favorite image → Apply → Select the Lock Screen and/or the Main Screen.
• ⚙️ For fine-tuning, click Edit - you can change the scale and position here.

Pitfalls: If wallpaper doesn't apply, check if the power saving mode is on (Settings → Battery → Power saving mode) It blocks background processes, including the loading of topics.

Download the latest version of the app "Themes" in the Mi App Store

Turn off the power saving mode

Connect to Wi-Fi (both wallpaper weighs up to 10MB)

Clear the cache of the “Themes” app (Settings → Applications → Themes → Storage)

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Method 2: Installation of wallpaper from the Gallery (for your photos)

If you want to put a personal photo or downloaded from the Internet, use the built-in Gallery. Important: Redmi 9 automatically crops the wallpaper to the aspect ratio of 20:9, so it is better to adjust the resolution in the editor beforehand (for example, 720×1600 for the home screen).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the gallery and select the image you want.
2. Click on the three dots in the lower right corner → Set as → Wallpaper.
3. Adjust the framing area (swipe or pinch-to-zoom).
4. Click Ready → Choose where to apply (lock screen, home screen, or both).

A critical feature of Redmi 9: if the wallpaper is not applied from the Gallery, check the storage permissions for the Themes app (Settings → Applications → Themes → Resolutions).

Method 3: Third-party applications (for advanced features)

Official methods are limited to functionality MIUI. If you need a live wallpaper, 3D-effects or automatic time-of-day changes, you'll have to use third-party tools:

⚠️ Warning: Live wallpaper (.apk or.klwp) can drain the Redmi 9 battery 15-20% faster. If you notice overheating, check the load on the processor in Settings → Battery → Battery utilization.

Standard from "Thems."

Photos of yourself from the Gallery

Live wallpaper (animation)

Wallpaper with widget (weather, time)

Other-->

Method 4: Hidden MIUI settings (for power users)

MIUI has hidden parameters to get around the limitations of the system, such as turning off wallpaper compression or allowing animated backgrounds to be installed without third-party applications, and activating the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. 7 times click on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the option to Disable MIUI (or Force GPU Rendering) and activate it.

After that:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 🖼️ Try to install wallpaper through the Gallery again - the blurring should disappear.
• 🎨 For animated wallpaper, turn on the animation window (1x) developer-setting.

Unique lifehack for Redmi 9: if after changing the wallpaper disappears animation transitions between screens, reset the launcher settings. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher and click Clear data (no cache!).

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If the app icons are missing after changing the wallpaper, don't panic - it's a MIUI bug. Just reboot your phone or drag any app to your desktop to restore the layout.

Method 5: Alternative launchers (for full control)

If you're not comfortable with the standard MIUI launcher, you can install a third-party launcher, which will allow you to:

• 🎨 Use wallpaper with paralax effect (3D-depth).
• 🔄 Automatically change the background on a schedule.
• 📱 Set up gestures to change wallpaper.

Best launchers for Redmi 9:

1. Nova Launcher supports adaptive icons and gestures.
2. Lawnchair is an open source lightweight launcher.
3. Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for Xiaomi (no conflicts with MIUI)

How to determine:

1. Download the launcher from Google Play.
2. Open the app and follow the setup wizard.
3. In the launcher settings, find the Wallpaper or Personalization section.
4. Select a source (gallery, online library) and apply wallpaper.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers (such as Microsoft Launcher) are in conflict with the MIUI Optimization and Lags. If you notice slowdowns, turn off optimization in the developer settings (see Method 4).

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Alternative launchers are the only way to install wallpaper with dynamic elements (for example, changing depending on the time of day) without root rights.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even after the wallpaper is properly installed, Redmi 9 can have problems, and let's look at the typical scenarios and how to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the launcher settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the launcher (or MIUI Launcher).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions