How to change the screensaver 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 it’s the way you experience the device. Many MIUI users are faced with a problem: the system doesn’t allow you to change the screensaver with standard tools or offers a limited selection of wallpapers. In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to change the screensaver, from official settings to circumventing restrictions through hidden features and third-party apps.

It’s important to understand that the process can vary depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13 or 14) and the smartphone model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro).We’ve taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will work for most devices. If you want to not just change the picture, but make the lock screen truly unique — with animation, a weather widget or dynamic wallpaper — read on.

Why Xiaomi is restricting the screensaver change on the lock screen?

Xiaomi has imposed restrictions on changing lock wallpapers for a reason.

🔒 Security: The screensaver may contain sensitive information (such as notifications), so the system restricts access to its modification.
🎨 Uniformity of design: MIUI strives for a holistic visual style, where desktop wallpaper and locks are harmoniously combined.
📱 Performance optimization: Dynamic wallpaper or heavy images can slow unlock on budget models (e.g. Redmi) 10A).
💰 Monetization: In some regions, Xiaomi offers paid themes through themes where lock wallpaper is part of premium content.

However, these restrictions are easy to circumvent if you know the right settings or use third-party tools, and we will show you how to do this without root rights and without risk to warranty.

📊 What version? MIUI You're using it?

MIUI 12

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

I don't know.

other

Official method: change through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which works on most devices, but with reservations:

Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
Choose your favorite picture from the suggested ones or click My wallpaper to upload your image.
Confirm the changes with the Apply button.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO X5) The lock screen may not be available. In this case, try an alternative path:

⚠️ Warning: If the screensaver hasn't changed after the wallpaper change, reboot your smartphone. MIUI caches old images, and updates only after reboot.

Upload the image at least 1080×2340 (for Full HD+)

Make sure the file is less than 5MB

Turn off the power saving mode (can block changes)

Reboot your smartphone if new wallpaper is not applied

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Hidden MIUI features: how to unlock additional settings

MIUI has hidden options that allow you to separate the wallpaper of the desktop and lock screen.

Open the Settings → Wallpaper.
Slap the icon. ⚙️ (gear) in upper right corner.
Activate the switch Different wallpaper for the desktop and lock screen.
You can now select individual images for each screen.

If this option is not available, try an alternative method through the Functions Lab:

🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
👆 Tap it according to version. MIUI 7 times until you get a message, you become a developer!
🔄 Back to Settings → Additionally. → Functions laboratory.
🎛️ Find the option Different wallpaper to lock and turn it on.

This method works on MIUI 13/14, but may not be available on older versions or in regional firmware (e.g., for Europe).

What if the Functions Lab is not available?

On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Global market) Functions lab is hidden. In this case, try: 1. Install MIUI Hidden Settings (requires permission to overlay). 2. Use it. ADB-Adb shell settings put global separate_lockscreen_wallpaper 1 3. Update the firmware to the latest version (in new builds, the option often returns).

Third-party apps: top-3 customizer

If the standard methods didn't work, third-party tools would come to the rescue, and we tested dozens of apps and selected the three most reliable ones:

Annex	Features	Cons	Reference
Wallpaper Carousel	Automatic wallpaper change, Bing/Unsplash support, low battery consumption	No Russification, requires adjustment of permits	Google Play
KLWP Live Wallpaper	Creating animated screensavers, integration with weather and notifications	Complicated interface, plugins are purchased separately	Google Play
Zedge	Large library of wallpaper and live screensavers, simple interface	Advertising, some wallpaper paid	Google Play

For the use of wallpaper from these applications:

Download and install the app.
Choose your favorite screensaver.
Click Set → Lock screen (if option is available).
If the option is missing, set the wallpaper on the Main screen and then use the method from the previous section to split the wallpaper.

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To prevent wallpaper from being cut, use images with an aspect ratio of 9:20 (for example, 1080×2400 pixels).

Dynamic and live wallpaper: how to revive the lock screen

Static pictures are boring, and it's much more interesting to use dynamic wallpapers that respond to the time of day, the weather, or gestures, and here's how to set them up.

🌄 The day of the day: Themes → Select Dynamic Wallpaper, and the system will automatically change the screensaver at dawn, afternoon and evening.
🌦️ Weather wallpaper: Install Weather & Clock Widget and select a theme with rain/snow animation.
🎮 Interactive screensavers: Annex KLWP allows you to create wallpaper that responds to touch (for example, show hidden widgets when swiping).

⚠️ Attention: Dynamic wallpaper increases battery consumption by 5-15%. AMOLED-This effect is less noticeable on screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), but on budget models (Redmi). 9A) It is better to turn off animation in energy saving mode.

To create your own living wallpaper:

Download IntoLive or Video to Wallpaper.
Upload a 5-10 second video (e.g., recording waves or cityscapes).
Cut it to the screen resolution (use CapCut for precise fit).
Set as wallpaper through the application by selecting the Lock Screen option.

Problems and Solutions: Why the Screenplay Doesn't Change

Sometimes users find that new wallpapers are not used or reset after a reboot, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Wallpaper is reset after resetting	Misfire of MIUI Launcher	Clear the cache of the Settings application → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache
No option "Block screen" in Topics	Regional firmware restrictions	Install a global version MIUI via Fastboot or use it ADB-team from above
Wallpaper is cut or stretched	Inappropriate image resolution	Use images with the resolution that matches your screen (e.g. 2400×1080 for POCO F4)
Black screen after changing wallpaper	Conflict with the subject of design	Reset the theme to standard: Topics → My themes → By default

If none of the methods worked, check:

🔄 System Updates: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update MIUI and install the latest version.
🛠️ Reset launcher settings: Clip the empty space on the home screen → Settings → Reset the settings.
📱 Virus check: Some malware blocks changes to system settings.Scan your device through Google Play Protection.

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If you use custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), standard MIUI methods will not work, in which case, set the wallpaper via Settings → Personalization → Style and Wallpaper (the interface depends on the build).

Advanced Customization: Root Rights and ADB

For experienced users willing to take drastic measures, there are ways to use root rights or ADB.

🔓 Install any wallpaper without restrictions.
🎨 Change the system animations of the lock screen.
🔄 Disable forced wallpaper blurring on some devices.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB or root rights may result in loss of warranty or soft-brick (software system damage). → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Instructions via ADB (without root rights):

Install Platform Tools on your PC.
Turn on USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times) → Developer settings → USB debugging.
Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global lock_screen_wallpaper "/storage/emulated/0/Download/your_wallpaper.jpg" Replace the path with the one that is relevant to your image.
Reset the device.

For users with root rights:

Use Root Explorer or Solid Explorer to replace files in /system/media/theme/default/wallpaper/.
For animations, edit bootanimation.zip in /system/media/ (requires knowledge of working with Magisk).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I put a GIF on the lock screen?

Yes, but only through third-party apps like GIF Live Wallpaper. Standard MIUI tools do not support animated wallpaper on the lock screen. Note that GIFs severely drain the battery - it is better to use short cycles (3-5 seconds).

Why did the MIUI update drop the wallpaper?

This is standard system behavior in major updates (for example, MIUI 13 to 14). To avoid wallpaper loss, copy them to the cloud (Mi Cloud) or PC before updating.

How to return the standard wallpaper Xiaomi?

Go to Topics → Wallpaper → Default. If the option is missing, reset the launcher settings: press the empty space on the home screen → Settings → Reset settings → Reset the standard wallpaper.

Can I make a different wallpaper for two people? SIM-map?

No, MIUI does not support SIM-based wallpaper binding, but you can use the Tasker app to automatically change the screensaver when you change your profile (e.g., Work or Home) to create a state-to-state task → Telephony → Active SIM.

Why are the wallpapers on the lock blurred?

It's a feature. MIUI To improve the readability of the notification text, to remove blur: Set the wallpaper through the themes marked No blur (there is Minimalism in the collection). ADB-Adb shell settings put global lock_screen_blured_wallpaper 0 On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S) blurring can not be removed - this is a limitation of hardware optimization.