How to change the screensaver on the screen of the Xiaomi phone: 5 ways + problem solving

The screensaver on your smartphone screen is the first thing you see when you unlock your device. On Xiaomi phones with a MIUI shell, you can change it in just a few touches, but not all users know about all the methods available. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard ways to change wallpaper through settings, but also hidden features that allow you to install dynamic screensavers, live wallpaper and even video as a background.

Xiaomi’s unique feature is the flexibility of the MIUI interface, which allows you to configure the lock screen and the desktop separately, while on newer versions of the firmware (for example, MIUI 14 based on Android 13), the algorithm of actions may differ from the old models, we took these nuances into account and prepared a universal instruction that will suit most devices, from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 13.

Method 1: Standard wallpaper change via MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in Themes section, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the model and firmware version.

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Select a category: 🌄 Standard – static wallpaper from Xiaomi. 🎨 Live - Animated background images. 📸 My wallpaper - photos you uploaded.

Apply

lock-screen

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If you want to use your own photo, click My Wallpaper → Select a photo and indicate the path to the image in the gallery. The system will automatically adjust it to the screen resolution.

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To prevent wallpaper from stretching or cropping, use images with a resolution of at least 1080×2340 for most Xiaomi models.

Method 2: Installation of live wallpaper (dynamic screensaver)

Live wallpapers (or dynamic screensavers) are animated background images that respond to touch or change over time. MIUI has built-in options, but you can install third-party ones through Google Play.

To activate the live wallpaper:

1. Get into Themes. → Wallpaper. → Alive.
2. Choose your favorite option (for example, weather, hours or 3D-effects).
3. Press Preview, then Apply.
4. Specify which screen to install (lock/desktop).

If you don't have many built-in options, download apps like Live Wallpapers or KLWP from Google Play, and when installed, they'll appear in My Wallpaper.

Method 3: Video as a screensaver on the lock screen

Few people know, but you can set the video as a background for the lock screen on Xiaomi.

1. Download video (up to 15 seconds) to your phone’s memory.
2. Open the themes → Wallpaper → My wallpaper → Select a video.
3. Select the file you want and cut it (if necessary).
4. Click Apply and select the Lock screen.

Important: video wallpaper only works on the lock screen and consumes more battery power. You can't install it on the desktop.

Method 4: Using third-party launchers

If you don’t have the standard MIUI, you can install an alternative launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Action Launcher) that allows you to:

• 🎛️ Set up transition animations.
• 🖼️ Set wallpaper with paralax effect.
• 🔄 Change icons and fonts.
• 📱 Separately adjust the background for each desktop.

After the launcher is installed:

1. Open his settings.
2. Go to the Wallpaper or Themes section.
3. Select the source (gallery, built-in wallpaper, online directory).
4. Apply the changes.

Download the launcher from Google Play|Make a backup of current settings|Disable battery optimization for launcher|Provide all necessary permits-->

Method 5: Automatically change the wallpaper on a schedule

MIUI has a hidden feature that automatically changes wallpapers by time of day or randomly, to activate it:

1. Open Topics → Wallpaper.
2. Choose a category (e.g. Nature or My Wallpaper).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Automan.
4. Set up the parameters: 🕒 Shift interval (every hour, once a day, when unlocked). 🌓 Day/night (dark wallpaper in the evening, light in the daytime). 🎲 Random order or in turn.

This feature is useful if you quickly get tired of one background or want your phone to automatically adjust to the time of day.

Table: Compatibility of methods with MIUI versions

Frequent problems and their solution

Sometimes when you change wallpaper, you get mistakes, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

⚠️ Warning: If the screen turns black or flickers after the wallpaper change, check if you have a battery-saving app that blocks background processes.

• 🔄 Wallpaper does not change: Restart your phone or clear the theme app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
• 🖼️ Photo cropped or stretched: Use images with aspect ratio 9:19.5 (for example, 1080×2340 full HD+ screen).
• 🎥 Video wallpapers are not playable: Make sure the file is in format.mp4.mov and its size does not exceed 50 MB.
• 🔒 No access to the gallery: Check permissions for the Themes app (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Permits).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models with MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A) It may not support live wallpaper. It's a hardware platform limitation.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

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For maximum performance, choose static wallpaper or live wallpaper with minimal animation. Dynamic screensavers and videos increase battery load by 5-15% depending on the model of the phone.