Changing the visual design of a smartphone is the easiest and fastest way to personalize a device to your liking. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO equipment often wonder how to change the standard picture on the lock screen or in the desktop. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS provide extensive customization opportunities that go far beyond simply replacing a static image.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods for changing the screensaver, from basic system settings to using specialized features like Wallpaper Carousel, you will learn how to install live animations, create slideshows from personal photos and manage the theme of the design through global settings or third-party applications.
No matter which version of the operating system you have installed on your gadget, the setup process remains intuitive, but there are nuances that allow you to achieve a truly unique result and avoid common mistakes when choosing files that are too heavy.
Basic change of static wallpaper through settings
The most obvious and affordable way for everyone to change the background is to use the built-in settings menu, which requires no internet connection (unless new themes are loaded) and works consistently on all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.
To start, you need to go to the main menu of device settings. Find the Wallpaper or Wallpaper section and personalization. Here the system will offer you several categories: standard MIUI wallpaper, color palettes and possibly video wallpaper, if supported by your version of firmware.
When you select an image, you'll see the Apply button, and clicking on it will open up the application area selection menu, so you can only set the image to the lock screen, only to the desktop, or both, and it allows you to create interesting visuals when you unlock the background changes.
- 📱 Open the Security app and go to the Cleanup section, where recommendations for changing the topic are often hidden.
- 🖼️ Use the built-in editor to crop the image to your screen resolution before installation.
- ⚙️ Check the Dark Theme settings, as some wallpapers can automatically darken to save energy on the wallpaper. AMOLED-screen.
⚠️ Note: When selecting very bright static images for lock screens AMOLED-displays may experience increased battery consumption if the Always On Display function is configured incorrectly.
If you want to use your image, make sure that its resolution matches or exceeds the native resolution of your smartphone’s matrix.
Using the “Themes” application for enhanced features
The central hub for customization in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the Themes app, which is not just a picture catalog, but a powerful platform that allows you to change not only the screensaver, but also the style of icons, fonts and system sounds, and this is where the highest quality and sophisticated materials are located.
Inside the app, go to the bottom menu and select the Wallpaper tab, where the content is divided into categories: Popular, New, Video, and HD. The user can filter the wallpaper by orientation (horizontal or vertical) and device type.
And the video wallpapers that deserve a lot of attention are dynamic screensavers that play short video when you turn on a screen or on a desktop, and they make the interface live, but they require more CPU and battery.
When downloading themes or wallpaper from this store, make sure that the right region is chosen. Sometimes the content may be geographically restricted, and changing the region in the Mi Account settings may open access to exclusive collections.
- 🎨 Apply whole themes to make the wallpaper fit perfectly with the icon design and control panel.
- 📥 Save your favorite wallpaper in the “Favorites” inside the application to have access to them after resetting the settings.
- 🔄 Check the “Updates” section regularly, where new collections often appear for the holidays or the release of new models.
Why are some topics paid?
Configure the function "Wallpaper Carousel" (Glance)
One of the most recognizable features of the MIUI shell is the Wallpaper Carousel (formerly known as Glance), which automatically changes the image on the lock screen every time you turn on the smartphone screen, which turns the lock into a news feed with beautiful visuals.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper carousel. You need to turn on the activation switch. The system will suggest you choose your interest categories: nature, cities, art, space or cars.
The carousel settings also allow advertising recommendations or news to be displayed, and if you only want to change pictures without excessive noise, it is recommended to disable items related to recommendations and blocking applications.
☑️ Setting up the wallpaper carousel
Users often argue about the utility of this feature, on the one hand, it provides constant variety, on the other hand, critics note that it can consume traffic and slightly increase response time when unlocked.
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper Carousel requires a constant internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) to download new images. In roaming or with limited traffic, it is better to turn off downloads over the mobile network.
If you get tired of the current set of images, you can clear the carousel cache in its settings at any time or completely disable the function by returning a static image.
Installation of your own photos and creation of slideshows
Standard collections are beautiful, but personal photos are always more valuable. Xiaomi allows you to use any images from the gallery as a screensaver. Moreover, the system can switch them itself, creating a slideshow effect.
To set your photo, open the gallery, select an image, click on three dots in the corner (menu) and select "Install as wallpaper." The system will suggest framing the image. After confirmation, choose whether to apply to the lock screen or desktop.
To create an automatic slideshow from the photo album, go to Settings → Wallpaper. Some versions of MIUI have a "Washpaper Stir" or "Slideshow" option, and if you don't have one on the wallpaper menu, you can use widgets.
| Parameter | Static wallpaper | Wallpaper carousel | Live wallpaper (Video) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery consumption | Minimum | Medium. | High-pitched |
| Network requirement | Not required | Required (Wi-Fi/4G) | Only downloadable |
| Shift frequency | Manually. | When the screen is turned on | Constant animation |
| Impact on memory | Low. | Medium (cache) | High. |
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To create a high-quality slideshow from your photos, use the Photoamka widget on your desktop. It allows you to select specific albums and adjust the frame interval from 1 minute to 1 hour.
Using widgets is an alternative and often more flexible way: add the PhotoBam widget to your desktop, select a source (a gallery album), and adjust the display style. While this will take up space on the screen, the visual effect will be exactly what you want.
Thin customization and additional widgets
HyperOS shell and modern versions of MIUI offer deep integration of widgets. You can place widgets on the lock screen or desktop that not only show the time or weather, but also serve as a decor element that echoes the selected wallpaper.
And you can see the Notes widgets or the Music Player widgets with transparent backgrounds, which allow you to create a depth effect where the text sort of floats above the image, and this is especially impressive on dark, abstract screensavers.
Also worth mentioning is the Always Screen On (AOD) feature. AOD customization often goes hand in hand with wallpaper. You can choose the AOD style that complements the main screensaver, or customize it to only turn on when you receive a notification, saving charge.
- 🕰️ Synchronize the style of the watch on the lock screen with the color gamut of your wallpaper for a single style.
- 🔔 Set up. AOD to show only important notifications, so as not to be distracted by the bright screensaver constantly.
- 🎨 Experiment with the depth effect in iOS style (available in some themes), where the clock is overlapped by objects on the screensaver.
Remember that excessive widgets and heavy wallpaper can cause the interface to slow down on older smartphone models. If you notice a performance decline, try going back to static, optimized images.
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The optimal balance between beauty and performance is achieved by using static devices. HD-wallpaper and minimum number of widgets with transparent background.