Personalization of a mobile device starts with visual design, and the screensaver plays a key role here. For many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, the standard image installed from the factory becomes familiar, but sometimes you want freshness and personality. In modern shells MIUI and the new HyperOS, the process of replacing the background of the lock screen or desktop is implemented as intuitively as possible, but hidden features may not be obvious at first glance.
Changing a static image to a dynamic one or installing a slideshow from personal photos can dramatically change the perception of the interface. It is important to understand that in the ecosystem of the Chinese giant there are different types of screens: Always On Display, lock screen and main desktop. Each of these levels has its own nuances of settings, ignoring which can lead to the fact that the desired image will not install or will be displayed incorrectly.
In this article, we will take a look at all the personalization options available, from standard tools to advanced methods through the engineering menu, and learn how to change images, but also how to manage their behavior, refresh rates, and even geo-location. Owners of older Android models with Android below 11 should be more careful: some features of live wallpaper may not be available without installing third-party launchers.
Basic setting of static wallpaper through the system
The easiest and most common way to change the visual style of the device is to use the built-in operating system tools, which does not require an Internet connection (unless online themes are used) and works consistently on all devices in the Mi line. First, you need to unlock the smartphone and go to the settings menu, which is usually indicated by the gear.
In the settings that open, you'll find a item that, depending on the firmware version, might be called "Wallpaper," "Themes," or "Block and Wallpaper Screen." In the HyperOS shell, these settings are often combined into a single visual center. By clicking on the appropriate icon, you'll be taken to a gallery of preset images, sorted by categories: nature, architecture, abstraction, and others.
If you choose the image you like, the system will suggest you use it, and what you need to look at is the bottom of the screen where the application buttons appear, and there are usually two of them: "Set lock on the screen" and "Install on the desktop." Double tapping allows you to set the picture on both screens at once, which creates a continuity of the interface.
⚠️ Attention: When installing high resolution images (4K and above) on the budget models of the Redmi series or POCO M can have a brief interface hanging, which is a normal processor response to heavy graphics processing.
If a standard gallery doesn't meet your aesthetic needs, the system lets you pick a photo from your personal gallery, and you click the "+" or "My Photos" button on the wallpaper selection menu. You'll see a file manager where you can select any picture, and the system will automatically prompt you to crop the image so that it fits perfectly in the proportion of your smartphone screen.
Using the “Themes” application for advanced customization
Themes is the central hub for personalizing Xiaomi devices, pre-installed on all global and Chinese firmware versions, and it holds the potential for anyone looking to change the theatrical theme to something unique that the standard Android gallery doesn’t have.
There is a separate section inside the app dedicated exclusively to wallpaper, where content is divided into static and dynamic (live) wallpapers, dynamic screensavers are short video loops or interactive scenes that respond to touch, and they require a stable connection to the network at the time of download, since the weight of such files can reach 50-100 MB.
The installation process through “Themes” is slightly different from the system:
- 📱 Open the “Themes” app and go to the lower “Wallpaper” menu».
- 🔍 Use search or categories to find the desired style (for example, "Anime", "Space", "Minimalism»).
- ⬇️ Click on the preview and select the “Download” button and then “Apply».
- ⚙️ Confirm the action by selecting the target screen (blocks or desktop).
It's worth noting that some premium themes may be paid or subscription-based. However, most content is available for free after watching a short ad integration. If you downloaded the whole theme but want to use only wallpaper from it, go to the profile (human icon), select "My themes", open the desired one and click "Apply wallpaper".
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If live wallpaper quickly plant the battery, try to reduce their quality in the theme settings or use a static frame from the video as a normal picture.
Slideshow setup and image carousel
One of the most popular features for users who can not decide on one image is the wallpaper carousel mode, which allows you to automatically change the screensaver on the lock screen at a given frequency using photos from the selected folder or online services.
To activate this mode, you need to go to the lock screen settings. The path can look like Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper carousel (or “Changing Wallpaper”). In this menu, you need to activate the switch and select the source of images. This can be a folder in the phone’s memory or a subscription to thematic collections from Xiaomi.
The important thing here is to control the change rate, so you can adjust the interval, every time you lock the screen, every hour, every day, or when you turn on the screen, and you can create the feeling of a constantly updated device without you being involved.
Smart Carousel mode is available for advanced users, which analyzes the time of day and offers relevant images (morning – landscapes at dawn, evening – city lights), but this feature requires permission to access geolocation and exact time to work correctly.
☑️ Setting up wallpaper carousel
Work with Always On Display (AOD) and live screensavers
Technology Always On Display (Always on screen) allows you to display information on the off display without the risk of burning out the matrix, thanks to the features AMOLED-Adjustment of panels. AOD It is closely related to the theme of screensavers, as users often want to see not only the watch, but also a personalized image on a black background.
From the Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display, you can choose the display style. Some styles allow you to upload your own photo, which will be displayed in black and white or color mode depending on the chosen template, which creates the effect of depth and uniqueness when the smartphone is lying on the table.
Live Wallpapers are a separate class of graphic design, and unlike conventional video wallpapers, they can respond to a gyroscope, touch, or system event, such as current weather wallpapers that show rain or snow in real time, often requiring a separate plugin or theme from the store to install.
Energy consumption should be kept in mind: heavy use of AOD with complex graphics and live wallpaper can increase battery consumption by 10-15% per day. On models with small batteries (less than 4000 mAh), it is recommended to use simplified AOD text styles.
| Type of screensaver | Battery consumption | Memory requirements | Impact on productivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static photo | Minimum | Low (2-5 MB) | Absent. |
| Live wallpaper (video) | Average. | Average (20-50 MB) | Minor. |
| Interactive wallpaper | High. | High (50-100 MB) | Notable on old CPUs |
| AOD (with photo) | Medium/High | Low. | Background sensor work |
Third-party applications and launchers for advanced users
If standard MIUI functionality isn’t enough, third-party solutions from the Google Play Store come to the rescue, with apps like the Wallpaper Engine, Backdrops or Muzei giving access to thousands of copyrighted works and complex image-change algorithms.
The Wallpaper Engine is a special feature, which allows you to stream live wallpapers from your PC to your smartphone. Sync is done over Wi-Fi, and you can use the same high-quality animations you use on your computer. It requires you to install a server part on your PC and a client application on Android.
Another popular option is to use launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which allow you to embed widgets and wallpaper changes directly into the desktop interface, ignoring system limitations. However, deep integration with the lock screen Xiaomi from third-party launchers is often limited due to Android security policies.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party launchers, the gesture function (swipe management) may not work correctly or may conflict with system gestures. MIUI. It is recommended to use navigation through buttons in this case.
There are also specialty widgets that change wallpaper depending on battery power or number of steps, for example, when charging less than 20% in the background, a warning red color appears in the background to motivate you to find a charge, such scenarios are created in automating applications such as MacroDroid or Tasker.
How to activate hidden wallpapers of Google?
The solution: why the screensaver does not change or disappears
Users often find themselves in situations where the screensaver is spontaneously reset to the standard or does not want to be used. One of the common reasons is aggressive battery optimization. MIUI can kill the process responsible for changing the wallpaper, considering it a background task. To fix this, you need to find the application "Themes" or "Wallpaper" in the battery settings and set a limit "No restrictions".
Another problem is the file format: If you try to install an image in HEIC (standard for iPhone) or WebP format on an older version of Android, the system may not recognize the file. Converting to a classic JPG or PNG solves the problem 99% of the time.
Also worth checking for system updates. In rare cases, bugs in a particular firmware version can block the change in visual style. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update system will help make sure you are using the current version of the software.
If the screensaver "floats" or has black fields, then the proportions of the screen are not observed. For modern Xiaomi smartphones, the resolution of 2400×1080 and above is relevant. Using horizontal photos without prior framing often leads to an unaesthetic result.
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Aggressive energy saving is the main reason for resetting custom wallpaper settings. Always add the Themes app to the power saving exceptions.