How to remove or change the picture on the lock screen Xiaomi: all ways

The lock screen on Xiaomi smartphones is not just a protection against accidental clicks, but also a business card of the device. Many users face a situation where it displays an undesirable image: whether it is a randomly installed photo, a standard wallpaper from MIUI that is tired, or an image left after synchronization with a Mi Account account. Unlike desktop wallpaper, changing or deleting a background image on the lock is often complicated by hidden settings or firmware restrictions.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to remove images from the lock screen on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices running MIUI 12/13/14 and the new HyperOS. From standard methods through the settings menu to workarounds for cases where the system does not allow you to change the background, and you’ll learn why the image sometimes returns after a reboot and how to fix it.

Important: the procedure differs depending on the firmware version and smartphone model. If you use a device older than 2019 (for example, the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), some menu items may be called differently - we will specify alternative paths.

Why does an unwanted image appear on the lock screen?

Before you delete an image, you need to understand where it came from. MIUI and HyperOS have several background sources to block:

• 📱 Standard wallpaper systems – set automatically after resetting settings or updating the firmware. Most often these are abstract drawings or landscapes from Xiaomi.
• 🖼️ Gallery photo – the user could randomly select the image through the Wallpaper menu or sync with Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 Sync with Mi Account – if you are logged in to Xiaomi account on another device and there was a lock picture, it can automatically be transferred.
• 🎁 Themes and Wallpaper Packs – Some themes from the Mi Theme Store change the background of the lock without explicit user confirmation.
• 🔧 Firmware errors are rare, but it happens that after an update, the system resets the wallpaper settings for defaults.

On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the logic of the wallpaper has changed: the lock background can now dynamically adjust to the system’s color scheme, sometimes resulting in the user’s image being replaced with an automatically generated one.

⚠️ Note: If the image on the lock appeared after connecting to public Wi-Fi (for example, in a cafe or airport), this may be caused by automatic download of advertising content. → Memory. → Clean and disable the option “Recommended Content".

Method 1: Remove the image using standard MIUI/HyperOS settings

The most obvious and safe method is to use the built-in tools of the system, which is suitable for most models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T and other devices on current versions of firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (in some versions of MIUI it is called Lock and Password).
3. Select the Lock Screen Wallpaper or Lock Background.
4. Click on Change or Select Wallpaper.
5. In the gallery, select Wallpaperless, Black background or Standard (depending on the firmware version).
6. Confirm the changes with the Apply or Ready button.

If your MIUI version doesn't have a wallpaper-free option, try choosing a solid color (usually black, white or gray) on HyperOS, this item may be hidden behind the button Additional in the wallpaper menu.

Check if the section is hidden behind the additional settings (click on the three dots in the upper right corner)

Update the firmware to the latest version

Restart the device and try again.

Make sure that the device does not have third-party launchers installed (for example, Nova Launcher)-->

On some devices (e.g. Redmi 10C or POCO M4 Pro), the lock wallpaper menu can be combined with the desktop wallpaper.

1. Hold your finger on the empty space on the desktop.
2. Click on Wallpaper or Themes.
3. Select the Block tab (if any).
4. Set a black background or other neutral image.

⚠️ Warning: On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14 Pro) after changing the lock wallpaper, you may need to reboot to make the changes take effect. If the picture remains, try turning off and turn on your smartphone again.

Method 2: Resetting wallpaper through "Themes" (if the picture is set by the topic)

Many users install themes from the official Mi Theme Store without knowing that they may be changing the background of the lock, and if the picture appears after applying a new theme, it can be removed by resetting the theme settings to standard.

How to do this:

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on your desktop).
2. Go to My Topics or Installed.
3. Find an active topic and click on it.
4. Select Reset to Standard or Remove theme settings.
5. Confirm action. The locking background should return to factory appearance.

If there is no reset option, try removing the theme completely:

1. In the My Topics section, click and hold your finger on the active topic.
2. Choose Delete.
3. The system will automatically apply a standard theme that does not change the background of the lock.

The logic of the work has changed on HyperOS, where they are now divided into "Light" (only change icons and colors) and "Full" (include lock wallpaper). If you use the full theme, try switching to the light version:

1. In the Topic app, select the Lights section.
2. Apply any topic in this section – it will not affect the background of the lock.

MIUI 12

MIUI 13

MIUI 14

HyperOS

I don't know.-->

Method 3: Delete via File Manager (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try to manually delete the image through the file manager, which is suitable for devices with MIUI, where the lock wallpaper is stored in the system folders. Importantly, some directories require root rights or developer mode activation.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with access to system folders, such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer (enable hidden files in the settings).
2. Go to /data/system/users/0/ Wallpaper files, including the lock background, may be located here.
3. Look for files with names: lockscreen_wallpaper wallpaper_lock com.android.systemui (folder with cache of wallpaper)

.bak

Reset the device.

The path may be different on HyperOS. Try looking at:

/data/data/com.miui.home/files/

or

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files without root rights may result in default wallpaper resets or launcher errors. If a black screen appears after the reboot or the system requests a reset, return the deleted files back or reset the settings via Settings → The phone. → Resetting settings.

Method 4: Using ADB to reset wallpaper (without root)

If the file manager doesn’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a debugging tool that allows you to send commands to your device from your computer, which does not require root rights, but requires you to turn on the developer mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (or HyperOS Build Number). Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable (use the original cable for a stable connection).

ADB Tools

Platform Tools by Google

ADB

adb devices

(Your device should appear)

adb shell

cmd wallpaper set --user 0 --lock /system/media/theme/default_wallpaper/default_lockwallpaper.jpg

Reboot your smartphone.

If the standard command doesn’t work, try the alternative for MIUI 14/HyperOS:

adb shell settings put global lock_screen_wallpaper ""

This command will reset the locking background to the standard. If you want to set a black background, use:

adb shell cmd wallpaper set --user 0 --lock --backend 2 --crop 0,0,1,1 --file /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_lock.png

(Pre-create a black image wallpaper_lock.png And put it in a folder. /sdcard/)

1. Reinstall Xiaomi USB Drivers drivers.

2. Use another USB-cable (preferably original).

3. Enable the option "Debugging by" in the developer settings USB (Security settings) and allow debugging for your PC.-->

Method 5: Disabling synchronization with Mi Account

If the image on the lock appears again after deleting, the fault may be synchronization with the Xiaomi account, the system automatically restores the wallpaper if they were tied to the Mi Cloud.

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
2. Click on your account.
3. Select Data Synchronization.
4. Turn off the Themes and Wallpaper option or System Settings (depending on the MIUI version).
5. Return to the lock wallpaper menu and set a black background or other image.

On HyperOS devices, sometimes a rollback to a previous firmware version helps if the problem appears after the update.

1. Download the archive with the desired version of MIUI from the official Xiaomi website.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select the firmware file.
4. Please enter the downloaded archive and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: Firmware rollback can cause data loss in internal memory.In addition, on new devices (for example, Xiaomi 14), rollback is blocked by the Anti-Rollback policy!

💡

If the image on the lock appeared after upgrading to HyperOS, most likely the fault of the new system of dynamic wallpaper. Try to disable it in Settings → Screen → Dynamic wallpaper.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the background of the lock on Xiaomi