How to remove the picture from the lock screen on 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 MIUI users face the problem: how to remove the unnecessary picture that is displayed when unlocked? This can be a standard image from the manufacturer, a randomly installed photo or wallpaper that no longer likes. Unlike desktop wallpaper, the lock screen settings are hidden deeper in the system, and not everyone knows where to look for them.

This is especially true for owners of new models Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13T, where the interface MIUI 14 has undergone changes. Even experienced users sometimes get lost when standard methods of changing wallpaper do not work. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of removing pictures from the lock screen, including hidden settings and workarounds for different versions of the firmware.

It is important to understand that the lock screen in MIUI can use two types of images: dynamic wallpaper (animated or changing depending on the time of day) and static (regular photos). The methods of removing them are slightly different, so we will consider both options. Also note that on some models (for example, Xiaomi Civi 3), the manufacturer limits the possibility of customization, which we will also talk about.

If you tried to change the wallpaper through the gallery, but the picture on the lock remained the same, do not rush to reset the settings. Most likely, the problem lies in the theme settings or special MIUI options. Next, step-by-step instructions for all cases.

1. Standard method: through wallpaper settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools to change wallpaper.It works on most devices, including the Redmi 10/11/12, POCO F4/F5 and the flagship Xiaomi 12/13/14.

Open the Settings app and go to Wallpaper (or Lock Screen in some versions of MIUI 14).

• 📱 Desktop wallpaper - changes the background of the main screen.
• 🔒 The lock screen wallpaper is what we need.

Select the second item. The system will offer you several options.

• 🖼️ Gallery - upload your own photo.
• 🌄 Dynamic Wallpaper – Animated Themes from Xiaomi.
• 🎨 Color - monotonous background (black, white, gradient).
• 🔄 By default, reset to a standard image.

To remove the image completely, select Color and set a monochromatic background (e.g. black). If you want to delete a particular photo you previously installed, click on it in the gallery and select Remove (basket in the upper right corner).

⚠️ Note: On some devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) after selecting a monochromatic background, the system can automatically substitute a watermark MIUI To remove it, you'll need to turn off the branded wallpaper, and you'll see that in the next section.

2. Disconnection of MIUI branded wallpaper

Xiaomi actively promotes its branded themes and wallpapers, which can sometimes not be removed by standard methods. If after changing the background on the lock screen remains the MIUI logo or watermark, follow the following steps:

Go to Settings → Wallpaper → Lock screen and find the Branded Wallpaper (or MIUI Themes) switch. Turn it off.

• 🔄 The system will offer to choose an alternative background.
• 🖼️ You can upload your image without overlays.
• 🎨 It will be possible to establish a clean color.

If the switch is not on the menu, try another way:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the My Subjects section.
3. Click on the current theme and select Delete (if it is a custom theme).
4. Go back to the standard MIUI Default theme.

Then try changing the lock screen wallpaper again via Settings. If the watermark still remains, then your Xiaomi model has hardware limitations (for example, Xiaomi Civi 3 or Redmi K60 with pre-installed wallpaper).

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If you want to save the current desktop wallpaper, but remove the picture only from the lock screen, select the wallpaper settings option Different wallpaper for desktop and lock.

3. Resetting wallpaper through the theme settings

Sometimes the picture on the lock screen gets stuck because of a theme malfunction, especially after the MIUI update, when the old settings conflict with the new firmware version. To reset the wallpaper to the factory, do the following:

Open the Themes app and go to Settings (cog in the upper right corner). Here, find Reset theme settings or Restore standard settings. Confirm the action.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The lock screen will return to standard.
• 🎨 You can reset the background without previous bugs.
• ⚠️ All custom themes and wallpaper will be removed (except for photos uploaded to the gallery).

If there is no reset option, try to forcefully update the theme:

1. Get into Themes. → My subjects.
2. Find an active topic and click on it.
3. Choose to Update (if available).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO X3 Pro) resetting the theme can cause app icons and fonts to reset. If it is important to keep the current design, pre-screenshots of the home screen.

4. Delete the image through the file manager

If the standard methods didn't work, you can try to manually delete the wallpaper file, which is suitable for advanced users, because it requires access to system folders.

First, enable Hidden Files Display in any file manager (such as Xiaomi Files or Solid Explorer).

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/


or




/data/system/users/0/wallpaper

These folders may store wallpaper files with the extensions.jpg,.png or.webp. Delete them, but be careful:

• 📁 Do not delete files with names wallpaper_lock_ — They're responsible for the system wallpaper.
• 🔄 After removal, restart the device.
• 🛠️ If the wallpaper is not reset, clear the cache of the Lawnchair application (launcher) or System interface MIUI.

For root-enabled devices, you can go further and edit system files, such as /system/media/theme/default/wallpapers, which stores standard MIUI wallpapers. However, this method is risky and can cause system failure if you delete critical files.

5.Use of ADB to dump wallpaper

For advanced users who aren’t afraid of the command line, there’s a way to reset the lock screen wallpaper via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works even on devices without root rights, but requires a connection to a computer.

First, enable USB Debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional Settings → For Developers). Then connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the following commands in the terminal:

adb shell


pm clear com.android.wallpaper




pm clear com.miui.home

After that, the lock screen wallpaper will reset to the standard one. If you want to delete a specific image, use the command to search for wallpaper files:

adb shell ls /data/system/users/0/wallpaper*

You will see a list of files like this. wallpaper_lock.jpg or wallpaper_keyguard.png. To remove them, enter them:

adb shell rm /data/system/users/0/wallpaper_lock.jpg

⚠️ Note: Delete system files through ADB This can cause the device to reboot cyclically if you go wrong. Always check the commands before executing and back up the data.

6. Alternative methods for stubborn devices

If none of the above methods worked, try these workarounds, which are suitable for devices with limited settings (for example, Xiaomi Civi 3 or Redmi K60 Pro), where the manufacturer blocks the change of the lock wallpaper.

Method 1: Use of third-party launchers

Install an alternative launcher (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) from Google Play, many of which allow you to set up the lock screen separately from the system wallpaper.

• 📱 Go to the launcher settings.
• 🔒 Find the Lock Screen or Wallpaper Style section.
• 🖼️ Upload your image or choose a clean color.

Method 2: Reverse to the old version of MIUI

On some devices (e.g. POCO F3), after upgrading to MIUI 14, the ability to change the lock wallpaper is lost, in which case you can try to roll back to MIUI 13 via Fastboot.

Method 3: Contacting the Support Team

If your device is warranty-free and the problem is caused by a firmware failure, contact the official Xiaomi service center.Provide proof that the wallpaper does not change in standard ways - sometimes this is a sign of damage to system files, and specialists can reflash the device.

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Third-party launchers are the safest way to get around the limitations of MIUI, but they don’t always work on newer firmware versions (MIUI 14+).

7 Why the picture is not deleted: possible reasons

If you’ve tried all of these methods, but the wallpaper on the lock screen still doesn’t change, the problem may be one of the following:

Manufacturer's restrictions

Some Xiaomi models (especially the Civi or Mix series) have locked wallpaper settings at the firmware level, which is designed to support corporate identity, in which case only unlocking the bootloader and installing custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience) will help.

2. MIUI malfunction

Sometimes, after you update the wallpaper system, the wallpaper settings freeze.

• 🔄 Restart the device to Safe Mode (press the power button) → Restarting in Safe Mode).
• 🧹 Clear the cache of apps Themes and Lawnchair.
• 📥 Reinstall the update MIUI through settings → Updating the system.

3. Conflict with established topics

If you installed custom themes from MIUI Theme Store, they could overwrite the system wallpaper.

1. Delete all the established topics.
2. Reset the settings of the Themes app (Settings → Applications → Themes → Storage → Clear Data).
3. Reset the device.

4. Viral SOFTWARE

It's rare, but it happens that adWARE or viruses change the lock wallpaper to banner ads. Check the device with Malwarebytes or Dr.Web, and then try changing the wallpaper again.

FAQ: Frequent questions