The lock screen on Xiaomi Redmi 7 is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and sometimes standard wallpaper or randomly installed images can be annoying. Unlike new Xiaomi models, where the MIUI interface offers flexible settings, on Redmi 7 (especially with MIUI version 10-12), the process of changing or removing wallpaper is not always intuitive. In some cases, users find that the wallpaper on the lock screen is not synchronized with the main screen, and the standard ways to change them simply do not work.
If you want to return the standard background, remove custom wallpaper or fix a bug when the image on the lock is not changed, this article will help. We will look at all the current methods, including hidden MIUI settings, workarounds through the launcher and radical measures like reset. It is important to consider that on Redmi 7 (codename onc) some functions depend on the firmware version, so the instructions below cover the most common scenarios.
Before you start, make sure your device has the latest version of MIUI for Redmi 7 installed. Check this out in the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update. If there are no updates but the wallpaper problem persists, go to the methods below.
1. Standard method: through lock screen settings
The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, but on Redmi 7, the path to these settings may be different from the new models.
1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to Lock Screen and Password (in some versions of MIUI 10 it may be called Lock and Protection).
3. Select the Wallpaper of the lock screen or the background of the lock screen.
4. Here you will see three options:
- 📱 Sync with the main screen – lock wallpaper will be the same as on the desktop.
- 🖼️ Select from the gallery - upload your own image.
- 🔄 Standard wallpaper – return the factory background (usually an abstract pattern or logo) MIUI).
If there is no lock screen wallpaper, then your version of MIUI does not support separate background management, in which case move on to the next method.
⚠️ Note: Some Redmi 7 firmwares, after selecting the standard wallpaper, only change after rebooting the device.
Check the MIUI version in the settings
Make a backup copy of important data
The battery should be at least 30% charged.
Close all background applications-->
2. Alternative method: through the settings of the MIUI launcher
If the standard method didn’t work, try changing the wallpaper through the launcher, which is especially useful if MIUI doesn’t allow you to separate the lock background from the main screen.
1.Push and hold the empty space on the home screen until the wallpaper setting menu appears.
2. Select Wallpaper (or Themes if custom theme is used).
3. At the bottom of the screen, find the Lock Screen tab (may be called Lockscreen in English firmware).
4. Select a standard background or upload yours. Confirm the changes with the Apply button.
If there is no lock screen tab, then your launcher does not support separate settings, in this case, only resetting the settings (see method 4) or installing a third-party launcher (see method 5) will help.
It is worth noting that Redmi 7 with MIUI 10 sometimes has a bug when the lock wallpaper is reset to standard after the system update. To avoid this, after changing the background, go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher and clear the cache.
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If after changing the wallpaper, the lock screen began to slow down, try to turn off the animation in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers and reduce the animation scale to 0.5x).
3.Use of MIUI themes for wallpaper dumping
One little-known way to return standard wallpaper to the lock screen is to use the default MIUI theme, which works even on older versions of firmware.
1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. In the search bar, enter the Default or Standard query.
3. Select the first topic in the results (usually called Default or MIUI).
4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.
Once you have a standard theme, the wallpaper on the lock screen will reset to factory-like, which is also useful if you've previously installed custom themes that have changed the lock background implicitly.
If the theme doesn’t apply, check your Internet connection (some themes are downloaded from Xiaomi servers) and try again. Also make sure that Automatic Application is enabled in the theme settings.
| Method | It's working on MIUI 10. | It's working on MIUI 11-12. | Demands the Internet. | Resets the settings. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard settings | ❌ (partly) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| MIUI launcher | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Standard theme | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Resetting settings | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (partly) |
4. Radical method: resetting launcher settings
If none of the previous methods worked, the problem may lie in the cache or launcher settings, in which case resetting the MIUI Launcher settings will help:
1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2.Look for MIUI Launcher (or just Launcher) in the list.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
4. Reset the device.
After this procedure, all wallpaper (including the lock screen) will be reset to standard, and the factory desktop settings will return.
⚠️ Warning: On some Redmi 7 firmware, a launcher reset may cause widgets to be temporarily lost.To restore them, restart the device and add the widgets again via a long press on the home screen.
What if the wallpaper has not changed after the launcher is reset?
5. Installation of a third-party launcher (for experienced users)
If built-in methods don’t work, you can bypass the limitations of MIUI with a third-party launcher, such as Nova Launcher or Action Launcher.These applications allow you to flexibly adjust the lock background, but require additional steps:
1. Install an alternative launcher from Google Play (e.g. Nova Launcher).
2. Set it as the default launcher in the settings (Settings → Applications → Default → Launcher).
3. In the third-party launcher settings, find the Lock Screen or Wallpaper section and select the desired background.
Note that not all third-party launchers support changing lock wallpapers on Xiaomi. For example, Nova Launcher requires an optional Nova Lockscreen module (available in Premium).
The advantage of this method is flexibility and the absence of limitations of MIUI. The disadvantage is the possible increase in battery consumption and conflicts with system updates.
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Side launcher is the only way to split lock and home screen wallpaper on Redmi 7 with MIUI 10 if the standard settings don't work.
6.Verification for viruses and malicious applications
If the wallpaper on the lock screen changes on its own or fails to reset it, malware may be the cause. Some applications (especially from unverified sources) install their wallpaper and block it from changing.
To check the system:
- Install an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light).
- Scan the device for threats.
- Check the list of installed applications in Settings → Applications for suspicious programs (especially with administrator rights).
- Remove all unknown apps and clear the cache.
If the antivirus finds threats, delete them and try to change the wallpaper again. It is also recommended to revoke the administrator rights of suspicious applications in Settings → Passwords and Security → Administrator Rights.
Redmi 7 is particularly vulnerable to devices with an unlocked bootloader or root installed. If you previously received root rights, check if there are any Magisk or Xposed modules that affect system settings.