Why Standard Ways Don’t Work and What to Do
The lock screen on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is often a source of annoyance: the system stubbornly returns old wallpaper, ignores changes or does not allow them to change at all. It is all about the features of the MIUI shell, which shares the background of the desktop and lock screen, and sometimes even blocks editing them due to cache errors or conflicts of topics.
If you tried to change wallpaper through Settings → Lock screen, but it didn’t work out, don’t rush to reset your phone. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved without radical measures. In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing restrictions through ADB and even manually deleting wallpaper files through the file manager.
We warn you right away: some methods require root rights or USB debugging. If you're a beginner, start with the simplest methods (sections 2 and 3) and then move on to the advanced ones. Now let's get started!
Method 1: Standard change via MIUI settings
So let's start with the obvious, the official path, and even if it didn't work for you before, check again: in MIUI 12/13/14, the menu interface could change, and the bugs in the previous versions could fix.
Open Settings → Lock screen. Here you will find three key options:
- 🖼️ Lock screen wallpaper is the main point for changing the background. If it is inactive, then synchronization with desktop wallpaper is enabled (see next paragraph).
- 🔄 Sync with desktop wallpaper is the main reason why wallpaper doesn't change separately!
- 🎨 Blocking effects – here you can turn off animations that sometimes interfere with the correct display of the background.
If the wallpaper doesn’t change after the synchronization is turned off, try:
- Choose a standard background from the MIUI collection (sometimes custom wallpaper is glitzy).
- Rebooting the phone will reset the lock screen cache.
- Check if a theme is installed that blocks changes (see the topic section).
Disable synchronization with the desktop |
Select a standard background from MIUI|
Reboot the device |
Check out the active topic in "Themes" |
Delete the cache of the application "Block screen"-->
If this method didn't work, don't despair. 30 percent of the time, the cache we'll clean up next time.
Method 2: Reset the lock screen cache and launcher
Cache of com.android.systemui and com.miui.home often causes old wallpaper to stick, and cleaning will help if:
- 🔄 Wallpaper changes, but after the reboot the old background returns.
- 🖼️ In the settings, one image is displayed, and on the lock screen - another.
- ⚙️ The "Apply" button in the wallpaper settings does not respond to pressing.
Cleaning instructions:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the search, type com.android.systemui (system interface).
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for com.miui.home (launcher) MIUI).
- Reboot the phone.
💡
If the wallpaper is gone after cleaning the cache (black screen), don't worry, it's a temporary bug. Choose any background over the settings and it will apply.
If the problem persists, try to delete the data (not cache!) of the com.android.wallpaper app.Warning: This will reset all your wallpaper, including your desktop background.
⚠️ Warning: On some Redmi Note 8 Pro firmware, clearing com.android.wallpaper data could cause widgets to reset on your desktop.Photo their location in advance.
Method 3:Conflict with MIUI themes and disabling them
The MIUI theme can override lock screen wallpaper even if you change it manually, a common problem for users who install custom themes from the MIUI Themes store.
How to check and correct:
- Open Topics → My subjects.
- If a custom theme is active, click Standard (or Default).
- Reboot the phone.
- Try changing the wallpaper again through the Settings → Lock screen.
If the topic is standard, but the problem remains, try:
- 🔍 Remove all uploaded topics in Topics → Downloads.
- 📁 Clear the cache of the com.android.themes application (similar to method 2).
- 🔄 Manually apply a standard theme through ADB (for advanced users):
adb shell cmd overlay disable com.android.theme.icon_pack.filled.circle
adb shell cmd overlay disable com.android.theme.icon_pack.rounded.rectangleAfter that, the wallpaper should start to apply correctly. If not, move to method 4.
Standard MIUI|
Custom from the tem | store
Third-party (e.g. via Substratum)|
I don't know/don't use themes-->
Method 4: Manually delete wallpaper files through file manager
If the system stubbornly ignores all your attempts, you can go the radical way of removing wallpaper files manually, which requires root rights or at least access to system folders through ADB.
Where the lock screen wallpaper is stored:
| Wallpaper type | The path to the file | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard MIUI wallpaper | /system/media/theme/default_wallpaper/ | Root rights are required to change |
| Custom wallpaper | /data/system/users/0/wallpaper | Files. wallpaper_lock and wallpaper_lock_temp |
| Cash wallpaper | /data/data/com.android.systemui/cache/ | Cleaning this folder often helps. |
| Wallpaper from those | /data/system/theme/ | Remove only if you are confident in the action. |
Instructions for users without root:
- Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging.
- Enter the terminal: adb shell su rm /data/system/users/0/wallpaper/wallpaper_lock*
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system/ If you don't have root, you can have bootloop. If you're not sure, skip this step.
Once the files are deleted, the wallpaper will be reset to the standard ones, and you can now set new ones through the settings.
What if the lock screen turns black after removing the wallpaper?
Method 5: Using ADB to reset lock settings
If all previous methods fail, the lock screen settings are reset via ADB. This method does not require root, but you need basic knowledge of working with the command line.
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
- Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
- Connect the phone to your PC and type in the terminal: Adb devices Make sure the device is identified.
- Follow the commands in turn: adb shell pm clear com.android.systemui adb shell pm clear com.miui.home adb reboot
These commands reset the system interface and launcher settings, which often solves the problem with stuck wallpaper.
- 🔧 The lock screen settings will reset to factory.
- 🖼️ You can create new wallpaper without restrictions.
- ⚠️ You may have to re-configure the widgets and icons.
⚠️ Note: On some Redmi Note 8 Pro firmware, resetting com.android.systemui can result in a fingerprint reset and a fingerprint reset. PIN-code SIM-Write them down in advance!
💡
Resetting through ADB is the surest way to get back control of the wallpaper, but it requires preparation. If you're afraid of taking risks, contact the service center.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
Even after a successful wallpaper change, Redmi Note 8 Pro users experience relapses, and let’s look at typical situations and their causes:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper is reset after resetting | Systemui cache not cleared | Clean the cache manually (method 2) or disable fast booting in Settings → Battery |
| You can't pick out the wallpaper from the gallery. | Theme or firmware limitations | Install a standard theme (method 3) or use a file manager (method 4) |
| Wallpaper applies, but is displayed blurry | Permission inconsistency | Use images with a resolution of 1080×2340 (native for Redmi Note 8 Pro) |
| The "Apply" button is inactive | Conflict with the Security appendix | Turn off Wallpaper Protection in Settings → Security → Protection settings |
If your problem is not described above, check:
- 📱 Version MIUI: firmware MIUI 12.5 wallpaper bugs are more common.
- 🔒 Security settings: Some features (e.g. Second Space) block wallpaper changes.
- 🛠️ Third-party launchers: If you use Nova Launcher or Apex, they may conflict with system wallpaper.