How to remove or change wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi 6: all working methods

Xiaomi Redmi 6 is a popular budget smartphone with a proprietary shell MIUI, which offers extensive customization options, but sometimes users face difficulties when trying to remove or replace wallpaper. Unlike modern models, where the interface is intuitive, on Redmi 6 (released in 2018), the algorithm of actions may differ due to the version of MIUI 9/10 and limited hardware resources.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove wallpaper, from basic settings to radical methods like reset to factory settings. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances associated with the outdated version of Android 8.1 Oreo, which does not support some modern themes management functions. If you want to not just replace the background, but completely remove custom wallpaper (for example, after installing third-party launchers or themes), here you will find detailed instructions.

Why can’t you remove the wallpaper in standard ways?

The problems with removing wallpaper on Redmi 6 are usually due to three key factors:

• 🔄 Version. MIUI: Redmi 6 is installed out of the box MIUI 9 (updated to MIUI 10), where the theme management interface is significantly different from current versions, for example, there is no separate wallpaper section in the screen settings.
• 📱 Launcher Limitations: Stock Launcher MIUI Launcher on this model does not support dynamic wallpaper change without rebooting the interface, which creates the illusion of "hanged" backgrounds.
• 🛠️ Third-party themes: If wallpapers were installed through the Themes (com.miui.themeeditor app), their deletion may be blocked due to cache or conflicts with other visual settings.

In addition, Redmi 6 often encounters a bug when, after changing the wallpaper through the gallery, the old background continues to appear on the lock screen or in some system menus, due to the peculiarities of rendering graphics on the MediaTek Helio P22 processor and insufficient optimization of MIUI for budget devices.

⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher), removing wallpaper through system settings will not work. MIUI.

Method 1: Remove wallpaper through screen settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable if the wallpaper was installed through standard system means (gallery or theme app).

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Screen section. → Wallpaper.
3. At the top of the screen, select the Local tab (for standard wallpaper) or Online tab (if the background was downloaded from the Internet).
4. Click on the current wallpaper and at the bottom of the screen select Remove (if the option is active) or simply set a new background.

If there is no Delete button, then the wallpaper is system and can only be replaced.

• 🖼️ Choose any other background from the suggested ones (for example, standard black or white).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.

On Redmi 6, there may be interface lag after changing the wallpaper – this is normal for a device with 2-3 GB of RAM. If the delays are critical, try clearing the theme app cache (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Themes → Clear the cache).

Method 2: Resetting wallpaper through the "Themes" app

Annex Topics (MIUI Theme Editor is responsible for visual design of the system, including wallpaper. If the background was set through it, the standard screen settings may not work:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the My Themes tab (bottom of the screen).
3. Find an active topic (checked) and click on it.
4. In the menu that opens, select Reset to a standard theme or Remove (if the theme was manually installed).

If the subject is not deleted:

• 🔧 Try updating the Themes app through the Play Market (if available for your version) MIUI).
• 🗑️ Clear the application data: Settings → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the data. Attention: this will reset all custom theme settings!

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 6s MIUI 9 If you reset themes, you may only reset the wallpaper on the home screen, and the lock screen will remain unchanged. In this case, you will have to change the background to lock separately through Settings. → Screen locking → Wallpaper.

Method 3: Delete Wallpaper through File Manager

If the wallpaper was installed manually (for example, through downloaded) APK-themes or third-party applications, their files can remain in the device's memory even after changing the background. To completely delete them, you will need access to system folders.

Instructions:

1. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.data/ or /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.themeeditor/files/
3. Find the theme names or.mtz file formats (MIUI theme archives).
4. Delete unnecessary files and restart your phone.

If the theme folder is not available, check:

• 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Wallpapers/ — User wallpaper can be stored here.
• 🔍 /data/system/users/0/ — System Wallpaper (root rights required).

💡

Before deleting files, back them up to your computer to help restore your favorite design if something goes wrong.

On the Redmi. 6 Without root rights, you can’t delete system wallpapers, but you can replace them with your own files with the same names (for example, you can use the same name, default_wallpaper.jpg). For that:

1. Download your favorite image and rename it in default_wallpaper.jpg.
2. Place the file in /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Wallpapers/.
3. Set it as wallpaper through the screen settings.

Method 4: Resetting the launcher settings

If the wallpaper isn't deleted because of a launcher malfunction, you can reset the launcher, and it won't delete your data, but it will return the standard icon layout and background.

How to drop the launcher:

1. Click on the empty space on the home screen and select Screen Settings (or Launcher Settings).
2. Find the option to Reset or Restore by default.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

If you don’t have this option (which is typical of Redmi 6), use an alternative method:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the MIUI Launcher (or Launcher).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the launcher data will remove all your widgets and icon locations on the home screen. Take screenshots of the current layout in advance to quickly restore it.

Method 5: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If no methods have worked, the radical solution is to reset your phone to factory settings, which will delete all data, including apps, contacts and media files, so only use it as a last resort.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Open Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📱 The phone will return to standard wallpaper MIUI.
• 🔄 When you first turn on, you will be asked to restore data from a backup (if it was created).
• ⚠️ Do not install third-party themes at once - first check the work of standard wallpapers.

💡

Factory reset is the only way to get your system wallpaper back if all other methods fail, and only use it if you're willing to lose all the unsaved data.

Additional Advice and Frequent Mistakes

When working with wallpaper on Redmi 6, users often face typical problems.

• 🔋 Low battery power: If the wallpaper changes, the change may not last. Charge the battery to at least 30% before manipulation.
• 📶 Weak Network Signal: When downloading themes through the Themes App, use Wi-Fi – on Redmi 6s 3G-The modem loading may be interrupted.
• 🛡️ Blocking System Files: Do not delete files from the folder /system/media/theme/ without root rights, this will cause the interface to fail.

If you use third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher), remember:

• Wallpaper installed through the launcher is not synchronized with the system settings MIUI.
• To remove such wallpaper, go to the launcher settings and select Reset background.
• Some launchers (such as Action Launcher) may conflict with MIUI, causing wallpaper flickering.

For Redmi 6 owners with an unlocked bootloader, there is another way to flash custom recovery (such as TWRP) and manually delete theme files from the /system partition. However, this method requires technical skills and can lead to a device’s brick (breakdown).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions