How to remove wallpaper on Xiaomi phone: all the ways from standard to hidden

Xiaomi’s background can get annoying, annoying, or even disturbing — especially if it’s installed by default. But not everyone knows that you can remove wallpaper not only through the standard menu, but also through hidden MIUI features, third-party apps, or even a full reset. In this article, we’ll look at all the working methods, from basic to radical, that will help return a clean screen or replace the background with a neutral one.

Many people have a problem where the wallpaper is not removed through the gallery, and after the MIUI update, standard images are returned, and this is due to the features of the firmware: some versions block changing the background to save resources or due to cache errors, we will tell you how to get around these restrictions without risking to the system.

If you want to not just change the wallpaper, but completely remove it (leaving a black or monochromatic background), you will have to use additional tools. For example, in MIUI 14 and later there is a hidden option to turn off dynamic wallpaper, and on older versions, resetting the launcher will help. All methods are tested on Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and Mi Mix models.

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for most users and require no additional knowledge, but it has a limitation: if the wallpaper was installed by the system (for example, after an update), it can return after a reboot.

To remove wallpaper through the settings:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Choose My Wallpaper or Basic Category.
4. Click on an empty background (black, white, or gradient) and apply it.

If this method didn't work, the reason may lie in the launcher's cache. Try to clear the Topics app data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find themes and select Warehouse.
3. Click Clear the cache and Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the Themes app data will reset all your saved wallpaper and widget settings. We recommend you take screenshots of the current background beforehand if you like it.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 Global) may have a problem when the themes are reset, and in this case, reinstallation of the launcher will help, as we will discuss in the next section.

2. Launcher reset: radical method for stubborn wallpaper

If the standard wallpaper comes back after each change, the problem lies in the launcher, the program that controls the home screen. Xiaomi uses MIUI Launcher, and sometimes its cache or settings get stuck against the old background.

To reset the launcher:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find MIUI Launcher (or just Launcher).
3. Select Warehouse → Clear cache and Clear data.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

Once rebooted, the screen will become standard (usually gray or white) and all widgets and folders will reset, which helps in 90% of cases when the wallpaper is “not removed.” If the problem persists, try installing a third-party launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion) – it will completely replace the system interface.

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Before resetting the launcher, back up the icons using the Home Backup & Restore app (available from the Play Market).

On HyperOS models (such as the Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), a launcher reset can cause all personal screen settings, including font scale and animations, to reset.

3. wallpaper removal via ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can use the debugging bridge. ADB (Android Debug Bridge is a tool for advanced users that allows you to manage system files directly. Careful: the wrong commands can disrupt your phone.

To remove wallpaper through ADB:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install ADB Tools, and execute the command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home
4. Reset the device.

This command will completely reset the launcher settings, including wallpaper, widgets and icon location. If you only want to remove the background, use an alternative method:

adb shell settings put global wallpaper_path ""

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB You may be in conflict with antivirus software (e.g. Mi Security). Before you run, temporarily turn off protection in Settings. → Security → Scanning.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI EU), the path to the wallpaper is stored in /data/system/users/0/wallpaper. To reset it, root rights will be required - a risky move that can take away warranty.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC|

Enable debugging on USB|

Download ADB Tools (platform-tools) |

Make a backup copy of the data |

Disable Mi Security-->

4.Use of third-party launchers for full control

If the system methods don't work, the most reliable way is to install an alternative launcher, which will completely replace the MIUI interface and allow you to adjust the background without restrictions.

• 🎨 Nova Launcher – flexible settings, gesture support and black background.
• ⚡ Hyperion Launcher – Optimized for Xiaomi, has built-in dark themes.
• 🖼️ Action Launcher – allows you to install adaptive wallpaper (change depending on the time of day).
• 🔄 Microsoft Launcher – Windows integration, minimalist design.

To install a third-party launcher:

1. Download the app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and follow the setup instructions.
3. In the launcher menu, find the Wallpaper or Themes section.
4. Choose an empty background (such as Black or Solid) and apply.

The advantage of this method is that the wallpaper will not reset after the MIUI update. However, some features (such as Super Wallpaper or Dynamic Effects) will not be available.

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Side launcher is the only way to guarantee to remove wallpaper on MIUI without the risk of returning them after the update.

On HyperOS models (such as the Xiaomi 14 Pro), some launchers may conflict with system animations. If you have lags after installation, try turning off transition animation in the launcher settings.

5. Resetting the phone to factory settings (extreme case)

If the wallpaper is soldered into the system and not deleted by any means, the last option is a complete reset of the phone, a radical solution that will delete all data, including photos, contacts and applications, only use it if other methods have not worked.

To reset Xiaomi to factory settings:

1. Back up important data (via Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Reset and confirm the action.
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will turn on with standard MIUI wallpaper, but it can be easily replaced through Settings → Wallpaper.This method removes all user settings, including "stuck" background images, by 100%.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO F3) After the reset, you may need to re-activate your Mi Account. Make sure you remember your login and password!

If the reset didn't help (which is unlikely), the problem could be the damaged firmware, in which case only the firmware reflash through Fastboot or Recovery will help - but this is already a topic for a separate article.

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

Not all methods work equally well across devices, and this is what you need to consider depending on the model.

• 📱 Redmi Note 10/11/12: Often suffer from "return" of standard wallpaper after an upgrade.
• 📱 POCO X3/X4/X5: On these models, the wallpaper is tied to the theme of the design. To remove the background, first reset the theme to Settings. → Topics → My subjects.
• 📱 Mi 11/12/13: Supports Super Wallpaper that is only removed through ADB dump.
• 📱 Xiaomi 14 (HyperOS): New shell blocks wallpaper change for some themes.Use third-party launchers.
• 📱 Redmi K50/K60: You may need to disable optimization. MIUI developer-setting.

In the models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or POCO F4 GT) If you want to be autonomous, you can use black backgrounds to save battery power because the pixels just go off. If you want to be autonomous, you can choose dark wallpaper or a completely black screen.

On older devices (Redmi 5/6/7), some methods (e.g. ADB) may not work due to an outdated version of Android, in which case only a reset or firmware will help.

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On POCO F5 and later, there is a hidden Clean Desktop feature – pinch your finger in the free space of the screen → Desktop settings → Layout Style → Choose Minimalist. This will remove all widgets and leave only icons on a transparent background.

7.How to prevent automatic return of wallpaper

Often, the wallpaper returns after a reboot or MIUI update.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic theme updates: Settings → Topics → Settings → Auto-update themes.
• 📵 Remove unnecessary themes: In the Topics app, click on three dots → My subjects. → remove unused.
• 🛡️ Block the background with Tasker or MacroDroid (create a rule that will restore wallpaper after a reboot).
• 🔧 Turn off optimization. MIUI: In Developer Settings, Deactivate Optimization MIUI and window animation.

If the wallpaper is coming back because of a system error, check your phone for viruses using Mi Security or Malwarebytes.Some malware changes background images to show ads.

On HyperOS (the new firmware for Xiaomi 14 and Redmi K70), wallpaper is tied to your Mi Account. To prevent them from being reset, unset your account in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Delete your account (but this will disable data sync).

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing wallpaper on Xiaomi