How to remove wallpaper on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: all working ways

Changing wallpaper to Xiaomi Redmi is a two-minute task, but what if standard methods don’t work and old images persist after rebooting? The problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones with a MIUI shell: the system caches background images, launchers glitches, and themes from the Mi Theme Store impose their wallpaper. In this article, we will examine 5 proven ways to remove wallpaper — from basic settings to radical measures like cache reset or even complete firmware.

Redmi (as opposed to the naked Android) features close integration of wallpaper with system themes. For example, when you install a theme from the official Mi Theme Store, the desktop background and lock screen are automatically replaced with those proposed by the developer. Even if you manually change the wallpaper through the gallery, after updating the theme or rebooting the device, they can return to factory settings due to conflict with the launcher cache. So the standard Setting path → Wallpaper is often not enough.

We tested all methods on Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9T and Redmi K50 models with the latest MIUI 14/15 (Android 12/13). If your smartphone runs on an older firmware, some menu items may differ — we will warn you about this separately. Also note that on devices with unlocked bootloader and custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience), the algorithm for changing the wallpaper is radically different.

1. Standard method: through MIUI settings

So, to start with the obvious, the built-in wallpaper menu, which works 80 percent of the time, but only if:

• 📱 You have not installed third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or Hyperion).
• 🎨 We didn’t use the Mi Theme Store system themes that block manual changes.
• 🔄 The last time the wallpaper didn't change ADB root-access.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon in the application menu).
2. Go to Wallpaper section (on some versions of MIUI it is hidden in Settings → Screen).
3. Select Desktop Wallpaper or Lock Screen Wallpaper (depending on what needs to be changed).
4. Click on the current wallpaper → Remove (basket icon) or Reset to standard.
5. If the Remove option is inactive, try to select the other wallpaper first and then return the factory wallpapers.

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If there is no Delete button in the Wallpaper menu, try a long press on the preview of the current wallpaper - sometimes this opens a hidden context menu.

Redmi models with MIUI 13 and older may have a notice that says, "Theme not fully applied" after the wallpaper is reset, which means that the system theme is trying to return its background images. To avoid conflict, go to the Mi Theme Store, select the "Default" theme and apply it.

2. Gallery Removal: Why It Doesn't Always Work

Many users try to delete the wallpaper directly from the Gallery, but they encounter an error: the file is not deleted or returns to its place after the reboot, the reason being that MIUI creates copies of the wallpaper in hidden folders:

• /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/ – this is where the current desktop wallpaper and locks are stored.
• /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.home/files/ – launcher cache with backups.
• /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Theme/ – wallpaper from the established themes.

To remove wallpaper through the gallery:

1. Open the Gallery and find the image that is used as wallpaper.
2. Long press → Delete (or the basket icon).
3. If the file is not deleted, check if it is not protected: click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Details → uncheck the Secured file.

Important: even after removal from the gallery, the wallpaper can remain in the cache. To completely erase it, you need to clear the launcher data (for this, see the next section).

3.Dumping launcher cache and those

If the wallpaper is not deleted or returned after a reboot, the cache of system applications is to blame. MIUI wallpaper:

• com.miui.home is a standard launcher (responsible for the desktop).
• com.android.themes is a theme service.
• com.miui.miservice – system services (including background wallpaper processes).

Instructions for cleaning the cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search, type com.miui.home (or Launcher).
3. Select the application → Storage → Clear the cache.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 for com.android.themes and com.miui.miservice.
5. Reboot the phone.

Close all open applications

Connect your phone to charge (recommended)

Make a backup copy of important data

Remember the current desktop settings-->

After the reboot, the wallpaper will reset to the factory. If this does not happen, try to delete the application data (not only the cache!), but note: this will reset the desktop settings (folders, widgets, icon order).

⚠️ Note: On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro), clearing the launcher data results in resetting the wallpaper only on the desktop, but not on the lock screen. → Screen. → Lockdown.

4.Delete via ADB: for advanced users

If standard methods don’t work and root rights don’t, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for removing sewn-in wallpaper from system themes or after a failed MIUI update.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Wallpaper removal commands:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/system/users/0/wallpaper*




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/*




rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.home/files/wallpaper*

After you've done the commands, restart your phone. If the wallpaper still comes back, check for files in the folders:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Theme/[title topic]/wallpaper/


/storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/com.miui.home/

⚠️ Note: Delete files through ADB If you don't have a backup, you can have a black screen when you lock or crash the launcher. If you've got a phone that's no longer responsive to touch, reset to factory settings via Recovery. + Volume up when the phone is off).

5. Radical measures: resetting settings and flashing

If the wallpaper is not removed even through ADB, two options remain:

1. Reset to factory settings (delete all data, but return standard wallpaper).
2. Fastboot flashing (for experienced users).

Reset via Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. Choose a language → Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

Fastboot flashing (only for the purpose of MIUI):

• 📌 Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi website.
• 🖥️ Unpack the archive and launch it. flash_all.bat (for Windows or flash_all.sh (for Linux/Mac).
• ⚡ Connect your phone in Fastboot mode (clip the power supply) + Loudness down when the device is off).

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Before resetting or firmware, make sure to back up your data via Settings → About Phone → Backup or third-party tools like Titanium Backup (requires root).

6. Wallpaper problems after MIUI update

Many Redmi users complain that after the MIUI update, wallpaper is reset or replaced with standard wallpapers, the reason is that newer versions of the firmware Xiaomi blocks manual wallpaper changes if:

• 🔄 Update came "over the air" (OTA) and not hand-mounted.
• 🎭 A system theme that conflicts with user wallpapers is installed.
• 📦 In the cache remained files from the old version MIUI.

How to fix it:

1. After the update, go to the Mi Theme Store and apply the “Default” theme.
2. Clear the launcher cache and tomes (see Section 3).
3. If the wallpaper is still being dropped, install a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher) and customize the wallpaper through it.

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi added Adaptive Wallpaper, which automatically adjusts the background to the time of day. If it's on, handwallpaper can be replaced with system wallpaper, to turn off:

1. Go to Settings → Wallpaper.
2. Select the current wallpaper → disable the option “Adaptive mode”.

Frequently asked questions