Changing wallpaper to Xiaomi is a two-minute task, but what to do if the standard background is boring and you can’t remove it? Users often face a situation where the system does not allow you to reset wallpaper to standard, saves a black screen after changing the theme or completely “forgets” user images. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to remove wallpaper on Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones – from basic settings to radical methods like reset launcher.
It’s important to understand that “wallpaper removal” is more often not meant to physically erase a file (although it’s possible), but to reset the current screen background to a standard look. On newer versions of MIUI 14/15, the algorithm is different from older firmware, so we’ll focus on the nuances for different models. If you’re trying to get rid of the built-in brand wallpaper (such as with the Xiaomi logo or banner ads), some methods will require superuser rights.
1. Standard reset via theme settings
The most obvious way is to return the wallpaper to a factory look through the theme menu.It works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the MIUI version, but may not work if the background was set by a third-party app.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the “Themes” app** (icon with brush or palette).
- 🖼️ Go to the Wallpaper tab (or Wallpapers in global firmware).
- 🔍 Scroll down to Basic Wallpaper or Standard.
- ✅ Select any built-in background (for example, MIUI Default, and apply it.
If this method does not work, the reason may lie in:
- 🔄 Cache launcher – the system “remembers” old wallpaper.
- 📁 Access rights – a third-party application (e.g. Nova Launcher) has intercepted background control.
- 🛠️ Mistake. MIUI — The bug with wallpaper is often found after updates.
2. Delete via file manager (for experienced)
If the wallpaper was installed from a gallery or downloaded from the Internet, their files are stored in the phone's memory. By manually deleting them, you will force the system to load the standard background.+.
Step-by-step:
- Open a file manager (e.g. Files by Google or standard MI File Manager).
- Go to /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Wallpapers or (for wallpapers from themes): /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/theme/.data/
- Delete files with the.jpg,.png or.webp extension that match the current wallpaper.
- Restart the phone – the system will automatically substitute the standard background.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files in folders /system or /vendor — If you're not sure which file is responsible for the wallpaper, use the method in the next section.
☑️ Preparation for manual wallpaper removal
3. resetting the MIUI launcher to factory settings
The MIUI launcher (the desktop app) sometimes sticks to old wallpaper even after it's removed, and resetting its settings will help.
How to drop the launcher:
- 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
- 🔍 Find the Louncher app** (or com.miui.home).
This method also removes:
- 📁 Location of icons on the desktop.
- 📂 Application folders.
- ⚙️ Signature settings and animations of the launcher.
What if the launcher stopped working after the reset?
4. Wallpaper removal via ADB (for advanced)
If standard methods don’t work and root rights are not available, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for removing built-in wallpaper or themes that are not removed through the menu.
Instructions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times)
- Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.miservice (this will reset theme services, including wallpaper).
- To completely reset themes, do: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.themes (requires themes to be reset after rebooting).
⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB If the wallpaper is gone after execution, but artifacts appear on the screen (for example, black stripes), follow the command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.home
5. Radical method: resetting the phone to factory settings
If the wallpaper is embedded after updating or installing custom firmware, the only reliable way is to completely reset, which will remove all data from the phone, so use it only as a last resort.
How to reset:
- 🔒 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
- 📱 Select Reset All Settings (not to be confused with Network Resettings!).
- 🔐 Enter the password from your Mi Account if your phone is tied.
- ⏳ Wait until it is completed (it will take 5-10 minutes).
After discharge:
| Action. | The result |
|---|---|
| Wallpaper. | They will be standard for your model. |
| Annexes | Everything will be removed except the system. |
| Xiaomi account | It will remain, but will require a re-entry. |
| Files in memory | Remove if there is no backup copy |
💡
Before reset, check if the phone is linked to your Mi Account. If you forgot your password, it will be impossible to unlock the device after reset!
6. Features for different Xiaomi models
The algorithm for removing wallpaper may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI. Below are the key nuances for popular lines.
Redmi Note 10/11/12:
- 📌 On these models, wallpaper often "stick" due to a bug in the MIUI 13.The launcher reset helps (Section 3).
- 🔄 After updating to MIUI 14 wallpaper can be dropped automatically.
POCO F3/F4/F5:
- 🎨 Use custom launcher POCO Launcher.To reset wallpaper, clear the data from this app.
- 🚫 Not supporting some teams ADB topic-reset.
Xiaomi 12/13/14:
- 🖥️ On flagships, the wallpaper is tied to the Mi Account, and once reset, it can recover from the cloud.
- 🔧 For complete removal, turn off the themes synchronization in Settings → Xiaomi account → Synchronization.
💡
On POCO and Redmi with custom firmware (like Pixel Experience), wallpaper is managed through the launcher settings rather than the standard MIUI theme menu.