How to Remove System Wallpapers on Xiaomi Redmi: From Standard Methods to Hidden MIUI Features

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone owners often face a problem: even after installing new wallpapers, old system images remain in the gallery, take up space in memory and distract from the background selection menu. Unlike custom wallpapers, which are removed in the standard way, embedded images from MIUI are protected from simple removal. This article will reveal all working methods - from basic settings to advanced techniques using ADB and hidden firmware functions.

It's important to understand that system wallpapers fall into two categories: preinstalled MIUI (stitched into firmware) and cached (downloaded through themes or updates). The former are removed only by radical methods, the latter by cache clearing. We'll discuss both options, and we'll also explain how to avoid unnecessary backgrounds reappearing after system updates. All instructions are tested on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/9A and POCO X3/X4 with MIUI 12-14 versions.

Why are the system wallpapers not removed in the standard way?

Unlike photos or uploaded images, Xiaomi’s wallpaper is stored in secure folders:

• 📁 /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers — background MIUI;
• 📁 /data/system_users/0/wallpaper — flow-and-cached;
• 📁 /vendor/overlay — Themes for the design (on some models).

These directories are root rights or belong to the system user. media_rw, So even file managers with superuser rights can't always modify them. MIUI part of the wallpaper is restored automatically - it is laid down in the firmware protection mechanism.

Use standard settings | Download themes from Mi Theme Store | Install via third-party launchers | Never change-->

Another reason is integration with Mi Theme Store, where even if you manually delete the wallpaper, the next time you connect to the Internet, the system can re-download the thumbnails for previews, which is not a bug, but a feature of Xiaomi Cloud, which synchronizes data between devices.

Method 1: Remove cached wallpapers through MIUI settings

This method is suitable for wallpapers that appeared after installing themes from the Mi Theme Store or updating the system. They are stored in cache and can be removed without root rights:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Theme app (or com.miui.thememanager) and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear cache and Clear data.
4. Reboot the phone.

After the reboot, check the DCIM → Wallpapers or Pictures → Wallpapers folder in the gallery. The cached wallpaper should disappear. If that doesn't happen, try further clearing the cache of the Gallery app (com.miui.gallery).

Make a backup copy of important wallpaper|Close all applications in multitasking|Connect to Wi-Fi (for synchronization of topics)|Check the space in memory (minimum 500 MB)-->

⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the Topic app data will reset all the themes you downloaded.

Method 2: Hiding system wallpapers through file manager (no root)

If the wallpaper is not deleted, it can be hidden from display in the gallery and the background selection menu. This will require any file manager with access to hidden folders (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer):

1. Open the file manager and enable the display of hidden files (Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots or /DCIM/.thumbnails.
3. Find files with names like this wallpaper_*.jpg or miui_wallpaper_*.png.
4. Add a point to the beginning of the file name (for example,.wallpaper_1.jpg). It'll make it hidden.

To completely hide the wallpaper from the background selection menu:

• 📂 Rename the Wallpapers folder to.Wallpapers_old (root-directory /storage/emulated/0/).
• 🔄 Create a new blank Wallpapers folder – the system will use it to store custom wallpapers.

This method does not physically delete files, but makes them invisible to MIUI.

Method 3: Using ADB to remove built-in wallpaper (advanced)

To completely remove the system wallpaper, you will need ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on all Redmi models, but requires the inclusion of USB debugging:

1. Activate Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to turn on Developer Mode).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command in ADB: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.thememanager This will remove the Themes app for the current user (wallpaper will remain, but will not be updated).
4. To remove specific wallpaper files, use: adb shell rm -rf /data/system_users/0/wallpaper/*

Critical: the rm-rf command without specifying the correct path can delete important system files. Always check the path twice before running.

Method 4: Disable Wallpaper Synchronization through Xiaomi Cloud

If the wallpaper comes back after it's deleted, it's the Mi Cloud sync to turn it off.

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Choose Synchronization → Themes and Wallpapers.
3. Turn off the sync slider.
4. Return to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Cloud and clear the cache.

For full reset of synchronized data:

• 🔗 Untie your Xiaomi account in Settings → Xiaomi account → Get out.
• 📱 Restart your phone and log in again (but don’t restore data from the cloud!).

⚠️ Warning: Disabling theme sync will result in the loss of all previously downloaded wallpaper and design settings. If you use multiple Xiaomi devices, this method will not work - the wallpaper is synchronized between them automatically.

Method 5: Installation of a third-party launcher to bypass system wallpaper

If none of the methods worked, the radical solution is to use an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Hyperion Launcher), which ignores the MIUI system wallpaper and allows you to install your own:

1. Install a launcher from Google Play.
2. Set it as the default launcher in Settings → Applications → By default.
3. In the launcher settings, select Desktop Style → Wallpaper and set your background.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Full control of wallpaper without interference with the system;
• ✅ The ability to use live wallpaper (.livewallpaper);
• ✅ No link to Mi Theme Store.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Certain functions MIUI (Super Wallpapers will be unavailable;
• ❌ Increased battery consumption (launchers work on top) MIUI).

💡

If the wallpaper is still reset after installing the launcher, try turning off battery optimization for it in Settings → Applications → Permissions → Battery Optimization.

How to prevent the recurrence of systemic wallpaper?

Even after successful removal, the wallpaper may return after the MIUI update.

1. Turn off automatic updates to themes: adb shell settings put global auto_download_themes 0
2. Block Internet access for the Topics: Settings → Applications → Topics → Data → Mobile data and Wi-Fi (disable).
3. Delete the cache folder by manually: adb shell rm -rf /data/data/com.miui.thememanager/cache/*

For Redmi models with unlocked bootloader, you can go further - edit the build.prop file by adding a line:

ro.miui.has_real_blur=0

This will disable the blur of wallpaper on the lock screen and reduce the number of cached backgrounds.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid wallpaper returns is to combine disabling sync with Mi Cloud and blocking themes updates via ADB.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi