Personalizing your smartphone interface is the first step that makes it yours, and the owner of a device based on MIUI or HyperOS gets a canvas for self-expression, where each pixel can reflect your mood. The process of replacing a standard picture with a personal photo seems trivial, but there are many nuances in the Xiaomi ecosystem that many users do not even know.
A properly selected image can significantly improve the visual experience of icons, widgets and watches, making working with the menu more comfortable. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to install photos on a Xiaomi phone in various ways, including hidden system features that allow you to create dynamic slideshows. You will learn how to avoid common framing errors and why some shots look worse on the lock screen than in the gallery.
We will touch on the topic of optimizing images so that they do not eat up the battery, and consider the differences between standard wallpaper and those downloaded from themes. Regardless of which model you have – budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi 14, the background setting algorithms remain similar, but have their own characteristics depending on the version of the operating system.
Image preparation: requirements and formats
Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that the source file meets the technical requirements of the system. Standard screen resolutions of modern smartphones range from HD+ to 4K, and using a low-quality picture will lead to artifacts and “graininess.” Android, the system behind MIUI, is great at scaling, but it is better to provide it with a source with sufficient detail.
Special attention should be paid to the aspect ratio. If you upload a horizontal photo, the system will automatically cut its edges or add black fields, which can spoil the composition. For portrait orientation of the smartphone, the ideal ratio is 9:16 or 20:9 for the elongated screens of new models.
- 📸 Use images in format JPG or PNG for maximum compatibility with all versions of the firmware.
- 📐 The optimal resolution for modern displays is at least 1080×2400 pixel.
- 💾 Files weighing more than 10 MB can be processed longer by the system when installed as a live wallpaper or slideshow.
If you plan to use the Wallpaper Carousel feature, which automatically changes images on a locked screen, the format requirements remain the same, but adds the need for a stable Internet connection to initially download the image pack from the cloud.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid using images with bright white areas at the top of the screen if your smartphone has a camera cutout ("bangs") or a hole.
Installation of photos through a standard gallery
The most obvious and quick way to install a photo on the screen is to use the built-in Gallery app, which requires no third-party software installation and works consistently on all versions of HyperOS and MIUI. Once you open the desired picture, the system will offer several applications, among which you need to choose the right one, so as not to get confused in the settings.
Click three dots in the corner of the screen or the "More" button to open the context menu, and here you will see "Set as Wallpaper." When you choose this, the system will suggest applying the image to the lock screen, the main screen, or both, which is the basic functionality available to everyone.
And the important thing to note is that when you install through the gallery, you get a preview, and you can move your finger to pick the best area of the frame that you can see after you trim it to the size of the matrix.
☑️ Pre-installing check
If you want to set a photo to a specific contact, the “Install as a contact photo” option is often available on the same menu, which allows you to immediately see who is calling before you even answer a call, which is especially convenient when you have a smartphone on your desk.
Setting up through the wallpaper and theme menu
A more advanced visual style management tool is in the Themes system app, and here you can add static images, but you can also customize complex effects of depth, time, and even weather, and you can log in through a long-term tap on a free desktop space or through a separate application.
Inside the Wallpaper menu, you can often see the categories Landscape, City, Art, but we're interested in the Mine tab, where you can upload your own photos, and the system allows you to create collections that then form slideshows, and it's a great way to bring the interface to life without sacrificing performance.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Static wallpaper | One still image. | Minimum battery consumption |
| Wallpaper carousel | Automatic photo change when the screen is turned on | Average traffic and energy consumption |
| Live wallpaper | Animated background (video or render) | High battery consumption |
| Super wallpaper. | Interactive background with parallax effect | Depends on the complexity of animation |
You can also activate the Rotating Wallpaper section of the wallpaper settings, which allows you to alternate images from the folder you choose in the gallery, and you can adjust the shift interval, although by default the system offers standard values that most users agree with.
The Secret Depth Function
Specifics of installation of photo on the call screen
Many users confuse desktop wallpaper and call screen background. In Xiaomi, these settings are spaced, but related. When you set a photo through the gallery, the system may suggest setting it as the call background. This image will be seen by the caller (if he also has Xiaomi with MIUI+) or you when you pick up the phone.
To set the call background for a particular subscriber, you need to go to the Contacts or Phone app. Find the right person on the list, open the contact card, and click on the edit icon or camera. Here you can upload a unique photo that will only appear when you call from that person.
If you want to change the general background for all incoming ones without linking it to contacts, the path will be: Settings → Always on screen and lock screen → Wallpaper for lock screen. In some versions of firmware, this item may be called simply “lock screen” in the main settings menu.
- 📞 Photo on the call screen takes precedence over general lock wallpaper.
- 👤 A separate high-quality image can be downloaded for each contact.
- 🎨 The system automatically darkens the photo during a conversation to make the button interface read better.
It is worth remembering that if you have the function “Smart lock” or “Wallpaper carousel”, they can block the installed photo of the contact at the time of the call, showing an advertising or information slide instead of the face of the caller.
⚠️ Warning: When you set the photo to the contact, make sure that the person's face is in the center of the frame. During a conversation, the phone's interface (reset buttons, volume) can overlap the edges of the image.
Advanced settings: Carousel and slideshow
The Glance feature is one of the most talked-about features of the MIUI shell, which allows you to display beautiful images with news or advertising on a locked screen, but you can set it to only show your personal photos from the gallery, turning the lock screen into a digital photo frame.
To activate the personalized slideshow, go to Settings → Lock Screen → Wallpaper Carousel. You need to turn off “Get new content” (if you don’t want third-party pictures) and enable the option “Use photos from albums.” After that, the system will prompt you to select folders in the gallery that will participate in the rotation.
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To make the carousel work properly, give the Security app and Wallpaper system service permission to access memory. Without this, new photos will not be uploaded to the lock screen.
The frequency of the images changes within a reasonable range: it usually happens every time the screen is turned on, it creates a sense of freshness of the interface, but it is worth considering that constant processing of graphics may slightly affect the response rate of the system when unlocked.
If you use widgets on a lock screen (e.g. steps, weather), make sure the photos you choose are not too colorful. Against a motley background, the widget text becomes unreadable. The system tries to automatically darken the background, but the algorithm doesn't always work perfectly.
Removal: Why the photo is not put or looks bad
Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after installing a photo it looks blurry, cropped in the wrong place, or not used at all. Most often the problem lies in the cache of the system in one way or in the wrong aspect ratio of the original file, and the cause can also be a failure in the launcher.
If you float a photo when you turn your phone or zoom, try using images with margins. Android uses parallax, which requires extra pixels on the sides. If the photo is cropped sideways, the system will stretch it, losing quality.
If settings are reset after rebooting, it’s worth checking if you have an aggressive “Energy Saving” mode that unloads the registration processes, and cleaning the theme app cache through the settings menu also helps.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Themes and Gallery app through Settings → Annexes.
- 🔄 Restart the device after installing heavy images 4K.
- 📐 Check if the “Enlarged Text” mode is enabled, which can change the scaling of interface elements.
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The quality of the final image is 90% dependent on the original file. Don't try to stretch the small image over the entire screen, use it as a collage element or find a high-resolution analog.