Personalization of a smartphone starts with the look and feel of it, and for most Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco users, changing the standard wallpaper is the first step to personalization. The lock screen is the first thing you see when you activate a gadget, so it's natural to want to see your favorite photo, landscape or abstraction there. In the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, the visual style tuning process has undergone many changes, but the basic principles have remained the same.
However, many users have difficulty when the standard procedure does not produce the desired result, or they want to install not just a static image, but a dynamic screensaver. There are several ways to do this, from the classic choice from the gallery to using specialized services "Wallpaper Carousel". It is important to understand the differences between the lock screen and the desktop, because in Android system these areas are configured independently.
In this article, we will analyze in detail all available methods of installing images, consider the nuances of working with different versions of firmware and find out how to avoid common mistakes when setting up personalization.
Standard method through the Gallery app
The easiest and most time-tested method is to use the built-in Gallery app, which is universal for all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14. You don’t need third-party software or access to system settings, just open the desired image.
Once you have opened the photo, you need to click on the "More" button (usually the three dots in the lower right corner) and select "Set as wallpaper", the system will select the framing area if the proportions of the photo do not match the screen resolution, and then ask whether to apply the image to the lock screen, desktop or both.
It is worth noting that when choosing the "lock screen" option, the image can be displayed with a darkening or blurring effect depending on the chosen theme, which is a feature of MIUI Themes, which is designed to improve the readability of time widgets and notifications.
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If the photo quality after installation seems low, make sure that the original image has a resolution of at least 1080×2400 pixels.
Sometimes users notice that after rebooting the device, the picture is reset to the standard one, this can happen if the theme settings activate an automatic reset or if a system bug is used, typical of early versions of Android 11/12 based on MIUI 12, in which case re-installing or cleaning the cache of the Themes application helps.
Use of the wallpaper carousel function
A unique feature of Xiaomi devices is the Lock Screen Magazine feature, which allows you to turn the lock screen into a source of inspiration by automatically changing images every time you turn on the screen. It's not just a slideshow, but a smart system that can tailor content to your interests.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the lock screen settings. Here you will find the wallpaper carousel switch. Once activated, the system will suggest selecting categories of images: nature, architecture, art or high-tech. Unlike static wallpaper, the Carousel consumes minimal energy, because it uses optimized preload algorithms.
- 🖼️ Automatically changing pictures every time the device wakes up.
- 📡 Ability to download new sets via Wi-Fi in the background.
- ⚙️ Flexible adjustment of update frequency and content sources.
It is important to understand that the wallpaper carousel is a separate service that can conflict with manually installed static images. If you want to see a particular photo, the carousel function must be turned off. It is also worth considering that in some regions (for example, in global versions of firmware for Europe), the range of available categories may differ from the Chinese versions.
Set up through the Topics and Design menu
The MIUI and HyperOS Themes app is a powerful tool that goes far beyond just changing icons. The Wallpapers section has a huge catalog of images divided into categories: static, video wallpaper and super wallpaper.
Video wallpapers are short, cyclical clips that come to life when you press the lock screen. They add speakers to the interface, but they require a more powerful processor to play smoothly. Super wallpapers, in turn, use time of day data to create a depth effect and change the color gamut depending on the position of the sun.
Where can I find hidden wallpaper?
The installation process is simple: select the image you like, click Download, and then click Apply, and the system immediately prompts you to assign it to the lock screen, the advantage of which is that all images are already optimized for the resolution of your particular screen, which eliminates any stretching or pixelation problems.
Problems with image quality and cropping
Users often complain that after installing a beautiful photo, it looks blurry or cropped. The main reason lies in the difference in aspect ratios. Xiaomi smartphones today have elongated screens (20:9 or 21:9), while most photos on the Internet are 4:3 or 16:9 standard.
When installing such an image, the system automatically crops it, cutting the excess parts on the top and bottom or on the sides. To avoid losing important details, it is recommended to pre-process the photo in any editor, setting the desired size, or use the Panorama function when installing, if it is available in the MIUI version.
Quality can also suffer from aggressive compression: If you upload photos through messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram without compression), they can lose quality, preferably transfer files as a "Document" or use cloud storage.
☑️ Checklist before installing photo
In some cases, it helps to include the option "Stretch by screen size" in the preview menu, although this can lead to distortion of the proportions of objects in the photo. The ideal solution is to search for wallpaper marked "For Mobile" or "4K Mobile Wallpaper".
Table: Comparison of installation methods
To make it easier for you to choose the right way to personalize, we have prepared a basic method comparison table that will help you quickly navigate the system's capabilities.
| Method | Difficulty | Variability | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| gallery | Low. | Any photo | Minimum |
| Wallpaper carousel | Medium | Tall (automan) | Low. |
| Video wallpaper | Low. | Animation. | Medium/High |
| Third-party annexes | Tall. | Unlimited | Depends on the app. |
Use of third-party applications
If Xiaomi’s standard features aren’t enough, Google Play apps will come to your rescue, with programs like the Wallpaper Engine, Backdrops, or Zedge offering millions of design options, including interactive scenes.
When installing these applications, the system may request permission to "Map on top of other applications" or access storage, which is necessary for the proper operation of the live wallpaper and cache. Beware: some applications may contain ads that will pop up on the lock screen, which is undesirable behavior.
⚠️ Warning: When installing wallpaper applications from unknown developers, check the permissions you request. If a simple image editor requires access to contacts or a microphone, this is an excuse to refuse installation.
To work complex live wallpapers, you may need to turn off the energy savings for a particular application, otherwise the MIUI system will force the process to close in the background, and the animation will stop working, and you can do this in the battery settings section.
Frequent mistakes and their solution
Even when you follow all the instructions, you can crash, for example, after updating the firmware settings can fly. In this case, you should not panic: just go through the installation path again. Sometimes it helps to clean the cache of the application "Themes" through the menu "Applications" -> "All applications" -> "Themes" -> "Clean data".
Another common problem is that you get a black bezels around the image, which happens when you pick a photo that's less resolution than the screen, and the system fills the void with black, and the solution is one: look for higher quality images.
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The quality of the final image is 90% dependent on the original file. Don't try to stretch the small picture to the full screen, leave the fields or find another image.
If you are using a dark theme, remember that some system clocks and widgets may merge with a dark background, and in such cases, it is recommended to choose contrast images or slightly darken them before installation so that the white text of the time is clearly readable.