Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones allow you to personalize the look of the device to the smallest detail — including the ability to install different wallpapers on the desktop and lock screen. This feature is available on most models (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Xiaomi 13, etc.), but not always obvious to users. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to customize several wallpapers, including hidden chips MIUI 14 and bypass the restrictions on older versions.
You'll learn how:
- 🔄 Use built-in tools MIUI split-wallpaper
- 🎨 Install live wallpapers on both screens
- 📱 Apply third-party applications if standard settings do not work
- ⚙️ Solve typical problems (wallpapers are dropped, not synchronized, etc.)
Important: features may vary depending on the MIUI version and smartphone model. For example, on the Poco F5 with MIUI 14 Global, the algorithm differs from Redmi 10 to MIUI 12.5. We will look at universal methods and point out nuances for specific devices.
1. Standard method: different wallpaper through MIUI settings
The easiest method is to use the built-in "Different Wallpaper" feature available in MIUI 12 and later, which allows you to assign individual images to:
- 📱 Desktop (main screen)
- 🔒 Lock screen
- 📂 Folders and widgets (optional, on some models)
Instructions:
- Long press on the free space of the desktop → select Wallpaper.
- At the bottom of the screen, tap the icon. ⚙️ Settings (or More).
- Activate the switch "Different wallpaper for the lock screen".
- Select the image for the desktop, then for the lock screen.
- Click Apply or Ready.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI For global market, this item may be called a “Lock screen wallpaper” or hidden under the Topics section. → If you don't have an option, update it. MIUI Up to the latest version or use alternative methods from the following sections.
☑️ Preparation for wallpaper installation
2 Live Wallpapers on both screens
Live wallpaper (animated background images) can be installed on both the desktop and the lock screen, but with nuances. In MIUI 14, the algorithm has changed: now only static wallpaper from the gallery is available for the lock screen, and for the desktop - live from the theme store.
How to get around the restriction:
- Download the live wallpaper from the Theme Store (Themes) → Wallpaper. → Alive).
- Install them on the desktop in the standard way.
- For the lock screen: 📁 Select a static image from the gallery (frame from live wallpaper). 🎥 Or use apps like Video Live Wallpaper (see Section 4).
On Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Poco F5 Pro with MIUI 14, live wallpapers on the lock screen only work if they are installed through the Super Wallpapers system app (available for flagship models).
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To live wallpaper does not eat the battery charge, limit their work in the settings: Settings → Battery → Optimization → Wallpaper
3.Use of MIUI themes for automatic wallpaper change
If you're tired of manual wallpaper change, MIUI has a Wallpaper Autosman feature that cycles the background images on both screens, which is available under Topics → My Wallpaper → Automan.
How to set up:
- Select a folder with wallpaper in the gallery or download a set from the Theme Store.
- Specify the shift interval (every hour, day or when unlocking).
- Activate the option "Apply to both screens".
| Xiaomi model | Support for auto-shifting | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Yes (MIUI 14) | Doesn't work with live wallpaper. |
| Poco X5 Pro | Yes (MIUI 14 for Poco) | Maximum 20 images in the set |
| Xiaomi 12T | Yes (Global/EEA) | Requires connection to Mi Account |
| Redmi 10A | No (MIUI 12.5) | No function |
⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper changer may conflict with energy saving mode. If background images stop changing, check battery settings: Settings → Battery → Optimization → Topics and disable restrictions.
4. Third-party applications for flexible wallpaper setting
If the built-in MIUI tools don't suit you, use third-party apps that allow you to:
- 🎨 Install video wallpaper on both screens
- 🔄 Change wallpaper on a schedule or geolocation
- 🖼️ Use different wallpaper for horizontal / vertical modes
Top.-3 apps:
- Wallpaper Engine (paid but with free test period) – supports animated wallpaper and synchronization with PC.
- Video Live Wallpaper (free) – allows you to use any video as a live wallpaper (including the lock screen on some models).
- Muzei Live Wallpaper (free) – automatically downloads wallpaper from the Internet and applies blur effects.
Instructions for Video Live Wallpaper:
1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select the video from the gallery or download from the built-in library.
3. Click "Install as Wallpaper" → select "Block screen" or "Desktop".
4. In the application settings, turn off "Battery Optimization" for it.How to get around the MIUI restriction for live wallpaper on the lock screen?
5. Problem Solving: Wallpapers are dropped or not applied
Xiaomi users often encounter bugs when changing wallpapers. Consider typical errors and ways to correct them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper is reset after resetting | Cache failure MIUI Launcher | Clear the cache: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Launcher → Storage → Clear the cache |
| You can't put wallpaper on the lock screen. | Firmware restriction (e.g. MIUI 12.5 for Redmi 9A) | Update. MIUI or use ADB-Adb shell settings put global use_lockscreen_wallpaper 1 |
| Wallpaper is blurred or cut off | Discrepancy of screen resolution | Use images with a resolution of 1080×2340 (for most Xiaomi) or 1440×3200 (for flagships) |
⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The user wallpaper is missing, check the folder /MIUI/theme/ Sometimes the system backs up wallpapers with the.bak extension, and you can manually restore them.
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Before changing your firmware or resetting your settings, save the wallpaper to a separate folder – they are stored in the system partition and can be deleted.
6. Hidden chips: wallpaper for Always-On Display (AOD)
On models with Always-On Display (Xiaomi 13, Redmi K60, Poco F5 Pro), you can configure separate wallpapers for constant lighting mode.
Settings → Screen → Always-On Display → Style → AOD Wallpaper
Features:
- 🖼️ You can only select static wallpaper from the gallery.
- 🔄 Wallpaper. AOD synchronized with the lock screen wallpaper (unless otherwise indicated).
- ⚡ Inclusion AOD Increases battery consumption ~5-7% day-to-day.
To prevent the AOD wallpaper from matching the lock wallpaper:
- Open the Always-On Display settings.
- Choose Style → Wallpaper.
- Slap the icon. ⚙️ top-right.
- Turn off the option "Use the lock screen wallpaper".
7. Alternative method: wallpaper through ADB (for experienced)
If your Xiaomi model doesn’t support different wallpapers at the software level (e.g. Redmi 8 on MIUI 11), you can apply them through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a PC connection and basic command line knowledge.
Instructions:
- Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (shoot 7 times), then Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell settings put global use_lockscreen_wallpaper 1 settings put global use_home_wallpaper 1
- Reset the device.
Now in the wallpaper settings, you will be able to choose different images for the desktop and lock screen.
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If so, ADB-No option is available, try resetting the settings. MIUI Launcher: Settings → Annexes → Management → Launcher → Warehouse → Drop it.