Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often experiment with visual design by installing bright images from the Internet or third-party applications. However, over time, you may want to go back to the roots by restoring the clean and optimized standard background that came from the factory. This not only returns the familiar look, but also sometimes helps to solve problems with fast battery discharge if third-party “live” wallpaper was poorly optimized.
The process of replacing an image on a desktop or lock screen in the MIUI or HyperOS shell is quite flexible, but beginners can get confused by the abundance of menus. There are several proven ways to return factory design: through a standard gallery, system settings of the theme or a special section in the screen settings. Each method has its own features, which we will discuss in detail below.
It is important to understand that standard wallpaper is not just a picture, but part of the brand identity, which often contains unique gradients and logos optimized for AMOLED or IPS matrix of specific models. Recovering them is a matter of minutes, but requires accurate hitting the right menu items, as developers periodically change the location of elements in new versions of the firmware.
Search for factory images in the system gallery
The easiest and most obvious way to get a picture back is to find it in the device’s memory. Xiaomi smartphones by default store all system resources, including wallpaper, in a special hidden folder accessible through the standard Gallery app. You do not need to search for files on the Internet, since the original is already on the phone.
To start, open the Gallery app and go to the Album tab. You need to find an album called Wallpapers in the folder list. This is where all the standard images that are preinstalled on your Redmi model are stored. If you haven't manually deleted system files before, they'll be there in full.
Select your favorite image, click on it to open to the full screen. At the bottom of the interface, a toolbar will appear where you need to find the More button (usually indicated by three dots or a word). In the drop-down menu, select the option Set as wallpaper. The system will suggest applying the picture to the lock screen, desktop or both screens at the same time.
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If the gallery doesn’t have a Wallpaper folder, try clearing the Gallery app cache through the app settings – sometimes system albums are hidden due to a software glitch.
It is worth noting that in some versions of MIUI firmware, access to system folders may be restricted. If you do not see the desired album, make sure that the gallery settings include hidden albums. Also remember that the resolution of the selected image must match the screen resolution of your device to avoid stretching.
Using the Themes app to restore the background
Themes is Xiaomi’s central customization hub, where standard resources are stored, and even if you’ve removed a standard theme or changed it a lot, it’s easy to reset all visual elements to factory values through this app, the most reliable method to ensure system integrity.
Run the Topics app on your smartphone. In the lower right corner of the screen, find the profile icon (usually a human image). Going to the profile, you will see the My Topics or Topics section. The list of installed designs always has a theme called Classic, Default or simply No Name with the icon of the standard robot or the MI logo.
Click on this standard theme. A page will open with a description of the large Apply button. After clicking, the system will prompt you to choose which components to update: desktop wallpaper, lock screen, system icons or fonts. To return to the factory look, you just need to mark the items associated with the wallpaper.
☑️ Checking before applying the topic
⚠️ Note: When applying a standard theme through the Themes app, the system can automatically reset other items, such as app icons or notification sounds, unless you uncheck the appropriate ticks in the confirmation menu.
Setting up through the lock screen and wallpaper menu
In modern versions of the HyperOS shell and the new MIUI, personalization settings are placed in a separate, convenient menu, which allows you to control the lock screen and the desktop independently, which is especially convenient if you want to leave a beautiful photo on the locked screen, but return the standard background to the desktop.
To get to the menu, go to Settings of your smartphone. In the list, find Wallpaper and personalization (or just Wallpaper). Here you will see a preview of the current lock screen and desktop. By clicking on the corresponding preview picture, you will be taken to the selection menu.
The system will offer several categories: Online wallpaper, Local and Standard. Select Standard (or System) category. This will show all factory images, sorted by series or device models. Choose the right one and click Apply.
The feature of this method is the ability to preview. You can flip through standard options, and they will be displayed in real time against the menu background, which allows you to immediately assess how the picture looks with widgets and application icons, this eliminates the need to repeatedly use and remove inappropriate options.
Resetting theme settings to factory values
If you find the previous methods too complicated or you are confused by many settings, there is a radical but effective way to completely reset the theme of the design, which returns not only wallpaper, but also standard fonts, icons and sounds, returning the phone to the “out of the box” state in visual terms.
Open the Themes app and go to your profile. Find the current active theme (it will be marked as Used). Click on it, then select the Remove or Reset button (if available in your version). Once the active non-standard theme is removed, the system will automatically apply the Classic default theme.
Alternatively, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Security (the path may vary depending on the version of MIUI). Find the thematic option and select the default option to restore settings. This action is safe for your personal data, photos and contacts - only the visual shell will change.
⚠️ Warning: A complete theme change can overwrite your custom design settings, such as the transparency of the notification panel or the style of the clock on the lock screen, if they have been manually changed.
Differences in wallpaper installation on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
The installation procedure can vary significantly depending on the software version: Older versions of MIUI 11-12 had a simpler menu, while MIUI 13-14 and the new HyperOS implemented deep integrations with online services, which sometimes makes it difficult to find local files.
The table below shows the key differences in navigation for different firmware versions so you can navigate your device’s interface faster:
| Shell version | The path to settings | Location of standard wallpaper | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11-12 | Settings → Wallpaper | Systems tab | Direct access to files |
| MIUI 13-14 | Settings → Lock screen | Through the Topics app | Separate screen settings |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Settings → Wallpaper and personalization | Section "Standard" | Dynamic effects |
| Global ROM | Settings → Personalization | Wallpaper Carousel folder. | Availability of advertising in the carousel |
HyperOS users should look to the new Superbug feature, which can dynamically change color depending on the time of day. If your goal is a static picture, make sure you choose the static version from the standard library, rather than the dynamic module.
What is Wallpaper Carousel?
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Sometimes the installation of standard wallpapers may encounter technical obstacles, such as the selection of a picture may not apply, or a low-quality image with compression artifacts will be used, often due to overcrowded system cache or access rights conflict.
If standard wallpaper isn't installed, try clearing the theme and gallery app cache. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the right app, click Clear → Clear cache. Don't confuse it with "Clear all data," or you'll lose your theme download history.
Another common problem is image stretching. Standard wallpapers can have different resolutions for different models. If the picture looks blurry, maybe you chose the lock screen as your desktop background, or vice versa. Always check the orientation of the image before using.
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If none of the software methods helped, try to restart the smartphone in safe mode and install wallpaper from there – this will eliminate the impact of third-party launchers.