How to install your picture on the lock screen Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

The lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and many Xiaomi users want to personalize it by setting their favorite photo, art or meme. However, standard MIUI settings do not always allow you to do this intuitively: in some versions of the firmware, the option is hidden in the depth of the menu, and in others it is completely absent without additional manipulation. This article will reveal all the current ways to change the background of the lock screen, including bypassing restrictions for older models and firmware.

We will look at the official methods through Settings → Lock screen, hidden functions MIUI Launcher, as well as alternative solutions using third-party applications and ADB-We will pay special attention to the nuances for devices with MIUI 14 (2023-2026), where the logic of the lock screen has changed, and if you are confronted with the message "You can't change the lock screen wallpaper on this device" - the article has a solution for this case.

Why can’t Xiaomi just change the background of the lock screen?

Unlike Samsung or Google Pixel, where changing the background of the lock screen takes 2 clicks, MIUI has historically limited this feature.

• 🔒 Xiaomi blocks background changes on some devices to prevent the use of live wallpaper with potentially malicious code.
• 📱 Versions MIUI: In firmware before MIUI 12.5 The option was available directly, but in MIUI 13/14 It was moved or removed for specific regions (for example, for European Redmi Note builds). 11).
• 🛡️ Protection against fraud: on some models (for example, POCO F4) The background of the lock is tied to the Mi Account – this complicates the theft of data when you lose your phone.

In addition, on devices with Always-On Display (AOD) (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60), the background of the lock screen can automatically adjust to the theme of design, ignoring user settings.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is released before 2020 (like the Redmi Note 8 Pro), some of the techniques in this article may not work because of an outdated version. MIUI. In this case, you will need to manually update the firmware or use ADB.

Method 1: Official method via MIUI settings (for most models)

This is the easiest way to do it, which works on devices with MIUI 12.5 and later (2021-2026) and is suitable for most modern smartphones, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13 Lite and others.

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the Lock screen (or Always-on display and lock screen on new models).
3. Select Wallpaper Lock screen (on some devices it is called Background lock screen).
4. Click Select Wallpaper and indicate the path to your image in the gallery.
5. Confirm the changes by clicking Apply or Install.

If the lock screen wallpaper is not on the menu, then your model uses an alternative method (see Method 2). Also check if the section is hidden due to the on mode for children or corporate policy (on some firmware for business devices).

Make sure the image has a resolution of at least 1080×2340 pixels.

Check that the file is not in.webp (MIUI may not support it)

Turn off the power saving mode (it blocks wallpaper changes)

Restart your phone if the option does not appear-->

Method 2: Use MIUI Launcher (for firmware without direct option)

On some devices (e.g., POCO M4 Pro or Redmi 10C), the option to change the background of the lock screen is hidden in the launcher settings, which works even if the settings do not have the corresponding item.

1. Press and hold the free area on the main screen.
2. In the menu that appears, select Wallpaper (or Themes if you use a custom launcher).
3. Scroll down to the Lock Screen section and tap it.
4. Select My Wallpaper → Gallery and specify the desired image.
5. Confirm the application by clicking Install on the lock screen.

If you don't have a lock screen, try applying the wallpaper to the main screen first, and then find the "Apply and lock screen" option on the same menu. On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 11), this workaround works.

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If the image is cropped or stretched, try using a 9:19 aspect ratio photo (like 1080×2280 pixels) that is the standard resolution for most Xiaomi smartphones.

Method 3: Through the Topics app (for Mi Account users)

The Themes app allows you to install not only ready-made themes, but also custom wallpaper for the lock screen. This method requires authorization in Mi Account and works on all devices with MIUI 11 and later.

1. Open the Themes app (brush icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
3. Select My Wallpaper and upload the image from the gallery.
4. Click Apply and wait for sync with Xiaomi servers (can take up to 1 minute).

Note that the wallpaper downloaded through the Topics may be reset after the firmware update. To avoid this, save the original image to the MIUI/theme/wallpaper folder (this will require a file manager with access to root folders, such as MiXplorer).

⚠️ Note: Some firmware for the Chinese market (China) ROM) Themes may not be available in this case, use Method 4 or Method 5.

Method 4: Third-party applications (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party apps from Google Play.

• 📱 Wallpaper Changer for MIUI: A special application for changing the lock screen wallpaper on Xiaomi, requires permission to access the storage.
• 🖼️ Zedge: wallpaper library with the option of applying to the lock screen (does not work on all models).
• 🔧 Tasker + AutoTools: To automatically change the background on a schedule (requires customization skills).

Examples of Wallpaper Changer for MIUI:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the files.
3. Select the image and click Set as Lockscreen Wallpaper.
4. Confirm the action in the system dialog (you may need to enable permission to “Overlaid on top of other applications”).

Method 5: Manual change through ADB (for tech-savvy)

If none of the above methods worked, the alternative is ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or USB debugging enabled.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB Tools and execute command: adb shell settings put global lock_screen_wallpaper /storage/emulated/0/Download/your_image.jpg (replace the path with the current one).
4. Reset the device.

For devices with MIUI 14, an additional command may be required to reset the wallpaper cache:

adb shell pm clear com.android.gallery3d

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Use ADB only if you are confident in your actions. Wrong commands can cause a reset or even a device to "brick"; always back up your data before experimenting.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful background changes, users face challenges, and here are the most common ways to address them:

• 🔄 Wallpaper resets after rebooting: This is due to optimization MIUI. Solution – Set wallpaper through Themes (Method 3) or use ADB file-track.
• 🖼️ Image cropped or stretched: Check the aspect ratio (should be 9:19 or 9:20). Use a photo editor (e.g. Snapseed) for accurate fit).
• 🔒 Option not available on a corporate device: If the smartphone was issued by the employer, the change of wallpaper can be blocked through Android Enterprise. IT-service or reset the device to factory settings (with loss of data).
• 📵 It doesn't work on Always-On Display (AOD): On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) background AOD It's all about the system theme. AOD in settings or use dark wallpaper for masking.

If after all the manipulations the background of the lock screen has not changed, check:

• Is the energy saving mode on (it blocks wallpaper changes).
• Is there a third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher) that may conflict with system settings?
• Is there a custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where the logic of the lock screen is different?

FAQ: Answers to popular questions