Changed to Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO and want to return the background, but do not remember where it was taken? Or the system automatically updated the desktop after the MIUI update, and you need to restore the usual look? In this article, we will analyze all possible ways, from standard settings to hidden firmware functions, which will help to return old wallpaper even without a backup.
The problem is especially relevant for users who often experiment with themes or encounter bugs after updates. For example, in MIUI 14 and later, wallpaper can be reset when changing your Mi Account or after resetting to factory settings. We have collected proven methods that work on most models, from Xiaomi Mi 11 to Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5.
Important: Some methods require access to the file system or backups. If you've never saved wallpaper manually, go straight to the Hidden MIUI feature section, which describes the non-obvious tricks.
Method 1: Recovery through standard MIUI settings
The easiest method is to check the history of wallpaper in the personalization menu. In MIUI 12-14, the system stores the last 5-10 used backgrounds, even if you did not download them separately.
- Open the Settings → Wallpaper (or long tap on the desktop → Wallpaper).
- Scroll down to Recent or History (name depends on MIUI version).
- If the desired background is in the list - tap on it and apply.
⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 15 and later, the "Recent" section may not be available, in which case try an alternative path: Settings → Screen. → Wallpaper. → My wallpaper sometimes shows background images that the system considers "your" (including those downloaded from Mi Themes themes).
If the story is empty, check the folder. DCIM/Screenshots — sometimes MIUI It automatically saves desktop screenshots when you change wallpaper. Screenshot_20231215-123456.png.
Method 2: Restore from Mi Cloud backup
If you've ever enabled sync with Mi Cloud, the chances of getting old wallpaper back are increased. MIUI can save background images to the cloud, but the process isn't always obvious.
- Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Make sure the themes sync or wallpaper sync switch is active (in older versions of MIUI, this item could be called desktop sync).
- If sync is enabled, go to Settings → Wallpaper → Themes and tap on the cloud icon in the upper right corner, and you can see previously saved background images here.
🔹 Nuance: Mi Cloud only stores wallpaper if it was set through official Mi Themes themes.If you set the background from a gallery or third-party app, this method won't work.
If there is nothing in the cloud, try restoring a full backup (if you have one):
- 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Restore from Mi Cloud.
- 🔍 Select the backup created before the wallpaper change (note the date).
- ⚙️ In the list of data to restore, find the Desktop Settings or Themes item and tick it.
⚠️ Note: Full recovery from backup may overwrite current settings (including: SMS, If you only need wallpaper, use the file system method.
Check the Wi-Fi connection
Make sure your account has enough space in the cloud
Remember the current desktop settings (location of icons, widgets)
Disable two-factor authentication (if you forgot your account password)
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Method 3: Search for wallpaper in the phone file system
MIUI saves some wallpaper in the hidden folders of the system, and even if you didn't download the background manually, it could have stayed in the cache or thematic folders.
| folder | Way | What's in there? |
|---|---|---|
| Cash is the one. | MIUI/Theme/.cache | Miniatures and full-size versions of wallpaper from Mi Themes |
| Uploaded topics | MIUI/Theme/Download | Complete theme packages, including background images |
| System wallpaper | MIUI/wallpaper | Standard MIUI wallpaper (including dynamic) |
| Cash galleries | Pictures/.thumbnails | Reduced copies of images, including wallpaper |
To access these folders:
- Use a root-enabled Explorer (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) or a standard Xiaomi File with hidden file display enabled.
- Turn on the display of hidden folders: in Files tap on three points → Settings → Show hidden files.
- Copy the wallpaper found (usually in.jpg or.png format) into the Pictures folder and install it through the wallpaper menu.
Critical moment: files in the folder MIUI/Theme/.cache They may have random names of the type thumb_158923746.jpg. To find the right background, sort files by date of change – most likely, the wallpaper you are looking for will be among the freshest.
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If you use TWRP Recovery, you can connect your phone to your PC in MTP mode and copy /data/system/theme/ folders via ADB – sometimes the original wallpaper is stored there even after resetting.
Method 4: Hidden MIUI features for wallpaper restoration
MIUI has undocumented wallpaper features that are not visible in the standard interface, such as the ability to return the background through developer mode or special ADB commands.
Method 1: Resetting the launcher settings
Sometimes the wallpaper goes off because of a bug from the MIUI Launcher, to bring it back to its original appearance.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the MIUI Launcher (or Launcher) and tap it.
- Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
- Reboot the phone. After the restart, the launcher will restore the default settings, including the last used wallpaper.
Method 2: ADB teams
For advanced users, there is a way to return wallpaper via ADB (Developer Mode and PC connection required):
adb shell cmd overlay list | grep wallpaper
adb shell cmd overlay disable com.android.theme.wallpaper.custom
adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.theme.wallpaper.defaultThese commands will reset the current wallpaper settings to standard, but sometimes after they are executed in the Settings menu → Wallpaper appears previously used background images.
Method 3: Cache of dynamic wallpaper
If you used dynamic wallpapers (like Super Wallpapers), you can return them via cache:
- 📁 Go to the folder. Android/data/com.miui.superwallpaper/files.
- 🖼️ Find files with extension.mp4 (for animated wallpaper) or.jpg.
- 🔄 Copy them in Pictures and install them manually through Settings → Wallpaper. → My wallpaper.
What if the wallpaper disappeared after the MIUI update?
Method 5: Third-party applications for wallpaper restoration
If standard methods don't work, you can use applications that scan the system for deleted or hidden wallpaper.
- 🔍 Wallpaper Restorer – searches for wallpaper in cache and theme folders, restores even partially deleted files.
- 📂 DiskDigger – scans the phone’s memory for graphics files, including wallpaper (requires root for deep scanning).
- 🖼️ Zedge – if you downloaded wallpaper through this app, check the download history in your profile.
- 🔄 MiXplorer – file manager with advanced search that finds wallpaper by tags EXIF (For example, the screen resolution of your model).
🔹 How to use it:
- Install one of the apps (like Wallpaper Restorer) from Google Play.
- Start the scan (in DiskDigger, select the Images file type).
- Filter the results by date (you need files created before the wallpaper changes).
- Save the wallpaper found in the gallery and apply through the Settings menu → Wallpaper.
⚠️ Note: Apps like DiskDigger can find not only wallpaper, but also other deleted images (including personal photos.
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Third-party applications are effective if the wallpaper was installed from a gallery or third-party sources. For standard MIUI themes, it is better to use file system methods or Mi Cloud.
How to avoid losing wallpaper in the future
To avoid having to restore wallpaper after each update or reset, follow these tips:
- 📁 Save Wallpaper Manual: When you set a new background, copy the original file to a folder immediately. Pictures/Wallpapers. You can always get it back in two clicks.
- ☁️ Enable the synchronization of topics: In Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud activate Theme Sync. This will save your wallpaper in the cloud (works only for those from Mi Themes).
- 🔄 Export Launcher Settings: Apps like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair allow you to back up your desktop, including wallpaper.
- 📱 Use alternative launchers: In Nova Launcher or Action Launcher, wallpaper is stored separately from the system and is not reset during updates. MIUI.
- 🔧 Turn off automatic theme updates: In Settings → Topics → Settings deactivate Auto Update so that the system does not change wallpaper without your knowledge.
🔹 Preventive Trick: Take a Screenshot of a Desktop (Power Button) + Cut down the volume, then cut it to your phone’s screen resolution, and you’ll get an exact copy of the current icon wallpaper that you can use as a background (or as a template to restore the icons’ location).
If you experiment with themes often, create a separate folder in Google Drive or Mi Cloud and upload all your favorite wallpaper to it, so you can return any background even after you completely reset your phone.