Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where, after installing a third-party theme or updating the system, the usual desktop background disappears, instead of the expected image, a black screen, a standard MIUI logo or, even worse, intrusive advertising appears, this is due to the peculiarities of the HyperOS and MIUI shells, which prioritize the use of data from the Themes app, ignoring the system image files.
The process of restoring the factory look of the screen can vary depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific model of your device. Some users accidentally activate the wallpaper carousel feature, which constantly changes images, creating the illusion of a system failure. Returning to the factory design settings does not require deep technical knowledge, but requires attention to the details of the menu.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to solve the problem, from simply switching the theme to cleaning the system cache, you will learn how to forcefully reset the theme settings if the standard menu does not respond, and how to avoid common errors when working with the file system of a smartphone.
Why the standard wallpaper is missing and how to fix it
The main reason for the disappearance of the standard background is the conflict between system resources and installed themes from the Mi Themes store. The MIUI shell is designed so that visual elements are stored in a separate container. When you install a theme, it replaces the system paths to the image files. If the theme was deleted incorrectly or damaged during the update, the system cannot find a way to the original file.
Another factor is the operation of the Glance feature, which, often pre-installed on global firmware versions, blocks the ability to set a static image while it is active, replacing the desktop with its lock and background interface.
⚠️ Note: Before you start manipulating themes, make sure you have a stable Internet connection.Some system themes can load configuration files from the cloud when reset.
It’s also worth considering that on different models, such as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5, the location of menu items may differ slightly. However, the logic of the Themes system application remains the same for the entire ecosystem, understanding this principle will help you not only return the background, but also competently manage the visual style of the device in the future.
Resetting the topic through the “Themes” app
The easiest and safest way to get it back to normal is to use a built-in theme management app, which is where the key to switching between custom and factory settings is stored, so you don't have to search for files in hidden folders or use a computer.
Open the Topic app (tap icon). In the lower right corner, search and click on the profile icon (humans). In the menu that opens, select My Themes. Here you will see a list of all the designs ever installed. Find a theme with the Classic, Default or No Theme name (depending on the firmware region, it can be called differently, often the first theme on the list with the icon of the standard MIUI logo).
Click on the theme you select, then Apply, and the system will warn you that the wallpaper, sounds, and style of the system applications will be changed, and then confirm the action, and then the screen will blink, and the device will return to its factory appearance.
☑️ The algorithm of resetting the topic
If the standard theme is not applied or the button is inactive, try applying any other free theme from the directory first, and then switching to the classic one. This helps shake up the system process responsible for rendering the interface.
Removal of wallpaper carousel (Glance)
Often users want to get back a static image, but instead they see constantly changing images with a news feed, which is the responsibility of Glance or Wallpaper Carousel, and to get rid of it and regain control of the lock screen, you need to turn this feature off in the settings.
Go to Settings on your smartphone. Search by settings (a magnifier at the top), type the word "carousel" or "Glance." Go to the menu item you find. Here you will see a switch that activates or deactivates the service. Turn it to the "Switched Off" position.
Once disabled, the service will stop downloading new images. However, to fully return the standard background, you still have to go to the lock screen settings and select a static image manually. Sometimes the system does not immediately update the preview, so you may need to reboot the device.
What to do if the Carousel point does not turn off?
It is important to note that on some global firmware versions, this service is system-based and not completely removed, it can only be turned off. On the Chinese versions (CN ROM), such a service is not by default, it only appears after installing the corresponding plugin.
Recovery through screen settings and locking
If the theme reset didn't help, the problem may be the specific desktop display and lock screen settings, which can be desynchronized. To adjust them, go to Settings -> Wallpaper.
Here you'll see two categories: Lock screen and Desktop. Click on the section you want. If you want to return a factory image, look for System or Standard. In some versions of MIUI, standard wallpaper is hidden in the depth of the menu and marked with a star icon or a brand logo.
Select an image and click Apply. The system will ask you whether to place the wallpaper on the lock screen, desktop or both. Select both screens to guarantee that you will reset all visual artifacts.
| Wallpaper type | Where to find out. | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Static | Settings -> Wallpaper -> System | They do not consume batteries, the classic type. |
| Live (Live) | Settings -> Wallpaper -> Dynamic | Requires processor resources, can heat the phone |
| carousel | Settings -> Lock screen | Requires the Internet, shows news and advertising |
Sometimes there are bugs when you don't use them when you select the system wallpaper, so try to install any other image from the gallery first, and then go back to the system one again, and this action updates the cache of the preview.
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Expert advice: If you have Saving Energy mode on, the live wallpaper and carousel may not work or shut down automatically. It is recommended to keep this mode off for full-time dynamic content.
Cleaning the data of the “Themes” application and cache
When standard methods don't work, you have to resort to more radical measures, such as cleaning up your system application data, which won't delete your personal files, photos or contacts, but will reset all your visual settings to factory ones.
Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Find the Topic app in the list. Click on it and select Memory. Here you are interested in two buttons: Clear cache and Clear all (or Delete data).
First, click Clear Cache. Check if this solved the problem. If the background is black or distorted, click Clear All. Then the next time you run the theme app, it will behave as if it had just purchased the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Cleaning up the Themes app data will reset all the fonts, notification sounds and icons you installed to standard.You will have to re-configure the visual style if you used customization.
This method is particularly effective after a firmware update, when old configuration files are in conflict with new system libraries, and forces the system to recreate configuration files from scratch.
Problems with live wallpapers and black screen
Special attention should be paid to the situation when the screen turns black after installing live wallpaper, which often happens when using informal themes or when transferring data from an old phone, the system tries to run the video file as a background, but the codec is not supported or the file is corrupted.
To solve this problem, you can use Safe Mode or simply turn off the live wallpaper through the settings if the interface responds. If the black screen blocks access to the menu, try the following sequence: turn off the phone, turn it on and immediately after the logo appears, press the volume down button (on some models, both volume buttons) to enter Recovery Mode, but this is a last resort.
A softer way: call the voice assistant (if configured) or use a quick command through the notification curtain to go into settings. You can also try connecting the phone to your computer via USB and through the file manager (if you have access to the MTP system) to remove the problem file from the /MIUI/theme folder, but this requires skills with the Android file system.
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Black screens are most often caused by incompatibility of the video wallpaper format with the current version of the display drivers. Resetting the theme through Safe Mode is the fastest solution.
If nothing helps, and the black screen remains even after the reboot, it is possible that the system file wallpaper.xml is damaged. In this case, only a full reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset) through the Recovery menu will help, which will lead to the removal of all data from the phone.