Live wallpaper with dynamic audio is one of the features of MIUI firmware that makes the screen of a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone really “live.” However, many users face the problem: animation works, and sound is absent. The reasons may lie in both system settings and the specifics of a particular topic. In this article, we will examine all the ways to turn on sound on live wallpaper, from standard methods to bypass solutions for outdated models.
The ability to play sound effects along with animations has been around since MIUI 12, but it still raises questions: for example, on some devices, the default sound is turned off due to battery savings, and in other cases, the problem is related to regional theme limitations. We tested the solutions on models from the Redmi Note 10 Pro (2021) to Xiaomi 14 (2026) - and are ready to share working instructions.
Before you get to the settings, make sure your wallpaper theme supports sound initially. Not all animated wallpapers in MIUI Themes have an audio track — some developers only add visuals. To check this out, open the theme description in the theme store: if it mentions "soundtracking" or "audio effects," then the problem is exactly with your device settings.
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1. Check system sound settings in MIUI
The first thing to do is make sure that the sound for the live wallpaper is not turned off at the system level, and MIUI has a separate switch that is often reset after updates or changes in the energy saving profile.
Open Settings → Sound and Vibration. Scroll down to the “Additional Settings” section and find “Live Wallpaper Sounds.” If it’s not available, your firmware version doesn’t support this feature (relevant for devices older than 2019 on MIUI 11 and below).
If the item is present, but the slider is gray and inactive, the reasons may be as follows:
- 🔕 Do Not Disturb Mode ** is enabled (check in the notification curtain).
- 🔋 Battery in energy saving mode - the sound is turned off automatically.
- 🎵 System sound is off (click volume buttons and make sure the slider is not at zero).
- 📱 The theme of the wallpaper is incompatible with your model (more on this below).
On some devices (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi K40), the sound of live wallpaper is tied to a global sound profile. If you use a Quiet or No Sound profile, the audio in the wallpaper will also be turned off, even if the settings are all on.
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If nothing changes in the settings after the sound is turned on, restart the device. Sometimes MIUI does not apply the changes without a reboot.
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2. How to turn on the sound through the settings of live wallpaper
If the system settings are not working, check the parameters directly in the wallpaper menu, where you can not only turn on the sound, but also adjust the volume separately from the main sound profile.
Instructions:
- Press and hold your finger on the home screen, then select Wallpaper.
- Slip on the current live wallpaper (or select new ones from the "Live" section).
- At the bottom of the preview screen, find the Settings icon (cog) → Sound.
- Activate the "Enable Sound" switch and adjust the volume.
On some topics (for example, “Ocean” or “Space”), you can choose the type of soundtrack:
- 🌊 Ambient – background noise (waves, wind).
- 🎶 Melody - musical composition.
- 🔄 Dynamic – sound responds to the touch of the screen.
What to do if there is no "Settings" button?
On HyperOS devices (2026), the path to audio settings has changed: it is now hidden in the Wallpaper Effects menu (available only for official Xiaomi themes).
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Problems with and solutions to regional themes
Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the sound only works on Chinese or global themes, and the Russian / European versions of the wallpaper audio is absent.
How to get around the restriction:
- Download the Chinese version of the theme with wallpaper: 🌐 Change the region in your Mi Account to “China” (in your profile settings). 🔍 That's the store. MIUI Find themes wallpapers in English (e.g. Live Wallpaper Ocean»). ⬇️ Download and apply the topic.
manually
.mtz
Important: When you change region, some features (such as Mi Pay or Mi Cloud) may become unavailable. Once you install the wallpaper, return the region back.
Download the.mtz file from a trusted source (e.g., [miuithemes.cf](https://miuithemes.cf)
Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)
Install the Tema Editor or MIUI Theme Editor app from Google Play
Make a backup copy of the current wallpaper-->
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4 Manual installation of live wallpaper with sound
If standard methods don’t work, you can install live wallpaper with sound bypassing the theme store, which is suitable for advanced users and requires a theme file (.mtz).
Step-by-step:
- Download a theme file with sound (e.g., XDA Developers or MiuiThemes) and pay attention to compatibility with your version of MIUI!
- Move the.mtz file to /MIUI/theme/ on the internal storage (create it if not).
- Open the Topics app → My Topics → Local. Find the downloaded file and apply it.
- If the theme doesn't show, use MIUI Theme Editor: 1. Open the app and select "Import MTZ." 2. Find the downloaded file. 3. Click "Apply" and confirm the installation.
Instructions for KLWP:
- Install KLWP from Google Play.
- Download KLCK (Companion for Sound) and import the theme with audio.
- In KLWP settings, select Audio → Enable Sound and specify the path to the file (e.g.,.mp3 in the KLWP/audio/ folder).
- Apply wallpaper through the standard wallpaper change menu.
Cons of the method: some launchers consume an additional battery, and root access may be required for full operation.
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The launcher side is the only working way for Android One devices (such as the Mi A2) where live MIUI wallpaper is fundamentally not supported.
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6. Frequent errors and their correction
Even when properly tuned, the sound on the live wallpaper may not work due to hidden MIUI bugs.
Problem 1: The sound only plays when the screen is unlocked, and the main screen is silent.
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Application power management.
- Find the Themes app and turn off battery optimization for it.
- 📱 Reset the device.
Problem 2: The sound is interrupted or distorted.
- 🔊 Check if it conflicts with other sounds (such as music in the player).
- 📉 Reduce the volume of live wallpaper in the theme settings – sometimes overloading the audio channel leads to distortions.
- 🔧 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (there was an audio driver bug in the old builds).
Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the sound was gone.
- 🔄 Reset the settings to themes: Settings → Topics → Reset to standard.
- 📥 Reinstall the live wallpaper again from the theme store.
- 📌 If it doesn’t help, go back to the previous version. MIUI (guideline).
How do you roll back the MIUI version?
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7. Features for HyperOS devices
In 2026, Xiaomi began the transition to a new firmware HyperOS, which replaced MIUI on flagship models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70, etc.), in which the mechanism of work of live wallpaper changed.
Key differences:
How to turn on the sound in HyperOS:
- Open the settings → Personalization → Wallpaper.
- Choose live wallpaper and tap the icon "Effects" (wave).
- Activate the "Soundtrack" and select the type (ambient or melody).
- If the option is not available, upgrade the theme store through the Mi App Store.
Important: In HyperOS, the sound of live wallpaper is automatically muted if the device overheats or the battery is below 15%.
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