You opened a gallery on your Xiaomi, you picked your favorite photo, but instead of the usual "Set as Wallpaper" option, is it empty or a gray inactive item? This problem occurs on smartphones with MIUI 12-14, especially after upgrades or resets, the reasons may lie in the failure of the system launcher, disabled resolutions or even in the features of a particular firmware.
In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to return a button, from basic checks to hidden MIUI settings. You will learn how to circumvent restrictions through ADB, which applications will replace the standard function, and why some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5) may not have a button initially.
Why did the “Set as Wallpaper” button disappear?
On most Xiaomi smartphones, the option appears when you long-click on the image in the gallery or through the “More” menu (three dots).
- 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing a new firmware version (for example, with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) system applications may be reset.
- 📱 Launcher failure: com.miui.home (standard launcher) sometimes loses touch with wallpaper module.
- 🔒 Manufacturer restrictions: On some models (e.g, POCO M6 Pro) function disabled to save memory.
- 🛠️ Manual changes: The user could disable permissions for the gallery or launcher in the settings.
Critical detail: on smartphones with global firmware (for example, Xiaomi 13T Pro Global), the button may be missing due to regional restrictions - in such cases, only flashing on MIUI China or EEA will help.
Before you get to the tricky methods, check the basics:
Long click on the photo in the gallery (not in Google Photos!)
Check the "More" menu (three dots) in the gallery
Rebooting the smartphone
Update of the Gallery app in the Play Market-->
Method 1: Reboot the launcher and gallery
In 60 percent of cases, the problem is solved by resetting the cache of system applications.
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Gallery (com.miui.gallery) and select Clear Cache.
- Repeat for Launcher (com.miui.home).
- Reboot your smartphone.
If the button doesn't appear, try to force both apps to stop (option in the same menu) and this will reset the temporary data without deleting your photos.
💡
Once the cache is cleared, the gallery can take longer to load when it first opens -- that's OK. Wait for the thumbnails to be fully loaded.
Method 2: Checking permissions for gallery
Without access to the storage or system settings, the gallery won't be able to offer wallpaper installation.
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Gallery → Permissions.
- Make sure it's on: 📁 Storage (access to photo and media) ⚙️ Change of system settings (for changing wallpaper)
If permissions are disabled, turn them on and restart the gallery.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 The "Change System Settings" resolution may be hidden under "Special Access" if it's not on the main list, look there.
Method 3: Resetting the launcher settings
The standard MIUI launcher sometimes forgets to display contextual menus, and resetting them will help:
- Open the Settings. → Home screen.
- Select Reset Launcher Settings (or “Restore Default Settings”).
- Then the icons and the menus will go back to the factory.
If the item is not on the menu, use an alternative method:
adb shell pm clear com.miui.homeThis command will reset the launcher settings via ADB (only USB debugging is required).
Standard MIUI
Nova Launcher
Hyperion Launcher
Other-->
Method 4: Installation of wallpaper through system settings
Even if the button is missing in the gallery, the analogue can be hidden in the screen settings.
- Go to Settings → Wallpaper (or “lock screen” on some models).
- Choose My Wallpaper → gallery.
- Find the right photo and set it as wallpaper for home screen or lock.
On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13.5 for the Redmi K50), this path works even when the gallery is “glutty”.
| Xiaomi model | The path to wallpaper in settings | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11/12 | Settings → Personalization → Wallpaper | On the global firmware, it may be called “Wallpaper”. |
| POCO X4/X5 | Settings → Home screen → Wallpaper | Reboot required after shift |
| Xiaomi 13/14 | Settings → Screen → Wallpaper | Supports dynamic wallpaper |
Method 5: Using ADB to restore function
If previous methods have not worked, and the button is critically necessary, use it. ADB-wallpaper-dumping:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and enable debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer options).
- In the PC command line, type: adb shell settings put global wallpaper_support 1
- Reset the device.
How to install wallpapers through WallpapersCraft:
- Download the app from the Play Market.
- Select the image you like and click “Install”.
- In the window that appears, select Home screen, Lock screen or both.
Advantage: These apps bypass the limitations of MIUI and even work on firmware with stripped-down features (e.g., POCO Launcher).
Method 7: Flashing or resetting to factory settings
If the problem has appeared after the update and is not solved in other ways, radical measures remain:
- 🔄 Firmware rollback: Return to the previous version MIUI via Fastboot (instructions for 4PDA Xiaomi Community).
- 🧹 Hard Reset: Complete reset (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings. Delete all data!
- 📥 Install custom firmware: For example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS (requires an unlocked bootloader).
Before reset, back up via Settings → Additional → Backup or Mi Cloud. On some models (such as Xiaomi 12S Ultra) the button returns itself after reset.
⚠️ Note: Fastboot flashing on new models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi) K60) It can lock the device if you don't follow the rules of the antirollback. → The phone. → Version. MIUI before-roll.
💡
Before drastic measures, try creating a new user in the settings (Settings → Accounts → Users). Sometimes the problem is with the profile, and the new account button works.