Xiaomi's lock screen is the first thing you see when you turn on your smartphone, and the look of it depends largely on the background you choose. But what if you want to save a picture you like, move it to another phone, or restore it after resetting your settings? Unlike normal desktop wallpaper, lock background files are stored in hidden system folders, and it's not so easy to find them.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where exactly lock screen wallpapers are stored on Xiaomi smartphones (including models on MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS), how to access them without root rights, and how to reserve and restore these files. We will focus on the nuances for different versions of firmware and ways to circumvent the system limitations. If you ever lost your favorite background after an update or wanted to transfer it to a new phone, this guide is for you.
Why lock wallpaper is difficult to find manually
Unlike desktop wallpapers, which are stored in an open DCIM/Wallpapers or Pictures folder, the background images of Xiaomi's lock screen are hidden deep in system directories.
- 🔒 Protection against accidental deletion: The system prevents the modification of critical files that may affect the stability of the interface.
- 🛡️ Security: Some lock wallpapers (e.g. Super Wallpapers) contain animation elements that are associated with system processes.
- 📱 Optimization for MIUI. The firmware dynamically loads wallpaper depending on the theme of design, so files can be stored in encrypted or compressed form.
In addition, the path to the folder may differ depending on the MIUI version and the smartphone model. For example, on older devices (before MIUI 11), lock wallpaper was stored in one place, and on new ones (beginning with MIUI 12.5) in another. Even within one firmware, there may be differences for Chinese (China ROM) and global (Global ROM) versions.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to change files in system folders without root rights or through unverified applications may cause a launcher to crash MIUI. Always back up before experimenting.
The main ways of storing lock wallpaper on Xiaomi
Below is a list of the current folders where MIUI HyperOS stores background images of the lock screen. paths are indicated for the device's internal memory (not the device's internal memory). SD-These are accessible through a root file manager (such as Root Explorer or MiXplorer) or through a root file manager. ADB.
| Firmware version | The path to lock wallpaper | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12/13/14, HyperOS | /data/system/users/0/wallpaper | The main folder for the current user. Files can have names. lockscreen_wallpaper or keyguard_wallpaper. |
| MIUI 11 and older | /data/data/com.android.systemui/files/wallpaper | It is outdated, but may contain backups on some devices. |
| Super Wallpapers (Animated) | /system/priv-app/MiuiSuperWallpaper/apk/assets | System animated wallpapers (e.g. Mars or Earth) require root to be extracted. |
| All versions. | /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.home/files/wallpaper | Cached copies of wallpaper, but not always relevant. |
If you don't see these folders in a standard file manager, that's fine -- they're hidden from the user. You'll either need root access or ADB to access them (as we'll discuss later). On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11), the path may be slightly different due to the firmware.
How to access wallpaper without root rights (via ADB)
If you don’t have root access, but want to copy the lock wallpaper, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works on most Xiaomi devices without the need to unlock the bootloader.
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-tool.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (path: Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 USB-plug-in.
Steps to remove wallpaper:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type: adb shell ls /data/system/users/0/wallpaper This will show the list of files in the wallpaper folder.
- Copy the file to your computer: adb pull /data/system/users/0/wallpaper/lockscreen_wallpaper.jpg C:\Wallpapers\ (Replace the path with one that is relevant to your OS).
Install ADB-pc-tool
Enable debugging over USB on Xiaomi
Connect the phone to the computer
Check the availability of files through the team `adb shell ls`
Copy wallpaper with the team `adb pull`-->
If the adb shell command returns the Permission denied error, you don’t have permission to read the system folder, in which case either root or an alternative method through backup (about it in the next section) will help.
⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5 Xiaomi 13) MIUI may block access to /data even ADB. In this case, try using adb backup (see the next section).
Backup of wallpapers via MIUI Backup
If ADB didn't help or you don't want to mess with the command line, you can use the built-in MIUI backup feature, which doesn't give you direct access to files, but you can save the wallpaper in the archive, which you can then unpack.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
- Select System Settings and click Reserve.
- Once you have completed the copy, find the backup/ file in the root folder of internal memory (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/).
- Copy the archive on your PC and rename the extension from.bak to.zip.
- Unpack the archive and find the folder. wallpaper/ — There will be wallpaper locks in.jpg or.png format.
The downside of this is that the backup includes all system settings, not just wallpaper, so a file can weigh several gigabytes, but it's the only official method that doesn't require root or ADB.
💡
If you change wallpaper frequently, create a separate folder in the cloud (such as Mi Cloud or Google Drive) and save copies of your favorite backgrounds there, so you can quickly restore them even after you reset your phone.
How to Restore Lock Wallpaper After Resetting or Updating
After resetting or updating MIUI, the lock screen wallpaper is reset to standard. To return your background images, follow these steps:
Method 1: Using MIUI settings (without root)
- 📁 Copy saved wallpaper (for example, from a backup or cloud) into a folder DCIM/Wallpapers.
- 🖼️ Go to Settings. → Lock screen → Lock screen wallpaper.
- 🔍 Select My Wallpaper and find a copied image.
Method 2: Through ADB (if the wallpaper was stored in the system folder)
If you have previously removed wallpaper through ADB and want to return it to its place:
adb push C:\Wallpapers\lockscreen_wallpaper.jpg /data/system/users/0/wallpaper/
adb shell chmod 644 /data/system/users/0/wallpaper/lockscreen_wallpaper.jpg
adb shell rebootMethod 3: Through Wallpaper Change Apps
If system methods don't work, try third-party tools like Wallpaper Changer or Muzei, which allow you to set lock wallpapers to bypass MIUI restrictions, but may require additional permissions.
What to do if the wallpaper is not applied?
Frequent problems and their solutions
When working with lock wallpaper on Xiaomi, users encounter typical errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper does not persist after rebooting | Launcher cache failure MIUI | Clear the cache of com.miui.home in the application settings. |
| Wallpaper files are not displayed in the folder | No rights to view hidden files | Use MiXplorer with the option "Show hidden files" enabled. |
| ADB issues a Permission Denied error | MIUI restrictions on access to /data | Try adb backup or get root access. |
| Wallpaper locks are reset after the update | MIUI overwrites system files | Keep copies of the wallpaper in the cloud or on SD-map. |
If none of the methods worked, your Xiaomi model may be using a custom wallpaper storage mechanism, for example, on some HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14), background images can be stored encrypted or dynamically uploaded from the cloud.
💡
On devices with HyperOS (new firmware from Xiaomi), the path to wallpaper may be different. If standard methods don't work, check the folder /data/media/0/Android/data/com.miui.gallery/files/wallpaper or use the built-in wallpaper export function in the lock screen settings.
Alternative ways to manage lock wallpaper
If you have not been able to find or restore wallpaper through system methods, consider alternative options:
- 🎨 Wallpaper apps: Google Wallpaper, Zedge or Backdrops allow you to install custom background images, including for the lock screen, without interfering with system files.
- 🔄 Topics MIUI: Many themes from the official store MIUI Themes include unique lock wallpapers that can be downloaded and applied through Settings. → Topics.
- 🖥️ Editors APK: For experienced users, modification of the system APK (for example, SystemUI.apk) It requires root and APKTool knowledge.
If you often experiment with the design of the phone, we recommend you to create a separate album in Google Photos or Mi Cloud specifically for wallpaper, so you can quickly restore any background even after a complete reset.
For users who want to automate the wallpaper change process, apps like Tapet or Wallax can generate unique background images and install them on the lock screen on a schedule.