Almost every user wants to save their favorite wallpaper with Xiaomi, whether it is standard background images from MIUI or downloaded through themes. However, not everyone knows exactly where these files are stored and how to extract them without loss of quality. Unlike other manufacturers, Xiaomi does not always provide direct access to system wallpaper through the gallery, and some methods work only on rooted devices.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to save wallpaper - from simple (through built-in tools). MIUI) to advanced (with the use of ADB or file manager with superuser rights, and we'll focus on the nuances of different firmware versions: MIUI 14, MIUI 15 and HyperOS, you'll also learn why sometimes saved wallpaper loses resolution and how to avoid it.
1.Save through the standard Xiaomi gallery
The most obvious, but not always working, way is to try to save wallpaper through the built-in gallery, which is suitable for user-uploaded wallpaper (such as from MIUI themes or manually installed), but not for system backgrounds.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Gallery on your Xiaomi (camera icon).
- 🔍 Go to the album Wallpaper or Screenshots – sometimes the wallpaper is automatically saved there.
- 🖼️ Find the image you want, click on it and select Save (if the option is active).
- 📁 Check the folder. DCIM/Screenshots or Pictures – screenshots with wallpaper usually fall there.
⚠️ Note: If the wallpaper was installed through system themes MIUI, They may not be displayed in the gallery, in which case you can move on to the next way.
If the gallery doesn't show wallpaper, try taking a screenshot of the screen (at the same time, press Volume down + Power), and then trim the extra elements in any graphics editor.
2. Removing wallpaper through the settings of the MIUI-launcher
MIUI 12-15 and HyperOS have a hidden feature for exporting wallpaper through launcher settings, which works for current desktop wallpaper, but not for all system backgrounds.
Step-by-step:
- Press the empty space on the desktop (where there are no icons).
- In the menu that appears, select Wallpaper Settings (or Desktop Style in HyperOS).
- Slip on the current wallpaper - the preview window will open.
- In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) Choose to Save or Export.
- The image will be saved in the Pictures/Wallpapers folder.
On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5), the Save option may not be available, in which case use the ADB method (Section 4).
Make sure there is enough memory on your phone.|Check the version. MIUI at the Settings → The phone.|Turn off battery optimization for the gallery|Make a backup copy of important data-->
3. Search for wallpaper in the file manager
All wallpapers, including system ones, are stored in hidden MIUI folders. To find them, you will need a file manager with access to root directories (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
Where to look:
| Wallpaper type | The way to the folder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI System Wallpaper | /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers | Root rights or ADB are required |
| Wallpaper from those | /data/system/theme/ | The folder can be empty if the theme didn’t load wallpaper |
| Custom wallpaper | /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Wallpapers | Available without root |
| Cash wallpaper | /data/data/com.miui.home/files/wallpaper | Temporary files may disappear after rebooting |
If you don't have root rights, try connecting your phone to your PC and using ADB Pull (more on that in the next section). Alternatively, apps like Google Play's Wallpaper Extractor, but they don't always work on newer versions of MIUI.
⚠️ Note: Delete or modify files in folders /system root-free can cause launcher failures. Do not edit system files if you are not sure of your actions!
4.Use ADB for wallpaper extraction (without root)
If previous methods didn’t work, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help you extract wallpaper even without superuser rights.The method works on all Xiaomi models, including Redmi, POCO and Mi with MIUI 14/15.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
Instructions:
- Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
- Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
- Download the wallpaper command: adb pull /data/data/com.miui.home/files/wallpaper. Files will be saved to the current folder on your PC.
- If the folder is empty, try the alternative path: adb pull /data/system/users/0/wallpaper
Note: Some devices (such as Xiaomi 13T) store wallpaper in.dat format. To open them, rename the extension to.jpg or.png.
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If ADB doesn’t see the device, try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers via Mi PC Suite or manually through Windows Device Manager.
5. Third-party applications for wallpaper preservation
If you don't want to mess with ADB or file manager, you can use specialized utilities.
- 📱 Wallpaper Extractor - extracts the current wallpaper of the working and lock screen. MIUI.
- 🖼️ Tapet not only saves, it generates wallpaper. It supports HyperOS.
- 🔍 Files by Google – can find hidden wallpaper in folders /data (root).
- 📁 MiXplorer - file manager with access to system folders (you need to turn on root mode in the application settings).
Check reviews before installing, some apps may not support the latest versions of MIUI. For example, Wallpaper Extractor often stops working after major firmware updates.
⚠️ Note: Applications from unknown sources may contain malicious code. APK Only from trusted repositories (e.g. APKMirror) or Google Play.
Why do the preserved wallpaper lose quality?
6.Save Wallpaper on Xiaomi with Root Rights
If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and root access (like through Magisk), you can extract all system wallpaper, including those that are not available in other ways.
How to do this:
- Install a file manager with root support (such as MiXplorer or Root Explorer).
- Cross the path: /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers Here is the default wallpaper for your model.
- Copy the files you want (usually in.jpg or.png format) to any folder you can find, such as /storage/emulated/0/Download.
- For wallpaper from themes, go to /data/system/theme/ and find the folder with the name of your current theme.
The advantage of this method is that you can access the original files without compression, but be careful: changing the system files can lead to bootloop.
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Root access is the best option, but it's the worst guarantee, and it increases the risk of failure, and you only use it if you're confident in what you're doing.