Photo widget on Xiaomi: how to add and configure in 5 minutes

Photo widgets on Xiaomi smartphones are not just a desktop decoration, but a convenient way to always keep your favorite photos at hand. Whether it is family photos, beautiful landscapes or motivational pictures, the widget allows you to quickly view them without opening the gallery. However, many users face difficulties when adding such a widget: you do not find the right item on the menu, the widget refuses to update, the photos are displayed in low resolution.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to install a photo widget on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO (including models MIUI 14/15 You'll learn how to choose the best photos to display, set up automatic updates, and even create a paralax widget. And if standard solutions don't work, we'll show you alternative apps from Google Play that will enhance your desktop experience.

What photo widgets are available on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones offer several types of widgets for displaying photos, and their set depends on the firmware version and device model.

• 📷 Widget "Photo" - the standard solution from MIUI, It shows one or more photos from the gallery, supports automatic image change.
• 🖼️ Widget "Collage" - displays several images in the form of a grid (available not on all models).
• 🌄 Paralax widget – creates a depth effect when tilting the phone (requires) MIUI 13+ or hyperos).
• 🔄 Slideshow widget – automatically scrolls through photos from the selected album.

On new firmware (HyperOS), the widget add interface has changed, so the instructions for the new widgets are MIUI 12 may not work. It's also worth considering that on budget models (e.g. Redmi). 10A or POCO M5) Some widgets may be missing due to performance limitations.

Preparation before adding a widget

Before installing a photo widget, follow a few simple steps to avoid problems:

1. Update the gallery. Make sure the Gallery app is updated to the latest version via Google Play.
2. Sort photos. Create a separate album (like For a widget) and add the pictures you want to see on your desktop.
3. Check resolution. The widget can crop or stretch photos, so choose images with a 16:9 or 1:1 aspect ratio.
4. Clear the cache. Go to Settings. → Annexes → gallery → Storage and click Clear Cache.

On HyperOS devices, the Photo widget may not appear if there are fewer than 5 photos in the gallery, in which case add a few pictures to your phone’s memory or create an empty album.

Step-by-step: how to add a widget to Xiaomi

The process of adding a widget varies slightly depending on the firmware version, and below is a universal instruction that is suitable for most devices.

Method 1: Through the widget menu (MIUI 12–14, HyperOS)

1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop with your finger.
2. In the menu that appears, select Widgets (on HyperOS - Add a widget).
3. Scroll down the list and find the Gallery or Photos section.
4. Select the desired type of widget (for example, Photos) 4×2 or slideshow).
5. Drag the widget to your desktop and set it up (select album, photo swap interval, etc.).

Method 2: Through Gallery settings (for older versions) MIUI)

If the widget doesn’t appear in the menu, try this method:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Press on. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Widgets or Desktop section.
4. Activate the option to Show the gallery widget.
5. Return to the desktop and repeat the steps from Method 1.

On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), the widget may not automatically update.

⚠️ Note: If the photos in the widget do not change, open Settings → Battery → Autorun and enable Autorun for Gallery app. Also add gallery to the list No Limits in Battery Optimization.

Customization of the widget: how to make it perfect

Adding a widget is only half the battle, so that it looks stylish and works smoothly, use these tips:

1. Selection of photographs and albums

• 📌 Use albums with less than 50 photos – this will make the widget work faster.
• 🖼️ For the widget. 4×2 vertical images are suitable for 2×2 — square.
• 🔍 Avoid photos with texture (such as barcodes, QR-codes - they may not shrink well.

2. Set up the update

To change the photos automatically:

1. Press the widget and hold your finger.
2. Select Change the widget (or Settings).
3. Set the refresh interval: from 10 minutes to 1 day.
4. Activate the random order option so that the pictures do not repeat.

3. Effects and styles

Nana MIUI 14+ HyperOS has additional effects:

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If the widget slows down when you change photos, reduce the number of albums in the settings or select a folder with fewer pictures.

Problems with photo widgets and their solutions

Even when set up correctly, the widget may not work properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1.The widget does not update photos

Causes and solutions:

• 🔋 Battery Limitation: Add Gallery to Battery Optimization Exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 📵 No Internet connection: Some widgets require a network to sync (e.g. if photos are stored in Google Photos).
• 🔄 Cache failure: Clear the gallery cache (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

2.Photos are displayed in low quality

This is because of automatic compression, to improve quality.

1. Open the widget settings.
2. Select the High Quality option (if available).
3. If you do not have an option, replace the widget with a third-party widget (see the next section).

3.The widget disappears after the reboot

It's the launcher or the reset.

• 📱 Install a standard launcher MIUI (if you use a third-party).
• 🔧 Enable the option to Save widgets in the launcher settings.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and add the widget again.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5) widgets are reset after the firmware update. Before the update, take a screenshot of the widgets' location to quickly restore them.

Alternative applications for photo widgets

If the standard Xiaomi widget doesn’t suit you, try third-party solutions from Google Play, which offer more features: animation, customization of frames, support for cloud storage, and even widgets with weather over photos.

When installing third-party widgets:

1. Open the app and follow the instructions for adding the widget.
2. In the Xiaomi widget menu, find a section with the app’s name (e.g. Photo Widget).
3. Set the size and style according to the developer’s instructions.

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Side widgets consume more battery than standard widgets. Turn off background activity to save charge.

Creating a dynamic photo widget with paralax effect

The paralax effect makes the widget voluminous: when the phone is tilted, the photo shifts slightly, creating the illusion of depth. At Xiaomi, this only works on firmware. MIUI 13+ And HyperOS. Here's how to turn it on:

1. Add a photo widget to your desktop (size) 4×2 more).
2. Click on the widget and select Settings.
3. Scroll down and activate the paralax effect option.
4. Adjust the sensitivity of the slope with a slider.

If there is no option:

• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version.
• 🔧 Check if System Animations are included in Settings → Additionally. → Special effects.
• 🔄 Install a third-party widget with paralax support (e.g. Fotoo).

On devices with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the paralax effect works smoother thanks to hardware acceleration.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photo widgets on Xiaomi