MI Wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi: what is this application and how to use it in 2026

You opened the app menu on your Xiaomi Redmi and stumbled upon a strange name β€” MI Wallpaper. No icon, no description, and in the installed program list, it takes up several megabytes of memory. What is this application? Can it be removed? And most importantly, how can it make your smartphone screen unique? MI Wallpaper under the microscope: from technical features to hidden features that are not written even in official instructions.

Let’s dispel the myth right away: it’s not a virus or a bloatware (malware from the manufacturer). MI Wallpaper is Xiaomi’s system app for desktop wallpaper and locks, but it’s far more powerful than it first appears. There are dynamic wallpapers synchronized with the weather, and collections from famous artists, and even tools to create your own backgrounds. The problem is that Xiaomi does not advertise these chips very much, so users often accept the idea of using the same tools. MI Wallpaper for unnecessary ballast.

If you want to not only know what the software is, but also learn how to use it to the maximum, read on. We'll tell you how to access hidden wallpaper collections, how to set up automatic background changes on a schedule, and why sometimes you can use it to the fullest. MI Wallpaper starts to "glutch" after updates MIUI. And also – we will give a checklist for those who want to completely remove the application without consequences for the system.

What is it? MI Wallpaper and why you need it on Xiaomi Redmi

MI Wallpaper (full name – com.miui.miwallpaper) is a standard application for wallpaper management on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO. It's built into the firmware. MIUI and is responsible for:

  • 🎨 Static wallpaper - classic pictures for desktop and lock screen.
  • πŸŒ„ Dynamic wallpaper – animated backgrounds that respond to the time of day, weather or gestures of the user.
  • πŸ”„ Automatic rotation – changing wallpapers on a schedule or when changing the location.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Customization – adjusting blur, zoom and color filters for backgrounds.

Unlike the standard β€œwallpaper” in Android, MI Wallpaper is closely integrated with the Xiaomi ecosystem:

  • πŸ”— Sync wallpaper between devices via Mi Account (if you have multiple Xiaomi gadgets).
  • ☁️ Download new collections directly from the cloud without a firmware update.
  • πŸ“± Adjust the color palette of wallpaper under the theme of design MIUI.

But why do so many users want to get rid of it? MI Wallpaper runs in the background, consumes RAM and sometimes β€œwakes up” for no apparent reason (this is seen in the Settings section). β†’ Battery β†’ It also doesn't have the usual menu icon, and you can only control it through system settings or special gestures.

⚠️ Note: If you notice that MI Wallpaper is consuming more than 5 percent of its battery power a day -- that's not normal. Chances are the app is looped in the background. β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ MI Wallpaper β†’ Memory.

Wherever MI Wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi and how to open it

The biggest problem with MI Wallpaper is hard to find. Unlike other system applications, it doesn't show up in the main menu, it doesn't have a desktop shortcut. Here are all the ways you can access it:

  1. Through wallpaper settings: Press and hold the empty space on your desktop. Select Wallpaper (or Themes in older versions) MIUI). Slip on My Wallpaper or Wallpaper Gallery - this is the interface MI Wallpaper.
  2. Through the App Menu: Open Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management. Type in the search bar MI Wallpaper.Put on the app you found, you can clear the cache or turn it off.
  3. Through ADB (For advanced users: adb shell am start -n com.miui.miwallpaper/.WallpaperActivity This command will immediately open the main window of the application.

If you are using Xiaomi Redmi with a shell MIUI 14 or later, interface MI Wallpaper might look different. For example, in some firmware, wallpaper is divided into tabs:

  • πŸ“± For the desktop
  • πŸ”’ For the lock screen
  • 🌐 Online Wallpaper (requires Internet connection)
  • 🎨 My wallpaper (local files)
πŸ“Š How do you usually change wallpaper on Xiaomi?
Through a long press on the desktop
I use third-party apps.
Downloading pictures from the Internet
Never change.

Hidden functions MI Wallpaper: what does the application, what is not written in the instructions

Most users use the majority of MI Wallpaper is only for static wallpaper installation, but it has a lot of hidden features that can be activated through Settings. β†’ Extra or special gestures. Here are the most useful ones:

1. Dynamic wallpaper with paralax effect

If you have Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, Redmi K60 Or, more recently, the app has a hidden option called Deep Wallpapers. 3D-The effect of tilting the phone:

  1. Open up. MI Wallpaper through a long press on the desktop.
  2. Select the Dynamic tab.
  3. Scroll down to the Effects section and turn on Paralax.

2. Automatic change of wallpaper by time of day

The application can change the backgrounds depending on the time:

  • πŸŒ… Morning (6:00-12:00) – light tones.
  • πŸŒ‡ Day (12:00-18:00) – rich colors.
  • πŸŒƒ Evening (18:00–24:00) – dark shades.
  • πŸŒ™ Night (0:00-6:00) – black and gray backgrounds.

To activate:

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ Automatic shift.
  2. Choose a collection (e.g. Nature or Minimalism).
  3. Set a shift interval (every hour, once a day or according to a schedule).

3. Synchronizing wallpaper with the weather

MI Wallpaper can pull up weather data and pick up backgrounds automatically, for example, if it rains, it will display wallpaper with drops, if it's sunny, it will display landscapes with bright light:

  • Activate geolocation for the application MI Wallpaper.
  • In the wallpaper settings, turn on the option Weather Wallpaper.
  • Choose a style (for example, Realistic or Cartoon).
How to turn off advertising in MI Wallpaper?
In some regions, the "Online wallpaper" section shows ads to remove them: 1. Open up. MI Wallpaper through ADB: adb shell am start -n com.miui.miwallpaper/.WallpaperActivity 2. Go to Settings (cog in the upper right corner). 3. Turn off "Recommendations" and "Partnership Content." If you don't have options, update. MIUI last-minute.

4. Creating your own dynamic wallpaper

You can download your own video (up to 15 seconds) and make it live wallpaper:

  1. Place the video in the DCIM β†’ Wallpapers folder.
  2. Open up. MI Wallpaper and choose My Wallpaper β†’ Video.
  3. Set up the playback speed and effects (blurring, dimming).

⚠️ Attention: The dynamic wallpaper in the video is very battery-damaging. If you notice that the phone is running out faster, go back to the static backgrounds.

FunctionSupported modelsHow to turn it on
Dynamic wallpaperRedmi Note 11/12, K50/K60, POCO F4/F5Long press. β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ Dynamic
Time-driverAll devices on MIUI 12+Settings β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ Automatic shift
Weather wallpaperRedmi with MIUI 13 GlobalInsert geolocation + option
3D-paralax)Models with AMOLED-screenWallpaper. β†’ Dynamic β†’ Effects.

How to remove or disable MI Wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi without consequences

If you don’t use dynamic wallpaper and want to free up memory, MI Wallpaper can be disabled or deleted, but there are nuances:

  • πŸ”§ Disconnection – the application will remain in the system, but will stop working and consume resources.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Deletion – complete erasure of files, but this can cause failures when changing wallpaper through standard settings.

How to turn it off:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management.
  2. Find it. MI Wallpaper (or com.miui.miwallpaper).
  3. Click Disable (if the button is inactive – first click Stop).

How to delete (for root users only):

  1. Install Root Explorer or Titanium Backup.
  2. Find the file. /system/priv-app/MiWallpaper/MiWallpaper.apk.
  3. Remove it or rename it to MiWallpaper.apk.bak.
  4. Reboot the phone.

β˜‘οΈ Preparation for disposal MI Wallpaper

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Attention: After removal MI Wallpaper's standard wallpaper change function with a long press on the desktop will stop working. You will have to install backgrounds through the gallery or third-party applications.

If you don’t want to take risks but want to get rid of unnecessary features, you can simply:

  • 🚫 Disable autoboot in Settings β†’ Battery β†’ Auto-start.
  • 🧹 Clear cache and data in the application settings.
  • πŸ“΅ Ban access to the Internet (if you do not use online wallpaper).

Problems with MI Wallpaper: Why it lags, doesn't open or eats the battery

MI Wallpaper is one of the most β€œcapricious” system applications MIUI. Observable problems and their solutions:

Problem.Reason.Decision
Wallpaper doesn't change automatically.Failure in task schedulerClear the cache MI Wallpaper and restart your phone
The app will fly out when it opens.Damaged wallpaper filesDelete the folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Wallpaper/Cache/
High battery consumptionCycling animation of dynamic wallpaperDisable dynamic wallpaper in settings
No online wallpaper loadingBlocking Internet accessAllow network access in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ MI Wallpaper β†’ Mobile data

If MI Wallpaper starts to "glutch" after update MIUI, try:

  1. Reset wallpaper settings to standard: adb shell cmd wallpaper clear
  2. Remove app updates (if it was updated via Google Play): adb shell pm uninstall-user --user 0 com.miui.miwallpaper After that, restart your phone – the system will restore the standard version.

πŸ’‘

If the dynamic wallpaper is slowing down, try to reduce the resolution. To do this, copy the video wallpaper to the folder. DCIM/Wallpapers/, edit in any video editor (reduce to 720p) and load back up.

The best wallpaper collections in MI Wallpaper: where to download and how to install

MI Wallpaper offers hundreds of free wallpapers, but most users are unaware of their existence:

1.Official online wallpaper from Xiaomi

In the Online section there are thematic collections:

  • 🌌 Space - backgrounds with galaxies and planets (updated monthly).
  • 🎨 Art - works of modern artists (there are even wallpapers in the style of Van Gogh).
  • 🏞️ Nature - landscapes with resolution 4K (optimized AMOLED-screen).
  • πŸ€– Cyberpunk: Futuristic Cities and Neon Abstractions.

To see them:

  1. Open up. MI Wallpaper.
  2. Go to the Online tab.
  3. Scroll down to the Collection section.

2.Hidden wallpaper for Xiaomi fans

In the firmware MIUI They've hidden exclusive wallpapers that don't show up in the main menu:

  1. Install a file manager with access to system folders (e.g. Solid Explorer).
  2. Cross the path: /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers/
  3. Copy your favorite files (they are in.jpg or.png format) into a folder. DCIM/Wallpapers/.

3. How to download wallpaper from MI Wallpaper on PC

If you want to use the wallpaper from MI Wallpaper on a computer or other device:

  1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode).
  2. Go to the file: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Wallpaper/
  3. Copy the files you want (usually called files). wallpaper_1.jpg, wallpaper_2.jpg etc.).

πŸ’‘

Wallpaper from the online section in MI Wallpaper is automatically optimized for your screen resolution, which means that on the Redmi Note 12, you can see the screen (FHD+) They'll be clearer than on POCO X3 (HD+).

Alternatives MI Wallpaper: which wallpaper apps are better

If you are not satisfied with the functionality MI Wallpaper, you can use third-party apps. Here are the best options for Xiaomi Redmi:

AnnexAdvantagesDeficiencies
WallpapersCraftMore than 100,000 wallpapers in 4K, colorizationAdvertising in the free version
BackdropsMinimalist wallpaper optimized for AMOLEDFew dynamic options
ZedgeLive wallpaper and notification soundsLots of unnecessary content
MuzeiAutomatic change of wallpaper from museums and galleriesA complex setup for beginners

If you want to completely replace MI Wallpaper on the Alternative:

  1. Install one of the applications above.
  2. Turn it off. MI Wallpaper (as described in Section 4).
  3. Set up the new app as the main one for changing wallpaper (in most cases, this is done automatically when you first start).

⚠️ Note: Some alternative apps (e.g. Zedge) may ask for too many permissions, including access to contacts or other services. SMS. Read carefully what you allow when installing.

FAQ: Frequent questions about MI Wallpaper on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I get it back? MI Wallpaper after removal?
Yes, but it will require: Restore the file MiWallpaper.apk Or you can go back to the Fastboot (it'll dump all the data!) or upgrade. MIUI The system can restore remote system applications until the latest version, and the easiest way is to reset your phone to factory settings (Settings). β†’ The phone. β†’ Resetting settings).
Why in the world MI Wallpaper no tab "Online wallpaper"?
It could be related to: πŸ“΅ Without internet – check the connection. 🌍 Regional restrictions – in some countries (e.g. India) online wallpapers are disabled. πŸ”„ An outdated version MIUI β€” Update the firmware. If the problem persists, try to clear the app data. MI Wallpaper in Settings.
How to make the wallpaper on the desktop and lock was different?
V MI The way Wallpaper does this is: Open wallpaper settings (long-pressing desktop). Select a background for desktop. Go back and select a different background for Lock Screen. If the option is not available, your firmware does not support different wallpapers. Try updating. MIUI.
MI Wallpaper eats up traffic. How to stop it?
The app can download new wallpaper in the background. To limit traffic: Go to Settings β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Data transmission. MI Wallpaper is in the app list. Turn off Background and Data Transfer. You can also turn off automatic wallpaper updates in the app settings.
Can I use it? MI Wallpaper isn't on the-Xiaomi telephone?
Technically yes, but with reservations: πŸ“± Other Android phones can be installed MI Wallpaper.apk, It's a piece of hardware that's pulled from Xiaomi's firmware, but many features (like dynamic wallpaper) won't work. πŸ–₯️ On Windows or Mac, you can download wallpaper from the folder /MIUI/Wallpaper/ And we can use them as normal images, for full-time work. MI Wallpaper needs system libraries MIUI, So on other devices, it will be cut down.