How to remove unnecessary pictures from the lock screen on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all working methods

The lock screen on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is not just a protection against accidental clicks, but also a business card of your smartphone. However, sometimes users face a problem: it displays unwanted photos – whether accidentally added pictures, wallpaper from the previous owner or automatically uploaded images from MIUI Themes. Unlike flagship models, where the interface is more flexible, the budget Redmi 9 (especially on older versions of MIUI 12-13) can hide the removal options deep in the menu or not provide them at all in the usual form.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to remove images from the lock screen, including official settings, ADB workarounds, and extreme measures like factory reset. We will focus on the nuances of MIUI firmware 14 and older versions, where the logic of working with wallpaper may differ. If you bought a used phone or just want to return the standard lock, read on.

Why do other people’s pictures appear on the lock screen?

Before you delete images, it is important to understand their source. On Xiaomi Redmi 9, photos on the lock screen can appear from four main sources:

• 📱 Manual installation by the user: you or the previous owner manually selected wallpaper through Settings → Lock screen.
• 🎨 Automatic loading from MIUI Topics: Autowallpaper downloads images from Xiaomi cloud (often turned on after update).
• 🔄 Sync with Mi Account: If you are logged in to one account on multiple devices, wallpaper can be automatically transferred.
• 🛠️ Firmware errors: on versions MIUI 12.0.1-12.0.3 for Redmi 9 There was a bug when the wallpaper was reset to standard after the reboot.

The most common case is autowallpaper from MIUI Themes. Xiaomi aggressively promotes this feature, and it can be activated without the explicit consent of the user, for example, after updating the system or resetting the settings, while removing such wallpaper through the standard menu is not always possible: the Delete button may be inactive or absent at all.

Method 1: Remove via standard MIUI settings

So, to start with the most obvious method, which is to use embedded tools, it works if you:

• 📌 The wallpaper was installed manually (by you or the previous owner).
• 📌 You. MIUI 13 or later (older versions may have different interfaces).
• 📌 Wallpaper function disabled.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the Lock Screen section (on some firmware - Wallpaper → Lock screen).
3. Then, put it on the current wallpaper, and the preview will open.
4. In the lower right corner, find the Remove button (basket icon). If it's not there, see method 2.
5. Confirm the removal and select a new background (or leave the standard one).

Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version

Turn off mobile internet/Wi-Fi if wallpaper loads automatically

Take a screenshot of the current wallpaper (in case you want to return)

Close all background apps (especially MIUI Themes)

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If there is no Delete button, it means that the wallpaper is protected by the system, most often with:

• 🖼️ Standard wallpaper. MIUI (They cannot be removed, only replaced).
• 🔒 Wallpaper tied to the Mi Account (required logging out of the account).
• 📱 Wallpapers installed through ADB (You need to roll back the changes manually).

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If after removing the wallpaper returns – check the Settings → Themes → Settings → Themes → Wallpaper and turn off all switches.

Method 2: Turning off automatic wallpaper loading

The MIUI Autowall feature is the main source of unwanted images on the lock screen, and can download photos from the Xiaomi cloud to adjust to your preferences (or simply fill the screen with advertising content).

1. Go to Settings → Themes.
2. Select theme settings (the pin pin pin in the upper right corner).
3. Find the Wallpaper section and turn off the slider.
4. Return to Settings → Lock screen and manually select a different background.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 12.5 for Redmi 9), the path may be different:

Settings → Display → Wallpaper → Lock screen → Settings (three dots) → Wallpaper

If the section is missing, it means:

• 📵 The function is disabled at the firmware level (often on customized ones). ROM).
• 🔄 Your version. MIUI outdated (update the system in Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🛠️ The feature is hidden for your region (try changing the region in your Mi Account settings).

Method 3: Resetting wallpaper through ADB (for power users)

If the standard methods don't work, and the wallpaper doesn't get removed or comes back after a reboot, you'll need to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

• 📱 Devices with MIUI 12-14, where the wallpaper is sewn into the system settings.
• 🔧 Advanced users who are ready to work with the command line.
• 🛠️ Situations when wallpaper is tied to the Mi Account and not removed through the menu.

You'll need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 Cable USB (preferably original).
• 🔧 Installed drivers ADB Android platform SDK.
• 🔓 Included debugging by USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Turn on USB Debugging.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device.
3. Open the command line (or Terminal) macOS/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_wallpaper "" This command will reset the lock screen wallpaper to standard.
4. If you want to reset wallpaper on the main screen: adb shell settings put secure system_wallpaper ""
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

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ADB commands reset wallpaper to standard, but do not delete it from the phone's memory. If the problem is in automatically downloadable images, turn off Wallpaper after reset (see Method 2).

If after completing the commands, the wallpaper remained, try:

• 🔄 Delete the cache of the Topic and Lawnchair app (if used).
• 📁 Manually delete wallpaper files through the conductor (path: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/).
• 🛠️ Perform a reset of lock screen settings: adb shell pm clear com.android.settings Attention: This will reset all display settings, including brightness and timeouts.

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If ADB doesn’t recognize the device, try reinstalling drivers or using an alternative cable. On Windows, Mi PC Suite can help you install drivers automatically.

Method 4: Delete via File Manager (manual method)

All wallpaper, including those displayed on the lock screen, is stored in the phone's memory. It can be found and removed manually - but this requires root access or a file manager with superuser rights (for example, MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).

The way to wallpaper:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/


/data/system/users/0/wallpaper




/data/data/com.android.settings/files/wallpaper

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as MiXplorer).
2. Follow one of the paths indicated.
3. Delete files with.jpg,.png or.wallpaper extensions.
4. Reboot the phone.

Without root rights, you can only delete wallpapers from /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/wallpaper/. /data/ system files require increased permissions.

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these methods work, you'll have to completely reset your phone, and that will delete all user data, including wallpaper, but it'll also be erased.

• 📱 All installed applications and their data.
• 📷 Photos, videos and documents (unless backup is made).
• 🔑 Google, Mi and other linked services.
• 📋 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and system settings.

How to perform the reset:

1. Back up important data (via Settings → Additional → Backup or manually).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The phone will boot with factory settings and standard wallpaper.
• 📱 Do not log in to your Mi Account right away – turn off Wallpaper first (see Method 2).
• 🔧 Install updates MIUI, if available.

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Factory reset is the only way to guarantee that you will remove wallpaper attached to your Mi Account or corrupted system files, but only use it if other methods have failed.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI After reset, you may need to re-activate the device through your Mi Account (anti-theft protection!

Table: Comparison of wallpaper removal methods

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to remove wallpaper, users of Xiaomi Redmi 9 often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Wallpaper returns after rebooting: Reason: Sync with Mi Account enabled or Autowallpaper running.Solution: Disable sync in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account. → Synchronize and repeat the deletion.
• 📵 Remove button is inactive: Reason: Wallpaper is protected by the system (standard or related to the topic). ADB Or replace the wallpaper with other ones (even if you can’t remove the old ones).
• 🛠️ ADB Does not see the device: Reason: not installed drivers or not enabled debugging USB. Solution: Reinstall drivers, check the cable, turn on Debugging by USB developer-side.
• 📁 I can't find the folder with the wallpaper: Reason: the file manager doesn't have access rights. Solution: Use MiXplorer with root access enabled or connect your phone to your PC.

⚠️ Note: If you bought Redmi 9 from hand and can’t remove wallpaper due to linking to someone else’s Mi Account, the only way out is to contact the previous owner and ask them to log out remotely!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions