How to set a wallpaper on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

Set a downloaded wallpaper on HyperOS or MIUI, and stop the lock screen carousel from replacing it.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones all run the same software. Newer ones call it HyperOS and older ones MIUI. Setting a wallpaper works the same way on both: download it, find it in Gallery, and use Set as wallpaper. The one thing that catches people out is the lock screen wallpaper carousel, which is covered below.

1. Download the wallpaper

  1. Open the wallpaper and tap Download HD, or Download 4K if it has one.
  2. Wait for the countdown and tap Download now.
  3. Chrome or Mi Browser saves it to the Download folder.

2. Set it from Gallery

  1. Open Gallery and tap Albums.
  2. Open Downloads. The newest file is first.
  3. Tap the wallpaper to open it.
  4. Tap More (⋮) at the bottom.
  5. Tap Set as wallpaper.
  6. Drag to position it, then tap Apply.
  7. Choose Set as lock screen, Set as home screen, or Set both.

Or start from the Home screen

  1. Touch and hold an empty part of the Home screen.
  2. Tap Wallpapers at the bottom.
  3. Choose the option to pick from your photos or Gallery, then pick the wallpaper.
  4. Tap Apply and choose where it goes.

On HyperOS you can also touch and hold the lock screen to open its editor. There you can change the clock style and pick a new picture.

Stop the lock screen changing by itself

Many Xiaomi phones come with a wallpaper carousel turned on. It swaps your lock screen for a new picture, often with a headline or an advert, every time you wake the phone. If your wallpaper disappears after a while, this is why.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Search for carousel. Depending on the version, it is called Wallpaper carousel or Glance, and may be under Lock screen.
  3. Turn it off, then set your wallpaper again.

If something goes wrong

  • There is no Downloads album. Open the File Manager app, go to Download, and tap the image. When it opens, the same More menu has Set as wallpaper.
  • The Themes app opens instead. Some versions send wallpapers through Themes. Pick the image from your photos inside Themes and apply it there. The result is the same.
  • It looks blurry or cropped. See how to make a wallpaper fit and stay sharp.

Other guides

Looking for something to put on your phone? Browse the wallpapers.