einktools

How to Set a Custom Sleep Screen on Xteink X4 and X3

Make a BMP the right size, put it on the SD card, and switch the sleep screen to Custom, on stock firmware or CrossPoint.

E-ink Tools4 min read

The Xteink X4 and X3 can show your own picture whenever they go to sleep. The device is picky about the file, though. It wants an uncompressed BMP at the screen's exact size, and the panel only has four shades of gray. Get those two things right and it takes two minutes.

What you need

  • A picture: a photo, a book cover, artwork. Portrait pictures crop best.
  • The microSD card that came in your Xteink, plus a way to copy files to it (a card reader, or the Wi-Fi file transfer in CrossPoint).
  • About two minutes.

1. Make the BMP

The file has to be:

  • BMP, uncompressed, 24-bit. JPG and PNG are ignored for custom sleep screens.
  • 480×800 pixels for the X4 (including the X4 Pro), 528×792 for the X3, in portrait.

The Xteink wallpaper converter does both, and also reduces the picture to the panel's 4 grays with dithering, so you can see the real result before copying anything. Name the file sleep.bmp.

2. Copy it to the SD card

  • One picture: put sleep.bmp in the root of the card.
  • Several pictures: create a folder named .sleep in the root (a folder named sleep also works) and put your BMPs inside. One is chosen at random every time the device sleeps. A root sleep.bmp takes priority over the folder.

3. Switch the sleep screen to Custom

Open Settings → Display → Sleep Screen and choose Custom. On CrossPoint there is also Cover + Custom, which shows the current book's cover while you're reading and your picture the rest of the time. Press the power button to check it.

If it doesn't show up

  • You see the default logo: the file isn't named exactly sleep.bmp, isn't in the root, or Sleep Screen isn't set to Custom.
  • Borders or a squashed picture: the BMP isn't 480×800 (X4) or 528×792 (X3).
  • Muddy or blotchy: the photo had too little contrast for 4 grays. Raise contrast in the converter and try the Crisp or Poster look.
  • Hidden folder: on macOS and Linux, folders starting with a dot are hidden. Use sleep without the dot if that's easier.

Keep reading