Wallpaper carousel in Xiaomi: where to look, how to turn on and customize for yourself

Wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi smartphones is a hidden shell function MIUI, It allows you to automatically change the background of the desktop on a schedule or depending on the time of day, and many users do not even know it exists, although it is available on most devices of the brand starting from the beginning. MIUI 12.In this article, we will not only show you where to find a wallpaper carousel in Xiaomi, but also reveal all its hidden features - from setting time slots to using your own collections of images.

The feature is that its location on the menu changed with the release of new versions of the firmware. 8 Pro or Mi 9T The way was one on modern Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 s MIUI 15 The search algorithm may vary. We've compiled the current instructions for all the popular models. 2020-2026 Including devices with HyperOS, a new shell that gradually replaces the MIUI.

It’s important to understand that the wallpaper carousel works not only with standard Xiaomi backgrounds, but also with your personal photos, which means you can create a themed selection (like β€œTravels 2023” or β€œSats”) and set it up automatically every hour. And for those who like minimalism, there is a Black Screen mode with dynamic wallpaper, which saves battery power on the screen. AMOLED-display.

In modern versions of firmware, the path to the wallpaper carousel is hidden in the personalization settings. MIUI 14/15 HyperOS (relevant to Xiaomi) 12/13/14, Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X5/F5):

  1. Open the β€œThemes” app (icon with a brush on your desktop).
  2. Go to the Wallpaper section in the lower menu.
  3. At the top of the screen, tap the icon "Carousel" (the icon with two arrows in a circle).
  4. If there is no icon, scroll down to Dynamic Wallpaper and select "Wallpaper Carousel".

On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M4 Pro) the path may be slightly different:

  • πŸ“± Option 1: Settings β†’ Screen. β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ Wallpaper carousel
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Option 2: Long press on the desktop β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ carousel icon in upper right corner
  • βš™οΈ Option 3: Settings β†’ Topics β†’ My wallpaper. β†’ carousel

If you do not see the "Carousel" item in any of the above places, it may mean:

  • πŸ”„ On your device an outdated version MIUI (below 12.5) - update the firmware.
  • πŸ“΅ Function disabled for the region (relevant for European firmware) MIUI EU).
  • πŸ› οΈ The smartphone has custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
πŸ“Š What version? MIUI you use?
MIUI 12 or older
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
MIUI 15 / HyperOS
I don't know.

Once you've found the carousel section, it's time to set it up. Here's a detailed guide explaining each parameter:

Add images to the collection|Select the shift interval|Activate the Black Screen mode (for the AMOLED)|Set up exceptions for blocking|Check background work-->

Step 1: Selection of Image Sources

The carousel can pull images from three places:

  • πŸŒ„ Xiaomi standard wallpapers – collections β€œNature”, β€œCities”, β€œAbstraction” and others (available after download in the section Online wallpapers).
  • πŸ“· Personal photos – you can choose a folder from the Gallery or create a new collection right in the carousel settings.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Uploaded wallpaper – images you downloaded from the Internet or received through Mi Cloud.

Step 2: Set up shift intervals

By default, the wallpaper changes every 10 minutes, but you can choose a different interval:

Regime.DescriptionSuitable for
Every 10 minutes.Frequent shifts can be distracting.Diversity lovers
Every hour.Optimal balanceMost users
Once a day.Changes in the morning (by the time of awakening)Minimalist
Scheduled.Manual time setting (for example, 8:00 and 20:00)Perfectionists
When unlockedNew image at each screen switch onImpulsive users

Step 3: Additional settings

Don’t miss these important options:

  • πŸŒ™ "Dark theme – automatically picks up dark wallpaper at night.
  • πŸ”’ "Exclude lock screen – allows you to use a static background on lockscreen.
  • πŸ“΄ "Traffic savings – disables the loading of new wallpaper via mobile Internet.
  • πŸ”„ "Random order – stirs up the queue of images.

πŸ’‘

If the wallpaper carousel doesn't work after setting up, reboot your smartphone. Sometimes the feature conflicts with optimization. MIUI and requires a system restart.

Even after you set it up properly, the wallpaper carousel sometimes fails to function, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them, which we collected based on user feedback from forums. 4PDA and Mi Community:

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers (Nova Launcher, Apex, Microsoft Launcher), the Xiaomi wallpaper carousel will not work. MIUI It is not supported by alternative shells.

Problem 1: The carousel doesn't change the wallpaper automatically

What to do:

  • πŸ”§ Check if Automatic Change is enabled in the carousel settings.
  • πŸ“΅ Make sure the Themes app has permission to work in the background: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Topics β†’ Battery β†’ No restrictions.
  • πŸ”„ Switch the shift interval to another and back (for example, from "Every hour" to "Once a day" and back).
  • πŸ“² Update the Themes app via Google Play or App Store (for global firmware).

Problem 2: Personal photos are not displayed on the carousel

Decision:

  • πŸ“ Make sure that the photo folder is not hidden or in cloud storage (e.g. Google Photos is not supported).
  • πŸ” Make sure the correct folder is selected in the carousel settings: Add wallpaper β†’ Device folders β†’ [Your file].
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Try moving the photos to the folder. DCIM/Camera β€” Sometimes the carousel works better with images from a standard location.

Problem 3: Carousel resets after update MIUI

This is a well-known bug that occurs after major updates (for example, when switching from a new system to a new one). MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) To restore the settings:

  1. Back up your current wallpaper (copy the folder with images on your PC).
  2. Reset the carousel settings: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Topics β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the data.
  3. Reconfigure the carousel and add images.
What if the wallpaper carousel disappeared after resetting the settings?
If you have completely reset your phone to your factory settings (Hard Reset), the wallpaper carousel may disappear from the menu. This is because the feature is tied to your Mi Account. To return it: 1. Sign in to your Xiaomi account. 2. Update the Themes app via the Mi App Store (not Google Play!). 3. Reboot your device. If that doesn't work, try manually installing the latest version of the Themes app from apkmirror.com (select the version for your region).

4. Hidden chips wallpaper carousels you didn't know about

Xiaomi’s wallpaper carousel has a lot more to do than just change the background of the desktop, and here are 5 hidden features that make it stand out from Samsung or Google:

1. Dynamic wallpaper with paralax effect

On devices with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60 Ultra may be activated 3D-It's the effect on wallpaper:

  1. Choose any background in the carousel.
  2. Slap the icon. βš™οΈ Settings under the image.
  3. Activate the "Deep Effect" option.

Now, when the phone is tilted, the background will shift slightly, creating the illusion of volume.

2. Synchronization with the weather

The carousel can adapt to current weather conditions, for example, in sunny weather, bright landscapes will be shown, and in rain, dark urban views.

  • 🌦️ Go to the carousel settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Weather wallpaper.
  • πŸ“ Allow access to geolocation for the "Themes" application".
  • πŸ”„ Choose the style of wallpaper (for example, "Minimalism" or "Nature").

3. Black Screen mode to save battery

Nana AMOLED-Black pixels do not consume energy. Xiaomi offers a special set of wallpapers with a predominance of dark tones:

  • πŸŒ‘ In the carousel, select the collection "Dark Wallpaper".
  • ⚑ Activate the option Battery Optimization in the settings.
  • πŸ“± Xiaomi. 12T Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ This mode may extend the working time 5-7%.

4.Integration with Mi Home

If you have Xiaomi smart devices (like Yeelight light bulbs or Mi Sensor sensors), the carousel can interact with them:

  • πŸ’‘ When changing the wallpaper to dark light bulbs in the room will automatically muffle.
  • 🌑️ If the room temperature exceeds 25Β°C, the wallpaper will be replaced by "cool" tones (blue, green).

To set up, go to the carousel settings β†’ Smart home. β†’ Connect devices.

5. Creating your own carousel themes

You can download your wallpaper and adjust it to the time of day:

  • πŸŒ… "Morning" (6:00-12:00) β€” light-colored.
  • πŸŒ‡ "Day" (12:00-18:00) β€” colourful.
  • πŸŒƒ "Evening" (18:00-24:00) β€” dark.
  • πŸŒ™ "Night" (0:00-6:00) β€” black-and-white.

For this, in the settings of the carousel, select Add Wallpaper β†’ Create a theme β†’ Set up by time.

πŸ’‘

Xiaomi’s wallpaper carousel can work as a full-fledged personalization tool, rather than just a background slideshow, and use it to automate routine activities (such as changing theme depending on the time of day or weather).

If you're tired of the standard collections, you can upload your own images to the carousel. Here's how to do it right:

Step 1: Preparation of images

To make sure that the wallpaper is displayed correctly:

  • πŸ“ Permission: not less 1080Γ—2340 For most smartphones (for Xiaomi) 13 Ultra β€” 1440Γ—3200).
  • 🎨 Format: JPG or PNG (GIF unsupported).
  • πŸ“‚ Location: Images should be in the folder DCIM or Pictures on the internal drive.

Step 2: Add to the carousel

  1. Open the carousel settings β†’ Add wallpaper.
  2. Select "Device folders."
  3. Check the desired images (you can select entire folders).
  4. Click Ready and confirm the addition.

Step 3: Optimize the display

After addition:

  • πŸ” Check that the wallpaper is not cut: in the settings of the carousel, select the Show β†’ Fit or stretch.
  • 🎭 For AMOLED-Activate the Dark Filter to avoid pixel burnout.
  • πŸ”„ If the wallpaper is blurry, try converting it to format. PNG permittingly 1440p.

⚠️ Warning: Do not add watermarked or texted images to the carousel - they may not look aesthetically pleasing when pruned automatically. Use neutral backgrounds or photos with centered composition.

Step 4: Creating thematic collections

To streamline the wallpaper:

  • πŸ“ Create separate folders in the Gallery (e.g., Nature, Cities, Abstraction").
  • 🏷️ In the carousel settings, assign each folder a tag (e.g. #morning, #evening).
  • ⏱️ Set up the change rules: Settings β†’ Rules β†’ Add a rule β†’ Tagged.

6. Alternative methods of automatic wallpaper change

If a standard wallpaper carousel doesn't suit you, consider third-party solutions that offer more flexibility but require additional permissions.

1.Wallpaper Changer (Google Play)

Functions:

  • πŸ”„ Change of wallpaper by geolocation (for example, mountain landscapes in the mountains, sea - by the water).
  • 🎨 Support for live wallpaper (GIF, video).
  • πŸ“Š Use statistics (how many times the wallpaper changed per day).

Disadvantages: consumes more battery than a standard carousel MIUI.

2. "Muzei Live Wallpaper" (from Google developers)

Features:

  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Daily change of wallpaper from the collections of Google Arts & Culture.
  • πŸ” Ability to blur the background for better readability of icons.
  • πŸ“± Lightweight (does not load the system).

How to set up:

  1. Install Muzei from Google Play.
  2. Choose the source of the images (e.g. Earth View or Metropolitan Museum of Art).
  3. In the settings MIUI Install Muzei as a live wallpaper: a long press on the desktop β†’ Live wallpaper.

3. "Tapet" - an AI-based wallpaper generator

This app creates unique patterns for your screen:

  • πŸ€– The algorithm analyzes the color gamut of your applications and selects harmonious wallpaper.
  • 🎨 Daily generation of new patterns.
  • πŸ“² Support 4K and AMOLED-optimization.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party wallpaper change apps may conflict with standard carousel MIUI. If the built-in function stops working after installing Tapet or Wallpaper Changer, clear the Themes app cache (Settings) β†’ Annexes β†’ Topics β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache).

The functionality of the carousel may vary depending on the model of the smartphone and the firmware version, and we tested the function on popular devices and compiled a comparative table:

ModelSupport for the carouselFeaturesLimitations
Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultraβœ… Complete.HyperOS support, Mi Home integration, dynamic wallpaper with paralax effectNo support. GIF carousel
Redmi Note 12 Pro+/12T Proβœ… Complete.Black Screen mode, synchronization with weatherNo manual change time setting (standard intervals only)
POCO F5/X5 Proβœ… Complete.Support for themes (change icons along with wallpaper)No integration with Mi Home
Redmi 10C/10A⚠️ PartialBasic functionality (time change)No dynamic wallpaper, limit on the number of images uploaded (max. 50)
Xiaomi Mi 11 Liteβœ… Complete.Support for live wallpaper (only on the MIUI 14+)Bugs with display on the lock screen

Tips for Old Models (MIUI 11 and below)

If you have a Redmi Note 8, Mi 9 or another model MIUI 11/12, The wallpaper carousel can be unstable. Here's what you can do:

  • πŸ”„ Update your firmware to the latest available version via Settings β†’ Updating the system.
  • πŸ“₯ Install global firmware (if you have a Chinese or European version) MIUI).
  • πŸ› οΈ Use the Magisk module "MIUI Extra Features to unlock hidden features.

Features for devices with HyperOS

The new HyperOS shell, which debuted on Xiaomi 14, offers enhanced carousel features:

  • 🎨 "Adaptive wallpapers" - automatically adjust to the color gamut of the interface.
  • πŸ”„ "Smart rotation – takes into account your preferences (for example, if you often leave your seal wallpaper, it will appear more often).
  • πŸ“± "Cross-device sync – if you have a Xiaomi Pad 6 or Xiaomi Book, the wallpaper will sync between devices.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ The wallpaper carousel eats a lot of battery?
Nana AMOLED-The screens are minimal (especially in Black Screen mode). LCD-The cost of the display may increase by 2-3% To reduce consumption: Increase the interval of wallpaper change to 1 Turn off dynamic effects (carousel settings) β†’ Effects. β†’ No, use dark wallpaper.
❓ Can I use the wallpaper from Google Photos?
No, Xiaomi's wallpaper carousel only works with local images. However, you can: Download photos from Google Photos to your device. Put them in a folder. DCIM/Camera. Add to the carousel through Settings β†’ Device folders. Alternative: Use the Wallpaper Changer app, which supports integration with Google Photos.
❓ Why the carousel only works on the desktop, but not on the lock screen?
That's a limitation. MIUI. To change the wallpaper on lockscreen: Activate the option Settings carousel β†’ Lock screen β†’ If you don't have a point, your firmware doesn't support this feature (relevant to Redmi). 9A A workaround: use third-party applications like Lockscreen Wallpaper Changer.
❓ How to transfer the settings of the carousel to the new Xiaomi smartphone?
Transfer methods: Through Mi Account: On an old phone: Carousel settings β†’ Backup β†’ Save it to Mi Cloud. On your new phone: log in to the same account and restore settings. Manual: Copy the wallpaper folder (DCIM/Wallpapers) Reconfigure the carousel with the path to the copied folder. Note: Shift interval settings and rules will only be transferred to Mi Cloud.
❓ Can I turn off the wallpaper carousel, but keep the current background?
For this: