How to set up a wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi 9: from basic settings to hidden MIUI chips

Automatic wallpaper change on Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of those MIUI chips that make smartphone use more convenient and visually diverse. But not all users know how to properly configure this feature to work smoothly. Some people face the fact that the carousel suddenly stops updating, some can not find the right sources of images, and some do not even suspect that MIUI 12/13/14 has hidden options for fine-tuning the frequency and style of changing the background.

In this article, we will not only discuss the basic steps to activate the carousel, but also dive into advanced settings that Xiaomi does not advertise. HD-We'll show you pictures without loading the system, and what to do if the function stops working after the update, and we'll also reveal the secret to getting around the restriction. MIUI The number of loaded wallpapers from the cloud.

If you’ve just bought a Redmi 9 or upgraded your firmware, don’t be surprised that the carousel’s customization interface may be different from the screenshots on the web. Xiaomi regularly reworks the Themes menu, and our instructions are up to date for the latest versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 based on Android 12/13). Ready to turn your screen into a dynamic gallery?

1. Basic setting of wallpaper carousel: step-by-step instructions

To start with, enable automatic wallpaper change through standard MIUI settings, which works on all versions of Redmi 9 (including Redmi 9A/9C/9T models) and does not require superuser rights.

Open the Topic app (a desktop brush icon) if you don't have one, check the Tools folder or search the system. At the top of the screen, you'll see the Wallpaper tab, tap it. Here, MIUI offers several categories of backgrounds: Recommended, Live Wallpaper, Gradient and Carousel.

If you select the Carousel, you'll be taken to the settings menu, and there are three key options available here:

• 🔄 Shift interval: 1 hour to 1 day (default 24 hours).
• 📂 Source of Wallpaper: Recommended (Xiaomi Cloud) or My Wallpaper (local files).
• 🎨 Display style: Stretching, Filling or Centering.

Please note that if you select My Wallpaper, the system will prompt you to specify a folder with images. The best option is to create a separate directory (for example, Wallpapers/Carousel) put it 10–15 picture-performance 1080×2340 (native to Redmi 9). This will save you from problems with pruning or stretching backgrounds.

Download. 10–15 permit-wallpaper 1080×2340|Create a folder. Wallpapers/Carousel inner-memory|Check the vacant space (need to be checked). ≥500 MB)|Turn off the power saving mode for the "Themes" application"-->

2. Advanced settings: Hidden MIUI features

Few people know, but in MIUI There is an undocumented possibility to adjust the carousel through ADB-This allows you to bypass the limitations of the standard interface – for example, set a shift interval of less than 1 hour or force the system to ignore the “blacklist” of wallpaper (which is a very important feature of the system). MIUI Sometimes they are automatically formed).

To do this, connect Redmi 9 to your PC, activate Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps by build number → Additional settings → Developer Settings) and execute in the terminal:

adb shell settings put global carousel_wallpaper_interval 3600

Here, 3600 is the interval in seconds (1 hour). To set 30 minutes, use 1800. Once you execute the command, restart the phone.

Another hidden feature is the forced wallpaper cache update, so if the carousel is getting stuck against one background, do this:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

⚠️

Warning: This command will reset all your themes and wallpaper to factory settings. Pre-save your favorite backgrounds to a local folder.

For those who don’t want to mess with ADB, there’s an alternative, the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play), which allows you to change the shift interval directly from the interface, but requires Android Accessibility Service permissions.

Once a day.|Once a week.|Once a month|Never change.|I'm using live wallpaper.-->

3. Performance optimization: why the carousel brakes

Many Redmi 9 users complain that after turning on the carousel, the phone starts to slow down and the battery goes down faster, the reason is the way MIUI handles background processes.

• 🔋 Energy consumption: Themes in the background consumes up to 5-7% of the charge per day. To reduce the load, add it to Battery Exclusions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 📁 Cash wallpaper: MIUI Stores up to 50MB of cached backgrounds. Clean it once a month through Settings → Annexes → Topics → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🖼️ Image resolution: Wallpaper above 1080×2340 They're forced to scale, which eats up resources. Use the exact screen sizes.

If the carousel is still laying, try turning off the background animation.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (7 taps to activate the developer mode).
2. Return to the additional settings → Developer parameters.
3. Find the option of the scale of the animation window and install off.

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If the carousel forgets wallpaper after rebooting, check if Easy Theme is enabled in Settings → Themes → Additional. This mode resets all user-defined visual settings.

4.The best sources of wallpaper for carousel: where to download HD-picture

The standard wallpaper from Xiaomi cloud is boring quickly, and its resolution often leaves much to be desired. We tested 10+ sources and selected the ones that are ideal for Redmi 9:

To automatically download new wallpapers, we recommend using the Tapet app (AI-based background generator) or Muzei (changes wallpaper from selected sources, including Flickr and 500px). Both apps are available on Google Play and are compatible with MIUI.

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Warning: Do not download wallpaper from questionable sites in.apk or.exe format - this can be a mask for viruses. Use only verified sources from our table.

5. Problem Solving: The Carousel Is Not Working

If the wallpaper stopped changing automatically, the reasons may be the following (from the most common to the rare):

• ⚙️ Resetting theme settings: MIUI Sometimes it resets after the update. → Carousel ticks off.
• 📵 Background Limitation: In Settings → Annexes → Topics → Permissions must be enabled Auto Start and Background Work.
• 🗃️ Empty Wallpaper Folder: If you use My Wallpaper, make sure that there are at least 3 images in the specified folder.
• 🔄 Launcher conflict: Third-party launchers (Nova, Apex) can block wallpaper change. MIUI Launcher.

If the problem has not gone away, try a forced reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find themes and click Warehouse.
3. Tap Clear Data (Do NOT Clear Cache!).
4. Reboot your phone and reset the carousel.

For Redmi 9 models on MIUI 12.5 and below, a rollback to factory firmware via Fastboot can help. For instructions, see our article "How to flash Xiaomi Redmi 9 without data loss."

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If the carousel is unstable, first check the permissions of the Theme app. 80% of the time, the problem is solved by turning on auto-start and background activity.

6. Alternative methods: carousel without standard tools

If you don't like the limitations of MIUI, you can automatically change wallpapers through third-party apps, and we tested 3 of the most reliable options:

1. Wallpaper Changer (by Microsoft)

• 🔹 Changes the wallpaper on schedule or when unlocking.
• 🔹 Supports local folders and cloud services (OneDrive, Google Photos).
• 🔹 Cons: There is no Russian language.

2. Tapet

• 🎨 Generates unique wallpaper based on your preferences (colors, style).
• 🔄 Automatically updates backgrounds once a day.
• ⚠️ Requires Internet access.

3. Kappboom (for the AMOLED-screen)

• 🖤 Optimized for dark themes (saving battery).
• 📱 Supports Always-On Display.
• 💰 Part of the functions paid.

To make these applications work correctly, MIUI must disable the standard carousel:

1. Go to Topics. → Wallpaper. → carousel.
2. Turn off the automatic shift option.
3. Set a static background (anything).

Now, a third-party app can manage wallpaper without conflict. For maximum stability, add it to Battery Exceptions and allow AutoRun.

7 Energy Saving and Carousel: How to Find Balance

Automatic wallpaper change is not only beauty, it's also an added strain on the processor and battery. On the Redmi 9 with its modest Helio G35/G80, this is especially noticeable. Here's how to reduce the impact of the carousel on autonomy:

• ⏳ Increase the interval: Instead of 1 hour, set 6-12 hours. The difference in visual perception is minimal, and the battery will last longer.
• 🌑 Use dark wallpaper: AMOLED-You can see black pixels that don't consume energy.
• 📴 Turn off animation: In Developer Settings, install Windows Animation = Off..
• 🔌 Stop background activity: In Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization Select for Themes Limited Mode.

To check the real effect of the carousel on the battery, use built-in monitoring:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
2. Slip on Topics in the list of applications.
3. Look at the percentage of expenditure in the last 24 hours.

If the value exceeds 3-5%, optimize the settings according to our recommendations.

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Create a separate energy saving profile for the night: Settings → Battery → Modes → Set up. In it, turn off automatic wallpaper change from 23:00 to 7:00.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up a carousel on Redmi 9