How to set up a wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all ways and life hacks

You bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, customized your smartphone to suit you, but the standard wallpaper is already boring? The automatic wallpaper change feature in MIUI can be a great solution β€” if you know how to activate it correctly. Many users are faced with the fact that the carousel either does not start or runs with errors: wallpaper does not change on a schedule, resets after rebooting or is displayed only on the lock screen.

The problem is often a lack of customization or conflict with optimization. MIUI. For example, in firmware versions MIUI 12.5 and later, energy saving algorithms can block the background processes responsible for changing wallpapers. Also, not everyone knows that the Redmi Note 8 Pro has a hidden Super Wallpaper mode that allows you to use dynamic wallpapers. 3D-background images with paralax effect - but it requires separate activation.

In this article, we will discuss:

  • πŸ”§ How to turn on a standard wallpaper carousel through settings MIUI (even if the button is grey).
  • βš™οΈ Where to find hidden settings "Super wallpaper" and how to install them without resetting your phone.
  • ⏱️ Why Wallpaper Doesn't Change Automatically and How to Fix It Through Settings β†’ Battery.
  • πŸ“± How to sync a carousel on your lock screen and desktop (and why it doesn’t always work).
πŸ“Š You have already tried to set up a wallpaper carousel on your Xiaomi?
Yeah, but it's not working.
Yeah, it worked.
No, I just learned about this function.
I tried it, but I reset the settings.

The most obvious way is to use the built-in MIUI feature in the Topics section. However, there are pitfalls here: if you've never set third-party themes, the carousel button may be inactive. Here's how to get around this:

  1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush and palette).
  2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
  3. Scroll down to the wallpaper carousel block and click on it. If the button is gray, tap on any other wallpaper category (like "Nature"), then go back.
  4. Now the Carousel block has to be active. Click on it and select the wallpaper you like.
  5. Activate the Automatic Shift switch and set the interval (from 1 hour to 1 day).

⚠️ Warning: If the carousel doesn't start after setting up, check if the background mode for the Theme app is turned off:

⚠️ Attention: Go to Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Application management β†’ Topics β†’ Battery and select No Limits, otherwise MIUI will suspend the carousel to save charge.

Also make sure that the lock screen settings (Settings β†’ Lock screen) include the option to show wallpaper on the lock screen. Without this, the carousel will only work on the desktop.

Establish at least one side topic|Disable battery optimization for the "Themes" application"|Enable the display of wallpaper on the lock screen|Update the "Themes" app to the latest version-->

Method 2: Super Wallpapers – Hidden MIUI function

The Redmi Note 8 Pro supports dynamic "Super Wallpaper" -- animated background images with a depth effect (paralax) that respond to the tilt of the phone. These wallpapers are not included in the standard set and require a separate installation.

  1. Download the official Super Wallpapers app from AppGallery (if you don’t have access, use APK from a trusted source, such as APKPure).
  2. Install the app and open it. Choose the wallpaper set you like (like Mars or Earth).
  3. Click Apply and wait for download (files weigh ~50–100 MB).
  4. After installation, go to Settings β†’ Wallpaper and select the Super Wallpaper section.

πŸ”Ή Important nuance: Super wallpaper consumes more power than static images. If you notice accelerated battery discharge, turn them off via Settings. β†’ Battery β†’ Optimization by adding an app to the exclusion list.

Wallpaper typeSupport for the carouselThe paralax effectBattery consumption
Standard (static)βœ… Yes.❌ No.Low.
The Tem carousel.βœ… Yes.❌ No.Medium.
Super Wallpapers (Super Wallpapers)❌ No (only manual shift)βœ… Yes.High-pitched
The Live Wallpapers (Live Wallpapers)❌ No.βœ… Yes, limited)Very tall.

If after installing "Super wallpaper" they do not appear in the settings, try to clear the cache of the application Topics:

Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ Topics β†’ Memory β†’ Clear cache
What if the "Super Wallpaper" is not installed?
If you have a device incompatible error, check: 1. MIUI version - the feature only works on MIUI 12 and later. 2. Firmware region - Chinese versions (CN) may have restrictions. 3. Root rights - if the phone is rooted, some system functions are blocked. In extreme cases, try installing wallpapers via ADB (technical skills required).

If you have set up a carousel but the wallpaper doesn’t change, the reasons may be as follows:

  • πŸ”‹ Optimizing the battery: MIUI aggressively closes the background processes. Add the Topics app to exceptions (Settings) β†’ Battery β†’ Optimizing the battery β†’ Applications without restrictions).
  • πŸ“± Sync Error: If the wallpaper changes only on the desktop or only on the lock screen, check the settings in Settings β†’ Lock screen β†’ Additionally. β†’ Lock screen wallpaper.
  • πŸ”„ Resetting settings: After the update MIUI The carousel settings may reset. Reactivate the feature in the Topics section.
  • πŸ“‘ No Internet: Carousel downloads new wallpaper over the network. Make sure it's on mobile or Wi-Fi.
  • πŸ—ƒοΈ Lack of memory: If the phone has less than 1 GB of free space, MIUI may suspend the loading of new wallpaper.

πŸ”Ή Lifehack: If the carousel is unstable, try manually updating the wallpaper:

  1. Open Topics β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ carousel.
  2. Slip on the current wallpaper and select Update.
  3. Restart your phone – sometimes it resets the hanging processes.

πŸ’‘

If the carousel only works on the lock screen and the desktop wallpaper is static, try setting the wallpaper manually through Settings β†’ Wallpaper β†’ Desktop, and then activate the carousel again. This resets the conflict between system settings.

MIUI allows you to create a carousel not only from standard wallpaper, but also from personal photos.

  1. Open the Gallery app and select the photo folder.
  2. Slip on the button More (three dots) β†’ Set up how β†’ Wallpaper carousel.
  3. Select photos (up to 30 pieces) and click Ready.
  4. Set the shift interval (it is recommended not more than once every 6 hours, so as not to put the battery down).

⚠️ Note: If you use high-resolution photos (e.g. from a Redmi Note camera) 8 Pro on 64 MP, the carousel can slow down. Before adding, reduce the resolution to Full. HD (1920Γ—1080) through any photo editing application.

Also, note that the carousel photos are cropped to the size of the screen, so you don't lose important details:

  • πŸ“ Use 18:9 or 19.5:9 aspect ratio photos (like the Redmi Note 8 Pro).
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Before adding, trim the images manually (applications like Photo Editor or Snapseed).
  • πŸ” Check how the photo looks in preview mode before saving.

πŸ’‘

Personal photo carousels consume more energy than standard wallpapers, as MIUI loads images from memory each time, and to save power, increase the shift interval to 12-24 hours.

If the carousel is slow or stutters when changing wallpaper, try these methods:

  1. Turn off MIUI animation: Go to Settings β†’ About Phone, tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode. Then to Settings β†’ Additional β†’ For Developers, set: Window Animation Scale: 0.5x Transition Animation Scale: 0.5x Animator Duration Scale: 0.5x
  2. Clear the "Tem" cache: As mentioned earlier, clogged cache can slow down the carousel. Clean it regularly through Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Topics β†’ Memory.
  3. Use lightweight wallpaper: Avoid highly detailed images with lots of colors – they take longer to process with a GPU.

πŸ”Ή For advanced users: If you are willing to sacrifice security for performance, you can turn off the signature verification of the themes:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as described above).


2. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings.




3. Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command:




adb shell settings put global miui_optimize_theme_enable 0




4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: This method can cause unstable work of the themes and wallpapers. Use it only if the standard methods did not help.

If the built-in MIUI carousel doesn't suit you, you can use third-party apps.The best options for the Redmi Note 8 Pro:

AnnexFeaturesBattery consumptionReference
Wallpaper ChangerAutomatic shift on schedule, support for Bing/UnsplashMedium.Google Play
Muzei Live WallpaperSmooth shift with blur effect, integration with Google PhotosLow.Google Play
TapetGenerate unique wallpapers by algorithm, without repetitionHigh-pitchedGoogle Play

πŸ”Ή Important: When using third-party apps, turn off the built-in carousel MIUI, It's about avoiding conflict:

  1. Open Topics β†’ Wallpaper. β†’ carousel.
  2. Turn off the automatic switch.
  3. Set static wallpaper in Settings β†’ Wallpaper.

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Zedge) may request storage and internet access to download wallpaper.Please check Google Play permissions and user reviews before installing.

Can you make a carousel only on the lock screen, and leave static wallpaper on the desktop?
Yes, for this: Set static wallpaper on your desktop via Settings β†’ Wallpaper β†’ Desktop. Activate the carousel in Themes β†’ Wallpaper β†’ Carousel. In lock screen settings (Settings β†’ Lock screen β†’ Lock screen wallpaper) select Carousel. MIUI allows you to separate the wallpaper for the desktop and lock screen.
Why did the MIUI update stop working?
Updates often reset optimization settings. Check: App permissions Themes (Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Themes β†’ Resolutions). Battery optimization exceptions (as described above). Having updates for the Theme app on Google Play. If nothing helps, try resetting the theme settings: Settings β†’ Themes β†’ Settings β†’ Settings β†’ Reset.
How to remove the Xiaomi watermark on the wallpaper of the carousel?
Watermark appears only on standard wallpaper MIUI. To remove it: Use a carousel from personal photos (instruction above). Set wallpaper from third-party sources (such as Unsplash or Pexels). Hand-cut the watermark in a graphics editor (such as Photoshop Express). ⚠️ Removal of watermark from standard wallpaper may violate Xiaomi license agreement.
Can I configure the carousel on an always-on screen (AOD)?
No, the Always On Display (AOD) feature on the Redmi Note 8 Pro does not support a wallpaper carousel. The AOD screen only displays a static image (hours, date, notifications). However, you can: Set live wallpapers for the main screen. Use third-party AOD apps (like Always On AMOLED), but they consume additional power.
How to transfer the settings of the carousel to another Xiaomi?
The carousel settings are not synced through Mi Account, but you can: Copy the wallpaper folder (/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Wallpaper/) to a new phone. Export theme settings through Themes β†’ Settings β†’ Backup (not available on all versions of MIUI) Manually reset the settings on the new device.