How to permanently disable wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi 12: a detailed guide

The automatic wallpaper change on Xiaomi 12 is not something everyone likes. The background image carousel built into the MIUI 13/14 shell not only distracts from the workflow, but also consumes up to 15% of the extra battery energy per week due to background activity. If you are tired of constantly changing pictures on the lock screen or the home screen, this guide will help you completely deactivate it - both with standard system tools and with hidden commands.

The problem is complicated by the fact that in the latest versions MIUI The developers have removed the direct option to disable the carousel from the settings menu, but workarounds still exist, from editing configuration files to using the carousel. ADB-We tested all methods on Xiaomi 12 (models). 2203121C, 2203121G) firmware MIUI 13.0.15–14.0.8 and only working solutions were selected.

Important: Some methods require root rights or developer mode activation. If you are not willing to risk system stability, start with the safest options (sections 2–3). For power users, advanced methods are provided to explain the possible consequences.

1. Method: through the subject settings (official method)

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in MIUI personalization options. Although there is no direct “Disable the carousel” button, you can trick the system by applying a static theme.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on the home screen).
• 🔍 In the search box, enter the query: Static Wallpapers or Classic Wallpapers.
• ⬇️ Scroll through the list to the Wallpaper Lock screen section and select any set without the Dynamic or Carousel mark».
• 🖼️ Apply the selected theme to both screens (block and main).

Once applied, the system will stop cycling around the wallpaper, but the carousel background service (com.miui.gallery.wallpaper) will continue to work in memory. To deactivate it completely, move to the next method.

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If the wallpaper changes after the theme changes anyway, restart the phone. In 10% of cases, the changes only apply after the reboot.

2. Method: Disconnection through “Developer Settings”

This method requires activation of the hidden developer menu, but does not need root rights. It blocks the background process responsible for changing the wallpaper through system flags.

Steps:

1. Activate the Developer Mode: 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. 🔨 Click 7 times in a row on the line Version MIUI (A notification will appear saying, “You have become a developer»).

For developers

USB debugging

Xiaomi 12

ADB-driver

adb shell settings put global miui_wallpaper_carousel_enabled 0

This command forcibly disables the carousel mechanism at the system variable level, so that the changes take effect, restart the device. Check the result: if the wallpaper stops changing and the task manager does not have the com.miui.wallpaper.carousel process, the method worked.

Install drivers ADB PC-only|Enable debugging on USB Xiaomi 12|Connect your phone to your computer with the original cable|Check the connection with the team `adb devices`-->

Method: Remove the system application (requires root)

The radical method is to completely remove the package responsible for the carousel, which will solve the problem forever, but will require superuser rights and may disrupt other MIUI wallpaper-related features (such as theme editor).

Step-by-step:

• 🔐 Get root access with Magisk or similar tool.
• 📲 Install a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 🗑️ Cross the path: /system/priv-app/WallpaperCarousel or /system/app/WallpaperCarousel.
• 🗂️ Remove the entire folder or rename it (for example, in the WallpaperCarousel_bak).
• 🔄 Reset the device.

If after removing the wallpaper completely disappeared or artifacts appeared, restore the folder from the backup or reflash the phone through Fastboot.

4. Method: Use of third-party launchers

An alternative approach is to replace the standard MIUI launcher with a third-party one (such as Nova Launcher, Hyperion or Lawnchair), most alternative shells that ignore the system wallpaper carousel and allow static images to be captured.

How it works:

• 📥 Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
• 🏠 Assign it as the default launcher in the application settings.
• 🖼️ In the new launcher settings, select the Wallpaper section** and upload a static image.
• ⚙️ Turn off the option of automatic wallpaper change (if any).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Does not require rooting or ADB.
• ✅ Keeps all functions. MIUI (Calls, notifications, etc.).
• ✅ Additional customization options (gestures, icons, widgets).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Some system widgets MIUI may not work.
• ❌ RAM consumption will increase by 50–100 MB due to background work of the launcher.

5. Method: editing the configuration file (advanced)

For users who are ready to work with system files, but do not want to get root, there is a workaround through editing. XML-This method is reversible and does not require packet removal.

Instructions:

1. 📁 With help. ADB Copy the wallpaper settings file on PC: adb pull /data/data/com.android.settings/shared_prefs/com.android.settings_preferences.xml
2. 📝 Open the downloaded file in a text editor (for example, Notepad)++).
3. 🔍 Find the line with the parameter: <boolean name="wallpaper_carousel_enabled" value="true" />
4. ✏️ Replace value="true"="false".
5. 📤 Save the file and return it back: adb push com.android.settings_preferences.xml /data/data/com.android.settings/shared_prefs/
6. 🔄 Reset the device.

If the file is not found, check the path to settings for your version of MIUI via the command:

adb shell ls /data/data/com.android.settings/shared_prefs/

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

For most users, the best solution is a combination of methods 1 and 4: first apply a static theme, then install a third-party launcher. This is guaranteed to turn off the carousel without risk to the system. If you are an experienced user and ready for experiments, try it. ADB-Method 2 is the most technically pure method.

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Third-party launchers are the only way to disable the carousel without interfering with system files, but they increase the load on RAM.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you turn off the carousel, users often face typical problems, and here's how to prevent them:

⚠️ Note: If after use ADB-The wallpaper is reset to the standard, check if the developer's settings have reset. MIUI 14 when updating the system flag miui_wallpaper_carousel_enabled may return to value 1 (Repeat the command after the update.

Other common mistakes:

• 🔄 The carousel returns after the reboot, which means you used a temporary method (for example, only changing the theme). ADB launcher.
• 🚫 Adb command does not work: make sure that debugging is done by USB Check the connection with the adb device command.
• 📵 The wallpaper is gone completely: this happens when you delete the system package without a backup. Restore it from a backup or reinstall the firmware.
• ⚡ Increased battery consumption: if you installed a third-party launcher, turn off its animations in the settings (Section Performance).

If neither of these methods worked, check the MIUI version in the settings. In some regional firmware (for example, India or China), the logic of the carousel may differ, in which case only a complete flashing to the global version will help.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions