How to turn off automatic wallpaper change on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Automatic wallpaper change on Xiaomi smartphones is a feature that is not popular with everyone. For some users, it is a convenient way to refresh the screen, for others it is an annoying element that eats up battery power and traffic. Especially relevant is the problem on devices with MIUI 12-14, where the system aggressively offers “thematic wallpaper” and background images from the Xiaomi Cloud gallery.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable auto shifts, from standard settings to hidden settings and commands for power users. You’ll learn how to lock the feature permanently, even if it comes back after updates, and what hidden options in MIUI are responsible for the background processes of changing wallpapers. Instructions are relevant for all modern models: Xiaomi 13/14 series, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 and others.

Why does Xiaomi automatically change the wallpaper?

The wallpaper-shifting feature appeared in MIUI 12 as part of a “smart personalization” that the developers intended to:

• 🎨 Adjust the background for the time of day (morning / evening wallpaper).
• 📱 Refresh the screen with new images from Xiaomi Themes or a personal gallery.
• 🔄 Reduce “visual fatigue” from a monotonous background.

However, in practice, users face problems:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption – the system scans the gallery and loads the wallpaper in the background.
• 📶 Unauthorized traffic – downloading themes from Xiaomi Cloud without notice.
• 🖼️ Random wallpaper – the system can set the background from screenshots or personal photos.

The most common complaints are made on models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi) K60), where the wallpaper changes with a flicker of the display, in some cases the function is activated after the update. MIUI even if it's been turned off before.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in system options, which is suitable for most MIUI 12-14 devices and does not require superuser rights.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Wallpaper (or Settings → Screen → Wallpaper on some models).
2. Slip on the current background image, then select Static Wallpaper or My Wallpaper.
3. Scroll down and find the Automatic Wallpaper Change (or Dynamic Wallpaper) switch.
4. Turn off the slider and confirm the action.

On some firmware, the option may be hidden deeper:

• 🔍 B Settings → Topics → Settings of topics → Wallpaper-driver.
• 🔍 B Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Screen settings.

Wallpaper settings open|Autoshift switch found|The slider is translated to the "off" position.»|Reboot the phone to apply changes-->

Important! On devices with MIUI 14 (such as Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5), you may need to manually install a static background after the feature is disabled, otherwise the system will return the smart wallpaper the next time you update the themes.

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If the "Automan" option is inactive (shaded), try first to manually install the wallpaper from the gallery, then go back to the settings. This will unlock the slider on some firmware.

Method 2: Disconnect via theme settings (Xiaomi Themes)

The autoshift feature is often tied to Xiaomi Themes, which runs in the background. Even if you have disabled wallpaper change in the basic settings, the service can continue to download new themes.

To completely deactivate it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Themes (Xiaomi Themes) and open its settings.
3. Select Permissions and Disable: 📱 Storage (access to gallery). 🌐 Mobile data and Wi-Fi. 🔄 Auto-start.

Stop it.

Warning: After a forced stop, Xiaomi Themes can be returned to active status in a few days.To secure the result, disable automatic updates of the themes in the app settings.

Method 3: Using the Developer Mode

For power users, there is a way to disable the driver through hidden MIUI settings, which works even if standard options are blocked.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Enter a pattern lock or password.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to Disable MIUI Background Processes (or Limit Background Processes) and activate it.
4. Scroll down to Media and turn off: Automatic Media Download. Wallpaper Optimization.

Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13.5 on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+) may require additional action:

Enter the search for settings: "wallpaper"


Select "Wallpaper Settings" → "Dynamic Wallpaper" → turn off all sliders.

Attention! ⚠️ Disabling background processes MIUI It may affect other functions, such as:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization with Xiaomi Cloud.
• 📊 Optimizing the battery for some applications.
• 🎵 Adaptive screen lighting to music.

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The developer mode allows you to disable the auto-changer of wallpaper even on blocked firmware, but requires caution - careless changes can lead to failures in the MIUI.

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for advanced users)

If the standard methods do not work, you can use them. ADB-This method is suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader or without root rights.

Procedure:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on the phone debugging over USB (Settings → For developers).
3. Connect the device to your computer and execute commands: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.themes adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.themes
4. To disable a specific auto change service: adb shell settings put global dynamic_wallpaper_enabled 0

To get it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.android.themes


adb shell pm enable com.miui.themes




adb shell settings put global dynamic_wallpaper_enabled 1

Warning! ⚠️ Disabling system applications through ADB may lead to:

• 🚨 Loss of functionality of themes (inability to install new wallpapers).
• 🔄 Update failures MIUI (The system can return the standard settings).
• ⚠️ Errors in the operation of the launcher (for example, POCO Launcher).

On devices with MIUI 14 and HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14), you may need an additional command to block WallpaperCropper:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.wallpapercropper

Method 5: Remove updates for "Tems" (without root)

If the wallpaper driver appeared after the Xiaomi Themes update, you can return the app to the factory version.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three points in the top corner and select Show System.
3. Find the themes (Xiaomi Themes) and discover the information about them.
4. Click Remove Updates (or Restore).
5. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After that:

• 🔒 Disable the application from accessing the Internet (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Mobile data).
• 📥 Turn off automatic updates in the Play Market (if the app is installed from there).

Important! On some models (e.g. Redmi 10C or POCO M5), the theme store may be removed after the updates are removed, in which case the wallpaper will have to be manually installed from files (.jpg or.png).

What to do if the wallpaper changes anyway?

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be:

• 📱 Firmware with preinstalled “smart wallpaper” (for example, on Xiaomi 13 Lite for the European market).
• 🔄 Service applications such as Mi Wallpaper Carousel (installed separately on some models).
• 🛠️ Customized MIUI (Firmware from third-party developers).

Recommendations for such cases:

1. Check the list of installed apps for availability: Mi Wallpaper Live Wallpapers Picker Dynamic Wallpaper Remove or disable them through Settings → Apps.
2. Reset the launcher settings: Click the empty space on the home screen → Launcher settings → Reset the settings.

Install a third-party launcher

Nova Launcher

Lawnchair

On devices with HyperOS (new shell from Xiaomi), you may need to roll back on the old version of MIUI or wait for an official patch. Stay tuned in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

FAQ: Frequent questions about wallpaper changer on Xiaomi