Xiaomi’s modern smartphones, powered by MIUI shells and the new HyperOS, offer users a wide range of personalization options. One of the most sought-after ways to stand out is to install dynamic wallpapers that change automatically. Instead of just looking at a single static image, you can turn your lock screen or desktop into a live gallery where photos will change at a given interval, which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functionally, allowing you to always have up-to-date shots before your eyes.
The process of setting up a slideshow on the lock screen and on the desktop (main screen) has its own technical features and is implemented through different system components. In this article, we will discuss both methods in detail, explain the difference between the Wallpaper Carousel and the standard gallery, and also consider the nuances of working with system constraints, you will learn how to manage the frequency of changing images and select specific albums for display.
It should be noted that the functionality of the Wallpaper Carousel by default activates the change of images on the lock screen, not on the desktop. To implement a similar effect on the home screen, additional actions or the use of widgets are often required. Understanding this system architecture will help to avoid confusion and quickly achieve the desired result without installing third-party dubious software.
Differences between Lock Screen and Desktop
Before you start setting up, you need to understand the architecture of the Xiaomi interface. The system divides the visual design into two independent zones. The first zone is the Lock Screen, which you see immediately after you wake up the device, before you enter a password or scan your fingerprint, and this is where the powerful Wallpaper Carousel tool works by default.
The second area is the desktop (Home Screen), the space behind the application icons. Standard system tools to configure automatic background change is more difficult here, because Android and MIUI initially do not provide frequent static wallpaper changes in the background to save battery life.
It's important to distinguish between these concepts, because the instructions for them will be different. If you want to change photos when the phone is in your pocket or lying on the table in sleep mode, you need to adjust the lock screen. If the goal is to diversify the background between the application icons after unlocking, you will need to approach through widgets or special themes.
⚠️ Attention: Installing heavy themes with automatic background change on the desktop can significantly increase battery consumption and reduce processor performance when scrolling through pages.
Setting up the wallpaper carousel on the lock screen
The most naive and optimized way to implement your idea is to use the built-in wallpaper carousel service (Glance), which is deeply integrated into the system and does not require the installation of additional applications from the Google Play store. It allows you to create playlists from your personal photos, which will be broadcast on a locked screen.
To get started, you need to go to the settings menu. Find the Wallpaper section or the Always on screen and lock. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the path may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the item responsible for the Wallpaper Carousel or the Wallpaper Change.
Once activated, the system will suggest you choose the source of the images, you can leave a standard news feed with pictures from the service provider or switch to a local gallery. The second option will allow you to put several of your photos. Choose an album, add pictures there, and the system will begin to play them cyclically.
☑️ Setting up the wallpaper carousel
The setup interface is flexible enough, you can determine how often images should change, whether they turn on the screen or at intervals, and there is also a Smart Unlock feature that analyzes the contents of the photo and offers appropriate widgets, although this is not always required for purely aesthetic purposes.
Selection of sources and management of the album
The key to creating a quality slideshow is to match and prepare photos correctly, and Xiaomi's system allows you to select entire albums from the gallery, which means you don't have to add each photo manually through a complex menu, but you just have to create a separate folder, like "Wallpaper," and throw selected photos in it.
When selecting a source in Carousel settings, make sure the application has the necessary permissions to access media files. Without this, the system application simply will not be able to "see" your photos and will show a standard set or error.
The lock screen has specific proportions, and horizontal photos can be cropped or displayed with black fields. For the best (visual effect), it is recommended to use high-resolution vertical shots that correspond to the resolution of your display, for example 2400×1080 or higher.
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Use contrast top or bottom photos, as these areas often have clocks and notification widgets that can override important image details.
The list is managed dynamically, and if you add a new photo to your chosen album in the gallery, it will automatically appear in the queue for display after the next screen sync or reboot, and if you delete the photo from the folder, it will also instantly eliminate it from rotation.
How to change photos on the desktop
Implementing wallpaper changes directly on the desktop (where icons are located) is more difficult, as standard MIUI and HyperOS tools often conceal or limit this function. However, there is an effective method using Photo or Gallery widgets that simulate live wallpaper.
The idea is to put a full-screen widget that flicks through your photos. To do this, long-tap from a blank desktop, select "Vidgets" and find the "Photo" or "Gallery" component, stretch it over the entire screen, removing the indentations.
In the settings of this widget, you need to select the album that will be used to show. Then in the widget settings, activate the automatic scrolling or slideshow function. You can adjust the refresh interval in the range from a few seconds to minutes.
Alternatively, you can use specialized themes in the Themes app. There are themes in the directory that include video backgrounds or slideshows. When you install such a theme, the system will suggest using Wallpaper and Animation. Beware: some themes can only change icons without affecting the background.
⚠️ Attention: The desktop slideshow widget is an active process. AMOLED-With screen, static widget elements can cause pixels to burn out over time, so use this feature with caution.
Use of the Application Topics for Personalization
Xiaomi’s official Themes store is a powerful tool that is often underrated, and it doesn’t just feature static images, but entire design scenarios that include wallpaper sets. Search for a theme store and type in “Slideshow” or “Slides Show.”
Many authors create themes that have video or sequences of frames as wallpaper, and when you use them, you get a ready-made solution out of the box, and the advantage of this method is optimization: these themes are created with the specific features of the Snapdragon and MediaTek processors, so they have less impact on autonomy than third-party widgets.
But there's a drawback to this: you depend on the author's imagination, you can't just replace his photo set with your own without creating your own theme (which requires layout skills and special tools on a PC), so it's suitable for those who have enough ready-made beautiful solutions.
There's also a wallpaper section in the Topics app where you can find the dynamic or live categories, and the files you download from there are often video formats that play in a loop, which is a great alternative to statics, unless you really care that it's your personal photos.
Technical nuances and battery optimization
Using constantly changing images, especially in high resolution, puts a strain on RAM and processor. The system is forced to constantly decode new files, which leads to micro-latency and increased power consumption. Owners of models with a small amount of RAM (4 GB or less) should be especially careful.
If you notice that your smartphone is running out faster or heating up in standby mode, try increasing the wallpaper interval. Instead of changing the "every time you turn on the screen," set the interval to 15 or 30 minutes, which will give the processor time to switch to power saving between switches.
File format also matters: RAW or uncompressed TIFF photos will take longer to process and take up more cache space. Wallpapers will be better served by high-quality standard JPEG or a modern HEIF format that compresses data better without loss of visual quality.
The influence of Always On Display
The table below compares methods for influencing the system:
| Method | Battery consumption | RAM load | Flexibility of setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper carousel (Blocking) | Low. | Low. | Tall. |
| Gallery widget (Work Table) | Medium/High | Medium | Medium |
| Live themes from the store | Medium. | Depends on the topic. | Low. |
| Third-party Live Wallpaper | High-pitched | Tall. | Maximum |
Solving problems and mistakes
Users often experience a situation where images stop changing or are displayed with a black screen after setting up a slideshow, most often due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving system, which kills background processes as unnecessary.
To fix this, you need to go to the settings of the wallpaper application (for example, “Wallpaper Carousel” or “Gallery”), and set the “No Limits” mode in the “Activity Control” or “Battery” section, which will prevent the system from forcibly stopping the process of changing pictures.
Another problem is incorrect color displays or artifacts. This may indicate damage to an image file or the use of an unsupported codec. Try replacing the problematic photo in the album with another to see if the error disappears. Also helps cleaning the cache of the Themes app through the Settings menu → Apps → Application Management.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install multiple wallpaper change applications from multiple sources at the same time, this is guaranteed to lead to process conflict, a combat interface, and a quick discharge of the device.
If nothing works, try resetting the theme to the standard, restarting your smartphone, and repeating the setup procedure again, following the instructions carefully. Often, a simple restart of the interface service solves software failures.