How to make a wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a popular smartphone with flexible customization options, including automatic wallpaper change. Many users do not know that this device can be set up a wallpaper carousel without installing additional applications. built-in MIUI Up to third-party solutions with extended options.

The wallpaper carousel allows you to automatically change the background of your desktop or lock screen as scheduled, as the time of day changes, or even depending on the weather, not only refreshes the look of your smartphone, but also helps avoid visual fatigue from the monotonous interface. However, on Redmi 9, this feature is hidden in non-obvious settings, and in some firmware it has to be activated manually.

We tested all the methods on MIUI 12.5–14 (including global and Chinese versions) and identified nuances that affect the stability of the carousel, such as using third-party launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher) MIUI It can conflict with their wallpaper-changing mechanisms, and this and other pitfalls.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed

The wallpaper carousel is a feature that cyclically changes the background images on the smartphone screen according to given rules. On the Xiaomi Redmi 9, it works for both the desktop and lock screen, but with some limitations:

• 🔄 Automatic rotation: Wallpaper changes without your involvement (by time, event or accident).
• ⏰ Flexible triggers: Shifts can be tied to time of day, weather, or even geolocation (in third-party applications).
• 🎨 Topics MIUI: You can use wallpaper from official Xiaomi themes, including animated ones.
• ⚠️ Limitation MIUI: Built-in function supports only static wallpaper (without live wallpaper).

The main advantages of the carousel:

• 🌅 Visual diversity: Every time you unlock the screen, you see a new background.
• 📅 Adaptability: Wallpaper can vary depending on the time of day (morning/evening) or weather.
• 🔋 Charge savings: A properly tuned carousel consumes less energy than live wallpaper.

But there are downsides, like the built-in carousel. MIUI fails:

• ❌ Work with wallpaper from Google Photos or cloud storage (local files only).
• ❌ Change wallpaper more than once an hour (minimum interval - 60 minutes).
• ❌ Maintain animated wallpaper in automatic mode.

⚠️ Note: If you are using a third-party launcher (like Nova Launcher or Action Launcher), built-in carousel MIUI It might not work, and then you'd have to use third-party applications, which we'll talk about in the "Alternative Ways" section».

Preparing a smartphone before setting up a carousel

Before you set up the carousel, make sure your Redmi 9 is ready for the changes.

Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (see Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system)

Download the wallpaper to the folder. DCIM/Wallpapers (recommended format — JPG/PNG, permit 1080×2340)

Turn off the energy saving mode (it can block background processes)

Make sure that there is enough free space on the phone (minimum 500 MB)

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If you plan to use wallpaper from the Internet, download it to your device in advance. 9 — 1080×2340 pixels (partial ratio) 20:9). Avoid wallpaper with small details around the edges - they may be cut by the system.

Also check if you have battery optimization apps on your phone (like Greenify or AccuBattery) that can force you to shut down the processes that change the wallpaper. MIUI) exception-list.

⚠️ Note: If you use dual wallpapers (different for desktop and lock screen), the carousel will only work for the screen where the function is manually enabled. To synchronize both backgrounds, you will have to adjust them separately.

Customize wallpaper carousel through built-in tools MIUI

In the firmware MIUI There's a hidden wallpaper carousel feature, but it's not always available on the default menu:

1. Open the Settings. → Desktop.
2. Choose Wallpaper (or Themes, depending on version) MIUI).
3. Click on My Wallpaper (the tab at the bottom of the screen).
4. Slap the icon. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select the Wallpaper Carousel.
5. Activate the switch Turn on the carousel.
6. Select the folder with wallpaper (by default this is the case) DCIM/Wallpapers) and set the interval of change (from 1 hourly 1 day-day).

If the item Carousel wallpaper is not in the menu, try an alternative method:

1. Set wallpaper manually through Settings → Desktop → Wallpaper.
2. After choosing the wallpaper, press and hold your finger on the thumbnail - a context menu should appear with the option Add to the carousel.
3. Repeat the action for all wallpapers you want to add to the rotation.
4. Return to Wallpaper Settings and activate the carousel.

In some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 13 for Redmi 9 Global, the wallpaper carousel only works for the lock screen, and to turn it on for the desktop, you have to use a workaround:

adb shell settings put global wallpaper_crop_and_set_extra_options 1

This command needs to be entered through ADB (more about setting up ADB Read in a special section).

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If the carousel doesn't work after setting up, reboot the phone. MIUI Do not apply changes immediately.

Use of the themes MIUI wallpaper-shifter

If the built-in carousel does not suit, you can use themes MIUI, Many of them support dynamic wallpaper. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to Wallpaper.
3. Choose dynamic or live wallpaper category.
4. Find a theme marked Automan or Carousel (such as “Nature Cycle” or “Daily Mood”).
5. Download and apply the theme. Wallpaper will change automatically according to the algorithm embedded in the theme (usually once every few hours).

Advantages of this method:

• 🎨 Ready collections: no need to search and download wallpaper separately.
• ⚡ Optimized for MIUI: Themes are tested for compatibility with Redmi 9.
• 🔄 Different triggers: Some themes change wallpaper depending on the time of day or weather.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Limited choice: not all themes support the carousel.
• ❌ Advertising: Free themes may have watermarks.
• ❌ No manual setting: you can not set your shift interval.

To find the right topics, use a keyword search:

• auto wallpaper
• dynamic wallpaper
• time-based wallpaper

Alternative ways: third-party applications for wallpaper carousel

If embedded tools MIUI We tested some popular solutions and selected the best ones for Redmi 9:

To install and configure Wallpaper Changer (the most versatile solution), follow the instructions:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Open Wallpaper Changer and give access to the storage.
3. Select a folder with wallpaper (for example, DCIM/Wallpapers).
4. Set the shift interval (we recommend starting from 3-6 hours).
5. Enable Apply to Home Screen and Lock Screen.
6. Activate the service in the background (allow auto-start in settings) MIUI).

⚠️ Warning: Wallpaper carousel apps require permission to Overlay other apps and Auto Run. Without those permissions, the wallpaper won't change. To issue them, go to Settings. → Annexes → Permits → Special access.

If the wallpaper does not change after the setting:

• 🔋 Check if it kills. MIUI application in the background (add it to battery exclusions).
• 📂 Make sure that the selected folder has enough images (minimum 3-5).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes it helps to start background processes.

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The side of the app gives more features (for example, changing the wallpaper by weather or geolocation), but consumes more battery. MIUI more economical, but less flexible.

Advanced settings through ADB (power-user)

If you want to have full control of the wallpaper carousel, you can use it. ADB (Android Debug Bridge is suitable for advanced users, as it requires a command line.

First, prepare your computer and phone:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Turn on the debugging. USB Redmi 9: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Slip 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device.

Now we can start setting up. Here are some useful commands:

# Enable wallpaper carousel (if the option is hidden)


adb shell settings put global wallpaper_crop_and_set_extra_options 1




Set the wallpaper interval (in milliseconds, for example 3600000 = 1 hour)



adb shell settings put global wallpaper_change_interval 3600000




Add a folder with wallpaper to the carousel (replace /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Wallpapers on your way)



adb shell am broadcast -a com.miui.home.WALLPAPER_CHANGE --es wallpaper_path "/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Wallpapers"

After you've completed the commands, restart your phone. If the carousel doesn't work, check:

• 📁 Correct path to the folder with wallpaper (use File Manager)+ track-test).
• 🔢 The interval format (in milliseconds, for example, 10800000 = 3 hour).
• 🔧 Write rights to system settings (some firmware requires Magisk).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB It can lead to disruptions in work. MIUI. Before experimenting, back up the data through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Solving wallpaper carousel problems

If the wallpaper carousel is not working or is not working stable, use this troubleshooting instruction:

If the problem is not solved, try:

1. Remove and re-add the wallpaper to the carousel.
2. Check if the carousel conflicts with other apps (like Nova Launcher or Nova Launcher). KWGT).
3. Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in older versions, the carousel is unstable).
4. Reset the launcher settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Lawnchair → Warehouse → Reset the settings.

If none of these methods worked, maybe your version. MIUI It does not support wallpaper carousel, in which case you only need to use third-party applications (see "Alternative Ways»).

FAQ: Frequent questions about wallpaper carousel on Redmi 9