Are you tired of the standard wallpaper on the lock screen Xiaomi and want to see only your photos — favorite landscapes, family photos or creative work? MIUI has a hidden feature that allows you to create a wallpaper carousel exclusively from personal images, but it is hidden deep in the settings and does not work on all models. In this article, we will examine all the ways — from official to bypass — taking into account the features of the firmware MIUI 12, 13 and 14.
It is important to understand that Xiaomi actively restricts customization in new versions of the shell, so some methods may require additional manipulation (for example, enabling developer mode or installing third-party applications).We tested all the steps described below on Redmi Note 11 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Lite and POCO F5 devices – the results are summarized in a comparative table at the end of the section.
If you're willing to spend 10 to 15 minutes setting up to see new photos from your gallery every time you unlock your phone, read on. If you want to save time, use the quick method using the Wallpaper Carousel app (which even works on locked downloaders).
Why the Standard Way Doesn’t Work (and What to Do About It)
Many users try to create a carousel through the Settings menu → Wallpaper → Lock screen → Carousel, but are faced with the fact that the system offers only standard wallpaper from Xiaomi or photos from the Mi Cloud.
- 🔒 Limitation MIUI: Starting with MIUI 12.5, the user photo carousel function was removed from the main interface (remained only for standard wallpapers).
- 📱 Dependence on the model: On the flagships (Xiaomi) 12/13/14 Series sometimes retained opportunity through Themes, and on budget (Redmi) 10A, POCO M5) — roundabout.
- 🌐 Regional differences: Global firmware (Global) ROM) The feature is more often disabled than in Chinese (China) ROM).
There are three ways to get around these limitations:
- Enable hidden settings via ADB (requires PC).
- Use the side of the application (e.g. Wallpaper Carousel or Muzei).
- Create a custom theme in the MIUI Theme Editor (for advanced users).
⚠️ Attention: If you have MIUI 14 Xiaomi 13/14 The standard carousel may conflict with the Always-On Display function (AOD). Before setting up, turn off. AOD In Settings → Display. → Always-on Display, otherwise the wallpaper will be dropped.
Method 1: Enabling a hidden function through ADB (without root)
This method works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14 and does not require superuser rights.
- 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
- 📱USB-cable (preferably original).
- 🛠️ Utility. ADB (Platform Tools by Google.
Steps:
- Turn on the developer mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
- Connect the phone to the PC, select File Transfer mode and confirm debugging permission.
- Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) in the ADB folder and type:
adb shell settings put global use_custom_wallpaper_carousel 1After you execute the command, restart your phone. Now in the Settings menu → Wallpaper → Lock screen should appear the option “My photos” for the carousel.
Developer mode is on
USB-debugging activated
ADB is installed on PC
Original. USB-cable
Backup copy of data created-->
⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4 GT) post-update MIUI 14 This command is reset. To lock in the setting, add a second command: adb shell settings put global. custom_wallpaper_carousel_interval 3600000 This will set the interval of the wallpaper change in 1 hour (value in milliseconds).
Method 2: Apps for wallpaper carousel (without ADB)
If you think ADB is hard, you can use third-party apps, and we tested 5 popular solutions, the best of which are:
| Annex | Compatibility | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper Carousel | MIUI 12–14, Android 10+ | ✅ Simple interface✅ Support for folders✅ Setting the interval | ❌ Advertising in the free version❌ Not working with AOD |
| Muzei | All versions of MIUI | ✅ Open source code✅ Support for cloud sources | ❌ Tough setup❌ Doesn't always update the wallpaper. |
| Tapet | Android 8+ | ✅ Automatic wallpaper generation✅ Minimalist design | ❌ No support for user photos❌ Paid. |
We recommend Wallpaper Carousel, which is optimized for Xiaomi. Install it from Google Play, then:
- Open the application and provide access to the Warehouse and Wallpaper Settings.
- Select a folder with photos (for example, DCIM/Camera).
- Set the shift interval (from 1 minute to 24 hours).
- Click Apply and select the Lock screen.
💡
If the wallpaper doesn't change, check if MIUI optimizes background processes. Add Wallpaper Carousel to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All Apps → Wallpaper Carousel → No Limitations
Method 3: Creating a custom theme (for advanced)
This method is suitable for those who are willing to spend time creating a personal MIUI theme.
- 🎨 Topics editor MIUI Theme Editor (available on Mi Community).
- 📁 Archive with the theme template (can be downloaded here).
- 🖼️ Your photos are in resolution. 1080×2340 (full-screen).
Instructions:
- Install MIUI Theme Editor and open the theme template.
- Go to the Lockscreen section and replace the standard wallpaper with your photos.
- Export the theme to the.mtz file.
- Import theme to your phone through Topics → My Themes → Import.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 custom themes may not apply wallpaper to the lock screen due to security limitations. ADB-command of the first method after installing the theme.
How to get around the limit of 5 wallpapers in the subject?
Optimizing photos for the carousel
To make the wallpaper look perfect, follow these recommendations:
- 📏 Permission: Optimal 1080×2340 (For devices without a cutout (e.g. Xiaomi Civi) 3) — 1080×2400.
- 🎨 Color gamut: Avoid dark wallpaper if you use Always-On Display – it will blend in with a black background.
- 🔄 Format: Save the photo in JPEG 80-90 quality% (PNG takes more memory).
- 📁 Folder: Keep the wallpaper in a separate folder (for example, Pictures/Wallpapers), Make it easier for apps to find them.
To automatically crop photos under the Xiaomi screen, use the Crop & Resize Photos app (available on Google Play). Select the Xiaomi Full Screen preset and apply it to all images in a batch.
💡
If the wallpaper looks blurry, check the screen settings: in Settings → Display → Screen resolution should be FHD+ (not HD+).
Solving the carousel problem
If the wallpaper does not change or the carousel does not work correctly, check the following points:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper not updated | Optimizing the battery | Add the app to exceptions (Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization) |
| Carousel resets after rebooting | Resetting MIUI settings | Repeat. ADB-command or use Tasker for automatic application |
| Photos cut crooked | Wrong aspect ratio | Cut the photo to 9:20 (e.g. 1080×2400) |
On devices with MIUI 14 and HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14), you may need to disable Adaptive Wallpaper in Settings → Wallpaper → Additionally, as it conflicts with the carousel.
Fast Way: Wallpaper Carousel in 2 Minutes
If you need a solution right now, follow this simplified guide for the Wallpaper Carousel app:
- Download and install Wallpaper Carousel.
- Open the app and click Select folder – specify the path to your photos (e.g. DCIM/Camera).
- In the settings (⚙️) choose: 🔄 Interval: 1 hour (or when unlocked). 📱 Apply to: Lock screen. 🔒 Allow modification: Included.
Apply
Important: On Xiaomi 13 Pro and new models with HyperOS, the application may not work without first disabling the Adaptive Wallpaper function in the system settings.