How to make a removable wallpaper on Xiaomi MIUI 12: step-by-step instructions

The MIUI 12 has brought many visual improvements to the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone ecosystem, with the “Replaceable Wallpaper” feature being one of the most notable, allowing you to automatically change the background image on your lock screen and desktop at a certain frequency, creating a sense of novelty every time you pick up the device.

Many users have difficulty activating this feature, as the firmware settings may be called differently or hidden in non-obvious menus in different regions. In this article, we will take a look at all the nuances of the setup so that you can enjoy dynamic content effortlessly.

Implementing live and removable images not only graces the interface, but can also be a source of inspiration or useful information if the relevant topics are chosen, so let's look at how to properly activate this mechanism and what features it hides.

What is the function of the replaceable wallpaper in MIUI 12

Replaceable wallpaper is a system service that automatically uploads and replaces background images at predetermined intervals. Unlike the standard gallery, where the image is static, this tool accesses Xiaomi cloud storage or local albums to form slideshows.

The feature of the implementation in MIUI 12 is the separation of streams for the lock screen and the main screen. You can configure that on the locked device to change high-quality photos of nature, and on the desktop – abstract patterns or your personal shots.

⚠️ Note: Using the feature requires a constant internet connection when selecting online sources, which can consume mobile operator traffic.

Technically, the process works through a background service that caches images, which means that even with a temporary absence of the network, the last images uploaded will continue to change until the buffer is exhausted.

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The feature works regardless of the theme of the design, but some third-party themes can overlap the system settings of the wallpaper.

Where to find the settings in the smartphone menu

The access to background management in Xiaomi is unified, but the path to it may vary slightly depending on the version of the android.The standard algorithm of actions begins with the main screen.

Press and hold your finger on the empty area of your desktop until the edit menu appears. In the bottom corner, select Wallpaper. This is where all the tools for personalizing your visual style are concentrated.

An alternative path is through system settings. Go to Settings, find Wallpaper or Always on screen and wallpaper. In some MIUI builds, the desired switch is located inside the Themes app in the bottom navigation bar.

• 📱 Press and hold your finger on your desktop for quick access.
• ⚙️ Use the search bar in the settings on request "Wallpaper».
• 🎨 Launch the “Themes” app and go to profile.

The menu interface is intuitive, but it's important not to confuse static collections with dynamic ones. Look for an icon that resembles a stack of photos or says "Replaceable wallpaper."

Step-by-step activation of slideshow

Once you log into the image source selection menu, the system will offer several options, and you need to select the appropriate mode to start the automatic change, usually marked as "Replaceable Wallpaper" or "Wallpaper Carousel".

Click on the source you select, and you'll open a preview window where you can see exactly what the images will look like, and you'll also have a switch on the wallpaper switch, activate it, and you'll put the slider in the active position.

The system can request permission to access the storage or geolocation (to display local landscapes), without granting these rights, the functionality will be limited, agree with all requests for proper operation.

And the important thing to note is that you can use the settings instantly, so you can lock the screen and check the result, and if the picture doesn't change, maybe the update timer has expired or you don't have the Internet.

Setting up sources and periodicity

The flexibility of MIUI 12 allows you to fine-tune the behavior of a slideshow, so you're not tied to just one set of images, and there are several categories available, each with its own characteristics.

You can set the refresh interval under Shift Frequency, and the options range from "Every time you turn on" to "Once a day," depending on your preference: frequent shifts give you variety, rare shifts don't distract.

When choosing My Albums category, the system will suggest specifying specific folders in your phone's memory, which is a great way to create a slideshow of photos of family, pets or travel.

Some categories, such as Travel, can upload heavy images in high resolution.If you have tariff-charged traffic, it's best to use Wi-Fi to initially upload the cache.

Work with local albums and gallery

Using personal photos is the most popular scenario, allowing you to personalize your device beyond recognition, but there are technicalities that you should be aware of.

When you select a local source, the system creates a virtual link to folders, so if you delete the original photos from the gallery, they will disappear from the interchangeable wallpaper.

To access the local slideshow settings, go to My Wallpaper or Local. Click on the gear icon or three-dot menu to select specific albums. You can combine multiple folders at once.

⚠️ Note: The image format should be supported by the system (JPG, PNG). Files in format HEIC iPhones may not be displayed without conversion.

The orientation of the photos also plays a role: vertical shots are better for the lock screen, horizontal or square for the desktop, and the system automatically crops the image, but the result may not always be perfect.

Solving problems and mistakes

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users sometimes experience situations where interchangeable wallpapers stop working, most often due to the aggressive battery optimization characteristic of MIUI.

If the images stop changing, check the power saving settings, find Wallpaper or Wallpaper Carousel in the list of applications, and set the "No Limits" mode, which will prevent the system from unloading the process from memory.

Also, the problem can be in a crowded cache: Clearing the data of the Themes or Wallpaper application through the application menu often solves the problem of hanging the slideshow. Don't be afraid to reset the settings of this module, your personal photos will not disappear.

• 🔋 Check the energy saving mode for wallpaper service.
• 🧹 Clear the cache of the “Themes” application in the settings.
• 📶 Make sure the internet connection is stable.

In rare cases, a conflict may be caused by an installed third-party theme, so try switching temporarily to a standard Classic or Default theme to see if the background change will resume.

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If the removable wallpaper only works on a locked screen, check the Wallpaper Carousel settings in the Security app - there may be additional content filters there.

Impact on autonomy and productivity

The effect of dynamic wallpaper on the battery is a concern for many, and in theory, the constant loading of images and the operation of the light sensor (to adapt brightness) should be expendable.

In practice, MIUI 12 is a smart optimization processor that doesn't load all the time, but only accesses the network and the display when the screen is activated, and the difference in autonomy between static and removable images is less than 1-2% per day.

However, if you use live wallpaper (video background) in combination with interchangeable static, the load on the GPU increases, in which cases the smartphone may warm slightly with frequent use.

For owners of devices with AMOLED-Using dark themes in combination with interchangeable wallpaper can even save energy, since black pixels do not consume current.

⚠️ Warning: On older smartphones with low RAM (less than 3 GB), frequent heavy image change can cause micro-delays when unlocking.

So for most modern Xiaomi devices, this feature is safe and doesn’t require shutting down for the sake of saving charge.