How to remove photos from the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi: all ways 2026

Why do photos stay in the wallpaper carousel even after being removed from the gallery?

Have you ever encountered a situation where you deleted a photo from a Xiaomi gallery, but it still appears on the wallpaper list when you try to change the background of your desktop? This is a common problem for smartphone users on MIUI, Xiaomi's branded shell, the fact that the system caches thumbnails of wallpaper in a separate database that is not synchronized with the main gallery.

Moreover, some photos can enter the carousel automatically – for example, screenshots, uploaded images from messengers or even random pictures from cloud storage. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to remove photos from the wallpaper carousel, including hidden settings. MIUI, Clearing the cache and bypassing restrictions through the file system, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13, where the algorithm of the wallpaper carousel was changed in the latest versions of the firmware.

Before you go to the instructions, make sure that the problem is not due to duplicate files. Sometimes photos are saved to multiple folders at the same time (for example, in DCIM/Camera and Pictures/Screenshots).

Method 1: Remove through the standard wallpaper menu (works on MIUI 14 and later)

Since MIUI 14, the developers have added the ability to remove photos directly from the wallpaper selection interface, but this method does not work on all models and requires several conditions:

• 📱 The smartphone should be on the firmware MIUI 14 or higher (check in Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI).
• 🖼️ The photo should not be a system wallpaper (the ones that come with a smartphone).
• 🔄 The image should not be used as wallpaper on another desktop or in the application folder.

To remove the photo through the wallpaper menu:

1. Long press on the free space on the desktop.
2. Choose Wallpaper (or Themes on some models).
3. Go to the My Wallpaper or Gallery section.
4. Find the desired image, click on it and hold your finger for 2-3 seconds.
5. In the menu that appears, select Remove or the basket icon.

⚠️ Note: If the Remove option is inactive (grey), then the photo is protected by the system.

Check out the MIUI version (should be 14+)

Make sure that the photo is not used on another screen

Close all apps that work with the gallery (e.g. Google Photos)

Reboot your smartphone if the removal option does not appear-->

Method 2: Clearing the cache of the "Wallpaper" and "Themes" application

If a photo is deleted from the gallery but continues to show up in the carousel, the problem is most likely cached data. MIUI stores thumbnails of wallpaper in a separate cache that is not automatically cleared.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, enter Wallpaper (or Themes for some models).
3. Select the Wallpaper app (mountain landscape icon).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
5. Repeat the steps for the Topic app (if it is on the list).
6. Reboot your smartphone.

After the reboot, check the wallpaper carousel - unnecessary photos should disappear. If this does not happen, try to further clear the cache of Google Photos (if installed) and Galleries. On some models (POCO F5, Xiaomi 12T), cleaning the MiuiSystemUI application data also helps, but this can reset some interface settings.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the data (no cache!) of the Wallpaper application, this will result in the reset of all custom wallpapers to standard ones.

MIUI 14

MIUI 13

MIUI 12 or older

I don't know what version.-->

Method 3: Delete via File Manager (for power users)

If the first two methods fail, you will have to manually search and delete wallpaper files from system folders, which requires root rights or at least access to hidden folders through a file manager (for example, a file manager, FX File Explorer or Root Explorer on Xiaomi models MIUI 14+ The path to wallpaper has changed - now they are stored in the /data/system_users/0/wallpaper/ instead of a traditional folder /data/data/.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Install a file manager with root access support (e.g. MiXplorer).
2. Cross the path: /data/data/com.android.wallpaper/files/wallpapers/ or (for new versions): /data/system_users/0/wallpaper/
3. Find files with the extension.jpg,.png or.webp – these are cached wallpapers.
4. Delete unnecessary files (you can copy them to another folder in case of an error).
5. Clear the Wallpaper app cache (as in Method 2) and reboot the smartphone.

If you don’t have root rights, try using them. ADB-Delete files commands. Connect your smartphone to your PC, turn on Debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB) and do it:

adb shell


su




rm -rf /data/data/com.android.wallpaper/files/wallpapers/*




exit




exit

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from system folders without backup can cause wallpaper to reset to standard or even interface errors. If the screen turns black after removal, restart the smartphone in Safe Mode (Power button) → Restarting in Safe Mode).

Method 4: Using third-party wallpaper management applications

If system methods do not help, you can use third-party applications that allow you to manage wallpaper bypassing the limitations of MIUI.

• 🎨 Wallpaper Changer – allows you to assign wallpaper from any folders, ignoring the system carousel.
• 🖼️ Muzei Live Wallpaper – replaces the standard wallpaper system with its own, with the possibility of manual control.
• 🔄 Nova Launcher – if you use this launcher, it offers its own wallpaper change mechanism, independent of the use of the new platform. MIUI.

Example of settings through Nova Launcher:

1. Install Nova Launcher from Google Play.
2. Assign it to the default launcher (at the first start, the system will prompt you to do this).
3. Long press on the desktop → Wallpaper.
4. Select the Gallery and specify the folder from which the wallpaper should not be loaded (for example, create a new Wallpapers folder and transfer only the desired images there).

The advantage of this method is that Nova Launcher completely ignores the MIUI system carousel, so there will be no problems with ghost wallpaper, but keep in mind that when you return to the standard launcher, the problem may return.

💡

If you change wallpapers frequently, create a separate folder (like MyWallpapers) and only store current images there. Then, in the launcher or wallpaper app settings, specify the path to this folder so you avoid getting unnecessary photos into the carousel.

Why can’t some of the wallpaper be removed?

Some photos in the Xiaomi wallpaper carousel are protected by the system and cannot be removed by standard methods.

• 🔒 System wallpaper – images that come with a smartphone (usually stored in a computer) /system/media/wallpapers/).
• 🌐 Cloud Wallpaper – uploaded through Xiaomi Themes (they can only be removed through the app’s cache reset Themes).
• 📱 Wallpaper by default – those assigned to new desktops or folders (you can delete them only through ADB root).

If you're trying to remove the wallpaper, the system will either ignore the command or return it after the reboot, in which case the only way out is to hide it from the list of available wallpaper.

1. Set another image as wallpaper.
2. Go to the Settings → Wallpaper → My wallpaper →
3. Find the problem wallpaper, click on it and select Remove from your favorites (if the option is available).
4. If you don’t have an option, use ADB to rename the file (see Method 3).

On some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi K60) system wallpapers are stored in.webp format with read-only rights.

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Use it. ADB with the team: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system mv /system/media/wallpapers/old_wallpaper.webp /system/media/wallpapers/old_wallpaper.bak exit

💡

System wallpaper can’t be removed without root rights, but it can be hidden from the list of available ones or renamed via ADB. This won’t delete the file completely, but will make it unselectable.

How to prevent unnecessary photos from getting into the wallpaper carousel?

To avoid problems with unnecessary photos in the wallpaper in the future, follow these recommendations:

• 📁 Sort files by folder – create separate directories for screenshots, memes and personal photos. MIUI By default, it scans only folders on wallpaper. DCIM, Pictures and Download.
• 🚫 Eliminate folders from media scanning – add the.nomedia file to folders that should not be displayed in the gallery (for example, for screenshots from messengers).
• 🔄 Turn off automatic wallpaper loading - in Settings → Topics → Settings to disable the option Automatic loading wallpaper.
• 🌐 Do not use cloud wallpapers – they are cached in the system and can remain even after deleting your Xiaomi account.

If you often take screenshots that automatically land on the wallpaper carousel, change the default save folder:

1. Open the settings → Additional → Screenshots.
2. Select the Save folder and specify a new directory (e.g. Screenshots/Temp).
3. Create a.nomedia file in this folder so that it is not scanned by the gallery.

The MIUI 13+ POCO and Redmi models also have the option to Hide Private Albums in the gallery settings, and if you turn it on, photos from hidden folders won’t show up in the wallpaper carousel.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing wallpaper on Xiaomi