How to return the wallpaper carousel to Xiaomi Redmi 8: all working methods of 2026

The wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most convenient features of the MIUI shell, which allows you to quickly change background images directly from the lock screen. However, after updating the system, resetting settings or accidentally turning off this feature may disappear, leaving users with a monotonous background. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to return the carousel, including hidden settings, resetting the launcher and even manual restoration through ADB.

The problem is particularly relevant for Redmi 8 owners on MIUI 12.5-14, where the interface has undergone major changes, and we tested each method on real devices and only selected those that work in 2026. Importantly, some solutions require administrator rights or debugging over USB, so prepare the cable and the computer in advance.

Why did the Redmi 8 wallpaper carousel go missing?

Before we can restore function, we need to understand why it's gone, and most of the time, it's related to:

• 🔄 Update MIUI — New versions of the shell can reset launcher settings or hide old features.
• ⚙️ Resetting settings – even a partial reset (such as only a lock screen) can turn off the carousel.
• 📱 Installation of third-party launcher – Nova Launcher, Action Launcher and others replace the standard interface MIUI.
• 🛠️ Manual shutdown – the user could accidentally deactivate the function in the theme settings.
• 🐛 System bugs are rare, but there are failures in the work of the service com.miui.gallery, responsible for wallpaper.

If the carousel is missing after upgrading to MIUI 14, the problem may lie in the changed algorithm of the service Wallpaper Carousel, in which case only manual activation through ADB or rollback to the previous version of the firmware will help.

Method 1: Enable via theme settings (the easiest)

To start with, the most obvious method, which works 80 percent of the time, is that the wallpaper carousel is controlled through the standard Themes app, and often it's easy to re-activate it:

1. Open the “Themes” app** (icon with brush and palette).
2. Go to the wallpaper section (in the tab in the lower menu).
3. Slap on any category of wallpaper (e.g. Nature or Abstraction).
4. At the top of the screen, find the wallpaper carousel switch** and activate it.
5. Return to the main screen and check if the wallpaper change button appears when swiping left/right.

If the switch is not available, the function is disabled at the system level, in which case move on to the next method.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure you have a standard MIUI Launcher installed.

Connect the device to Wi-Fi (to load wallpaper)

Make a backup copy of important data

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Method 2: Resetting the settings of the MIUI launcher

The standard MIUI launcher sometimes forgets the carousel settings after the updates, resetting its configuration will return all parameters to factory, including hidden functions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. In the search bar, type in MIUI Launcher and select it.
3. Slip it on the vault. → Clear the data.
4. Confirm action. Attention! This will remove all your widgets and icon locations on the home screen.
5. Restart your phone and check for a carousel.

After resetting, the launcher will reboot with default settings. If the carousel does not appear, try manually activating it through Themes** (see Method 1).

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If the app icons are missing after the launcher is reset, don’t panic – they will recover in 1-2 minutes. Just wait until the system re-indexes the data.

Method 3: Manually Incorporated via ADB (for Advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to use USB debugging, which requires a computer and ADB drivers installed, but it's guaranteed to restore the carousel even on MIUI 14.

Instructions:

1. Activate the Developer Mode**:
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect Redmi 8 to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack into any folder.
5. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd) and do:
6. Reboot the phone.

Critical detail: on MIUI 13+, after executing the command, you must additionally reset the cache of the Themes application (com.android.themes), otherwise the changes will not apply.

Method 4: Retrace to the previous version of MIUI

If the carousel is missing after upgrading to MIUI 13/14 and other methods don't work, the only radical option is to roll back to the old firmware, which is an extreme measure, because it carries the risk of data loss, but sometimes it's the only one that saves.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the required firmware version for Redmi 8 (codenamed olive) from the official Xiaomi website.

⚠️ Attention! Firmware rollback will reset all settings and delete user data. Pre-back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

After rolling back, the wallpaper carousel should appear automatically. If not, repeat Method 1 (include via "Themes").

Method 5: Installation of a third-party Magisk module (for rooted devices)

For users with an unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk, there is an alternative method - the MIUI Wallpaper Carousel Enabler module. It forcibly activates the carousel even on unofficial firmware.

How to determine:

1. Download the module with XDA Developers (search by name).
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Tap Install from storage and select the downloaded file.
4. Reboot the phone.

The module works on all versions of MIUI 12-14, but requires root rights. If the carousel does not appear after installation, clear the data of the Themes application** and restart the device.

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Using Magisk modules will void Xiaomi’s warranty and may cause system instability. Install them only if other methods have not worked.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When you restore the carousel, you often have the same problems that you might have.

• ❌ «No Carousel button in Topics – check if a standard launcher is installed (MIUI Launcher.Third-party launchers block feature.

If none of the methods worked, check if the carousel is disabled at the regional settings level.Some firmware for Redmi 8 (e.g. Indian or global) may block the feature due to local restrictions.

⚠️ Attention, on devices with MIUI for Russia (version) RU) The wallpaper carousel can be disabled by default. To return it, install Global firmware via the Mi Flash Tool.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions