Wallpaper carousel in MIUI 12 on Xiaomi: how to turn on and configure in 5 minutes

MIUI 12 has brought Xiaomi users a lot of visual innovations, including a wallpaper carousel, a dynamic background change system on the lock screen and desktop. However, not all device owners know that this feature can be hidden in the depths of settings or completely disabled by default on some models. In this article, we will not just show how to turn on the carousel, but also reveal the hidden capabilities of MIUI 12, allowing you to customize the automatic change of wallpapers to your preferences, from refresh intervals to image sources.

The problem is that MIUI interfaces often change depending on regional firmware, shell version, and even smartphone model. What works on the Redmi Note 10 Pro may not be available on the Mi 11 Ultra with global firmware. We took these nuances into account and prepared a universal guide that covers 90% of devices on MIUI 12. And if your case turns out to be unique, at the end of this article you will find alternative methods and answers to frequent questions.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed

The wallpaper carousel in MIUI 12 is not just about changing background images automatically, it's a complete personalization system that:

• 🔄 Dynamically updates wallpaper on the lock screen and desktop according to a given schedule (1 hour to 1 day).
• 🌄 Supports thematic collections: landscapes, abstractions, minimalism, as well as wallpaper from Xiaomi partners (for example, Unsplash or WallpapersCraft).
• 🎨 Synchronizes with system themes, adjusting the color scheme to the chosen design style.
• 📱 Works in tandem with the function "Super Wallpaper" (on supported devices), creating 3D-screen-scrolling effects.

The main advantage of the carousel is to get rid of routine. You no longer have to manually search and install new wallpapers: the system will find the right options from the built-in or online collections. In addition, the feature is useful for those who like variety, but do not want to waste time on customization. For example, in the morning you will see a calm landscape, in the afternoon - a motivating quote, and in the evening - a dark abstraction that does not strain the eyes.

But there's a downside: on some firmware, the carousel is disabled by default or unstable, and this is due to performance optimization, Xiaomi is trying to reduce the background activity of the system on budget devices, and fortunately, you can manually turn it on, and then we'll show you how to do this.

Preparation: Check the MIUI version and compatibility

Before you start setting up, make sure your device supports a wallpaper carousel.The feature is available on all smartphones with MIUI 12 and newer, but there are nuances:

To check the MIUI version, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If you have a version below 12.0.1.0, update the system first:

1. Open Settings → Update the system.
2. Click Check Updates and wait for the latest version to download.
3. If the update doesn’t come, check the firmware region (global, Chinese, EEA).

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If you have Chinese firmware (China ROM), the wallpaper carousel can be called (dynamic wallpaper) or (paper carousel).

Also make sure that the device has enough free space – the carousel caches the wallpaper, and requires at least 500 MB of free memory to work steadily. If the disk space runs out, the system can automatically turn off the function.

Method 1: Enabling the carousel through standard settings

On most MIUI 12 devices, the wallpaper carousel is turned on via the personalization menu.

1. Open Settings and go to Wallpaper (or Lock Screen → Wallpaper on some models).
2. Choose the Wallpaper Carousel (can be called Dynamic Wallpaper or Wallpaper Driver).
3. Activate the switch at the top of the screen.
4. Set up the parameters: 🕒 Shift interval: from 1 hour to 24 hours. 📂 Source of wallpaper: local, online collections or both. 🔄 Apply to: Lock screen, desktop or both.

Save.

Apply

Added at least 3 wallpapers to the carousel |

Selected shift interval at least 1 time per hour |

The option "Use mobile Internet" (if you need online wallpaper) has been activated |

Checked display on the lock screen and desktop-->

If the item Carousel wallpaper is not on the menu, try an alternative way:

1. Hold your finger on the empty space on the desktop.
2. In the menu that appears, select Wallpaper.
3. Scroll down to the Additional or Settings section – there may be a carousel option hidden.

Method 2: Activate through themes (for hidden firmware)

On some devices, especially custom or regional firmware, the wallpaper carousel is hidden in the theme menu, which works even if the standard method didn't work:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush and palette).
2. Go to the wallpaper section (in the lower menu).
3. At the top of the screen, look for the Carousel or Dynamic tab.
4. Press Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
5. Activate the Auto Wallpaper Option and set the settings: 🎨 Collection: Select a wallpaper package (e.g., "Nature", "Minimalism"). ⏳ 6 hours recommended to balance diversity and performance. 📶 Mobile Download: Turn off if you want to save traffic.

If the Themes app doesn’t have a carousel section, update it via Google Play or the App Store (for global firmware). On Chinese firmware, the app is updated through Settings → Apps → Application Management → Themes → Update.

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When using online wallpaper, the carousel consumes up to 10-15 MB of traffic per month. If you have a limited rate, select only local wallpaper or turn off mobile download.

Important: After activating the carousel through Topics, changes may not apply immediately. Give the system 5-10 minutes to sync, especially if you have chosen online collections. If the wallpaper does not change, restart the device.

Solving the problem: the carousel is not working

If you have turned on the carousel but the wallpaper doesn’t change, check out the following points:

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5 Enhanced carousel may conflict with Adaptive Wallpaper (change colors depending on the time of day). → Display. → Adaptive wallpaper.

• 🔋 Charge saving: In Ultra-saving or Battery saving mode, background processes (including carousel) are turned off. Add the Topics app to the exceptions.
• 📵 Data Limitation: If you have selected online wallpaper, check if the Themes app is blocked in your mobile Internet settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data → Background restriction).
• 🔄 Cash and data: Clear the app's cache Topics in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔒 Blockers: Antiviruses or optimizers (such as Security or Clean Master) can block the automan.

If the problem persists, try resetting the wallpaper settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics.
2. Press Warehouse. → Delete the data.
3. ⚠️ Warning: This will reset all your themes and wallpapers to factory settings.Previously take screenshots of the current wallpaper if you want to save them.
4. After resetting, reconfigure the carousel according to the instructions above.

On some devices (e.g., the POCO F3 with MIUI 12.5), the carousel is unstable due to an error in the com.miui.gallery system service.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → All applications.
2. Find the gallery and click Stop.
3. Reset the device.
4. Turn on the carousel again through the Topics.

Alternative methods: if the standard methods do not work

If none of the above methods worked, try these alternative solutions:

Method 1: Use of third-party applications

Apps like Wallpaper Changer or Muzei can replace the standard MIUI carousel, offering more features, including:

• 🖼️ Integration with Google Photos, Flickr, Reddit.
• ⏱️ Flexible interval settings (from 1 minute to 1 week).
• 🎨 Filters and effects for wallpaper.

To set up:

1. Install Muzei from Google Play.
2. Open the app and select the source of the wallpaper (e.g. Earth View for satellite imagery).
3. In the settings, specify the refresh interval and apply the wallpaper.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party wallpaper change apps may conflict with Super Wallpaper MIUI. If Muzei is lost after installation 3D-effects, disable the driver in standard settings.

Method 2: Manual updates through ADB

For advanced users: if the carousel is displayed in the settings, but does not work, you can force it to turn on through ADB:

adb shell settings put global wallpaper_carousel_enabled 1


adb shell settings put global wallpaper_carousel_interval 360

360 is the interval in minutes (in the example, 6 hours). After you execute the commands, restart the device.

Method 3: Installation of custom firmware

On older devices (such as the Redmi Note 7), the carousel may be missing due to iron limitations, such as installing custom firmware based on MIUI 12, for example:

• MIUI EU (European assembly with advanced functions)
• Xiaomi.eu (unofficial firmware with support for all features).
• Pixel Experience (if you want a completely different interface)

⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware requires unlocking the bootloader and may result in loss of warranty.Before the procedure, back up the data via Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Optimization of the carousel: tips and tricks

To the wallpaper carousel worked stably and did not waste unnecessary resources, follow these recommendations:

• 📁 Local Wallpaper: If you use your images, place them in a folder DCIM → Wallpapers.The system will automatically add them to the carousel.
• 🌐 Online Collections: Choose packages marked Optimized – they are adapted to your screen resolution and weigh less.
• 🔋 Battery savings: Set a shift interval of no more than 1 time every 6 hours to minimize background activity.
• 🎨 Color schemes: C Settings → Display. → Select the Auto color scheme to adjust the wallpaper to the system theme.

For devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 or Redmi) K40) recommended:

• Use dark wallpaper to save charge.
• Turn off animations in Settings → Special features → Remove animations if the carousel slows down.
• Turn on Adaptive Brightness so that the wallpaper adjusts to the lighting.

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Create an album in Google Photos called Wallpapers and add your favorite wallpapers. The Muzei app can automatically pull up images from there, updating them each time you add new photos.

If you notice that the carousel slows down the system, check the memory usage:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Topics.
2. See how much RAM the process consumes.
3. If the value exceeds 150 MB, clear the cache or reduce the number of wallpapers in the carousel.

Frequent questions and answers