Wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Mi 9: how to turn on and configure automatic background change

The Xiaomi Mi 9 is still a popular device even after years, thanks to its powerful hardware and flexible MIUI settings. One of the most popular features is a wallpaper carousel that allows you to automatically change the background of the desktop on a schedule or when changing the time of day. However, many users face the problem: the option is either hidden in the depths of the menu or completely absent from the standard firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to turn on the wallpaper carousel on the Mi 9, from the official MIUI settings to custom firmware workarounds, how to configure image sources (including Google Photos and third-party galleries), set shift intervals, and avoid common bugs, and if the feature doesn’t work, find a solution in the troubleshooting section.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed

Wallpaper carousels (or dynamic wallpapers) are MIUI functions that automatically change the background of the desktop according to given rules. Unlike static images, they allow:

• 🔄 Refresh the appearance of the smartphone without manual intervention.
• 🌄 Adjust to the time of day (morning, afternoon, evening wallpaper).
• 📅 Synchronize with the calendar (for example, change the background for the holidays).
• 🖼️ Use albums from cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).

On the Xiaomi Mi 9, the feature runs on the MIUI 10 and later, but its implementation depends on the firmware version. In some builds, the option is called Live Wallpapers, in others, Carousel. The main difference from standard wallpapers is that the system itself selects images from given folders or thematic collections.

It's important to understand that the wallpaper carousel is not just a slideshow of photos. The MIUI algorithm analyzes the colors and composition of images to match the background that is in harmony with the current theme of the design, for example, if you use a dark theme, the system will prefer wallpaper with a predominance of black or blue.

Preparation of the smartphone: checking the version of MIUI and free space

Before setting up the wallpaper carousel, make sure your Xiaomi Mi 9 meets the minimum requirements:

To check the MIUI version, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If your firmware is older than MIUI 10.3, update it via Settings → System Update. Some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) may not have a wallpaper carousel due to Android One limitations.

⚠️ Note: If you use firmware from third-party developers (such as LineageOS or HavocOS), the wallpaper carousel function may not work correctly or is absent. MIUI Or use alternative applications (we will explain them below).

Also check the free space in the device's memory. The wallpaper carousel caches images, and if there is a lack of space, the function can shut down automatically. Optimally have at least 1 GB of free space in the Storage section.

Method 1: Enabling the carousel through standard MIUI settings

If your Xiaomi Mi 9 runs on the official MIUI 11 firmware or later, you can turn on the wallpaper carousel through the standard menu:

1. Open Settings and go to Wallpaper (or Lock and Wallpaper Screen).
2. Select the desktop wallpaper tab.
3. Scroll down and find the wallpaper carousel option (or Dynamic Wallpaper).
4. Activate the switch and adjust the settings: 📂 Source of Images: Select a folder, Google Photos or standard collections MIUI. ⏱️ Shift interval: from 1 hour to 1 day. 🔄 Random order: turn on if you want an unpredictable shift.

Save.

Apply

Version of MIUI (10.3+)

Free ≥1 GB of memory

Power-saving modes disabled

Selected wallpaper folder (≥10 images)-->

If the wallpaper carousel option is not on the menu, try an alternative path:

1. Long press on the desktop → Wallpaper.
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap on the icon. ⚙️ Settings.
3. Find the section Dynamic Wallpaper or Automatic Change.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.0.3 for Mi 9) wallpaper carousel is hidden behind the "Themes" option. → Wallpaper. → If there's no function, use method 2 or 3.

Method 2: Using the Themes app to set up a carousel

The Themes app in MIUI not only changes the design of the system, but also manages dynamic wallpaper to enable the carousel through it:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Wallpaper tab in the lower menu.
3. Choose Dynamic or Carousel category.
4. Slip on any set of wallpaper marked Automan.
5. Click Apply and configure the settings: 🕒 Shift time: Specify hours (e.g. every 6 hours). 🌓 Adaptability: Turn on the wallpaper to adjust to the time of day.

If the Themes app does not have a carousel section, upgrade it via the Mi App Store or install the latest version manually (you can download APK from themes.xiaomi.com).

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To make the carousel work smoothly, add at least 15 images with a resolution of ≥1080p to the selected folder. MIUI automatically crops the wallpaper under the Mi 9 screen, but the original quality affects the clarity.

Note that the Dynamic Themes wallpaper may take up more memory than the standard ones. If the smartphone starts to “slow down” after use, clear the Themes app cache in the settings.

Method 3: Third-party applications for automatic wallpaper change

If the standard methods didn’t work, use third-party utilities.The best options for Xiaomi Mi 9:

• 📱 Wallpaper Changer (Play Market): Supports Google Photos, Local Folders, and Time Shift or Geolocation Schedule.
• 🔄 Tapet: Generates unique wallpapers based on your preferences and changes them automatically.
• 🌅 Muzei Live Wallpaper: Uses images from the Internet (e.g., from Flickr or Flickr) 500px) and blur them into style MIUI.
• 📂 Wallpaper Carousel: a specialized carousel app with support MIUI.

To set up automatic shifts through Wallpaper Changer:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and give access to the storage.
3. Select a folder with wallpaper or connect Google Photos.
4. Set the shift interval in the Schedule section.
5. Activate the Apply to Home Screen option.

The main advantage of third-party apps is the flexibility of settings, for example, in Tapet you can change the wallpaper when you connect to Wi-Fi or when the battery level is low, but note that they consume more power than the built-in MIUI carousel.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

If the wallpaper carousel does not work or does not work correctly, check the following points:

If the wallpaper changes but looks blurry, check the screen settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen.
2. Make sure that Automatic Brightness (affects the adaptability of the wallpaper) is enabled.
3. Check the screen resolution: it should be FHD+ (2280×1080).

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi Mi 9 with unlocked bootloader and custom recavery (TWRP) The wallpaper carousel may conflict with Magisk modules. If after installing the root rights, the wallpaper stops changing, try disabling modules associated with the system. UI (for example, MIUI Mods).

Additional settings: adaptation to the time of day and events

MIUI allows you to adjust the wallpaper carousel so that it reacts to:

• ⏰ Daytime: Morning, afternoon, evening and night wallpaper.
• 📅 Calendar: changing backgrounds to holidays or important dates.
• 🌦️ Weather: Wallpaper varies depending on sun/rain/snow (access to geolocation is required).
• 🔋 Charge level: for example, dark wallpaper with low battery charge.

To activate adaptive wallpaper:

1. In the menu of the carousel (Settings → Wallpaper → Carousel) turn on the option Adaptive wallpaper.
2. Select thematic collections (e.g. Nature, City, Abstraction).
3. Set up the rules of the change: Morning (6:00–12:00) → Bright wallpaper Day (12:00–18:00) → Bright wallpaper Evening (18:00–0:00) → Dark wallpaper Night (0:00–6:00) → Black and white wallpaper

To synchronize with the calendar:

1. Connect your Mi Cloud or Google account in your smartphone settings.
2. In the merry-go-round menu, select Calendar Events.
3. Specify how many days before the event the wallpaper should change (for example, 1 day).

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Adaptive wallpapers consume more power than a standard carousel, as they require access to geolocation and calendar, and if autonomy is important, turn off those options or reduce the refresh rate.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions