Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, but even its owners are not always aware of the hidden capabilities of the MIUI shell. One of them is a wallpaper carousel that automatically changes the background of the desktop on a schedule or when you change theme. The feature is not available on all firmware and sometimes “hidden” in the depths of settings. In this article, we will analyze all the working ways of its activation, including workarounds for older versions of MIUI.
It’s important to understand that the wallpaper carousel on the Redmi 8 Pro can work differently depending on the regional firmware (Global, China, EEA) and the MIUI version (11 to 14).If you didn’t find this option in the standard settings, don’t get upset. We have prepared alternative methods, including the use of third-party launchers and hidden MIUI commands.
Before you start, check your firmware version: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version. If you have MIUI 12.5 or newer, the wallpaper carousel should be available by default. Older versions will require an upgrade or manual setup.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed
The wallpaper carousel is a MIUI feature that cycles the background images on the desktop and lock screen, and can operate in several modes:
- 🔄 Automatic timer change (every 5 minutes, hour, day).
- 🌅 Adaptive mode - wallpaper changes depending on the time of day (morning / day / evening / night).
- 🎨 Theme synchronization – the background is adjusted to the selected theme of design.
- 📱 Dynamic wallpaper - animated backgrounds (not available on all firmware).
The main advantages of the function:
1. Visual diversity: The screen of a smartphone won't get bored if the background changes automatically, and this is especially true for those who often look at the desktop.
2. Time savings. You don't have to manually pick new wallpapers -- the system does it for you.
3. Optimization for theme. On MIUI 13/14, the carousel can select wallpapers that harmonize with the color scheme of the interface.
But there are nuances:
⚠️ Note: Redmi 8 Pro with firmware MIUI 11 and below the wallpaper carousel may not work smoothly or may not work at all, in which case you will need to update or use third-party solutions.
Compatibility Check: Does your Redmi 8 Pro support wallpaper carousel?
Before you try to turn on the feature, make sure your device supports it.
- Open the settings → About the phone → version of MIUI.
- Compare the version with the table below.
| MIUI version | Wallpaper carousel support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 14 | ✅ Full support | The function is available in standard theme settings. |
| MIUI 12.5 – 13 | ✅ Partial support | You may need to manually activate through theme settings. |
| MIUI 11 – 12 | ⚠️ Limited support | The carousel only works for wallpaper from the MIUI Gallery. |
| MIUI 10 and below | ❌ No support. | An upgrade or third-party launcher is required. |
If your MIUI version is below 12.5 but you don’t want to upgrade, you can use workarounds:
- 📱 Install Nova Launcher launcher with support for automatic wallpaper change.
- 🔧 Enable the hidden function through ADB-Teams (for experienced users).
- 🌐 Use apps like Wallpaper Carousel or Muzei.
Method 1: Enabling the carousel through standard MIUI settings
If your Redmi 8 Pro runs on MIUI 12.5 or later, the easiest way to activate the carousel is through the themes menu.
- Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
- Go to the Wallpaper section (bottom of the screen).
- Select the category Carousel or Dynamic Wallpaper.
- Click on the wallpaper set you like and select Apply the carousel.
- In the window that opens, set the shift interval (from 5 minutes to 1 day).
If there is no Carousel section, try an alternative path:
- Hold your finger on the empty space on the desktop.
- Choose Wallpaper. → carousel.
- Activate the automatic switch.
On some firmware (MIUI 13 for EEA), the carousel may be called Smart Wallpapers or Dynamic Wallpapers. If you don't see these points, then the feature is disabled at the regional firmware level.
Check the MIUI version in the settings
Update the Themes app on Google Play
Clear the cache of the “Themes” app (Settings → Applications → Themes → Storage)
Reboot your smartphone before setting up-->
Method 2: Manual addition of wallpaper to the carousel (for MIUI 11-12)
On older versions of MIUI, the standard carousel may not be available, but you can create a manual version of it.
- Download a few wallpapers to the gallery (for example, through Google Photos or Pinterest).
- Open the Topic app → Wallpaper → My Wallpaper.
- Click on the + (add) icon and select the uploaded images.
- After adding, hold your finger on any wallpaper and select the carousel settings.
- Activate the Automatic Shift option and set the interval.
Important: On MIUI 11, the carousel only works with wallpaper added through the Themes app. Images from the gallery will not participate in automatic change.
If this method doesn’t work, try the following workaround:
- 📁 Create a Wallpapers folder at the root of internal memory.
- 🖼️ Place the wallpaper there (permission at least) 1080×2340 for Redmi 8 Pro).
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and repeat the steps above.
💡
If the carousel doesn't start, try resetting the Themes app: Go to Settings → Apps → Application Management → Themes → Storage → Clear the data. After that, the feature may appear.
Method 3: Using ADB to force the carousel to be turned on
If standard methods don’t work, you can try activating the hidden function via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for power users and requires a computer.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on Developer Mode on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI Version until you become a developer notification appears.
USB debugging
Settings → Additional → For Developers
Redmi 8 Pro
ADB Tools
Platform Tools by Google
cmd
ADB
adb shell settings put global wallpaper_carousel_enabled 1
adb shell am broadcast -a com.android.theme.action.WALLPAPER_CAROUSEL_ENABLEDAfter completing the commands, restart your smartphone. The wallpaper carousel should appear in the theme settings.
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If after executing commands, the smartphone began to brake or errors appeared, reset the settings through Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
Method 4: Third-party launchers with support for wallpaper carousel
If none of the above methods worked, you can install an alternative launcher that supports automatic wallpaper change.
| Launcher | Support for the carousel | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | ✅ Yes (via plugin) | You need to install Nova Launcher Prime and Wallpaper Plugin. |
| Action Launcher | ✅ Yes (built-in) | Supports Google Wallpapers and third-party sources. |
| Microsoft Launcher | ✅ Yes (limited) | Changes wallpaper once a day, syncs with your Microsoft account. |
| POCO Launcher | ❌ No. | It does not support a carousel, but it is light and fast. |
Instructions for Nova Launcher:
- Install Nova Launcher and Nova Launcher Prime from Google Play.
- Download the Wallpaper Plugin for Nova plugin.
- Open the Nova settings → Desktop settings → Change the wallpaper.
- Select the source of the wallpaper (e.g. Google Wallpapers or local images).
- Set up the shift interval (15 minutes to 1 week).
If the problem persists, try the following:
- Update the Themes app via Google Play.
- Check if there are any restrictions on the data background (C Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks).
- Reset the launcher settings: clamping the empty space on the desktop → Desktop settings → Reset.
A common mistake on MIUI 12 is that the carousel turns on, but the wallpaper changes only after the screen is unlocked, and this is due to optimizing power consumption.
- Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
- Find the Themes app and select Without Limits.
- Reboot your smartphone.