Wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi Note: how to turn on and configure dynamic background images

Dynamic wallpaper change on the lock screen and desktop is one of the features of MIUI firmware that makes the Xiaomi Redmi Note interface visually livelier. However, many users are faced with the fact that the wallpaper carousel is either disabled by default or disappears after the system update. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to activate it, including hidden settings and solutions to typical problems.

It's important to understand that the functionality of the carousel depends on the version of the MIUI and the model of the smartphone. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 14, the on-board algorithm differs from the Redmi Note 8 on MIUI 12.5. We'll look at universal methods, as well as nuances for specific firmware versions. If your phone does not support the carousel out of the box, at the end of the article you will find alternative solutions using third-party applications.

Before you start setting up, make sure that the device has official firmware installed (not custom). Wallpaper carousel may not be available in unofficial MIUI builds or in regional versions with reduced functionality (for example, for the European market). Also check if the feature is disabled through Settings → Special features → Simplified mode – in this mode, many visual effects are deactivated automatically.

What is a wallpaper carousel and how it works on Xiaomi

The wallpaper carousel in MIUI is an automatic change of background images on the lock screen and / or desktop on a given schedule. Unlike static wallpaper, the system loads new images from:

• 📁 Built-in gallery MIUI (Xiaomi’s thematic collections updated via the Internet).
• 🖼️ Personal albums (photos from folders) DCIM or Pictures).
• ☁️ Cloud services (if you have a Mi Account and synchronization enabled).

By default, the carousel changes the wallpaper once a day, but the interval can be adjusted from 1 hour to 1 week.

• 🎨 Color gamut (for example, dark wallpaper in the evening, light in the daytime).
• 📅 Holidays and events (thematic pictures for the New Year, birthday, etc.).
• 📍 Geolocation (in some versions) MIUI weather or time of day is taken into account).

On the Redmi Note with AMOLED-screens (for example, Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) The carousel supports dynamic wallpaper with animation (for example, falling snow in winter or leaves in autumn). IPS-Matrices (e.g. Note 9) may not have animations due to hardware limitations.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with a bootloader unlocked, the wallpaper carousel may not work smoothly, due to the fact that some modules are not fully equipped. MIUI If the function is gone after unlocking, try reinstalling the firmware through Fastboot without rolling back to factory settings.

Step-by-step instructions: how to turn on the wallpaper carousel

The standard way to activate the carousel is available on the wallpaper menu.

1. Open Settings and go to the Wallpaper section (or press a long tap on the desktop → Wallpaper).
2. Select the Lock Screen or Desktop tab (depending on where you want to activate the carousel).
3. Scroll down to the wallpaper carousel block (or Dynamic wallpaper in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Activate the switch and adjust the settings: 🔄 Image source (Xiaomi Gallery, personal photos, cloud). ⏳ Shift interval (from 1 hour to 7 days). 🎨 Display style (blurring, dimming, original).

Click Save or Apply.

Check out the MIUI version (Relevant for MIUI 12.5 and later)

Turn off the power saving mode (can block background processes)

Connect to Wi-Fi (to download new wallpaper from the cloud)

Update the Themes app on Google Play (if there are updates)-->

If the wallpaper item is not on the menu, then your version of MIUI does not support the out-of-the-box function, in which case, go to the "Alternative Ways" section below.

Problems with wallpaper carousel and their solutions

If the carousel is on but the wallpaper doesn’t change, check the following points:

• 🔋 Power Saving Mode: Turn it off in Settings → Battery, background processes. MIUI They can be blocked by activated energy saving.
• 📶 Internet connection: The carousel requires periodic network access to download new wallpaper. Check if Firewall or Data Saver is blocking the Topics app.
• 🗑️ Cache of the "Themes" app: Clear the cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse.
• ⏱️ Incorrect interval: If you choose to change the wallpaper once a week, wait for an update or set a smaller interval.

On root-righted devices, the carousel may not work due to a modified file. /system/media/theme/default/wallpaper/wallpaper.xml. To restore the function, return the original file from stock firmware or delete the string <wallpaper_carousel enabled="false"> in this file.

Another common problem is the black screen instead of wallpaper after the carousel is activated, which is due to the conflict of the graphics driver and occurs on some Redmi Note models with MediaTek processors (for example, the Helio G95).

1. Turn off the carousel.
2. Install static wallpaper from the gallery.
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Re-activate the carousel by manually selecting the image folder (do not use automatic MIUI collections).

Wallpaper doesn't change automatically.

Black screen instead of background

Function is not available in the settings

Other (write in the comments)

No problem, it's working.-->

Hidden carousel settings: how to get more options

MIUI has undocumented carousel settings that can be changed through ADB or system file editing, for example, by default the system only shows wallpaper from official Xiaomi collections, but you can add support for custom folders.

For this:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the line with the version, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Open the command line on the PC and type:

adb shell settings put global wallpaper_carousel_custom_path "/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/MyWallpapers"

Where /Pictures/MyWallpapers is the path to the folder with your wallpaper.

To unlock additional image sources (such as Google Photos or Pinterest), use the command:

adb shell settings put secure wallpaper_carousel_extended_sources 1

After you use the commands, restart your phone. You'll see new options on the merry-go-round menu. Please note that these settings may reset after you update MIUI.

Alternative methods: if the carousel is absent

If your Redmi Note model doesn't support a system-level wallpaper carousel, you can use third-party apps.

• 📱 Wallpaper Carousel (Google Play): Supports automatic wallpaper change from any source, including Google Photos, Reddit and local folders. There is a schedule setting and transition effects.
• 🌄 Muzei Live Wallpaper: An open source application that downloads wallpaper from various sources (e.g, NASA, 500px) and updates them on schedule.
• 🔄 Tapet: Procedural wallpaper generator that creates unique background images based on set parameters (color, shape, style).

For installation:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and adjust the sources of the images.
3. In the wallpaper menu of the phone (Settings → Wallpaper) select Live Wallpaper and find the installed application.
4. Activate it and adjust the change settings.

Third-party solutions have the advantage of flexibility, like Wallpaper Carousel, where you can:

• Set different wallpaper for the desktop and lock screen.
• Avoid certain colors or themes.
• Synchronize wallpaper between multiple devices.

⚠️ Note: Some wallpaper carousel apps (e.g. Zedge) may contain aggressive advertising or request unnecessary permissions (access to contacts, SMS). Check reviews and rankings in Google Play before installing.We recommend using only proven open source apps.

Optimizing the work of the carousel: productivity tips

The wallpaper carousel is a background process that consumes the resources of the phone, to minimize the impact on performance:

• 🔋 Limit the shift frequency: Set the interval no more than once every 6-12 hours. Frequent shifts (for example, every hour) increase the load on the processor and battery.
• 📂 Use optimized images: If you download wallpaper from personal folders, reduce their resolution to 1080×2340 (This will reduce memory consumption for most Redmi Notes.
• ☁️ Disable cloud sync: If you don't use wallpaper from Mi Cloud, deactivate this option in the carousel settings. This will reduce traffic and speed up work.
• 🛑 Add to exceptions: In battery settings (Settings) → Battery → Battery Optimization) Add the Topics app to the exclusion list so that the system doesn’t force it to close.

On devices with 4GB of RAM or less (such as the Redmi Note 8), the carousel can cause braking when changing wallpaper.

1. Turn off animation in the carousel settings (if there is such an option).
2. Use static wallpaper instead of living.
3. Clear the theme app cache once a week.

💡

If the carousel is activated, check if it conflicts with other live wallpapers (such as KWGT or UCCW) and turn off all widgets on your desktop and monitor the temperature for an hour.

Comparison of carousels on different versions of MIUI

The wallpaper carousel functionality evolved with MIUI, and the table below shows the key differences between the firmware versions:

Starting with MIUI 14, Xiaomi has added support for dynamic wallpaper with paralax effects (3D-The effect of tilting the phone, however, only works on devices with AMOLED-Snapdragon screens and processors 7xx/8xx. On Redmi Note with MediaTek (e.g. Helio) G96) 3D-effects may not be present.

In MIUI 13 and later, the wallpaper carousel syncs with your Mi Account. This means that when you change your phone (like the Redmi Note 10 to the Note 12), your settings and favorite wallpaper will automatically be transferred. To disable sync, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sync and deactivate the Theme and Wallpaper option.

FAQ: Frequent questions about wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi