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

The wallpaper carousel feature on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones allows you to automatically change background images on the lock screen or desktop on a given schedule. This not only refreshes the appearance of the device, but also helps to avoid visual fatigue from the monotonous interface. However, many users face difficulties in finding this option โ€” it is hidden in the depths of MIUI and may not be available on some models or versions of the firmware.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for different versions of MIUI, learn which Redmi models support the feature, and get tips for solving typical problems. We will also look at alternative ways to automate wallpaper change if the standard tool is not available.

The wallpaper carousel is especially useful for those who like variety but don't want to waste time manually changing backgrounds. For example, you can adjust the change of images every hour, once a day or when the weather changes. The feature works with both built-in MIUI wallpaper and custom collections.

Importantly, the settings may vary depending on the shell version. In MIUI 12/13/14, the path to the option has changed, and on some low-end Redmi models (such as the Redmi 9A or Redmi 10A), the function can be trimmed. If you don't find the carousel in the standard settings, don't despair: there are solutions for such cases in the article.

The automatic wallpaper change feature is not available on all Xiaomi devices, and it depends on the version of MIUI and the hardware capabilities of the smartphone. Below is a list of models on which the carousel works stably (subject to the current firmware):

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi Note 11/11 Pro/11S โ€” full support MIUI 13+
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi Note 10/10 Pro/10S โ€” update is required MIUI 12.5 or newer
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi K50/K50 Pro โ€“ Carousel is available โ€œout of the box"
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi 9/9T/9 Power โ€“ limited functionality (lock screens only)
  • ๐Ÿšซ Redmi 9A/10A/8A โ€” function is not present or is not operating

On flagship models (for example, Redmi) K60 or POCO F5) The wallpaper carousel is usually present in an extended form: you can adjust the backgrounds to time, location or even weather conditions. A1, Redmi 10C) The manufacturer often cuts such "chips" to save resources.

To find out exactly if your smartphone supports the feature, check the MIUI version in the settings:

Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Version. MIUI

If the version is older than MIUI 12, it is recommended to upgrade - this will increase the chances of having a carousel.

๐Ÿ“Š What Redmi model do you use?
Redmi Note 11/12
Redmi 10/9 Series Series
Redmi K50/K60
Budget model (9A, 10A, etc.)
Another model

The path to activating the carousel depends on the shell version. In the latest versions of MIUI 14, the option is hidden deeper than in MIUI 12, so we will discuss both options. If you did not find the menu item in our guide, chances are your model does not support the function (see the list above).

For MIUI 14/13 (relevant to Redmi Note 12, K60 and later):

  1. Open the Settings.
  2. Go to Lock Screen (or Desktop if you need to adjust the background of the home screen).
  3. Choose Wallpaper. โ†’ Wallpaper carousel.
  4. Activate the switch and adjust the settings (shift interval, image source).

For MIUI 12/12.5 (relevant to Redmi Note 10, K40):

Settings โ†’ Desktop โ†’ Wallpaper โ†’ Dynamic wallpaper โ†’ Carousel

Here the interface may be slightly different: on some devices, the item is called the Automan or Slideshow.

If you donโ€™t have Carousel on your menu, try an alternative route:

Gallery โ†’ Albums โ†’ Select folder with wallpaper โ†’ Triplet (โ‹ฎ) โ†’ Set as wallpaper โ†’ Enable the driver

This method works on MIUI 11 and some custom firmware.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the carousel doesn't turn on, try manually setting the wallpaper from the gallery first, and then go back to the settings. Sometimes this will "wake up" the hidden feature.

Setting up the lock screen carousel is the most popular scenario, and you can use both standard MIUI wallpaper and your own photos, and let's take a look at the Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 13.

Step 1: Preparation of images

  • ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Create a folder in the gallery (for example, wallpaper for the carousel) and add 5-10 images there.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Optimum resolution: 1080ร—2340 (for most Redmis with a cutout).
  • ๐Ÿšซ Avoid photos with faces or text โ€“ they can be distracting on the lock screen.

Step 2. Activate the carousel

Open Settings โ†’ Lock screen|Select Wallpaper" โ†’ "Wallpaper carousel"|Activate the switch|Specify the image folder|Set the shift interval (from 1 minute to 1 day)-->

Step 3: Additional settings

After activating the carousel, you can configure:

  • โฑ๏ธ Shift interval: 1 minute to 24 hours Optimal 1 hour or Unlocking.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reproduction order: successive or accidental.
  • ๐ŸŒ„ Transition effects: smooth dimming or scrolling (not available on all models).

On Redmi with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Redmi) K50 Pro) a dark wallpaper carousel will save battery power. Select a folder with images in black and gray.

Why doesn't the carousel work on some wallpaper?
Not all image formats are supported by MIUI for autoshift. The system can ignore: -.webp or.gif files (static only). - Images with a resolution higher than 4K (the system "does not see" them). - Photos from cloud albums (for example, Google Photos) without prior download. If the carousel does not start, convert wallpaper to.jpg or.png with a resolution up to 2560ร—1440.

The desktop wallpaper is set up separately from the lock screen, and there are some nuances: for example, on some Redmi models, the home screen carousel only works with wallpaper from the standard MIUI collection, and user images are ignored.

Instructions for MIUI 14:

  1. Press and hold the empty space on the desktop.
  2. Choose Wallpaper. โ†’ carousel.
  3. Activate the option and select the source: ๐ŸŒ… Standard Wallpaper โ€“ Thematic Collections from Xiaomi (Weather, Space, Abstractions). ๐Ÿ“ My wallpaper is custom images (doesn't work on all devices).

1 time per day

On the Redmi with the POCO launcher (e.g. POCO X4 Pro) the path is different:

Opener settings โ†’ Wallpaper โ†’ Dynamic wallpaper โ†’ Turn on the carman

Important: on the desktop, the carousel may conflict with the Weather and Time widget. If the wallpaper doesn't change after activation, remove the widget or move it to another screen.

Even if you set up the carousel correctly, it may not work properly. Here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Carousel is offlineThe function is disabled in regional firmwareInstall. EU-Firmware or use alternative launchers (e.g. Nova Launcher)
Wallpapers don't change on schedule.Battery optimization blocks background processesAdd the Wallpaper app to exceptions: Settings โ†’ Battery โ†’ Battery Optimization โ†’ All applications โ†’ Wallpaper โ†’ No restrictions
Black screen instead of wallpaperConflict with the topic or energy savingTurn off Dark Theme or reset screen settings: Settings โ†’ Screen โ†’ Reset to factory
Carousel resets after rebootingSystem cache errorClear the cache of the Wallpaper app: Settings โ†’ Apps โ†’ App management โ†’ Wallpaper โ†’ Clear the cache

If none of these things worked, check to see if your Redmi has third-party themes from the Mi Theme Store installed, and some themes override wallpaper settings to bring back the standard behavior:

Settings โ†’ Theme โ†’ My Theme โ†’ Return to Standard

๐Ÿ’ก

On root-righted devices, the carousel can be forcibly activated through file editing. /system/build.prop (line ro.miui.has_dynamic_wallpaper=However, this is risky and can lead to system failures.

Alternative ways to automatically change the wallpaper

If the standard carousel on your Redmi is unavailable or unstable, use third-party solutions. We tested several applications and methods, here are the most reliable:

1. Wallpaper Changer (Google Play)

  • โœ… It works on all Redmi models, including budget models.
  • โฑ๏ธ Flexible interval settings (from 5 minutes to a week).
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Support for cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox).

To avoid conflicts, turn off the standard MIUI carousel before installation.

2. Launcher Nova Launcher + plugin Muzei

This duo not only allows you to automatically change the wallpaper, but also apply art filters to it.

  1. Install Nova Launcher and make it the default launcher.
  2. Download Muzei Live Wallpaper from Google Play.
  3. In Muzei settings, select the source of the images (e.g. 500px or local folder).
  4. Set the refresh interval and activate the Muzei widget on your desktop.

3 Automation through Tasker

For advanced users, Tasker can create a task that will randomly install wallpaper from a given folder.

Event: Time (every hour)


Task:




1. Select a random file from the folder (action: File โ†’ List Files)




2. Set as Wallpaper (action: Display โ†’ Set Wallpaper)

How to get around the limitations of MIUI for third-party wallpaper?
On some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 with MIUI 13), the system blocks wallpaper change from third-party applications. Solution: 1. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play. 2. Find activity com.android.wallpaper.livepicker.LiveWallpaperPreview. 3. Run it and select wallpaper from a third-party source. This bypasses the limitations of MIUI, but may reset after the system update.

To the wallpaper carousel worked stably and did not discharge the battery, follow these recommendations:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Limit the change rate: an interval of 1 time per hour or less will reduce the load on the processor.
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Use light images: optimal size is 1-2 MB per wallpaper. Compress the photos using Lightroom or Squoosh.
  • ๐ŸŒ™ Turn off the carousel at night: in Settings โ†’ Lock screen โ†’ Schedule can be set the function time.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update the collection regularly: MIUI It can cache wallpaper, and over time it will start to repeat.

On devices with low RAM (for example, Redmi 9A with 2 GB of RAM), the carousel can cause slowdowns.

โš ๏ธ Warning: If the carousel is activated, the smartphone starts to warm or discharge quickly, turn off the function and use alternative methods (for example, manually changing the wallpaper once a week% CPU.

For owners of Redmi with Always-On Display (AOD), it is important to consider that the carousel on the lock screen will consume additional energy.

Settings โ†’ Lock screen โ†’ Always-On Display โ†’ Disable or reduce display time
Can I set up different wallpapers for day and night time?
Yes, but only on devices with MIUI 14 and later. To do this: Activate the carousel in the lock screen settings. Select the Schedule option and specify time intervals (for example, 7:00-19:00 for day wallpaper). Download individual folders with wallpaper for day and night. On older versions of MIUI, this feature is not, but it can be emulated via Tasker or MacroDroid.
Why does the carousel only work on the lock screen, but not on the desktop?
This is a MIUI limitation for some Redmi models. On the desktop, wallpaper is often blocked because of: Use of a third-party launcher (e.g., POCO Launcher); Active theme from the Mi Theme Store overriding settings; Performance optimization on budget devices. Solution: try resetting the launcher to standard or using alternative apps (see section above).
How to change the wallpaper when the weather changes?
Dynamic weather wallpaper is only available on flagship models (Redmi K60, Xiaomi 13) with MIUI 14. To activate it, go to Settings โ†’ Lock screen โ†’ Wallpaper โ†’ Dynamic Wallpaper. Select the Weather Collection. Allow location access for the Wallpaper app. On other devices, a similar effect can be created through Muzei with the Weather Wallpaper plugin.
The carousel stopped working after the MIUI update.
Updates often reset the carousel settings. Try: Reset the device. Open the carousel settings and re-save the settings (even if they seem correct). Clear the Wallpaper app cache (see the instructions in the table above). If nothing helps, reset the screen settings: Settings โ†’ Settings System โ†’ Resetting โ†’ Screen settings. If the problem appeared after a major update (e.g., MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), the feature may have been removed for your model. In this case, use third-party apps.
Can I use live wallpapers in a carousel?
No, the standard MIUI carousel only supports static images (.jpg,.png). For animated wallpaper: Use apps like Video Live Wallpaper (for videophones). Set up a shift using KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker (allows you to create dynamic wallpaper with automatic switching). Note that animated wallpaper significantly increases battery consumption - up to 15-20% per hour when used actively.