Xiaomi smartphone owners often want to personalize the interface, making it not only convenient, but also visually appealing. One of the most popular features is automatic background change, which allows you to update images on the lock screen or desktop without user intervention. On the Redmi 9 model, which runs the MIUI shell, this process has its own nuances that must be considered for the correct operation of the system.
Many users have wondered why the static image doesn’t change on its own after buying a device, because standard Android settings don’t always offer advanced customization capabilities out of the box without activating additional services. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, special system applications that require initial setup and network connection are responsible for this feature.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can activate a slideshow on your gadget, look at the manufacturer’s tools, third-party solutions, and the possible reasons why the feature may not work, and learn how to manage image sources and adjust the frequency of their appearance, turning the smartphone screen into a dynamic gallery.
The regular function of "Carousel wallpaper" in MIUI
The main tool for implementing what Redmi is conceived in devices is a built-in app called Wallpaper Carousel, which automatically downloads new images from the cloud and uses them as the background of the lock screen, and to activate this feature, you need to go to the settings section of the system. Open Settings and find the Lock Screen.
Inside the menu, you'll see the wallpaper carousel option, and if you click on it, you'll be taken to the service control center, where you want to switch the main switch to the active position, and when you turn on, the system will ask for permission to access the network and notifications, which are necessary to get new images, without confirming these requests, the functionality will not work.
It is important to note that the service only works if you have an active Internet connection at the time of the upgrade. If you are in an uncoated area, the last image uploaded will remain on the screen until the next successful connection.
To fine-tune it, click on the gear icon in the corner of the carousel screen, and you can select the categories of images you're interested in: nature, architecture, animals, or abstraction. The MIUI algorithm analyzes your preferences and tries to suggest content relevant to the subject, although the accuracy of the selection can vary.
Set up sources and frequency of updates
The flexibility of MIUI allows the user to determine how often the image will change, which is an important parameter, since changing too often can be distracting, and rarely not give the desired effect of novelty. In the carousel settings, select the refresh rate. You will be offered several options: each time you unlock, once an hour, once a day or when you charge the device.
The choice of source of images also plays a key role: you can use not only the cloud gallery Xiaomi, but also your own albums. To do this, you need to select the option of the carousel Local Photos or Albums, the system will select specific folders in the memory of the phone, the images from which will participate in the rotation.
- 📸 Online Gallery: Thousands of professional photos updated daily by the server.
- 🖼️ Local Album: Your personal photos that can be grouped by events.
- 🎨 Thematic collections: Special collections dedicated to holidays or events.
While images are optimized for mobile networks, regular high-resolution downloads can consume megabytes, and it is recommended that you specify content updates only over Wi-Fi to avoid unforeseen costs.
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If you use your photos, pre-cut them in screen proportion (approximately 19.5:9) to avoid automatic and not always correct framing by the system.
Using theme for dynamic background change
An alternative way to organize image changes is to use special themes from MIUI Themes, where some designers create themes that include slideshows as part of their design, and these themes often have their own customizations within the personalization menu.
To find a suitable design, open the Themes app and search for “Wallpaper Changer” or “Wallpaper Changer.” Search results will show options that indicate the presence of a dynamic background. When installing such a theme, the system may suggest installing an additional plugin or component.
| Type of topic | Source of images | Impact on the battery | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard MIUI | Xiaomi's Cloud | Low. | Minimum |
| A third-party topic | Built into the theme | Average. | Medium |
| Slider app | Local/Online | High. | Tall. |
| Live wallpaper | Video/Animation | Very high. | Minimum |
Installing third-party themes requires attention, making sure the author of the theme is highly ranked and the number of downloads is high, which reduces the risk of installing malicious code or unstable software that can cause a malfunction of the Redmi 9 interface.
Third-party applications for process automation
If MIUI isn't enough, Google Play offers a variety of alternatives, with apps like Wallpaper Changer or Murals providing more advanced functionality, allowing you to create complex schedules, use images from specific websites (like Reddit or Unsplash), and apply different transition effects.
When installing such software, it must be given broad permissions, the application must have access to a picture storage and the right to change the system wallpaper, and it will require a permission to run in the background to work on a schedule, which requires separate confirmation on Android 10 and above.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party wallpaper change applications often require permanent permissions to access geolocation or contacts without an obvious need. Carefully review the list of rights requested before installation and give preference to open source programs or from well-known developers.
To set up such an application, do the following: install the program, select an image folder or source on the Internet, set a time interval (for example, every 30 minutes), and press the Start button. The system can periodically close such an application to save energy, so add it to the battery optimization exception list.
☑️ Checking the settings of the third-party application
Problems with work and ways to solve them
Despite the ease of customization, Redmi 9 users may find themselves in a situation where the wallpaper stops changing, most often due to the aggressive MIUI energy saving policy.
To fix this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the wallpaper carousel or the name of the slider you installed. Go to Battery and select No Limits mode. This will prevent the system from killing the background change process.
Another common cause is crowded cache. Over time, temporary files can conflict with new data. Clearing the cache through the app management menu often solves the problem of freezing the picture. If that doesn't work, try removing service updates and installing them again through the app store.
What to do if the carousel shows black squares?
The Impact of Dynamic Wallpaper on Autonomy
Using the constant image change feature inevitably affects battery life. The process involves several energy-intensive operations: connecting to the network to download data, decoding a high-resolution image and redrawing the screen. On the budget processor Helio G80 installed in the Redmi 9, the load can be noticeable.
The greatest energy expenditure is observed when using live wallpaper (video backgrounds), where animation is calculated in real time. 1-2 The difference will become noticeable by the end of the day, the optimal interval is considered to be the update interval no more than once in a day. 30-60 minute.
- 🔋 Screen: The main energy consumer, especially at high brightness.
- 📡 Communication module: Consumes charge when downloading new files from the network.
- 🧠 Processor: Spending resources on processing graphics.
To minimize the impact on autonomy, it is recommended to use the Smart Charging function and not set too short refresh intervals, and it is also worth turning off high-resolution wallpaper download if this option is available in the settings of a particular slider application.
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The optimal balance between beauty and battery economy is achieved when adjusting wallpaper changes over Wi-Fi and refresh intervals no more than once an hour.