How to turn off the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi with MIUI 12: the full guide

The wallpaper carousel on MIUI 12 is one of the most controversial features of Xiaomi’s shell. On the one hand, it adds dynamism to the desktop by automatically changing the background images depending on the time of day or activity. On the other, many users complain about the system slowing down, unpredictable battery consumption and just the aesthetic discomfort of constant changes. If you’re in this article, chances are you’re tired of this feature too, and you’re looking for a way to turn it off forever.

Unlike the newer versions of MIUI 13/14, where the carousel settings are hidden deeper or removed altogether, MIUI 12 still has legal ways to deactivate animations without using ADB or superuser rights. In this guide, we will look at 3 proven methods, from the simplest (through standard settings) to the radical (with the help of hidden developer menus), and you will learn why the carousel can turn on spontaneously after updates and how to avoid it.

Note: the instruction is valid for all devices on MIUI 12, including Redmi Note 9/10/11, Poco X3/X3 Pro, Mi 10/10T and other models from 2020-2022. If you have a newer version of the shell, check out our FAQ section - there are solutions for MIUI 13+.

Why is the MIUI 12 wallpaper carousel annoying?

On paper, the idea of dynamic wallpaper seems useful: it adjusts the background to the time of day, the weather, or even your mood (if synchronization with Mi Account is enabled), but in practice, users face a number of problems:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: the carousel causes the processor and GPU constantly redraw the background, which eats up to 5-12% of the charge per day (according to tests on the Redmi Note 10 Pro).
• 🐢 Lags and slowdowns: on budget smartphones (for example, Redmi) 9A) wallpaper animation conflicts with other processes, causing delays when opening applications.
• 🎨 Style inconsistency: automatically selected wallpaper often does not fit into the theme of the design or just look cheap.
• 🔄 Unauthorized turn on: After updates or resets, the carousel can return even if you turned it off.

Interestingly, in MIUI 13 and later, Xiaomi has partially acknowledged the problem and made the carousel settings less noticeable — probably to make users less likely to turn it off. But in MIUI 12, you can still remove this feature completely, and we'll show you how.

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If the wallpaper carousel turned on after the MIUI update, try rebooting your phone first - sometimes it resets the temporary settings.

Method 1: Turn off the carousel through standard settings (without root)

This is the easiest and safest method, and works on 90% of MIUI 12 devices, so you don't need any additional software or technical skills.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Wallpaper (or Lock Screen and Wallpaper on some models).
3. Slip on the desktop wallpaper tab.
4. At the bottom of the screen, find the wallpaper carousel switch (or Dynamic Wallpaper) and turn it off.
5. Select a static image from the gallery or standard MIUI wallpaper.

If after these actions the carousel still appears, try additionally:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone (hold the power button) → Reboot).
• 📱 Install wallpapers through a third-party app (such as WallpapersCraft or Backdrops).
• 🚫 Disable theme synchronization in Settings → Topics → Synchronization of topics.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g., Poco) X3 NFC s MIUI 12.0.8) the wallpaper carousel item may not be on the menu. In this case, proceed to Method 2.

Method 2: Deactivate through developer settings (for experienced)

If the standard method didn't work, you can try turning off the carousel through hidden system settings, which requires activation of the developer mode, but does not need root rights.

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You are a developer").
2. Return to the main Settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
3. Find the USB Debugging option and turn it on (this will unlock additional options).
4. Scroll down to the Rendering block and disable: Windows animation (install No animation). transition animation (also No animations). GPU-Accelerate (if any, turn off).

Reboot the phone.

This method doesn't remove the carousel completely, but it freezes the animation, making the wallpaper static.

Method 3: Complete removal of the carousel through ADB (for advanced)

If the first two methods did not help, there is a radical option - to disable the system application of the carousel through the ADB. It does not require root, but it does require a computer and USB-Advantage: The carousel will disappear forever, even after the upgrades (before resetting to factory settings).

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB (see method 2).
• 🛠 Utility. ADB (You can download from the official Android website).

Step-by-step:

1. Unpack ADB into a folder on your computer (e.g., C:\adb).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
3. Open the command line (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter).
4. Go to the folder with ADB: cd C:\adb
5. Check the device connection: Adb devices (the name of your phone should appear).
6. Run the command to turn off the carousel: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.miwallpaper
7. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Warning: After this command, the com.miui.miwallpaper app will be disabled for your user. This won't remove it completely, but will make it unavailable. If you want to return the carousel, use the command:

adb shell pm install-existing com.miui.miwallpaper

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ADB-The method is the most reliable, but it requires caution. Wrong commands can disrupt the system. Always check the name of the package (com.miui.miwallpaper) before running!

What if the wallpaper carousel returns after the update?

One of the most common complaints of MIUI 12 users is that the carousel turns on after installing updates, which is because the system resets some settings to standard settings, to prevent animations from returning:

• 🔄 Turn off automatic theme updates: Go to Settings → Topics: Turn off Auto-Update Themes and Synchronization of Themes.
• 📥 Install updates manually: Download firmware from the official Xiaomi website and install through Settings → Updating the system → Select a firmware file. Backup your settings before upgrading (e.g., via Mi Cloud or Swift Backup).
• 🛡 Use Magisk modules (root only): Install the module MIUI Blocker or Disabler MIUI In the module settings, select com.miui.miwallpaper to lock.

If the carousel is back anyway, repeat Method 2 or Method 3. Also check if third-party launchers (such as Nova Launcher or POCO Launcher) are installed on the phone - they may conflict with MIUI settings.

Alternative solutions: how to replace the wallpaper carousel with something useful

If you have turned off the carousel, but want to return the dynamism of the desktop without brakes, consider these options:

• 🌄 Live wallpaper with minimal consumption: Wallpaper Engine app (there are free low-consumption wallpapers) FPS). KLWP Live Wallpaper Maker – allows you to create animated wallpaper with performance control.
• 📱 Third-party launchers: Nova Launcher + TeslaUnread plugin for dynamic icons. Lawnchair - light launcher with support for animations without lags.
• ⏱ Wallpaper on schedule: The Tasker app can change wallpaper depending on the time of day without loading on the system. Wallpaper Changer - automatically updates the background from a given folder.

⚠️ Some Google Play “live wallpapers” may consume even more battery than a standard carousel MIUI. Before installation, check the reviews and power rating in the description.

FAQ: Frequent questions about wallpaper carousel at MIUI 12