Wallpaper carousel MIUI 12: where is and how to set up on Xiaomi smartphones

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones based on the shell MIUI 12 is often faced with the question: where is hidden the legendary "wallpaper carousel" that allowed you to automatically change the background of the desktop? This feature, loved by many users for the ability to dynamically design the screen, has really undergone changes in the twelfth version of the firmware. If you're updated with MIUI 11 or earlier versions and can’t find the usual tool – don’t be too upset.

In this article, we will not only show the exact location of the wallpaper carousel in the MIUI 12, but we will analyze the nuances of its work on different models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO. You will learn how to enable automatic background change, where to download additional collections, and what to do if the Suddenly function disappeared after the update!

Wallpaper carousel is an integrated function MIUI, It automatically changes the background images on the home screen of the smartphone on a given schedule:

  • 🎨 Dynamically update screen design without manual intervention
  • ⏱️ Set up shift intervals (from 1 minute to 24 hours)
  • 📁 Use your own collections of images or system themes
  • 🌄 Create thematic collections (for example, “morning/evening” or “work/rest»)

V MIUI 11 and earlier versions, this function was available directly in the wallpaper menu, but with the release MIUI 12 Xiaomi has redefined the personalization approach, and now the carousel is integrated deeper into the system and requires a few other actions to activate. 9, POCO X3 and flagship Mi 10/11, where the interface is different.

It’s important to understand that the carousel works not only with system wallpaper, but also with custom images. You can download your own folder with photos (such as from travel or with favorite quotes) and adjust their rotation, which makes the feature especially useful for those who like to update the design of their smartphone often.

📊 You are using a wallpaper carousel on your Xiaomi?
Yeah, all the time.
Sometimes I turn it on.
I tried it, but I turned it off.
I don't know what it is.
I have a different brand of phone.

V MIUI 12 path to the wallpaper carousel became less obvious, but the feature didn’t go away — it just moved to another menu:

  1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
  2. Go to the Wallpaper section in the lower menu.
  3. At the top of the screen, tap the icon. ⚙️ Settings (cogs).
  4. In the menu that opens, select the wallpaper carousel or Automatic wallpaper change (the name may vary depending on the location).
  5. Activate the slider Enable the carousel.

On some models (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro or POCO F2 Pro) the path may be slightly different:

  • 📱 Option 1: Settings → Screen. → Wallpaper. → Additionally. → carousel
  • 📱 Option 2: Long press on the desktop → Wallpaper. → Settings → carousel

If you have a global version MIUI 12 (e.g, MIUI 12.5 Global, the name of the item may sound like Wallpaper Carousel or Dynamic Wallpapers. ROM) look for the characters.

Upload your favorite images to the folder on your phone

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure the Topic app is updated

Connect to Wi-Fi to download new collections-->

Although the feature is built into the firmware, some users don't find it on the menu, and the reasons may be:

Problem.Probable causeDecision
There is no "Carousel" item in the settingsAn outdated version of the Topic appUpdate the app through the Play Market or App Store
Gray color function (inactive)Restrictions of regional firmwareInstall a European or Global version of MIUI
The carousel is there, but it's not working.Conflict with battery optimizationAdd the Topics app to the exceptions
There's no way to add your wallpaper.Limitation in the light version MIUIInstall the full firmware version via Fastboot

This is especially true for devices with MIUI 12 Lite (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO C3), where some of the personalization features are trimmed to save resources, and in this case, only the manual firmware of the full version through the Mi Flash Tool will help.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A3 With Android One, the wallpaper carousel is missing fundamentally - this is a limitation of pure Android, not Android. MIUI. In this case, use third-party apps from the Play Market, such as Wallpaper Changer or Tapet.

System carousel in MIUI 12 by default only offers pre-installed collections, but you can add your own images:

  1. Create a folder on your phone (for example, MyWallpapers) and put your photos there in a resolution at least lower than the previous one. 1080×1920.
  2. Open Topics → Wallpaper. → Settings → carousel.
  3. Slip on Add folder and select your directory.
  4. Set up the shift interval (recommended 1 hour for balance between variety and performance).

For the best results, follow these tips:

  • 🖼️ Use images with an aspect ratio of 9:16 (vertical)
  • 🎨 Avoid wallpaper with small details - they will be trimmed with icons
  • 🔄 For a smooth change, select the carousel settings Smooth transition mode
  • 📁 Do not add more than 50 images to the folder – this can slow down the launcher

On devices with AMOLED-The black wallpaper with accent colors is especially impressive in the screens (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Black Shark 4), they not only look beautiful, but also save battery life.

💡

If your wallpaper looks blurry, check their resolution. HD+ screen (2400×1080) maximum — 2560×1440 Use online services like resizeimage.net to adjust.

Even after setting it up properly, the carousel can be unstable, and here are the most common errors and ways to correct them:

Reasons:

  • 🔋 Battery optimization blocks background activity of the app Topics
  • 📵 No Internet connection (for cloud collections)
  • ⏸️ Application suspended manually through Task Manager

Solution: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Battery and select No Limitations.

2. Wallpaper is reset to standard after rebooting

It's a famous bug. MIUI 12.0.xxx. Corrected:

  • Updating the firmware to MIUI 12.5 or newer
  • Clean the Theme app cache (But it will reset all settings!)
  • Using a third-party launcher (e.g., Nova Launcher)

3. You can't add more than 20 wallpaper

The artificial restriction is bypassed by:

  • Creating multiple folders of 20 images
  • Using a file manager with symbolic link support (e.g., Mixplorer)
  • Manual editing of the configuration file /data/data/com.miui.home/shared_prefs/wallpaper.xml (root)

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12 Enhanced Edition (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro) when manually editing system files, Mi Protect protection can work, which will lead to blocking some functions. → Additionally. → Backup.

Alternative ways to automatically change the wallpaper

If the system carousel does not suit you, consider these options:

Third-party annexes

Top.-3 wallpaper:

  • 📱 Wallpaper Changer – Flexible Schedule and Folder settings
  • 🎨 Tapet – generation of unique wallpapers by algorithms
  • 🌄 Muzei Live Wallpaper – Smooth transitions and integration with Google Photos

To work, you will need to turn off battery optimization and provide access to storage.

2 Live Wallpapers (Live Wallpapers)

V MIUI 12 Animated background images are supported:

  1. Download live wallpaper from the Play Market (like Forest Live Wallpaper).
  2. Set them through Topics → Wallpaper. → Live wallpaper.
  3. Set the animation speed in wallpaper parameters.

Note: live wallpaper consumes a battery (up to 15% per hour per day). AMOLED-screen).

3. Tasker + AutoTools

For advanced users:

Profile: Every 30 minutes (Event → Time → Every 30 min)


Task:




1. Plugin → AutoTools → Wallpaper → Set From File




2.Indicate the path to the wallpaper folder




3. Add the action "Randomize" for random selection

This method requires Tasker (a paid application) and AutoTools (a free plugin).

How do you make wallpaper reactive?
Using the application KLWP You can create wallpapers that change depending on the time of day, the weather, or the battery level, like the sun in the morning, the starry sky in the evening, and a black warning screen in the low charge. KLWP and formulae (e.g, $if(hr < 12,"morning","day")$).

Hidden chips of wallpaper carousels in MIUI 12

Few people know, but in the carousel wallpaper MIUI 12 There are undocumented features that can be activated:

1. Change of wallpaper by geolocation

If you create subfolders with city names in the wallpaper folder (for example, Paris, Tokyo), the system will automatically select the background depending on your location.

  1. Enable geoservices in the settings.
  2. Add the wallpaper folders to the carousel.
  3. Move between locations – the wallpaper will change!

Adaptive wallpaper by time of day

Create subfolders with names in the folder:

  • Morning (6-12)
  • Afternoon (12-18)
  • Evening (18-24)
  • Night (0-6)

The system will automatically pick up wallpaper from the corresponding folder. MIUI 12.5 and newer.

3. Secret Wallpaper Collections

V MIUI 12 hidden extra packets of wallpaper to unlock them:

  1. Open Topics → Wallpaper.
  2. Slip 5 times on the magnifying glass icon (search).
  3. Enter code 12345 (or miui12 global-firm).
  4. There will be a hidden tab Premium with exclusive wallpaper.

These chips may disappear after a firmware update, so use them while they are available!

💡

On devices with MIUI 12.5 Enhanced (e.g. Xiaomi 12) wallpaper carousel integrated with Mi system AI and can offer wallpaper based on your preferences (by analyzing frequently used colors in the gallery).

Can I customize different wallpapers for the main screen and lock screen?
Yeah, in MIUI 12 it's supported. Open themes. → Wallpaper, select the image, then tap the icon. ⋯ In the upper right corner, and specify which screen to use the wallpaper for. The carousel will work independently for each of them.
Why After Updating to Update MIUI 12.5 carousel stopped working?
V MIUI 12.5 changed the mechanism of the backgrounds. Try: Clear the data of the application Topics (Settings) → Annexes → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the data. Reset the phone. Reset the carousel. If it doesn't work, roll back. MIUI 12.0 or wait for the patch.
How do you speed up the change of wallpaper? By default, it changes too rarely.
The minimum interval on a standard carousel is 1 minute. To get around this limitation: Use Tasker with the AutoTools plugin to create a custom schedule. Install a third-party app like Wallpaper Changer where you can set the interval to 10 seconds. Note that changing wallpaper too often can lead to interface slowdowns.
Can you sync the wallpaper carousel between several Xiaomi devices?
There's no direct sync, but there's a workaround: Upload the wallpaper to Mi Cloud (in the Wallpapers folder). On the second device, add this folder to the carousel via Themes. → Wallpaper. → Add a folder. → Mi Cloud. wallpaper updates will be displayed on both devices with a delay of up to 5 minutes.
The wallpaper carousel eats a lot of battery. How do you reduce the consumption?
Optimize your work like this: Increase the shift interval to 3-6 Turn off transition animations in the carousel settings. Use static wallpapers instead of live ones. Add Themes app to power saving mode (Settings) → Battery → App selection. On tests Xiaomi Mi 10T These measures reduce the cost of 8% before 2% day-to-day.