How to set up a wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi so that only your photos are shown

The wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi smartphones is a handy tool for quickly changing the background image, but many users are hampered by standard images from MIUI, which are automatically mixed into the collection, especially when you want to see only personal photos on the lock screen or desktop – from trips, with family or favorite landscapes.

Fortunately, there are several ways to clear the carousel of unnecessary wallpaper and leave only your pictures. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for MIUI 14/15, including hidden settings, circumventing system restrictions and even radical solutions for the most demanding users. Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root rights, but most options work without them.

Before you start, make sure that your device has the latest version of the Gallery and Theme installed, which minimizes the risk of bugs, and check if your photos are hidden in the.nomedia folder (more on this in one section).

If you use a Poco Launcher or third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher), some of the instructions may not work — the wallpaper carousel in them is often controlled differently, in which case you will have to adjust the display of backgrounds directly in the launcher itself.

Why do other people's wallpaper appear in the carousel?

The MIUI system by default loads wallpaper from multiple sources, and not all of them are obvious to the user.

• 📱 Standard wallpaper MIUI: Images sewn into firmware (mountains, abstractions, gradients) that cannot be removed without root rights.
• 🌐 Online Topics: Wallpaper from the Topics section → Wallpaper that caches on the device even after synchronization is turned off.
• 🤖 Xiaomi recommendations: The algorithm analyzes your preferences and suggests “recommended” wallpapers (for example, from the collections “Travels” or “Minimalism").
• 📁 Hidden folders: Photos from folders DCIM/.thumbnails, Pictures/Screenshots or even Download can be automatically added to the carousel.

Interesting fact: on some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), the system even loads wallpaper from Mi Cloud storage if you have ever synced themes, and there is no explicit switch in the settings to disable this behavior.

On devices with MIUI 15 (Android 14), a new mechanism called Dynamic Wallpaper has been introduced, which can automatically add animated background images from Xiaomi services to the carousel. These can also be turned off, but the method is different from the standard one.

Method 1: Cleaning the carousel through the settings of the Gallery

The simplest method that works on most devices without any further manipulation is that it doesn't remove the standard wallpaper from the system, but it hides it from being displayed in the carousel.

Open the Gallery app and go to the Albums → Wallpaper section, where you will see all the images that the system considers appropriate for the background.

1. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Album Management.
2. In the list, find folders with the names MIUI Wallpapers, Theme Wallpapers, or Online Wallpapers.
3. Uncheck the boxes in front of these folders, this will exclude their contents from the carousel.
4. Go back to the wallpaper section and make sure that only your photos are left.

If the folders with wallpaper are not in the list, try another way:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Themes app (com.miui.thememanager).
3. Go to Warehouse → Clear the data (this will reset the cache of online wallpapers).

⚠️ Attention: Data cleanup of the Themes app will reset all your custom theme settings, including selected icons and fonts.We recommend you take screenshots of current settings beforehand.

Make a backup copy of the current wallpaper|Check the version. MIUI at the Settings → The phone.|Close all background applications|Disable mobile internet (to avoid re-uploading online wallpapers)-->

Method 2: Disabling online wallpapers through the Topic settings

Even if you've never downloaded themes from Xiaomi Themes, the system can automatically load wallpapers "for inspiration." To stop it:

Go to Settings → Themes and follow the following steps:

• 🔍 Open the Wallpaper section and click on the gear icon (or three dots) in the upper right corner.
• 🚫 Select Loading Settings and disable the option "Automatic Loading Recommended Wallpapers".
• 🗑️ In the same menu, click Clear Cache – this will remove previously uploaded online pictures.
• 🔄 Restart the device to make the changes effective.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 15 Global), this item may be called "Personalized Recommendations" or "Show Popular Wallpaper." If you don't have an option, your firmware version doesn't support this menu and you'll have to use other methods.

For devices with Poco Launcher, the path will be different:

1. Hold your finger on the free space on the desktop.
2. Select Wallpaper Settings.
3. Go to Additional → Wallpaper Sources and disable all items except the Gallery.

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If the carousel still shows other people's pictures after turning off online wallpapers, check the Pictures/MIUI/Wallpaper folder - sometimes files are copied there when you update the firmware. Delete them manually (you will need permission to access the folder).

Method 3: Using a.nomedia file to hide standard wallpaper

This method is suitable for users who do not want to get root rights, but are willing to dig a little into the file system, the idea is to create a special.nomedia file in folders with standard wallpaper, which will cause the system to ignore them when scanning media files.

You’ll need any file manager with access to root folders (e.g. MiXplorer, Solid Explorer, or even Xiaomi’s standard Explorer with hidden file display mode enabled).

1. Cross the path. /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers (On some devices, the path may be /system/priv-app/ThemeManager/).
2. Create an empty file in this folder called.nomedia (note the point at the beginning!).
3. Reset the device.

If the folder default_wallpapers No, try the following alternative paths (depending on model and version) MIUI):

⚠️ Note: Modifying files in the folder /system It can cause system applications to crash, or even bootloop (loop boot).Before experimenting, back up through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Method 4: Radical solution – removing standard wallpaper through ADB

If previous methods have failed and root rights are not desired, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to delete unnecessary files, a method that is suitable for users who are not afraid of the command line.

First, turn on the USB debugging:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to activate the Developer Mode.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device.

Now open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and execute the following commands:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm -rf /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers/*




touch /system/media/theme/default_wallpapers/.nomedia




mount -o ro,remount /system




exit




adb reboot

If the folder default_wallpapers empty or absent, try an alternative path:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.thememanager

This team will reset all the settings of the themes, but it will clear the cache of online wallpapers.

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /system It can disrupt system applications, especially if you delete something that's superfluous. Always check the paths before you execute commands. 13 Ultra wallpaper can be stored in /product/media/wallpapers, not /system.

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ADB-It works without root, but requires a bootloader that is unlocked, and if you run a su error, you don't have superuser rights, and you have to use other methods.

Method 5: Resetting the settings of the Topic to the factory (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the carousel is still clogged with other people's wallpaper, you can reset the Topic app settings. It's a radical solution, but it's guaranteed to remove all cached online wallpaper and reset personal settings.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find themes (com.miui.thememanager) and click on it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.
4. Reset the device.

After discharge:

• 🔄 All user themes (including icons, fonts, animations) will be removed.
• 📁 Online wallpaper cache will clear, but standard wallpaper MIUI They can be stored in the system (they can be hidden via.nomedia).
• 🔓 You may need to re-sign in to your Mi Account if you have synced topics.

If after resetting the carousel still shows other people's wallpaper, check:

• 📥 Is not automatic theme loading included in Settings → Topics → Loading settings.
• 📂 Are there any folders in your gallery with Wallpapers names, MIUI Or theme you didn't accidentally create.
• 🔄 Has the firmware been updated recently - sometimes after an update, the system again loads the standard wallpaper.

How to add your photos to the carousel (if they are not there)

Sometimes the problem is reversed: the carousel only displays standard wallpaper and private photos are ignored, because the Gallery is not set up correctly or because there are no folders in place.

Method 1: Move the photo to the “correct” folder

• 📁 Create a folder at the root of internal memory called Wallpapers (without quotes).
• 🖼️ Bring your photos that you want to see in the carousel.
• 🔄 Restart the device or update the data in the Gallery (pull down in the album Wallpaper).

Method 2: Set up a scan of media files

1. Open the Gallery and go to Albums → Album Management.
2. Make sure that folders with your photos (such as DCIM/Camera or Pictures) are ticked.
3. If the folder is not in the list, click Add folder and specify the path to it.

Method 3: Use a third-party application

If the standard Gallery stubbornly ignores your photos, install an alternative launcher (such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchair), which allows you to manually select the sources of wallpaper. In the launcher settings, find the Wallpaper section and specify the folder with your images.

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On some devices (e.g. Redmi K50), the wallpaper carousel is not controlled by the Gallery, but by the Wallpaper app (com.miui.wallpaper). Try clearing its cache through Settings → Apps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up wallpaper carousel