Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where a new, beautiful image appears on a locked screen that they want to save, a feature known as Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance) that automatically downloads content from the Internet without taking up a place in the standard gallery until the user saves it, but the standard interface does not offer an obvious “Save All” button or direct access to cached images through a regular file manager.
The MIUI and HyperOS system logic is designed to store temporary files in hidden directories that are restricted by access rights, to optimize system performance and prevent accidental deletion of critical data, but knowing the exact path, you can manually extract your favorite high-resolution images directly from the device’s internal memory without using third-party software.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the file structure of the system so you can find /data/data/com.miui.mishell.lockscreen/files/lockscreen or alternative paths depending on the Android version. We will also discuss the differences in how the feature works across firmware versions and why images may not be saved in the usual way. Understanding these nuances will help you effectively manage your smartphone’s media library.
Principle of operation and image caching
The automatic wallpaper change function works by periodically polling Xiaomi servers for new content. When you connect to a Wi-Fi or mobile Internet network, the Lock Screen Magazine system service loads a packet of images in the background. This data is not displayed in the gallery immediately, since it is marked by the system as a temporary cache, not as user files.
Storage takes place in a secure partition of internal memory. The average user sees only the result of the algorithm's operation - a changing picture when the screen is turned on. Android isolates application data from each other, so accessing the folder with the carousel cache requires either using an embedded Explorer with the hidden files displayed on, or connecting via ADB in more complex cases. However, in most modern versions of MIUI, the path is open for reading.
It's important to understand that images can come in different quality, and the system often loads a low-resolution image for previews and downloads the full version (HD) only when displayed or on demand, and this is done to save traffic and space, and if you try to copy a file when it's uploaded, you may end up with a corrupted image or a file that's too small.
⚠️ Warning: When you manually work with system folders, never delete files that you don't know what they're supposed to be. Deleting critical cache files can cause lock screen settings to reset or interface errors. Copy files instead of moving them.
The exact path to the wallpaper carousel files
To find uploaded images, you need a built-in File Manager app. The standard path where most of the carousel data is stored in modern firmware versions is deep in the system directories. You need to go to the root of internal memory and consistently open folders, observing the register of letters.
The main path is: /data/data/com.miui.mishell.lockscreen/files/lockscreen. However, since access to /data/data folder on non-rooted devices is often closed, the current and accessible path for custom files in MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS is more often found here:
/MIUI/theme_lockscreen_wallpaper/In some cases, especially on global versions of firmware with Google services, the path may differ and lead through the cache of a particular application:
/Android/data/com.miui.mishell.lockscreen/files/lockscreenIf you use an older file manager, it may not show Android or data folder due to security restrictions imposed on Android 11 and above, in which case it is recommended to use more advanced file managers, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer, which request special permission to access system folders.
- 📂 Open the Explorer and go to the root of internal memory).
- 🔍 Find the file. MIUI, later theme_lockscreen_wallpaper (Or use the search for the extension.jpg).
- 📋 Select the files you need and copy them to the Pictures or Gallery folder for permanent storage.
- 🔄 If files are not opened, try renaming them by adding the.jpg extension manually.
Search through settings and standard gallery
There's a simpler way to access images without digging into the file system. The MIUI shell itself provides a built-in mechanism for viewing and saving your favorite images. When an image you like appears on the lock screen, you can interact with it directly without unlocking the phone completely.
Click on the "i" icon (information) or swipe right (depending on the region settings and firmware version) to open the wallpaper carousel menu. This displays the current image and the "Download" or "Save" button. Once clicked, the image automatically moves to the standard gallery. This is a standard method that ensures that the image is saved to the maximum available quality.
You can also find the saved wallpaper through the Gallery app, go to the albums and find a folder called Wallpaper Carousel, Lock Screen, or Wallpaper, and all the images you've approved by hand, and if the folder is empty, you've never used the locking interface to save.
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If you don't see the save button on the lock screen, check the wallpaper carousel settings. Make sure the "Show save button" option or a similar item in the feature settings menu is enabled.
Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the saved images look blurry. This happens if the traffic saving mode was selected in the settings of the Carousel. HD or 4K versions must be in the settings of the function select the item "Load wallpaper only via Wi-Fi" and make sure that the tick is ticked «HD-picture».
Comparison of paths in different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
The structure of the file systems of mobile operating systems is constantly changing. With the release of new versions of Android, Xiaomi is changing the way data is stored for security reasons. Below is a table that will help you navigate depending on the version of your firmware.
| System version | The main path | An alternative path | Features of access |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 / 12 | /MIUI/theme_lockscreen_wallpaper/ | /data/data/.../lockscreen | Direct access through a standard conductor |
| MIUI 13 / 14 | /Android/data/com.miui.mishell.lockscreen/... | /MIUI/wallpaper/ | Permission to access the Android folder is required |
| HyperOS | /Android/data/com.miui.mishell.lockscreen/... | /Pictures/Wallpaper/ | Strict restrictions, it is better to save through the interface |
| Global ROM | /Android/data/com.miui.mishell.lockscreen/... | Depends on the region. | A third-party file manager is often required. |
As you can see from the table, with the transition to Android 11+ The main path has moved to a secure folder Android/data. This means that a standard conductor can show that folder is empty even if the files are physically present there_feature_ operating system security.
For HyperOS users, the situation is complicated by the fact that system processes are even more strictly isolated, in which the most reliable way is to use a regular save interface or connect the smartphone to the computer in file transfer mode (MTP), where access restrictions may be less severe.
⚠️ Note: On HyperOS shell devices when trying to access a folder Android/data You may not see the content on your PC. Use wireless file transfer or built-in tools. MIUI/HyperOS copy.
Using third-party applications for extraction
If you can't find files with built-in methods, you can use specialized applications from the Google Play store to help you, and there are utilities created by enthusiasts specifically to extract wallpaper from the system cache, and they automatically scan known paths and offer to save what they find to the gallery.
One popular solution is to use aggregator apps or specialized Wallpaper Extractors, but be careful: installing apps from unknown developers puts your data at risk. Always check the permissions the program requests. It doesn't need access to contacts or a microphone to work with pictures.
An alternative method is to use cache cleaning applications that have a preview function, and some cleaners show the contents of the cache before deleting, at which point you can take a screenshot or find a path to the file, but this method is unreliable and requires high user skills.
- 📱 Download only applications with high ratings and a large number of reviews.
- 🔒 Check the permission list: to work with files, you only need access to “Memory” or “Files».
- 🚫 Avoid apps that require Root Rights if you are not sure about your actions.
- 🛡️ Use an antivirus scanner after installing any new software to work with the system.
Is it safe to use Root Rights to access files?
How to turn off the wallpaper carousel and stop loading
If you don't need the automatic picture change feature, and you want to free up memory space and traffic, you can turn it off completely. The wallpaper carousel consumes CPU and battery resources, because it's constantly running in the background.
To do this, go to Settings → Lock screen (or “Always on screen and lock screen”). Find the option “Wallpaper carousel” (or “Lock log”). Inside the menu, simply move the switch to the “Off” position. After that, new pictures will stop loading, and the old ones can remain in the cache until manually cleaned.
Once the feature is disabled, it is recommended to clear the app's cache to delete the accumulated files. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Wallpaper Carousel (or Lock Screen Magazine), select Memory and click Clear Cache. This will return several hundred megabytes of free space.
☑️ Check before disabling the function
It's worth noting that on global firmware versions, the menu item name may differ, sometimes hidden in the "Security" or "Passwords and Security" section. If you can't find the switch, search by settings by typing "Carousel" or "Lock screen."
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often find that the files they find have strange names, consisting of a set of numbers and letters, or do not have an extension. This is normal behavior of the system. Files are cached with hash names for quick access. To open such a picture, you just need to rename the file, adding at the end.jpg or.png.
Another problem is that the images are not in the folder, although they change on the screen, which means that the system has not yet saved them to the available cache, or you are looking at the wrong folder. Try waiting for the image to change 3-4 times, then update the list of files in the Explorer. Also check if the Incognito or Private access mode is enabled in the Carousel settings, which prohibits saving.
If files are damaged or not opened, the download may have been interrupted due to unstable internet, in which case cleaning the cache of the Carousel application and re-uploading a pair of images in a stable Wi-Fi connection will help.
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The most reliable way to get a quality image is to use the Save button in the lock screen interface, rather than manually searching for files in system folders.