Why Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 flies wallpaper: reasons and how to fix

You've installed beautiful wallpaper on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, but after a reboot or after a while, they suddenly reset to standard? Or, even more bizarrely, the background of the desktop changes itself to random pictures? This problem is familiar to many model owners, and it can occur both due to software failures and because of the features of the MIUI firmware. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes — from system bugs to application conflicts — and give step-by-step instructions how to restore the stability of the wallpaper once and for all.

The Redmi Note 8 (codenamed ginkgo) is that it was released in 2019 and originally ran on MIUI 10/11, and now many users are upgrading to MIUI 12.5 or 14 — where the logic of working with wallpaper has changed dramatically. In addition, the smartphone has limited memory (3/4 GB of RAM in the basic versions), which can cause failures in processing graphics. But do not rush to blame the iron: in 80% of cases, the problem is solved without flashing or repair.

1. Wallpaper reset after reboot: MIUI optimization to blame

The most common complaint is that the wallpaper returns to normal after the device is restarted, and this is not an accident, but a planned MIUI behavior associated with Auto-Optimize, which is considered "unnecessary data" by the system and resets it to speed up the start-up, especially when:

• 🔄 Low battery charge (less than 15%)
• 📱 After updating MIUI through OTA
• 🚀 When activating the Game Turbo or Charge Saving mode

How to fix it:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the top right corner and select Special Accesses.
3. Find Battery Optimization and select All Apps.
4. In the list, find Wallpaper (or Wallpaper) and install No Limits.

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If there is no Wallpaper app on the list, try finding com.miui.miwallpaper, which is the system app responsible for the background images.

If the problem persists, check the automatic cleaning settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Turn off the Auto Clean option when you lock.
3. In the section Cleaning up garbage, uncheck the Wallpaper.

2. Wallpaper changes by itself: virus or feature?

If the desktop background is randomly changed to random images from the gallery or banner ads, this can be both virus software and feature of some versions of MIUI. For example, MIUI 12.5+ has a feature called Dynamic Wallpaper, which automatically selects the background depending on the time of day or weather.

How to distinguish a virus from a system function:

• 🦠 Virus: Wallpapers change to ads, porn banners or pictures from suspicious sites. → Accounts appearing unknown accounts.
• ⚙️ System function: Wallpaper changes in photos from your gallery or standard themes MIUI. In Settings → Wallpaper included with the Automan option.

Instructions for verification:

Check Settings → Wallpaper → Dynamic Wallpaper | Open Settings → Applications → Application Management and Find Suspicious Programs | Install Antivirus (e.g. Malwarebytes) and scan the system | View the installed application history on Google Play → Library

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If the system function is to blame, turn it off:

1. Hold your finger on the empty space on the desktop.
2. Choose Wallpaper. → Dynamic wallpaper.
3. Turn off the automatic shift slider.

Yes, on banner ads | Yes, in gallery photos |No, but dropped on standard ones | Never noticed such a problem

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3. Conflict with launchers: why third-party wallpaper is not preserved

Many Redmi Note 8 users install alternative launchers like Nova Launcher, Lawnchair or Microsoft Launcher, but find that wallpaper installed through them does not save after the reboot, the reason is the conflict of access rights between the system application com.miui.miwallpaper and a third-party launcher.

Decisions:

• 🔧 For Nova Launcher: In the launcher settings, enable the option to Save Wallpaper when rebooting (Settings section) → Additionally).
• 📱 For all launchers: install wallpaper first through the system menu (clip the desktop) → Wallpaper), and then replace them through the launcher.
• 🔄 Radical method: disable the system application Wallpaper through ADB: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.miwallpaper ⚠️ Warning: Disabling the system application may lead to failures in the work of the topics MIUI. Before executing the command, make a backup copy of the data.

If you use Google Now Launcher (which is outdated but still popular), the problem may be due to the lack of support for modern versions of Android, in which case the only solution is to change the launcher to the current one.

4.Cache damage wallpaper: how to clean and restore

Sometimes the wallpaper is blown away by a damaged cache on the com.miui.miwallpaper system application, which can occur after a failed update, a failure to install themes, or a conflict with memory cleaners (such as Clean Master).

• 🖼️ Wallpaper is dropped on a black screen or standard background MIUI.
• 🔄 When you try to change the wallpaper system gives an error failed to apply.
• 📁 In the gallery disappears previously installed wallpaper.

How to clean the cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Wallpaper (or Wallpaper) and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Reset the device.

If cleaning the cache didn’t help, try resetting the app’s settings:

1. In the same menu (Wallpaper → Storage) select Reset settings.
2. Confirm the action.
3. Install the wallpaper again through the system menu.

5. Problems with the topic MIUI: Why wallpaper depends on the topic

In MIUI, wallpaper is closely related to the set theme, and if you use a third-party theme from the Theme (or Themes), it can overwrite your wallpaper every time you turn on the device, especially for those with dynamic wallpaper or live wallpaper.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → Themes.
2. See what theme is active (the tab is mine).
3. If the theme is third-party, tap on it and choose Delete.
4. Return to the standard MIUI theme or default.

If you want to leave a custom theme, but keep your wallpaper:

• 🎨 Set the wallpaper after applying the theme.
• 🔒 In the theme settings, disable the Auto Update Wallpaper option (if any).
• 📲 Use themes without dynamic elements (e.g. Minimalism or Black).

Hardware problems: when the battery or memory is to blame

If all software methods did not help, the problem may lie in the hardware of the Redmi Note 8.

• 🔋 Worn-out battery: at low voltage (below) 3.5V) The system can reset settings, including wallpaper.
• 💾 Damaged flash memory: If the memory sector where the wallpaper is stored is damaged, it will not be stored.
• 🔌 Faulty charging connector: in poor contact, the device can “think” that it is discharged, and reset the settings.

How to diagnose:

1. Check battery health: Adb shell dumpsys battery Look for health option – if it’s not 2 (good condition), battery is worn out.
2. Test the memory: install the app A1 SD Bench and check the read/write speed, if it's below 50MB/s, you might have problems with the speed. NAND-memory.
3. Check the charging connector: plug the charger and move the cable. If charging is interrupted, the connector needs repair.

⚠️ Warning: If the hardware is a problem, self-repairing can make things worse. Contact the service center, especially if the Redmi Note 8 is still warranty-free. Replacing the battery costs between 1,500 and 2,500. ₽, repair of the connector - in 1000-1 800 ₽.

7 MIUI Update: Why Wallpaper Flys After Update

Many users notice that the wallpaper is reset immediately after the MIUI update. This is due to the fact that the new firmware version can:

• 🔄 Rewrite system settings, including background images.
• 📦 Remove the cache of old wallpaper as “obsolete data".
• 🔧 Make changes to the work of the application com.miui.miwallpaper.

How to avoid problems when updating:

Back up wallpaper (copy images to the cloud)| Turn off auto optimization in Settings → Battery |Install wallpaper immediately after the update |Check out the MIUI version in Settings → About phone – some builds (e.g. MIUI 12.5.4) have a wallpaper bug

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If the wallpaper flew off after the update, try:

1. Re-install them through the system menu.
2. Clear the Wallpaper app cache (see Section 4).
3. Reverse to the previous version of MIUI (if the problem is critical).

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After major updates (e.g., from MIUI 11 to MIUI 12.5), wallpaper may fly off due to a change in the structure of the storage of graphics, in which case only manual rearrangement of the background will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the issue with the wallpaper on the Redmi Note 8