Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, offer many ways to personalize, but the standard feature of changing background images is often questioned by users. Built into the shell of MIUI system “Wallpaper Carousel” (or Glance) is designed to revive the lock screen, but its initial setting can seem confusing due to the abundance of advertising integrations and hidden menus. Understanding the mechanics of this service allows not only to decorate the device, but also to rid the smartphone of intrusive content.
Redmi Note 9 owners often face a situation where, after resetting or updating the system, unfamiliar pictures with text that cannot be removed immediately appear on the lock screen. This is the activated carousel, which can be set up by default to show commercial content. The competent configuration of this section turns the irritant into a convenient tool for quickly changing visual style without having to climb into the gallery every time.
In this guide, we will go through all the steps from activating basic functionality to fine-tuning image sources, learning how to manage subscriptions, select specific categories of photos and, if necessary, completely disable the service if you do not need it. The wallpaper carousel system on the Redmi Note 9 works independently of the main desktop wallpaper, requiring separate activation in the lock menu.
Activation and basic carousel management
The first step to start with dynamic image change is to log in to the appropriate settings section of the system. On Xiaomi devices with MIUI shell (versions 11, 12 and later, relevant to the Redmi Note 9), the path to control looks standard, but requires care, since menu items can be called differently depending on the firmware region (Global, EU, CN).
When you go to Settings → Wallpaper, you'll see the static background selection interface, but we're interested in dynamic content. At the bottom of the screen or in the top corner (depending on the MIUI version), there's a wallpaper carousel or Glance button. Pressing on this element triggers the slideshow mechanism. If the switch is in the off position, the system will ignore any attempts to change pictures when the screen is turned on.
It is important to distinguish between two modes of operation of the service: Wi-Fi only mode and Mobile data mode. By default, Redmi Note 9 can request permission to use traffic to download new images. MIUI aims to save user traffic, so without explicit permission new pictures can stop coming if you are outside of Wi-Fi. Checking this setting is the primary task when setting up.
Configure content sources and categories
Once activated, the user is exposed to a vast catalog of images, often filled with banner ads and news bulletins. To make the carousel look good, not annoying, you need to carefully filter the sources. In the “Settings” section inside the carousel menu (usually the gear icon or three dots in the corner), you can manage subscriptions.
It’s important to turn off all items related to “Recommendations”, “Advertising” or “App Promotion”. The Redmi Note 9 features pre-installed channels that broadcast commercial content. By disabling them, you leave only the artistic categories: nature, architecture, abstraction or space, which will significantly reduce the load on the processor during rendering and remove visual noise.
There is also the ability to upload your own images to the carousel, although standard MIUI means this is implemented limited. Most often users rely on third-party launcher apps or specialized widgets, but the basic functionality allows you to choose your preferred themes. The image selection algorithm will take into account your likes: if you put a “heart” to a certain type of photo, the system will offer more similar content.
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Use the “Like” feature on the lock screen to train the carousel algorithm to show images of your preferred style, ignoring inappropriate categories.
Elimination of advertising and intrusive notifications
One of the main complaints of owners of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is aggressive advertising policy in standard applications, and the wallpaper carousel was no exception. Advertisements can appear in the form of text blocks in the picture or individual slides with a proposal to install the game. You can remove this, but you need to perform several consecutive actions in hidden menus.
The first thing you need to do is find the Get Recommendations switch in the carousel settings and deactivate it, which is often hidden under the About button or at the bottom of the settings list. Once you turn it off, the Redmi Note 9 will stop downloading commercial slides, leaving only pure art content from the selected category.
⚠️ Note: After the firmware update MIUI Check the Password and Security section regularly to make sure that the ad personalization features are not activated again.
In addition, it is worth checking the system settings in the section "Password and security» → «You can deny Wallpaper Carousel access to geolocation and contact lists, and the carousels don't need that data to work, and it's redundant to collect it. Disabling these permissions improves the overall security of your device and reduces the amount of telemetry data being transmitted.
Technical aspects and the effect on the battery
Using dynamic wallpaper on the lock screen is a process that consumes the device. For the Redmi Note 9, which has a 5020 mAh battery, this effect can be minimal, but if you set it up incorrectly, it will become noticeable. The main energy consumption occurs when a new image is loaded and processed by a graphics accelerator.
If you notice that your smartphone is running out faster than usual in standby mode, try changing the refresh rate of the carousel. You can select the interval "Every time you turn on the screen", "Every hour" or "Every day". The optimal balance between the freshness of the picture and power consumption for MIUI is the "On Each Turn on" setting, with a Wi-Fi-only load limit.
Also worth considering is the amount of RAM. Although the Redmi Note 9 has sufficient storage (4 or 6 GB), heavy images in high resolution can be cached and take up space in the system buffer. Periodic cleaning of the Wallpaper app cache through the application management menu helps to keep the system running at a high level.
☑️ Checklist for carousel optimization
Comparison of MIUI versions and features of the interface
The interface for setting up the carousel can vary significantly depending on the version of the operating system installed. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 users can be in different stages of updating, from MIUI 11 to MIUI 12.5 and later. Understanding these differences helps to quickly find the desired menu items that developers often rename or move.
The table below shows a comparison of the location of key functions in different versions of the shell, which will help to orient the owners of any modifications of the smartphone:
| Function/Setting up | MIUI 11 (Android 9/10) | MIUI 12 / 12.5 (Android 10/11) | MIUI 13+ (Android 11/12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The path to settings | Settings → Wallpaper → Carousel | Settings → Wallpaper → Wallpaper Carousel | Settings → Lock screen → Carousel |
| Disabling advertising | Inside the merry-go-round menu (cogs) | Section "Recommendations" in settings | Item “Receive recommendations” |
| Frequency of update | Basic setting | Advanced frequency settings | Intelligent renewal |
| Use of data | Separate switch | As part of the general traffic settings | Under the heading “Mobile data” |
As you can see from the table, with each new version of MIUI, developers are looking to deepen the integration of the carousel into the system, sometimes hiding important switches deeper in the menu. If you can't find the item described in the manual, try searching by settings (the magnifier at the top of the settings screen) and entering the request "Carousel" or "Glance".
Hidden functions of the carousel
Solving common problems and errors
Despite the popularity of the feature, Redmi Note 9 users sometimes experience errors in the work of the wallpaper carousel. The most common problem is that the images stop changing, and the same image hangs on the lock screen for days, this can be caused by a failure in the system application Wallpaper or conflict with the installed themes of the design.
To solve this problem, follow the following steps:
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All apps, find Wallpaper (or Wallpaper Carousel) and click Clear Cache and Clear Data».
- 📶 Check the Internet connection: the carousel will not work without access to Xiaomi servers.
- 🎨 If you have a third-party theme installed, try temporarily returning the standard Classic theme, as custom themes often break the functionality of the system carousel.
Another common situation is the appearance of black bars or incorrect display of the image (trimming at the edges), this is due to the aspect ratio of the Redmi Note 9 (20:9) and the initial resolution of the images downloaded. In the settings of the carousel, sometimes the item “Scaling” or “Covering the screen” is available, which helps to fix the artifacts of the display.
⚠️ Note: When you clear the Wallpaper app data, your personal carousel settings and saved favorite images will be deleted. Make sure important photos are saved in the gallery before resetting.
Alternative methods and third-party solutions
If Xiaomi’s standard carousel doesn’t suit you with its functionality or excess of advertising, the market offers many alternatives. Google Play Store apps like Wallpaper Changer or Mutated Wallpaper are great for Redmi Note 9, and they allow you to create complex background scenarios, such as changing wallpapers depending on time of day or location.
However, third-party solutions have their own peculiarities: Android and MIUI system restrictions may require permanent permissions to display on top of other windows, which sometimes leads to increased battery consumption.
For advanced users, it is possible to install modified versions of system applications via ADB or obtain root rights, which allows you to completely cut advertising modules from the system carousel. But this method is highly skilled and carries the risk of breaching the warranty or “bricking” the device, so it is recommended only for experienced enthusiasts.
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The standard MIUI carousel, properly configured, consumes less resources and works more stable than third-party counterparts, since it is deeply integrated into the core of the locking system.
Final optimization and conclusions
Setting up the wallpaper carousel on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is a process that is worth the time if you like variety. A properly configured system not only delights the eye, but also works discreetly without interfering with everyday tasks. The main thing is to find a balance between functionality and intrusiveness of the service.
Remember, the visuals of a smartphone affect the user experience. Beautiful, quality wallpaper creates a mood and makes interaction with the gadget more enjoyable. Using the filtering and customization methods described above, you will turn the standard MIUI tool into a personalized source of inspiration.
Keep up to date with system software as Xiaomi is constantly improving its interface algorithms and closing security vulnerabilities. Stay tuned for the MIUI community to keep up with new features that may be coming to the wallpaper carousel in future updates.