How to Remove the buttons on the lock screen Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer many features for quick access to tools, but sometimes standard interface elements interfere or annoy. Often users are faced with a situation when extra camera icons, flashlights or widgets appear on a locked display that take up space or accidentally activate in their pocket. You can remove these elements, but the solutions depend on the version of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of deactivating unnecessary buttons, from standard system settings to deeper changes through special applications. On newer firmware versions (MIUI 14+ and HyperOS), it is often impossible to completely hide the camera and flashlight icons with standard tools without third-party software. Understanding the differences between the shell versions will help you quickly bring the interface to the desired look.

We will look not only at standard switches, but also at methods to combat advertising widgets and wallpaper carousels, which are often perceived by users as unnecessary elements on the lock screen.

Standard lock screen settings in MIUI

The first thing to do is to go to the built-in settings, because in some versions of the shell, developers leave the option to control the interface elements, and you need to go to the Settings menu and select the Lock Screen section, and here you can find the basic parameters that are responsible for the appearance of the locked device.

Depending on your smartphone model, you might see items related to widgets or quick access. If your gadget is running on a relatively older version of MIUI 12 or MIUI 13, there may be a switch to disable specific shortcuts. However, in newer builds, this functionality is often stripped down.

• 🔍 Open Settings and go to the Lock Screen section.
• 🔍 Find the lock screen settings or similar.
• 🔍 Check for switches for Camera and Lantern.

It should be noted that standard system tools often only remove widgets or change the style of the watch, but not the system shortcuts in the corners of the screen. If your menu does not have the right toggles, then the manufacturer has blocked this feature at the firmware level, and other methods will be required.

Removing widgets and excess content

Often, “buttons” are the information blocks, news or weather that appear when swiped left or right on a locked screen, called widgets, and can be easily turned off to free up space and speed up the system.

To control widgets, you need to unlock your phone, go to the desktop and go to edit mode. Push two fingers on the screen or keep your finger empty for a long time, then select Add widgets or go to the widget settings. In the menu that opens, find the Lock Screen section.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling widgets can affect the display of weather or step information if you use this data without unlocking your phone.

In the list of available widgets, you will see active elements. Click on the delete icon (usually a cross or a Remove button) opposite the unnecessary blocks. Once the list is cleared, the unnecessary scroll bars and buttons on the locked screen will disappear, leaving only a clean image and time.

Setting up the wallpaper carousel (Glance)

One of the most intrusive features in Xiaomi smartphones is the Wallpaper Carousel (formerly known as Glance), which constantly changes the background image and often adds additional buttons to the lock screen to go to the app store or watch news.

Go to Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper carousel. In the menu that opens, find the switch Turn on Wallpaper Carousel and deaktivate it. The system will warn you that the function will be disabled and prompt you to select a static image from the gallery.

When the carousel is turned off, the interface will be much cleaner, not only will banner ads disappear, but also the unnecessary controls that often appear at the bottom of the screen along with changing images, and this will also positively affect the autonomy of the device.

Use of third-party applications for customization

If standard settings don't allow you to remove the camera and flashlight buttons, specialized apps from the Google Play store come to the rescue, replacing the standard lock screen with their own, fully user-controlled, and one popular solution is the Lock Screen app or analogues.

Once you install the app, you will need to give it the necessary permissions, including the right to display on top of other windows and access to notifications. In the application settings, you can choose a lock style where there are no unnecessary buttons, or configure their appearance only with a double tap.

It is important to understand that using third-party screen blockers can lead to increased battery consumption, as the system will have to keep two locking processes in mind, and some features, such as facial recognition or fingerprint, may work less stable or require additional adjustment.

Advanced Methods: ADB and Hidden Settings

For experienced users who are not afraid to work with code, there is a method of hiding system elements through ADB debugging (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to change the system parameters that are hidden from the average user in the settings menu.

To start, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI build number seven times. Then turn on USB Debugging on the Additional → For Developers menu.

Connect your phone to your computer and execute a command to hide shortcuts. Specific commands may vary depending on the Android version, but often a change of value in the secure settings database is used.

adb shell settings put secure lock_screen_show_camera 0

⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Incorrect change of system parameters can lead to unstable operation of the interface or cyclical reboot of the device.

This method is most effective for removing buttons that are sewn into the system and do not have software switches, but after resetting the settings to factory, all changes made through the ADB will be lost and the procedure will have to be repeated.

Comparison of methods of deactivation of elements

To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a composite table comparing the effectiveness of different methods for different tasks, each option has its advantages and limitations, which should be considered before starting a system modification.

Choose a method based on your skills and security requirements, and for most users, the best solution is to combine disabling the wallpaper carousel and adjusting the widgets through the standard menu.

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The combined approach (disabling widgets + third-party launcher) gives the best result without the risk of damage to the system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)