Where to turn off the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an intrusive service that automatically changes images on the lock screen, a feature known as Wallpaper Carousel (formerly Ultra HD or Glance) that not only consumes traffic, but can display banner ads, and many users are looking for a way to deactivate it to return a static background image and improve the speed of the device.

The process of disabling depends on the version of the installed shell, MIUI or the new HyperOS. The settings interfaces are changing, and the standard paths may look different on different models. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible solutions to the problem, including hidden settings and system constraints.

You don't need to be an IT expert to do this, we've prepared detailed instructions to help you remove unnecessary interface elements in a few minutes, and the key is to follow the steps carefully, as menu items may vary slightly depending on the region of the firmware.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why turn it off

The wallpaper carousel is a system service designed to automatically change background images on a locked screen, originally conceived as a way of personalization, but has evolved over time into a channel for distributing content and advertising, and it downloads images from the Internet, which can lead to a subtle consumption of mobile traffic.

The main reason users are trying to turn it off is because of its aggressive behavior: sometimes images do not have time to load, leaving a black screen, or banner ads appear on the lock screen that are difficult to ignore, and the constant operation of the service in the background consumes the resources of the processor and RAM.

Turning off the carousel gives the owner control of the device back, you decide what image to see when you turn on the screen, and you don't depend on the manufacturer's servers, and this is especially important for those who appreciate the minimalism and speed of their gadget.

⚠️ Note: After the service is disabled, some of the features of the Photos widget on the lock screen may stop updating automatically. Make sure you select a static photo from the gallery if you want to see a specific image.

It’s worth noting that on global firmware versions, this service is often more integrated than in Chinese ones, so disabling techniques can range from a simple switch in settings to more complex manipulation of access rights.

Disconnection through lock screen settings

The easiest and most obvious way to remove the change of pictures is to use the standard settings menu, which works on most current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS. You will need to perform several consecutive actions.

First, unlock the device and find the Settings app, and you need to go to the Lock Screen, which is where the basic controls for the look of the locked state of the smartphone are concentrated.

Inside the menu, find an item called Wallpaper Carousel or Ultra HD Wallpaper. The name can vary depending on the location. Click on it to open up additional service management options.

• 🔘 Find the switch "Enable wallpaper carousel" and move it to an inactive position.
• 🖼️ If you need confirmation, select the "Off" option in the pop-up window.
• 🔙 Go back and check if the "Wallpaper Carousel" inscription is missing under the clock on the locked screen.

In some cases, the system may try to keep the user on, offering to turn the function on again or showing the benefits of the service. Ignore these suggestions and firmly press the disable button.

If the images continue to change after you do this, you may have another source of images activated, such as a theme or a third-party app, in which case it is worth checking the theme settings.

Management through the Topics app

Often, users don’t know that carousel management can be located not only in system settings, but also in the proprietary Themes app.

Open the Themes app on your smartphone. It usually has an icon with a brush or a colorful square. In the lower right corner of the screen, click on the profile icon (humans). In the menu that opens, select Settings.

In the settings list, look for the wallpaper carousel section, and here you'll see the same options as the system menu, but with finer customization, for example, you can select the refresh rate or category of images if you don't want to turn off the feature completely, but only limit it.

To completely shut down:

• 📲 Launch the Topics app.
• ⚙️ Go to profile and select Settings.
• 🚫 Click on the wallpaper carousel and turn off the switch.

⚠️ Attention: When you update the app, the carousel settings topics may reset. Periodically check this section to ensure that the feature does not automatically activate again.

Sometimes, the menu contains the item "Receive recommendations", which is also recommended to be disabled to reduce the amount of advertising content coming from the manufacturer.

Using the Topic app to manage the service is preferable if the standard settings menu of the phone does not contain the desired items, this is often found on older models or specific regional firmware.

Specifics of the configuration in HyperOS and MIUI 14

With the release of the HyperOS shell and the upgrade to MIUI 14, the menu structure has changed, and the logic of the arrangement of elements has become more confusing to make it difficult for the user to access the ad features.

In newer versions, the path may look like this: Settings → Wallpaper and personalization → Lock screen. Please note that the item “Wallpaper and personalization” may simply be called “Personalization”.

Here you may find that the carousel switch is inactive or hidden, which may mean that the function is rigidly tied to the set theme. Try changing the theme to a standard one (Classic or Default) to unlock the control option.

It's important to understand that HyperOS is actively implementing new algorithms for displaying content. If standard methods don't work, it's possible that your Mi Account region affects the availability of the feature. → Regions sometimes help to hide unnecessary items.

HyperOS users also note the appearance of the "Recommendations" widget on the lock screen, which is visually similar to a carousel, which must be turned off separately in the widget menu, by long pressing on the empty space of the lock screen.

System Component Removal and Cleaning

If the switches don’t help or the function turns on itself, you can resort to more radical measures, such as cleaning the application data or temporarily removing updates to the system component.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Wallpaper Carousel in the list. Click on it and select Clean → Clear everything. This will reset the service settings to factory.

In the same menu, you can try clicking the Remove button. On many devices, this won't remove the app completely (since it's system-based), but it will roll it back to the factory version, which often removes bugs and intrusive ads. After that, be sure to turn off the Internet before the first activation of the screen.

• 🗑️ Go to Application Management.
• 🔍 Find Wallpaper Carousel.
• 💾 Click "Clear Data" and "Clear Cache".
• 📉 Try clicking “Delete Updates” if the button is active.

There is also a method of disconnecting through ADB-And if you connect the phone to a computer, you can execute a command that hides the carousel package from the system.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.milink.service

However, ADB requires caution, and if you disable system packages incorrectly, you can cause the interface to work in an unstable way, and only use this method if you are confident in your actions.

⚠️ Warning: Before removing system application updates, make sure you have a backup of important data.While the risk is minimal, interference with system processes always carries potential risks.

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Tip: After cleaning the wallpaper carousel data, do not connect to Wi-Fi for 5 minutes, this will prevent the advertising module from loading instantly when the screen is turned on for the first time.

Solution and alternative methods

Even after the shutdown, there may be nuances, such as the wallpaper carousel or music control buttons on the lock screen, which are residual interface elements that are treated by restarting the device.

Sometimes users confuse the carousel with the Unlock Log or third-party launcher features. Check if you have third-party screen apps installed. They may have their own background change settings.

If nothing helps, you can try changing the region of the phone to a country where Xiaomi services are less aggressive (for example, Nepal or Andorra), disabling the carousel, and then returning the region back.

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Relocation is a temporary solution that allows you to access hidden settings, but does not guarantee the complete removal of the service from the system.

Alternatively, third-party applications can be used to lock the screen, although this can increase battery consumption. Such applications completely replace the system lock screen, ignoring the MIUI settings.

Remember that combating intrusive software is an ongoing process, and system updates can bring back remote features, so check your personalization settings periodically.