How to get rid of the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often encounter an intrusive feature that periodically changes images on the lock screen without the user’s knowledge. This phenomenon, known as wallpaper carousel or Mi Wallpaper Glance, can be annoying, especially when banner ads or random images from the Internet appear instead of the usual photo. For Redmi 9 users who value personalization of their device, finding a way to deactivate this feature becomes a priority.

Fortunately, the developers of the MIUI interface have provided the possibility of disabling this service, although sometimes the option is hidden in an unobvious way. The process requires care, since the names of menu items may differ slightly in different versions of the firmware. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the known methods that allow you to return a static image to the lock screen and forget about the accidental change of the background forever.

It should be understood that the carousel is not a virus, but an integrated system component designed to showcase content from partners. However, its aggressive behavior often leads to increased traffic and battery consumption. Below we will present a step-by-step algorithm that will help you fully control the appearance of your smartphone.

Analysis of the causes of the appearance of an advertising carousel

The appearance of changing images on a locked Redmi 9 screen is often a surprise to the owner.This is because the default Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance for Mi) feature can be activated when the device is initially set up or after a system update. MIUI algorithms aim to maximize user interaction with content by offering news feeds and promotional images.

The main purpose of this mechanism is to monetize free devices by displaying ads and promoting applications. When you see a proposal to install a game or watch a video on the lock screen, know that this is the work of this service. It works in the background, periodically uploading new data over the Internet, which also affects the autonomy of the gadget.

⚠️ Note: Some users mistakenly believe that the carousel is the result of malware. However, in 99% of cases it is a regular feature of the shell Xiaomi, does not require antivirus verification, but needs manual adjustment.

It is important to distinguish the standard carousel from third-party locker apps. If you see a full-fledged news feed with widgets after unlocking, it may be that the device has a third-party app masquerading as a system service. In the case of Redmi 9, this is a built-in module that is integrated into the lock screen settings.

Disconnection through lock screen settings

The easiest and safest way to remove intrusive image change is to use the regular settings menu, which does not require additional software installation and ensures that the system integrity of Redmi 9 is not compromised.

To start, unlock your smartphone and go to the main app menu, find the Settings icon (cogs) and open it. In the list of parameters, find the section that controls the appearance of the locked screen, depending on the version of MIUI, it can be called the Lock Screen or be part of the Wallpaper menu.

Once you log in to the appropriate menu, you'll see the Wallpaper Carousel, and if you click on it, you'll be taken to the service management sub-menu, and there'll be a switch that activates or deactivates the function, and then you'll be able to turn it to the off position, and the system can request confirmation of action, or you can suggest that you choose static wallpaper instead of dynamic wallpaper.

If the switch is active but the carousel is still running, try restarting the device. Sometimes the changes only take effect after the full cycle of the smartphone on and off. It is also worth checking whether the option “Carousel Mode” is included in the additional theme settings if you use a third-party design.

Management through Security Application

In the MIUI shell, many system functions, including memory cleaning and permission management, are concentrated in the Security app. This is where ad settings are often hidden, which are not obvious in the basic parameters of the system. For Redmi 9 owners, this path is one of the most effective.

Open the Safety app (green zipper icon) at the top of the screen, you'll see a series of icons for quick optimization. Swipe your finger across the screen to the left or tap three dots in the corner to reveal the full tool menu. Find Clean up or Accelerate, but we're interested in advertising management.

Inside the app, find the recommendations settings, which are often hidden in the menu that you call by clicking on the gear in the top right corner of the Security app itself, and there may be a Receive recommendations or similar option, and turning off this option will not only prevent the carousel from appearing, but also reduce the number of advertising notifications in the system applications.

Note that the Security interface can be updated and the location of the items can change. If you don't find the right switch at once, carefully examine all tabs and menu subsections. Often developers disguise these settings as general terms like "Improving the user experience."

Disabling the MSA system component

The display of advertising content, including wallpaper carousel, is often the responsibility of the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system process, a hidden service that runs in the background and is responsible for downloading advertising modules. To completely eliminate intrusiveness, you need to revoke the permission to work this component.

Go to your Redmi 9 Settings and find the Passwords and Security section. From the list of options, select Data Access or Special Features (depending on the firmware version, the names may vary).

Once you find msa in the list, click on it and turn off the network access switch. The system will issue a warning that some features may stop working correctly, and start a countdown (usually 10 seconds), wait for the timer to end and confirm the shutdown, which is critical for blocking ads at the system level.

⚠️ Attention: When trying to disconnect MSA The system may display pop-ups several times, convinced to leave the function on. Be persistent and wait for the countdown timer to complete the operation successfully.

Removing or disabling the Glance app

On some global firmware versions for Redmi 9, the wallpaper carousel is implemented through a separate app called Glance for Mi or Lock Screen Magazine, which, unlike system processes, can be removed or forced to stop if standard settings don’t work.

Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, find an app called Wallpaper Carousel, Glance, or Lock Screen. Click on it to open the Control page. If the Remove button is active, feel free to delete the app, it won't hurt the system.

If you cannot delete the application (button is inactive), use the option to Disable or Stop. After stopping, forcibly close the application. It is also recommended to go to the Memory section inside the application page and click Clear to erase the cached images and settings.

• 📱 Find the “Wallpaper Carousel” app in the list of installed programs.
• 🛑 Click the Stop button to force the process to end.
• 🗑️ Select “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache” to delete temporary files.
• 🚫 If possible, click on “Delete” or “Disable” to fully deactivate.

Once you've done this, go back to your desktop and lock the screen, and if the image is static and doesn't change when you turn on the screen, it's a success, otherwise, check if the theme with the built-in carousel is activated.

Verification of established registration topics

Often users forget that the theme itself may contain a wallpaper carousel mechanism, and the MIUI theme store has many designs that automatically activate the change of images on the lock screen when installed, ignoring the system settings.

Open the Themes app on your Redmi 9. Go to your user profile (the person icon in the corner) and select My Themes. Check which theme is currently active. If you use a third-party design, try temporarily switching to a standard Classic or Default theme.

Once you have applied the standard theme, check the lock screen settings again. Changing the theme often resets the carousel settings, and you have to make sure that the wallpaper carousel switch is off again, the most common reason for an ad to “return” after it is successfully turned off.

Additional recommendations and privacy settings

To consolidate the result and prevent the return of intrusive functions, it is recommended to conduct an audit of privacy settings. Xiaomi collects a lot of data about users, and disabling some points will help minimize the amount of advertising noise in the future.

In Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy, look for User Experience Improvement Program (or User Experience) and disable this option. This will prevent analytics from being sent to the company’s servers, which indirectly reduces the relevance of targeted advertising, including on the carousel.

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Expert advice: After all the settings, take a screenshot of the lock screen. If the image itself changes after a day, then some process is still active, and the procedure for disabling the MSA or Glance should be repeated.

It is also worth checking the settings of the widgets on the desktop. Sometimes the Wallpaper or News widget added to the home screen may trigger a background change. Remove any suspicious widgets associated with news or galleries to rule out their impact on the system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Main result: To ensure a guaranteed result, you need to perform a set of actions: turn off the switch in the settings, stop the Glance application and withdraw consent in the MSA service.