Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an intrusive service that automatically changes images on a locked screen, a feature known as Wallpaper Carousel or Glance, designed to diversify the visual experience, but in practice it often becomes a source of irritation. Users complain about unexpected mobile traffic consumption, increased energy consumption and, most critically, built-in advertising that appears instead of beautiful landscapes.
Fortunately, the developers have made it possible to completely disable this module, although sometimes the path to the desired configuration is not obvious. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to remove the wallpaper carousel from the lock screen using standard methods, without the need to obtain root rights or use complex third-party software, you can return a clean interface and a static image that you choose.
Before we start, it’s important to understand that the interface of the MIUI or HyperOS shells may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region. However, the logic of system applications remains the same for the entire ecosystem of the brand. We will look at universal algorithms that will suit most current models, from the budget Redmi Note series to the flagships of the Xiaomi 13 and 14 line.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is annoying
The wallpaper carousel is a system application integrated into the MIUI shell that automatically loads a new background every time a device wakes up, originally conceived as a way to showcase quality photos, it has evolved over time into a content platform, instead of abstract patterns or natural landscapes, users are increasingly seeing banner ads of popular apps, games or services.
The main problem is that the service is aggressive, not only changing the image, but also actively using the network connection to download new data in the background, which leads to the fact that the autonomy of the smartphone is reduced, and the Internet bill can be unpleasantly surprising if you are roaming or using a limited plan.
⚠️ Note: In some cases, the carousel may block access to widgets or cause micro-freezes of the interface when unlocked, especially on devices with a small amount of RAM.
In addition, many users note that disabling this feature makes the device more predictable, visual noise disappears, and the unlocking process becomes instantaneous, since the system does not need to waste rendering resources on processing heavy graphic content. For those who appreciate minimalism and speed, having a constant stream of images is an unnecessary burden on the processor.
Search and Disconnect through System Settings
The easiest and safest way to remove intrusive service is to use the built-in settings menu, so you don't need to install additional programs or connect your phone to your computer, you already have all the controls you need, you just need to know where to look for them, and the algorithm for actions can vary depending on the version of the shell.
In most cases, the path is through the lock menu, and you need to open Settings, then find the Always on screen and the lock screen (or just the Lock screen), and that's where the switch that controls the carousel is hidden, and if you use an older version of MIUI, this item can be called the Wallpaper Carousel.
☑️ Algorithm of disabling through settings
Once you have found the right item, just put the slider in an inactive state. The system may request confirmation of the action, warning that you will stop receiving new themes. Be bold to agree, because static wallpapers you installed manually will not go away. In some regions, the settings may be hidden deeper, for example, in the System applications section.
Management through the “Themes” app
If you don't find a coveted tumbler in the basic settings of your phone, don't despair. Often, the carousel is managed in a separate system application of the Themes, which is a standard approach for global firmware versions, where the functionality is broken down into separate modules for easy updates.
Open the Themes app on your smartphone. In the upper right corner or side menu (depending on the interface version), find the profile icon or settings. In the list that opens, select Wallpaper Carousel. This opens an extended service management menu where you can not only turn it off, but also adjust the frequency of updates or select image categories if you still decide to keep the feature active.
- 📱 Find and run the Themes app on your desktop.
- ⚙️ Click on the menu icon (three bars or profile avatar).
- 🔄 Select the wallpaper carousel line in the list of options.
- ❌ Turn the switch Include the wallpaper carousel in the "Off" position».
Importantly, once the operating system is updated, settings may reset and the carousel will be activated again, so if you notice a return of ads on a locked screen after a major HyperOS or MIUI update, the first thing to do is check this section, which is a common behavior for many of the company's system services.
Why are the settings resetting?
Specificity of the shutdown on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shell interface is constantly evolving, and the location of key features varies from version to version. On older versions of MIUI 11 and 12, the controls were more direct, whereas in MIUI 13 and 14, engineers hid these settings deeper to make it more difficult for the average user to turn off. With the advent of HyperOS, the situation stabilized somewhat, but the nuances remained.
The table below shows the approximate paths for different firmware versions. Note that the item names may differ by a few words depending on the translation and regional device binding (Global, EEA, Russia, China).
| Shell version | The Way in Settings | The path in the annex Topics | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11-12 | Settings → Lock screen | Profile → Carousel | Direct shutdown, minimum advertising |
| MIUI 13-14 | Settings → Always on screen... | Settings → Wallpaper carousel | Aggressive promotion of the service |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Settings → Wallpaper and personalization | Profile → Settings of the carousel | Integration with widgets |
| Global ROM | Settings → Screen locking | It's in all versions. | Less local advertising |
If you own a Chinese ROM device and a global language, you may not be able to completely uninstall the service because it is deeply integrated into the system, in which case only installing a global firmware version or using the methods described below helps.
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Before changing system settings, it is recommended to back up important data, although turning off the carousel is itself safe for your personal files.
Problem Solving: If the switch is inactive or hidden
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the slider to disable the wallpaper carousel is either missing or not responsive to clicks, this may be due to the fact that the service is locked at the regional settings level or the application configuration files are corrupted, and this behavior is observed on devices received from certain carriers.
The first step in solving this problem is to clean up the data of the Wallpaper Carousel or Themes app itself. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find Wallpaper Carusol (or Glance) in the list, click on it and select Clear Data and Clear Cache. After that, restart your smartphone and try to turn off the feature again.
If that doesn't work, you can try changing the region of the device. Go to Settings → Additional → Region and select any European country, such as Germany or the Netherlands. In these regions, the legislation strictly regulates data collection and content imposition, so the system will automatically disable aggressive functions. After changing the region, check the settings of the carousel - the switch should become available.
- 🇪🇺 Change the region in your phone settings to the EU country.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the “Themes” and “Wallpaper Carousel” app».
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
- 🚫 Check the availability of the switch switch.
⚠️ Note: Region changes may affect some local services, such as weather widgets or XiaoAI voice assistant, if they are geographically specific.
Alternative methods and use of third-party launchers
In cases where standard methods don’t work or a user wants to get full control over the look of their smartphone, you can resort to installing third-party apps to lock the screen. Google Play stores offer dozens of solutions that completely replace Xiaomi’s standard lock.
Popular launchers and blocker apps like Hi Locker or KLCK let you ignore the system settings of the carousel. By installing such an app, you get the ability to customize your own slideshows from the gallery, widgets and watches, completely eliminating the interference of system advertising. However, it is worth remembering that third-party blockers can consume more battery resources than an optimized system.
Another radical but effective method is the use of ADB-commands to freeze the system component. This requires developer rights, enabled debugging of the system component. USB And the computer. --user 0 com.miui.mishka.lockscreen (the name of the package may vary) allows you to completely disable the process of the carousel at the system level.
To sum up, getting rid of the wallpaper carousel is an important step towards personalizing your Xiaomi. Whether you choose a simple path through settings or a more complex one through a region change, the result is worth it: a clean screen and no traffic.
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Complete removal of system components via ADB gives 100% results, but requires a PC connection and caution when typing commands.