How to turn off the wallpaper carousel on the Xiaomi screen

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face an intrusive feature that automatically changes images on a locked screen.This system, known as Wallpaper Carousel or Glance, not only consumes Internet traffic, but sometimes displays ads at random moments. Many users want to get rid of this visual noise to return the device to a static and familiar look.

Disabling this feature does not require root rights or complex manipulation of system files. Just find the appropriate switch in the settings menu, which, however, can be hidden in different sections depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways of deaktivacji service, so you can choose the most suitable for your model.

It is worth noting that the complete removal of the system component is sometimes required for those who want to be sure of absolute privacy and no background processes. Below are step-by-step instructions that will help you forget about spontaneously changing images and focus on managing the gadget.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why turn it off

Wallpaper carousel is an integrated service that downloads new background images from the Internet every time you turn on a screen or unlock a device, which is formally positioned as a way to personalize the interface, allowing you to see beautiful landscapes, urban landscapes or art objects without manually searching for pictures.

The main reason users are seeking to turn off the service is because of its aggressive behavior: In addition to consuming mobile traffic and battery power, the service can block important notifications or block widgets on the lock screen, and in some regions, the carousel serves as a conduit for promotional offers, which annoys most smartphone owners.

⚠️ Warning: Turning off the wallpaper carousel does not affect the standard gallery or the ability to set static images manually.You simply forbid the phone to automatically download new content from the network.

Another important aspect is performance: On low-cost models with little RAM, the background loading of heavy images can cause micro-delays when unlocking, and by removing this process, you will make the system response more smooth and predictable, which is especially noticeable on devices of previous years of release.

Step-by-step instruction through lock screen settings

The easiest and safest way to remove the carousel is to use the standard settings menu, which works on most current firmware versions, including the latest Android 13 and Android 14 updates. You don’t need to connect your phone to your computer or install third-party utilities.

To start, unlock the device and find the standard Settings app, which usually looks like a gear. In the list that opens, you need to scroll down to the section responsible for appearance and personalization. Depending on the version of the shell, this item may be called Lock Screen, Wallpaper or Always on screen and lock.

Inside the wallpaper carousel menu, you'll see one or more active switches. Usually the main switch is signed "Enable wallpaper carousel" or "Activating Glance." Once you put it inactive, the system can show a confirmation pop-up. Accept the change in settings, and the function will be deactivated.

Sometimes, once you turn off the function, the current image can stay on the screen until the next reboot or manual change of wallpaper. This is normal cache behavior. If you want to return your static picture immediately, just go to the gallery, select the photo you want and set it as wallpaper for the lock screen.

Disconnection through the “Security” and “Themes” app

Some versions of the MIUI wrapper have carousel management in system applications like Security or Themes, so that users can monitor traffic consumption and background services from a single center, and if you don't find the right item in the basic settings, it's worth checking out these apps.

Open the Safety app (green shield icon) and find the Acceleration or Battery section. In some cases, the background activity restriction of the carousel can be found in the Licenses and Agreements section within the Themes app. Search the Wallpaper Carousel list and uncheck the consent box for data use or service operation.

You should also check the settings of the Themes app itself. Go to the user profile (human icon), then to Settings, and find the Wallpaper Carousel, where you can not only turn off the feature, but also clear the cache of uploaded images to free up space in the device's internal memory.

⚠️ Note: When disabled through the Themes app, the system may insist on enabling the feature back, arguing that it improves the visual experience. Ignore these suggestions if you don't need an automatic background change.

It is important to understand that the system applications can be updated regardless of the main firmware, so after another update MIUI or HyperOS settings can reset, and you will have to recheck these items to make sure that the carousel is not activated again.

Management through special capabilities and developer mode

For advanced users who haven't found standard switches or have encountered interface bugs, there are deeper management methods: They involve using developer mode or special Android features. These methods require care, as changing system parameters can affect other functions.

To get into the developer menu, you need to quickly click seven times on the build number in the About Phone section. Once the mode activation message appears, a new "Developers" option will appear in the settings menu, and you can find background constraints there, although direct toggle for the carousel is rare there.

A more effective method is to use the feature “Special features”; in this section you can find services related to the lock screen. If the carousel works as a separate service, you can try to stop it through the menu “Run Services” or limit its rights to display on top of other windows.

If you use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to control your phone from your computer, you can completely remove or freeze the carousel component, which requires connecting your phone to your PC, enabling USB debugging, and entering a command for the disablesystem package responsible for Glance.

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.misystem

However, the use of the command line is recommended only for advanced users. Incorrect removal of the system package can lead to errors in the operation of the interface. In most cases, a standard disconnection through the settings described in the previous sections is sufficient.

Comparison of disabling methods on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

Xiaomi shells are constantly evolving, and the location of settings can change from version to version. Below is a table that will help you navigate where to look for a switch depending on your version of the software.

Global ROM owners often find that menu items are not literally translated, such as using the term "Slideshow" or "Rotating Wallpaper" instead of "Carousel." Be careful when searching for icons or feature descriptions.

On HyperOS devices, Xiaomi has begun unifying the interface, so carousel settings are often in a single personalization hub. If you have recently updated and can't find the old item, try searching for the settings by typing the word "carousel" or "wallpaper."

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Use the search in settings: at the top of the Settings menu, there is a search bar. Type in "carousel" or "wallpaper" and the system will lead you to the desired switch, regardless of the firmware version.

Cleaning the cache and removing residual files

Once you have disabled the function, it is recommended to clear the accumulated data to free up space on the disk. The wallpaper carousel stores a lot of images in the cache, which can take from several hundred megabytes to several gigabytes, depending on the age of use.

To clean, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps.