Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an intrusive feature that regularly changes the background image on the lock screen, an option known as the Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance) designed to showcase news and beautiful scenery, but in practice often turns into a source of annoyance and banner ads. Users notice that instead of the usual static image, the system offers random images, sometimes with sponsors' logos, which spoils the overall impression of using the device.
Fortunately, the developers of MIUI and the new HyperOS shell have made it possible to completely disable this feature. You don't need to be a programming expert or have root rights to regain control of your gadget. The setup process takes only a few minutes, but the menu can be called differently depending on the firmware version and the installation region.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to remove the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi. We will look at standard methods through system settings, methods for different versions of the shell, and also touch on the nuances of working with system applications. Follow the instructions carefully, as the names of menu items may vary slightly depending on the model of your smartphone.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it interferes
The wallpaper carousel is a system application built into the MIUI shell. Originally conceived as a way to personalize and provide quick access to news, it has evolved over time into a monetization tool. Instead of simply changing beautiful landscapes, the service has begun streaming promotional messages, offers to install games and other commercial information directly onto a locked screen.
The main problem is that this feature consumes Internet traffic and drains the battery, constantly updating content in the background. In addition, many users are annoyed by the inability to predict what image will appear after the next screen is turned on. For those who appreciate minimalism and order, random images with brand logos look like visual noise.
It’s worth noting that turning off the carousel doesn’t affect the ability to install your own static images or live wallpaper.You just reclaim the right to choose what will be displayed on the lock screen, without imposing content on the manufacturer.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have menu item names that are different from the Chinese versions. If you don't find a match, look for synonyms associated with Wallpaper or Lock Screen».
Disconnection through standard MIUI and HyperOS settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of intrusive image changes is to use a regular settings menu. Most current versions of the shell have a unified path to the desired switch, although HyperOS may have had some changes in the structure. You don't need third-party software.
First, you need to open the main settings menu for your device, find the partition that controls the look of the system, depending on the version of the software, it can be called "Always on the screen and lock screen" or simply "lock screen," and that's where the main controls are hidden.
Inside this section, you'll find a item associated with the carousel, which can be called "Wallpaper Carousel," "Glance," or "Wallpaper Carousel," and when you enter this menu, you'll see a switch that activates the function, and you'll need to turn it into "Off."
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings.
- 🖼️ Go to Always on Screen and Lock Screen (or Lock Screen).
- 🔄 Find the wallpaper carousel item and click on it.
- ❌ Turn the switch to the off position.
☑️ Checking the shutdown
Once you do this, the system will ask you to choose a static image from the gallery or leave the current one, and now when you lock your phone, the background will remain unchanged until you decide to change it yourself.
Remove Glance through the Security app
In some versions of the MIUI shell, the carousel is managed in a separate system application that often goes unnoticed by users, called Security, and has a green icon with a shield, and this is where many of Xiaomi's service features are grouped.
Run the Security app and scroll down to the Tools or Services block. You'll find wallpaper carousel or Glance among the many icons. If there's too many icons and you can't find the one you want, use the in-app search function or just take a look at all the tools available.
Once inside, you'll see a similar settings interface, and you can also turn off automatic image replacement, which is sometimes the only way to do this if the standard path through the system settings has been changed by the manufacturer in a particular firmware version.
Why can the settings be reset?
It’s important to understand that removing updates to this app through the app settings can also help.If you find Wallpaper Carousel in the app list, try clicking “Delete Updates.” This will return the program to the factory version, where the feature can be disabled by default or run less aggressively.
Specificity of disconnection on different versions of Android
The procedure for disabling can vary depending on the version of the Android operating system your MIUI is based on. On older versions like Android 10 or 11, the path often lies through the theme of design. On newer versions based on Android 12, 13 and 14, the logic has shifted towards deep integration into system customization settings.
On Android 11 and MIUI 12/12.5 devices, there was a frequent bug when the carousel turned on again after 24 hours, and the solution was to completely clear the Themes and Wallpaper Carousel app data before turning it off again, and on MIUI 13 and 14, this problem was solved and the settings are maintained reliably.
Owners of HyperOS-based devices (the successor to MIUI) should look at the new section, Personalization, which combines the settings of the theme, fonts and lock screen, the logic remains the same: looking for the Carousel switch and deaktivieren (disable) it.
| MIUI/HyperOS version | Location of settings | Name of function | nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 - 12 | Settings → Lock screen | Wallpaper carousel | Frequent self-return settings |
| MIUI 13 - 14 | Settings → Always on screen... | Glance/Carousel | Stable shutdown |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Settings → Personalization | Wallpaper Carousel | Integration with themes |
| Global ROM | Security Annex | Services → Carousel | An alternative path |
If you use custom firmware or a global version with a changed region, items may be called differently, in such cases it is useful to search for settings by typing the word "Carousel" or "Wallpaper".
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Search in settings: at the top of the settings menu, there is a search bar. Type in "Carousel" or "Glance" and the system will show the desired menu item, regardless of the shell version.
Removal of system application and data cleanup
If the standard switching doesn't work or the function is turned on again, you can use a more radical method - cleaning the system application data, which will not delete your personal photos or contacts, but reset the settings of the carousel to the factory.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, look for Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance). Click on it and select Clean (or Storage → Clear All Data) and after this procedure, the carousel will forget its settings and stop downloading content until it is re-activated.
In some cases, especially on Chinese firmware versions, the app can be completely removed if it is not critical to the system. However, on global versions, the Remove button is often not available.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the Wallpaper Carousel app with the Gallery or Themes app. Cleaning up the Gallery data won't lead to photos leaking, but will reset the album settings, and removing the Toms will make it impossible to change the design.
Problems with banner ads in the carousel
A common reason users want to remove the carousel is the abundance of ads. Even when the carousel is off, some users continue to see promotional offers, which is because there are individual items in the MIUI ad settings that need to be manually disabled.
Advertisements can come through MSA (MIUI System Ads). To minimize their occurrence, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to personal data. Find the msa list and turn off the switch. The system will warn you about the cancellation of the action of 10 seconds, you need to wait for the end of the timer and click "Cancel".
It's also worth checking the settings of the app itself, "Security" and "Download," which is often where permissions to show recommendations are hidden, and turning off the wallpaper carousel is just the first step towards a clean system without unnecessary visual noise.
- 🚫 Revoke access to the msa application in the privacy settings.
- 📉 In the Downloads app, disable the "Receive recommendations" item».
- 🔒 In “Security” remove the “Receive recommendations” box in the settings.
A comprehensive approach to setup allows you to completely get rid of intrusive marketing and make the use of a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone as comfortable and personalized as possible to your tastes.
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Complete removal of advertising requires not only disabling the carousel, but also revoking permissions from the system service msa.