Owners of the popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 7 often face intrusive functionality, which is activated by default in the shell of MIUI. We are talking about the so-called wallpaper carousel — a service that automatically changes the background images on the lock screen, downloading content from the Internet. Although the idea looks attractive to some users, in practice it leads to increased traffic consumption, battery and the appearance of unwanted advertising.
Disabling this feature is not always obvious, as Xiaomi developers periodically change the location of switches and menu items. Depending on the firmware version (Global, China or Russia) and the Android version, the process may differ. Below we will discuss in detail all known ways to permanently get rid of the carousel on your device, returning it to its usual static appearance.
It's important to understand that a wallpaper carousel is not just a picture change, it's a full-fledged service integrated into the system. It can be called variously: Glance for Mi, Mi Pop-up or just Wallpaper Carousel. Regardless of the name, the algorithm for deactivating it remains similar, but requires careful choice of menu items.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is worth turning it off
The wallpaper carousel is a system application that replaces a standard lock image with dynamic content. Instead of a static image that you choose, the system offers you a gallery of images that often contain news headlines, app ads or sponsored content. For a budget device like the Redmi 7, this puts additional strain on the processor and RAM.
The main reason users are seeking to turn off the service is because of the company’s aggressive monetization policy: Carousel images often contain clickable elements leading to installing games or switching to a browser. Accidental clicking can lead to an advertising page opening, which annoys many smartphone owners. In addition, the constant upload of heavy images consumes Internet traffic, which is critical when using a mobile connection.
Another negative aspect of aspekt is the impact on autonomy: the process of periodically updating the background and checking the servers for new images prevents the smartphone from fully going into deep sleep. This can lead to the fact that the Redmi 7 will discharge in standby mode faster than usual.
- 🚫 Advertising: Images are often commercial in nature and distract from the main purpose of unlocking.
- 📉 Resource consumption: The service consumes RAM and battery power in the background.
- 📶 Data traffic: Automatic content downloads consume megabytes of mobile internet without the user’s knowledge.
⚠️ Warning: After the wallpaper carousel is turned off, the lock icon or the service logo may remain on the lock screen. This is normal, since you can not completely remove the system application without root rights, but its activity will be completely stopped.
Search for carousel settings in the standard menu
The first and easiest step is to try to find the switch in standard system settings. In older versions of the MIUI shell, which are often installed on Redmi 7, this item can be hidden in the security section or directly in the lock screen settings. The search algorithm can vary depending on the regional firmware.
First, you need to go to the main settings menu, find the item that controls the look and lock, depending on the version of the software, it can be called Lock Screen, Wallpaper or inside the Security section, if you use the Russified version, look for the phrase "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Glance".
Often users overlook that settings can be spread out into different subsections, such as a switch being placed in the Settings menu. → Wallpaper, not lock settings. Carefully look at all tabs in the personalization section. If a standard switch is found, just turn it to the "Off" position".
p>In some cases, the system may offer an alternative, a static set of wallpapers instead of a carousel, which is a compromise that allows you to preserve visual diversity without intrusive advertising.
⚠️ Note: If you don't find a switch in the settings menu, it doesn't mean that the service is removed, it's likely hidden in system applications or activated at the Mi Account level.
Disconnection through the Security and Topics app
Xiaomi often hides system services management in its proprietary utilities, such as the Security app or Themes, to make it harder to opt out of ad functions. On Redmi a 7, these applications are system-based and have extended access rights.
Open the Safety app (green zipper icon). In the upper right corner, click on the gear icon to enter the settings. Here, look for items related to "Recommendations", "Receive recommendations" or "Carousel of wallpaper." Disabling these switches often blocks the lock screen swap.
An alternative path is through the Themes app, go to the user profile (human icon), then to the settings, there may be a "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Lock Screen" option, and when you log in, you will see more detailed management of the service, including the ability to completely stop downloading content.
If standard methods didn’t work, you can try to clear the data of the carousel application itself. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the Wallpaper Carousel or Mi Pop-up list and select Clear Data and Stop. This will temporarily reset the service settings.
☑️ Checklist of disconnection through applications
What if the carousel app is not on the list?
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who have not been helped by standard methods, there is a more powerful tool, USB debugging and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands, which allows you to forcibly stop or even remove (for the current user) the system component of the carousel. On Redmi 7, this method works stably, but requires a computer.
First, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI seven times. After the "You're a Developer" notification appears, go to Additional → For Developers. Find and enable Debugging on USB.
Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. The PC must have ADB drivers installed. Open the command line and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can proceed to disconnect the service.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.mishare.connectivity
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.miwallpaper
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.thememanagerCommands can vary depending on the firmware version. Focus on the com.miui.miwallpaper, which is responsible for the wallpaper. Be careful: disabling system packages can lead to unstable operation if you remove the wrong component. Always check the name of the package before you enter the command.
| ADB Team Team | Function | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| pm disable-user ...miwallpaper | Shutting down wallpaper service. | Low. |
| pm disable-user ...thememanager | Shutting down the theme store. | Average (themes will be lost) |
| pm uninstall ...glance | Complete removal of Glance | High (may be errors) |
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Using ADB is the most effective way, but it requires caution: A mistake in the packet name can lead to the need to reset the phone's settings.
Removing updates and resetting service settings
Often, the problem of the intrusive carousel occurs after the system components are automatically updated through the Security or Themes app. The new version may contain a modified code that ignores previous disabling settings.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Find wallpaper or wallpaper in the list. Click three dots in the corner or select Remove Updates. The system will return the application to the state it was when you bought the phone. After that, be sure to turn off automatic updates of system applications in the GetApps store settings.
In parallel, check the app permissions, and in the app information menu, go to the Permissions section, disable network access (Wi-Fi and mobile data) if available, or deny access to storage, which will prevent the carousel from uploading new images.
If nothing works, you can try resetting the lock screen settings. However, a full reset of the phone is recommended only as a last resort, as it will delete all user data.
- 🔄 Removing updates often brings back the old, less aggressive interface.
- 🚫 Network Blocking: Banning Internet Access for System Applications Prevents Ads From Downloading.
- 💾 Backup: Always save data before radical action with the system.
⚠️ Note: After removing updates, the system may again try to update the component in the background.
Frequent questions and troubleshooting
Even if all instructions are followed, nuances can arise related to the features of a particular firmware or Mi Account. Redmi 7 users often encounter situations where the settings “fly off” or the carousel returns after a reboot.
One common problem is to tie the carousel to a region. If you select India or Indonesia in your phone settings, the number of ads and intrusive services can be much higher. Changing the region to Russia or Germany in the Settings menu → Additional settings → Region sometimes helps to reduce the aggressiveness of the system.
Also, consider that some themes from the Themes store have a built-in carousel that override system settings. If you have set a third-party theme, try returning the standard Classic theme and check if the problem has gone away. Third-party launchers may also conflict with the standard lock screen.
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If the carousel returns after a reboot, try turning off the internet before turning off the phone, and then turn it on after you load your desktop, which will prevent you from syncing your advertising settings.