Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive feature that automatically changes images on the lock screen. On the Redmi Note 7 model, this system, known as the Wallpaper Carousel, can be annoying with its behavior. Instead of a static picture, you see a new background every time, often with advertising logos or news headlines.
Many users don't know how to get rid of this, believing it to be a system bug or a virus. It's actually a built-in MIUI service that is activated by default after the device is upgraded or first activated. Its job is to consume Internet traffic and sometimes affect the unlock speed.
In this article, we will go into detail where the hidden settings of this feature are located, learn how to completely deactivate the change of backgrounds or, conversely, adjust it to your preferences, if you still like variety, We will look at standard methods through settings and deeper ways to manage system applications.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed
The wallpaper carousel is a specialized MIUI shell service developed by Xiaomi, whose main task is to regularly update the background image on a locked screen, downloading content from the cloud. Formally, the feature is positioned as a way of personalization, allowing the user to see beautiful landscapes, architecture or abstractions without manually changing pictures.
But there is a commercial dimension to the appeal, and the service is often used to promote apps, games or events organized by the manufacturer, and images can contain clickable elements that, when accidentally tapped, open the GetApps browser or store.
Technically, it runs through the system application com.miui.mishell.locker, which has access to the network and storage, which allows it to cach images in advance, and if you don't use this feature, it is an overload on the RAM and processor of the device, albeit minimal.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system components completely may affect other interface elements, such as widgets on the lock screen. Make sure you turn off the wallpaper service, not critical services.
It is worth noting that different versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 10, MIUI 11 or MIUI 12, which are relevant for the Redmi Note 7) may have slightly different settings, but the logic remains the same across the brand ecosystem.
Search for settings in the lock screen menu
The easiest and safest way to manage the feature is in the standard smartphone settings menu, so you don't need superuser rights or third-party software, just go through the menu items carefully, because manufacturers often hide these options in the back of the interface.
To start, unlock your Redmi Note 7 and go to the main app menu. Find the Settings icon. In the list that opens, look for the section related to the design or screen. Depending on the firmware version, it can be called Lock Screen or Wallpaper and Personalization.
Inside this section, you'll see the wallpaper carousel item, and you'll click on it and you'll be taken to the service management menu, and you'll find activation switches, refresh rate selections, and thematic categories, and that's where the basic behavior of the system is set up.
If you didn't find it right away, you can search by settings. At the top of the settings menu, there's a search bar -- type "Carousel" or "Lock screen" into it, and the system will redirect you to the subsection that you want, which is especially convenient on the Redmi Note 7 with its large screen.
Step-by-step instruction to disable the function
The deactivation process requires several steps to be taken in sequence. It is important not to miss a single step, as some switches can be hidden in secondary menus. Below is a detailed instruction that is relevant to most Android-based MIUI versions.
First, open Settings and select Lock Screen. In the list that opens, find the Wallpaper Carousel header. Click on it to enter the Control menu. You will see a switch at the top of the screen that is normally activated by default.
Turn the slider to off (grey) and the system can request confirmation of the action or offer an alternative, such as simply hiding the logo, agree to shut down completely if you want to return the static background.
☑️ Shutdown checklist
After switching off the switch, it is recommended to lock the phone with the power button and check the result.The screen should only display the time, date and standard static image you installed earlier in the gallery or through the theme.
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions, a pop-up may appear after turning off with the suggestion “Rate Service” or “Leave Review” just ignore it or click “Cancel” to complete the setup process.
Management through the Security app
If the standard way through settings for some reason doesn’t work or the menu item is missing, you can use the system app Security. This is a powerful tool in the Xiaomi ecosystem that combines antivirus, memory cleanup and permission management.
Run the Safety app (green zipper icon). At the bottom of the screen or in the Tools menu (three dots or hamburger menu), find the Wallpaper Carousel section, sometimes hidden under "Advanced".
Once you’re on the menu, you’ll see the same settings as the phone’s main settings, where you can not only turn off the feature, but also clear the cache of uploaded images to free up space in the memory of the Redmi Note 7.
Using the Security app also allows you to manage permissions for the service, and you can deny it access to the mobile Internet, leaving it available only via Wi-Fi, if you want to save traffic, but are not ready to completely abandon the feature.
⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the Security or Wallpaper Carousel app through third-party managers if you are unsure of your actions. MIUI.
This method is especially useful if the settings interface has been changed as a result of a firmware update.The Security app often retains direct access to modules even when they are hidden from the main menu.
Comparison of disconnection methods and their consequences
There are several ways to limit service, and each has its own characteristics, depending on how radically you want to interfere with the system. Below is a table comparing the main approaches.
| Method | Difficulty | Impact on the system | Return of function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turning off in settings | Low. | Minimum | One click. |
| Internet shutdown | Medium | Limits functionality | Network activation |
| Cleaning the application data | Medium | Resetting service settings | Reconfiguring |
| ADB teams (for advanced) | Tall. | Deep intervention | PC required |
The safest and most recommended way is to use regular menu switches, which ensures the stability of the Redmi Note 7 and the absence of program conflicts, methods using ADB or removing system packages are suitable only for advanced users.
If you decide to just restrict network access, the carousel will stop updating, but can continue to work locally, showing old pictures, so completely switching off through settings is the most effective solution.
Configuring alternatives and static wallpaper
After you get rid of the obsessive change of images, the question arises: how to replace the background? Redmi Note 7 has an excellent AMOLED-like (although there is an IPS) screen with a resolution of 2280×1080, on which static, high-quality wallpaper looks great.
You can upload your own image from the gallery. To do this, go to Settings → Wallpaper. You can choose from a system static set or choose a photo from your gallery. Make sure you choose Static Image instead of Slideshow.
To save battery life on the Redmi Note 7, it is recommended to use dark wallpaper. The black color of the pixels on IPS-matrixes also looks deeper if the brightness is not twisted to the maximum, which reduces the overall power consumption of the backlight.
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Use wallpaper with a resolution of at least 1080p to avoid blurring on the Redmi Note 7 screen. Low quality images will look pixelated.
If you still want to change pictures sometimes, but without advertising, set up a slideshow from your own folder. Create an album in the gallery, add your favorite photos there, and select it as a source for the lock screen in the theme settings.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the carousel turns on itself after the system update, a well-known feature of MIUI: large updates can reset some user preferences to default values by activating monetization services.
In this case, you need to re-execute the procedure. If the switch does not respond or an error flies, try to clear the Topic application data. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find Themes, click Clear → Clear Everything.
Another problem could be the ghost carousel: the switch is off, but the pictures change, which means that the slideshow mode is active in the wallpaper settings, not the carousel service. Check the Wallpaper section and make sure that there is no checkmark on the automatic change.
What do you do if nothing helps?
It’s also worth checking for system updates. Sometimes in new security patches, Xiaomi fixes bugs related to system services malfunctioning. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI version to check.
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The most common reason for returning the carousel is to update the firmware. Always check your personalization settings after installing a new version of MIUI.