Modern smartphones like the Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi have impressive specs but often overshadow the user experience with intrusive interface elements, one of which has been the so-called “Wallpaper Carousel,” which automatically changes the background image on the lock screen. Originally conceived as a way to diversify the visual range, the feature has evolved into a channel for displaying banner ads and news feed recommendations.
Many owners of MIUI-based devices face a situation where, after upgrading, the usual lock screen is replaced with dynamic content that cannot be ignored, which not only distracts, but also consumes Internet traffic, and can also slightly affect the power consumption of the gadget, disabling this feature returns control over the device and makes its use more predictable.
In this article, we will go into detail where the carousel settings are hidden and how to get rid of the intrusive change of pictures forever. We will look at standard methods through the settings menu, and also touch on deeper system parameters for cases when the usual slider switching does not work, you will learn to control your lock screen in the way that is convenient for you.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it appears
Wallpaper carousel is a built-in service by Xiaomi that automatically changes background images on a locked screen, runs in the background and periodically downloads new images from the manufacturer's cloud storage. Often these images are thematic in nature, architecture, cars or abstract high-resolution graphics.
But beyond aesthetics, the main goal of the service is to monetize the user base, and the carousel integrations allow brands to promote their products directly on your smartphone lock screen, which is why many users tend to deactivate this option immediately after buying a new device or after another major firmware update.
It is worth noting that the carousel can be activated automatically when you first start a smartphone or after resetting to factory settings. The system often marks this feature as “recommended”, which leads to accidental activation by inattentive users. Understanding the mechanism of this service helps to more effectively combat its manifestations.
It's important to distinguish between the usual wallpaper change through the gallery and the system carousel. One is the static choice of the user, the other is the dynamic process controlled by the MIUI servers. If you notice that the images change by themselves without your participation, then this service is activated.
Disconnection through standard MIUI settings
The easiest and safest way to remove the carousel is to use the regular system settings menu, which is suitable for the vast majority of Redmi Note and Xiaomi models running current versions of the shell.
First, unlock the device and go to the main menu. Find the gear icon that stands for Settings. The interface may vary depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), but the logic of the locations remains similar. In some cases, it is easier to search by settings by typing in the query "Carousel".
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If you can’t find the right item, use the search bar at the top of the settings menu – this will save time searching for hidden options.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Open the Always on screen and lock section (or just the Lock screen).
- 🎨 Find a item called Wallpaper Carousel or Wallpaper Carousel.
- 🚫 Turn the switch to the off position.
- 🔄 Confirm action if the system requests a confirmation of disconnection.
Once these steps are done, the lock screen will return to its standard view, images will stop changing automatically, banner ads will disappear, and if the switch is inactive or immediately returns to the "On" position, it is possible that the device has restrictions on the carrier or corporate profile, which is rare but requires additional attention.
⚠️ Warning: Once the carousel is turned off, old uploaded images can remain in the phone's memory. They can be safely deleted through the file manager by finding a folder called media or carousel.
Configure subscription and content settings
Sometimes, completely disabling the feature is not enough, since users may want to leave the wallpaper change mechanism, but remove advertising content from it. In this case, you need to delve into the subscription settings. The carousel service often offers a selection of thematic channels that can be filtered.
When you log into the carousel control menu, look at Subscription or Channels, which displays a list of image sources, deactivating all channels effectively stops new content from loading, even if the feature itself is formally enabled, and is a useful life hack for those who are afraid of accidentally hitting system settings.
Can I use a carousel without advertising?
Also, check the notification settings for the wallpaper carousel system app. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification management. Go to the listing of the Wallpaper Carousel app and stop it from showing notifications. This will save you from pop-up messages about new collections.
Remember that some of the themes downloaded from MIUI Themes may force you to include the carousel. If you change the theme and the carousel reappears, check the settings of a particular theme or go back to the standard Classic design.
Using the “Security” application for cleaning
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, security plays a key role not only in virus protection but also in managing system services, and this is where additional switches often lurk that affect advertising and background behavior.
Run the standard Security app (green shield icon) and the top of the screen is usually a tool like Clean up or Accelerate, and we need the app's settings menu, and click on the top three dots in the top right corner or find a gear.
Inside the security settings, look for Advertising or Recommendations, and there may be a MIUI System Ads (MSA) switch, which, while it does not directly disable the carousel, deactivating it reduces the overall aggressiveness of the system in terms of promoting content.
There's also a section on the Security app called Licenses, and if you revoke the license for the wallpaper carousel service, the function can stop working properly and shut down.
- 🛡️ Open Security. → Licenses.
- 📜 Find the list of Wallpaper Carousels).
- 🔘 Uncheck the consent box with the user agreement.
- ⏳ Wait 10 seconds and press withdraw.
This method is more radical, but effective in cases where standard settings are ignored by the system, and once the license is revoked, the carousel will no longer receive data for operation.
Comparison of disconnection methods and their effectiveness
There are several ways to combat intrusive service, and each has its own characteristics, depending on the version of your firmware and the depth of integration of advertising in a particular region, and below is a table that helps you choose the best way to solve the problem.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard settings menu | Low. | Tall. | Absent. |
| Revocation of license in "Security" | Medium | Very high. | Minimum |
| Disconnection through ADB | Tall. | Maximum | Possible instability |
| Installation of global firmware | Very high. | Complete. | Loss of guarantee |
For most Redmi Note users, the first two methods are sufficient. Using the ADB command line or flashing the device requires technical knowledge and is not recommended for beginners, as the error can lead to software failures.
Global ROMs are less likely to advertise than Chinese ROMs or Indian versions, and if you buy a phone that is designed for the Chinese market, the level of intrusiveness of services will be the highest.
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The combination of disabling in screen settings and revoking licenses in the Safety app gives a 99% guarantee of the carousel disappearing.
Problems after disconnection and ways to solve them
Once you've turned off the wallpaper carousel, there may be some nuances in the interface, such as the lock screen turning black or displaying only time if you don't select a static image, which is not a bug, but a feature of the system in the absence of an active wallpaper source.
To fix this, simply set any picture from the gallery to the lock screen manually. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and select a static image. This will overwrite the empty slot left by the carousel.
⚠️ Warning: If after turning off the carousel, the phone started to work slower or interface errors appeared, try clearing the cache of the Themes and Wallpaper Carousel application through the application management menu.
Sometimes the system may attempt to automatically reactivate the service after a major MIUI update, which means that the shutdown procedure will have to be repeated, a characteristic of the manufacturer’s aggressive policy of updating to return monetization.
If you find that settings reset by themselves, check whether the phone is not on guest mode or the child's profile. These profiles may have restrictions that block the change of system settings by the main user.
Additional recommendations for optimizing the interface
Turning off the carousel is just the first step in cleaning up the smartphone from unnecessary digital noise, and other system services are recommended to be audited to maximize comfort, many of which work on a similar principle and consume resources in vain.
Note the GetApps app (Mi Store) that is an app store from Xiaomi that often sends notifications about discounts and new items. If you only use Google Play, notifications from GetApps can be safely turned off in the notification settings.
Also, look at Settings → Password and Security → Data Access. You can see which apps have access to the Internet. Restricting background data transfers for system advertising services will help save battery life and traffic.
☑️ Checklist of clean system
Regularly checking these settings will keep the phone in a “clean” state close to Android’s stock, especially for the Redmi Note’s budget models, where every megabyte of RAM and battery percentage counts.
Remember that you own the device, and it's up to you to decide what content to display on the screen. Don't be afraid to experiment with settings by backing up important data beforehand.