How to disable ads on the lock screen Xiaomi: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter intrusive content that appears when the screen is turned on.This phenomenon, known as Glance for Mi or simply "Wallpaper Carousel," not only consumes traffic, but is annoying with its intrusiveness.

Fortunately, MIUI and the new HyperOS allow for the flexibility of customizing this aspect of the interface, so you don't have to be a programmer or root-rights to get the screen back clean, but you just have to go through a few things in the system settings and in the service applications.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all possible sources of advertising content on a locked display. We will look at the standard methods of disabling through the settings menu, working with the system applications msa and miui daemon, and also touch on the nuances of working in different regions of the firmware. Follow the instructions to enjoy only your photos or static image.

The Nature of Advertising Content in MIUI and HyperOS

Advertising on the lock screen in Xiaomi devices is not a virus or a random bug, but an embedded marketing function. It is implemented through a system service that uploads images, news and banner ads from the cloud. In global firmware versions, this service is often called Glance, while in Chinese builds it may appear under other names, but the essence remains the same.

The main purpose of this feature is to monetize budget and mid-budget devices, smartphone manufacturers subsidize the cost of iron by showing ads to users, but the aggressiveness of implementation often goes beyond reasonable, especially when the ability to install their wallpaper is blocked or pop-ups appear in the interface.

It's important to understand that disabling one parameter may not be enough. MIUI has multiple layers of protection against the "purity" of the interface. Sometimes you need to disable not only wallpaper, but also recommendations in folders and system notifications from security services. Only a comprehensive approach ensures complete elimination of unwanted content.

⚠️ Note: Some system applications may automatically resume after a firmware update. If an ad returns after an update, check your settings again, paying special attention to the "Get recommendations" item».

It's worth noting that in recent versions of HyperOS, display algorithms have become more sophisticated, advertising can be disguised as weather widgets or news, so it's critical to read the names of the switches in the settings menu carefully so you don't miss the hidden checkbox.

Disabling the wallpaper carousel through the main settings

The easiest and most obvious way to remove ads is to use the regular theme settings menu, which works 90 percent of the time for standard situations. You don't need third-party software, you need enough attention to navigate the menu.

First, unlock your smartphone and go to the main settings menu. Find the look section. Depending on the version of the shell, it may be called differently, but the logic of the arrangement of the elements remains similar. You need to find the item associated with the lock screen.

• 📱 Open the settings of your smartphone.
• 🎨 Go to Wallpaper or Wallpaper and personalization.
• 🔄 Find the Wallpaper Carousel item (in some versions of Glance for Mi).
• 🚫 Click on the switch Turn on the wallpaper carousel to deactivate it.

After you do this, the system will suggest you choose a static image or leave the current one, and now when you turn on the screen, you will only see the time, date and picture you choose, without unnecessary banners and news feeds.

If the standard path didn’t work or there’s no menu item (which happens in some regional firmware), try an alternative route. Go to Settings → Always on screen and lock screen. There may also be a switch that activates recommendations.

System Services Management: MSA and Mi Daemon

Sometimes switching the toggler in the wallpaper settings is not enough, because the background process continues to work, and the MSA (MIUI System Ads) and Mi Daemon system services are responsible for collecting statistics and some advertising mechanics, and turning them off is a key step to deep cleaning the system.

MSA is the primary agent of Xiaomi's advertising system. It doesn't disrupt the phone, but it needs confirmation. The first time you try to shut down, the system may ask you to wait 10 seconds, mimicking an error or boot, and it's a defense mechanism that you just have to wait.

Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Data → MSA (Switch Off)

Also worth noting is Mi Daemon, which is responsible for collecting data about device usage, and although it's not always directly linked to ads on the lock screen, turning it off increases privacy and reduces battery load, find it in the same app list and limit network access or shut it down completely if the firmware version allows.

In newer versions of HyperOS, service names can be changed or hidden. If you don't find msa on the list, search by settings. Type "ads" or "ads" into the settings search bar, and the system will highlight the desired ad ID authorization switch.

⚠️ Note: When you turn off system services, make sure you have an active Internet connection at the time of shutdown so that the server receives a command to change status.

Setup of security applications and Cleaner

Another source of intrusive notifications and pop-ups that can appear at the time of unlocking is the Security app.The built-in antivirus and optimizer often have their own recommendation settings that are activated by default.

To remove ads from here, you have to go inside the app itself. It usually has a green icon with a shield. The interface may be different from standard Android settings, because it's a system application with deep access rights.

You need to find the settings section inside the Security app, which is usually hidden behind the gear icon at the top of the screen, scroll down to the About or Additional section, and that's where the switches that are responsible for getting promotional offers and news are hidden.

• 🛡️ Launch the Security app.
• ⚙️ Click on the Settings icon (cogs).
• 📉 Find the item Get recommendations and turn it off.
• 🧹 In the Cleanup section, also check for the presence of the Show Advertising item and deactivate it.

Once these options are turned off, the app will stop offering you to “accelerate your phone” by installing third-party games or buying premium subscriptions, which will significantly clean up the interface and remove unnecessary pop-ups.

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It is also recommended to disable notifications from the Security app in the system notification menu, leaving only critical virus warnings, eliminating the constant reminders of “junk” on the phone.

Comparison of disabling methods in different versions of MIUI

The procedure for disabling ads can vary depending on the version of the operating system and the region for which the firmware is intended. Global versions (Global) often have more aggressive advertising policies than Chinese (CN), but they usually have more management tools.

Below is a table that will help you navigate the differences in interface and options available for different versions of the shell, which will allow you to quickly find the desired menu item, even if the names are slightly different.

HyperOS users should be especially careful, because the new shell integrates many functions deeper into the system. If you can't find the switch in your usual place, use a search by settings (the top line in the settings menu). Type a "carousel" or "lock screen" request, and the system will redirect you to the desired section.

Owners of Chinese firmware versions (CN ROMs) that use global language packages may need a screen translator or knowledge of the location of icons, as item names can be duplicated in English or remain in Chinese.

Additional sources of pop-up content

Even after the main services are disabled, some apps may continue to display ads on top of the lock screen, often with memory cleanup apps, Play Market “optimizers” or questionable antiviruses being the culprits.

Check the list of newly installed apps. If you notice that the ads came after installing any Cleaner program, delete it. Xiaomi has enough system tools to service the phone, third-party software is redundant and often harmful.

Also worth checking for app permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Go through the list of suspicious programs and see if they have permission to “Master on top of other apps.” If you have one and have it enabled on a simple calculator or flashlight, that’s a clear sign of malware.

⚠️ Warning: Be wary of apps promising to "accelerate charging" or "cool the processor."Almost all of them are ad modules and can block the screen with their ads.

You can use Safe Mode to diagnose it. Press the off button, and when the off icon appears on the screen, press it and hold it. The phone will suggest that you go to Safe Mode. If the ad is gone in this mode, then the problem is definitely in the third-party application.

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System advertising is removed through MIUI settings, and pop-ups from third-party programs require checking the list of installed applications and their permissions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)