Modern Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI or HyperOS offer users a rich visual experience, including dynamic wallpaper and constantly changing images on the lock screen. However, not all owners are satisfied with such an abundance of graphics that sometimes distract, consume traffic or simply do not correspond to aesthetic preferences. Often users wonder how to turn off wallpaper in Xiaomi to return a static background or completely clear the desktop of unnecessary elements.
The deactivation process depends on whether you want to change the standard desktop wallpaper, the whole theme, or the obsessive wallpaper carousel function. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible scenarios for customizing the visual interface, learn how to manage system resources and make smartphone use more comfortable and predictable.
It's worth noting that some features, such as Wallpaper Carousel, can consume Internet traffic in the background, uploading new images. Disabling these services will not only simplify the interface, but can also have a positive impact on the battery life of the device. Let's look at step-by-step instructions for different versions of the firmware.
Disabling the wallpaper carousel on the lock screen
The most common reason to want to change the look of the screen is the "Wallpaper Carousel" feature, which automatically replaces the image on the locked screen every time the device wakes up, and to remove this feature, you need to go to the lock settings.
Open your smartphone settings and find the Lock Screen section. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be called Wallpaper and Personalization. Inside the menu, you will see the option "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Glance for Xiaomi." Click on it to see the activation switch.
⚠️ Warning: After turning off the wallpaper carousel, only one static image will remain on the lock screen, which you will select manually.
To return to the classic look, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Go to the Settings menu → Lock screen.
- 🖼️ Select the wallpaper carousel item.
- ❌ Move the slider to the off position.
- ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window if it appears.
Sometimes the system may offer alternative design options even after the main feature is disabled, in which case you simply ignore the sentences or select "No, thank you," which will be applied instantly to the lock screen.
Installation of static wallpaper on the desktop
If your goal is to replace dynamic or video wallpaper with a regular static image, the process is done through the themes menu or screen settings. Video wallpaper can significantly load the processor and battery, so replacing them with static is a smart step to optimize.
Hold your finger on an empty desktop until the bottom menu appears. Select Wallpaper. Here you will be given several categories: Recommended, Mine, Online. Select Mine or Static to see the saved images.
When you select an image, the system will ask you whether to apply the wallpaper to the lock screen, the desktop, or both screens at once. For full effect, select both screens or specifically the Desktop.
☑️ Checking the display settings
It's important to understand the difference between a theme and just a picture, so if you have a complex theme, it can dictate its own icon and widget conditions, so it's easier to reset the theme to a standard Classic or Default.
Theme management and removal of third-party designs
Often users install beautiful themes from MIUI Themes, forgetting that they contain built-in wallpaper that is difficult to change by standard methods.
Open the Topic app (an icon with a brush or package). In the lower right corner or in the profile (a person icon), find the My Pages or Profile section. Select the Topic tab. This will show the current active theme.
Find a theme called Classic, Default, or Basic, which is usually marked with a home icon or at the top of the list. Click on it and select Apply, which will return all system icons, fonts, and wallpaper to factory status.
| Type of element | Where it changes | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Static wallpaper | Settings/Gallery | Minimum |
| Video wallpaper | Annex Topics | High (battery) |
| Carousel (Glance) | Screen settings | Average (traffic) |
| Third-party topics | Annex Topics | Depends on the topic. |
Once you have a standard theme, all visuals, including icon animations and specific folder wallpapers, will be removed, and this is the most reliable way to clean the interface of foreign elements.
Disabling Advertising in Gallery and Recommendations
One of the annoying features of the shell is the appearance of ad carousels and recommendations in system applications such as Gallery or Security, which is often confused with wallpaper, but in fact it is a separate service MSA (MIUI System Ads).
To get rid of intrusive images in the gallery, open the Gallery app. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Find "Receive recommendations" or "Show advertisements" and turn it off.
What to do if the advertisement returns?
For a deeper cleaning of advertising, it is recommended to disable the MSA service:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security.
- 🔐 Select Data Access (or “Authorization and Security»).
- 📉 Find the msa list and turn off the switchboard.
- ⏳ Wait 10 seconds and press withdraw.
⚠️ Note: Disabling msa may cause some personalized recommendations to disappear, but it won’t affect the basic functions of the phone.
Customization of widgets and tape Mi Video
On the left side of the desktop, there's often a widget tape that can stream video content or news with bright pictures resembling wallpaper. This is the Mi Video app or Google Discover.
To turn off the left page, press the empty space on your desktop and select Settings (or gear).Look for the left page or Google Discover option and switch it to No or Off.
If you're concerned about the video or music widgets with previews, just remove them from your desktop. Press the widget and drag it to the top of the screen where a basket icon or a cross will appear.
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Tip: If you want to leave widgets, but remove autoplay video, go to the settings of the widget itself (usually after a long press) and turn off autoplay.
Cleaning the desktop of unnecessary widgets not only visually simplifies the interface, but also frees up the device’s RAM. The smartphone starts to work faster, and the interface becomes more responsive.
Resetting the design settings to the factory
If you're confused about the settings and can't figure out which option is responsible for the odd wallpaper, the easiest solution is to completely reset your design settings.
You will need to go to the Settings menu → Advanced Settings → Recover and Reset. However, to reset only the visual part, use the Theme app. In the theme profile, click on the gear icon and select Reset.
This operation will return fonts, sounds, ringtones and wallpaper to the “out of the box” state, a guaranteed way to remove any visual artifacts left over from deleted themes or system failures.
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Completely resetting the theme through the Themes app is the safest and fastest way to return the standard look to the interface without losing personal data.