Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an intrusive service that automatically changes images on the lock screen, a feature known as Wallpaper Carousel or Glance that is designed to grace the interface, but in practice often causes annoyance due to advertising and the inability to put a static picture by default. Many users do not know how to remove this item, since the settings are scattered on different menus or hidden under marketing names.
Turning off the system merry-go-round is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also a way to save battery power, as the background loading of images consumes Internet traffic and CPU resources. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, and the region of the firmware (Global, China, EEA), the paths to the desired switches may differ. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including methods for advanced users who want to completely clean the system of excess code.
Before you start taking drastic measures, it’s worth figuring out what exactly you want to turn off: just changing pictures on a locked screen or also widgets and recommendations on the desktop. System wallpaper in the Xiaomi ecosystem is often integrated deep into the launcher, so the approach should be comprehensive. Below are step-by-step instructions to help you regain control of the appearance of your device.
Disconnection through standard screen settings
The easiest and safest way to remove automatic image change is to use the regular system settings menu, which is suitable for most modern models running on current firmware versions. You do not need to install third-party applications or obtain superuser rights, which makes this option preferable for ordinary users.
To start, go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find a section that could be called "Lock Screen" or "Always on screen and lock screen." Depending on the location, the item names may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. Within this menu, look for the option associated with "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Glance".
If you find a switch, just deaktivate it. However, in some cases, the system will require confirmation of actions, claiming that you will lose beautiful pictures. Ignore these warnings if your goal is a static image. After turning it off, the system will prompt you to choose a regular static photo from the gallery or a standard Xiaomi set.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to the Lock Screen section.
- 🔍 Find the Wallpaper Carousel or Glance for Xiaomi.
- 🚫 Click the Disable button and confirm the action in the pop-up window.
- 🖼️ Select a static image for the lock screen from the gallery.
⚠️ Warning: After the firmware update, settings may reset and the carousel will be activated again. Check this menu section periodically, especially after major security or Android version updates.
It is important to note that in some regions (such as India or Russia), the service may be renamed Glance. If the standard path is not successful, try searching for the app of the same name in the list of all programs.
Management through the “Themes” app
If you can't turn it off through the basic settings, you should go to the Theme System App, which is where the carousel is often initially activated, and where the hidden controls are located, which is especially relevant for devices where the settings interface has been changed in the latest versions of MIUI 14 or HyperOS.
Launch the Themes app. In the lower right corner, click on the user profile to log into your personal account. Here, in the Settings section, the switch that is responsible for subscribing to wallpaper updates is often hidden. In some versions of the interface, this item is displayed separately in the wallpaper carousel menu inside the the theme app itself.
You can see more detail inside the carousel settings, and you can not only turn off the service, but also disable the display of ads if you want to leave the change of pictures for some reason, but without commercial inserts, but to completely get rid of the function, you better use the disable button.
☑️ Checking settings in the app Topics
It is worth mentioning that the Theme app can be aggressive, suggesting that the carousel be turned on again at each launch. To minimize annoyance, it is also recommended to disable notifications from this system component, which will prevent the appearance of banner ads in the notification curtain, which often masquerades as news or offers.
Disconnection through Application Management
Deeper control of the system allows you to control components like normal applications. Forced stop and disable notifications help when the switches in the settings menu are missing or blocked by the manufacturer. This approach requires care, because you are working with system processes.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. You need to find the wallpaper component in the list, which can be called Wallpaper Carousel, Glance, Mi Wallpaper, or Wallpaper. If you can't find it right away, search three dots in the corner of the screen.
Once you find the right item, click on it, you'll see the Stop or Close button. Press it. Immediately after that, the Disable button (if available in your version of the software) will be active. It's also critical to go to the Notifications subsection and disable all alert categories for this component.
| Title of the process | Where to find | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glance for Xiaomi | All applications | Stop + Disconnect | Low. |
| Wallpaper carousel | All applications | Clear the data + Stop the data | Low. |
| Mi Wallpaper | Systemic processes | Only disabling notifications | Medium. |
| Wallpaper (System) | All applications | Do not touch (important for the system) | High-pitched |
Sometimes the system automatically restarts the stopped process after a while, and to avoid this, immediately turn off the Internet on the device after the stop and try to find the "Disable" item in the same menu, if the button is gray and does not press, then this system component is protected from complete removal without root permission.
What to do if the “Disable” button is inactive?
Using ADB to remove completely
For users who want to get rid of system debris and have minimal technical skills, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove or freeze system applications that cannot be disabled through the interface, which is the most effective method for cleaning.
To start, you'll need a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) and a USB cable. On your smartphone, you'll need to activate developer mode. To do this, quickly click on the version number in About Phone seven times. Then, in advanced settings, turn on "Debugging by USB."
Connect the phone to your computer and start the command line with administrator permissions. Enter a command to check the connection:
adb devicesYou'll see a request for debugging permission on your phone, click "Allow." If the console displays the serial number of the device, the connection is established. Then we use the command to remove the carousel packet. The name of the package may vary, but most often it's com.miui.misystem or com.miui.wallpaper.
- 💻 Connect your smartphone to your PC in file transfer mode.
- 🔧 Enter the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.wallpaper
- ✅ Check the result: the application should disappear from the list of installed.
- 🔄 To return the removed through ADB Use adb shell cmd package install-existing package_name
⚠️ Note: Be extremely careful when typing commands ADB. Removing critical system components (e.g. SystemUI or Settings) can result in a cyclic bootloop and the need to flash the device.
The advantage of ADB is that it doesn't require unlocking the bootloader, which keeps the device guaranteed, but once you reset the settings to the factory (Hard Reset), the applications that are removed can return, since they physically remain in the system partition, only hiding for the current user.
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Keep a list of deleted packets in a text file. If something goes wrong after you update your system, you will know which components have been removed and potentially need to be restored.
Nuances of work in HyperOS
With the release of the HyperOS shell, which is gradually replacing MIUI on new devices, the menu structure has changed. The logic of the wallpaper carousel has remained the same, but the paths to customization have become less obvious. In the new system, Xiaomi is looking to integrate its services even deeper, so finding switches can take longer.
HyperOS often splits settings into Personalization and Lock Screen. The carousel can hide in Personalization → Lock screen. Also worth paying attention to widgets. The new system actively promotes widgets on a locked screen that can behave similarly to a carousel, updating and distracting attention.
If standard methods in HyperOS don’t work, try changing the region of the device. In Settings Additional → Region, select a country where Glance is not licensed or less aggressive (for example, some European countries). After changing the region, restart your smartphone and check the lock screen settings again.
It’s important to understand that HyperOS is more resource-intensive, and turning off background processes like a carousel can have a positive impact on autonomy. Users note that after cleaning the system from unnecessary services, the phone starts to work more responsively, and the number of heating in standby mode decreases.
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In HyperOS, visualization settings are often duplicated across menus. If you don’t find the option in one place, be sure to check the Personalization section and the settings of the specific Theme Center you are using.
Decision and alternatives
Even after all the steps have been taken, there may be situations where the carousel returns or behaves unpredictably, for example, after updating a particular Security or Topics app, settings may be overwritten, in which case it is recommended to repeat the disabling procedure and further clear the cache of the affected applications.
If you don’t like Xiaomi’s standard gallery or your options for static wallpaper are limited, consider installing third-party launchers or live wallpaper apps that don’t have an ad component. Apps like the Wallpaper Engine or Backdrops provide quality content without the intrusiveness of system services.
There is also an issue when the carousel is turned off, the lock screen is left with the words “Swipe up to unlock” or the brand logo, which used to overlap the picture. To fix this, in the lock screen settings, find “Signature style” or “Clock” and select the minimalist design option.