Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where, after updating the system or accidentally pressing the lock screen begins to change images, show news and banner ads. This is not a virus or a failure, but the work of built-in MIUI services or the new HyperOS shell, which are activated by default to monetize the device. Standard wallpaper is replaced with a “Wallpaper Carousel” or Glance service, which annoys many users who appreciate minimalism.
Fortunately, you can get a static image back and remove the extra elements with regular system tools without resorting to complex modifications. You do not need to be an expert in Android to perform this setting. It is enough to go through several items in the settings menu in sequence, which we will discuss in detail in this article. We will consider all possible options for blockers, since their name and location may vary depending on the firmware version and region.
In some cases, users can see not just a change of pictures, but full-fledged widgets with news that overlap the time and notifications. Turning off topics in this context means returning to the classic interface, where only the hours, date and notifications of applications are displayed. Below we will describe in detail the algorithm for the different versions of the shell, so you can choose the method for solving the problem that is right for your device.
Differences between Wallpaper Carousel and Glance on Xiaomi
Before you start settings, it’s important to understand which service works on your device. In different versions of firmware and for different regions, Xiaomi uses different content providers for the lock screen. Most often, users are faced with two main options: Xiaomi’s own “Wallpaper Carousel” or third-party Glance service, which is often preinstalled on global versions of smartphones.
The wallpaper carousel is a native application that offers high-quality photos, often with the ability to download them. This service is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell and can have broader access rights to the system. Visually, it has smooth transitions and often has a “Like” or “Download” button right on the lock screen.
Glance, developed by InMobi, is a feature that is common on devices released for the European and Indian markets, and is more aggressively integrated with news feeds and widgets, and may require additional steps to disable Glance, as it sometimes masquerades as a wallpaper system app, often spotted by its distinctive logo in the form of an eye or the presence of a news feed when unlocked.
⚠️ Note: App name may vary in the settings menu. Look for items with the words "Carousel", "Wallpaper", "Lock Screen" or "Glance" depending on the system language and software version.
Understanding which service is active will help you find the right menu to deactivate it faster. If one of the methods below fails, try an alternative that is designed for a different type of blocker. In rare cases, both components can be installed on the device, and you will have to disable each one separately.
Disabling the Wallpaper Carousel through the Topics app
The most common and effective way to remove dynamic image change is to use the built-in Themes app, which is the MIUI and HyperOS shell control center that configures the main visual elements of the system, and even if you haven't installed third-party themes, the blocker system settings are stored here.
To start, open the Themes app on your smartphone. Notice the bottom navigation bar or the user profile in the top right corner. You need to go to the settings section of the app itself, not the theme store. The interface may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the logic remains the same.
- 📱 Launch the Themes app on the main screen.
- 👤 Click on the profile icon (human) in the lower right corner or in the menu “My account».
- ⚙️ Select Settings in the menu that opens.
- 🖼️ Find the wallpaper carousel section and click on it.
- 🚫 Translate the switch Include the wallpaper carousel in an inactive position.
Once you do this, the system will suggest you choose static wallpaper for the lock screen, and this is an important point: if you just turn off the carousel, but you don't choose a new image, the system can automatically substitute the standard one or leave the previous one, and you should immediately select the static photo you like from the gallery.
☑️ Checking the Carousel shutdown
If the switch in the wallpaper carousel settings menu is inactive (shadowed in gray), this may mean that the service is blocked by administrative rights of the enterprise (if the phone is corporate) or there is a conflict with the security profile installed. In this case, try to clear the data of the Themes application through the application management menu and repeat the procedure.
How to remove Glance from the lock screen
If you don't find the right switches in the wallpaper carousel settings, you probably have Glance on your device, which is often hidden in lock screen settings or in the general application list, and is known for being able to self-repair after a reboot if you don't turn it off completely.
To start, check the main settings section. Go to Settings → Lock screen. There may be a separate item dedicated to Glance Tape or Recommendations. In some versions of MIUI, this item is simply called Wallpaper and contains a switch inside it.
If there is no item in the lock screen menu, try to find the Glance app in the list of all installed programs:
- 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications.
- 📜 Scroll through the list before the letter “G” or search by name.
- 🛑 Find the Glance app or Lock Screen Magazine app.
- ⚙️ Click on it and select Disable or Remove Updates.
It is important to note that the Remove button may not be available because it is a system component, in which case the “Disable” function will suffice, which will prevent the application from starting and displaying content. After turning off, be sure to restart the device so that the changes take effect and the system cache is updated.
What if Glance returns after the reboot?
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after disabling Glance on the screen remain artifacts or widgets, in which case it is recommended to change the theme to the standard ("Classic" or "Default") to reset all visual bindings to the third-party locking service.
Setting up static wallpaper and screen parameters
After successfully disabling dynamic services, you need to make sure that static wallpaper is set correctly. Xiaomi allows you to flexibly adjust the display of time, date and notifications over the selected image.
Go to Settings → Lock screen. Here you can choose the style of the watch, the format of the date and even add widgets if you really need them. Unlike the Carousel or Glance, these widgets are not advertising and are completely controlled by you. You can choose the font, color and position of the elements.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Clock style | Time display form (digital, analog) | Choose large numbers for better readability |
| Date format | The order of display of the day, month and year | Set a format that is familiar to your region |
| Brightness when lifting | Automatically turn on the screen when you take the phone in your hands | It is used for convenience but consumes battery. |
| Always On Display | Constant display of time on AMOLED-screen | Set up a schedule to avoid unloading your phone at night. |
You should pay special attention to Always On Display, if it is supported by your device, it allows you to see the time and notifications without touching your phone, but if you want to save the most battery power, it is better to turn off or adjust its activation only on schedule or when you receive a notification.
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Use live wallpapers from the standard MIUI gallery if you want ad-free speakers. They use more power, but they don't contain news blocks and are completely safe.
Remember that the choice of too dark wallpapers AMOLED-The screens can visually dissolve the screen frame, creating the effect of limitlessness, and light wallpaper is better used with caution, as they can consume more energy and look less contrast in bright sunlight.
Removing advertising applications and cleaning the cache
Even after the main services are disabled, the device may still have traces of their activity in the form of cached data or related applications. To completely clean the system of intrusive elements, it is recommended to audit installed programs and clear temporary files.
The list of applications often includes components with names like “msa”, “Mi Video”, “Mi Music” or “GetApps”. Although msa (MIUI System Ads) is responsible for advertising in the system as a whole, disabling it also has a positive effect on the purity of the interface.
- 🗑️ Find the msa app in the list and turn off the “Get recommendations” switch».
- 🧹 Go to Settings. → Warehouse → Cleanup.
- 📂 Select “Other” and find the remnants of deleted themes or blocking services.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to apply all changes.
Cleaning the Themes app cache also helps to reset possible errors when the system "remembers" the old Carousel settings. To do this, go to the Themes app information, select Memory and click Clear. This will not delete your downloaded themes, but reset their display settings.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when removing system applications, disable only components you know are intended (e.g. msa, Glance, Carousel) and remove critical system services may cause your phone to run unsustainably.
If you use third-party launchers or memory cleaners, make sure they don’t conflict with standard lock settings, and sometimes they can automatically restore remote components for the sake of “optimization,” which leads to a return of ads.
Solving and resetting lock settings
In some cases, standard methods may not work due to software failures or version conflicts.If the lock screen continues to behave incorrectly, shows a black screen or returns ads after turning off, reset the lock screen settings to factory values.
You don't have to reset your phone completely. You just have to reset your design settings. Go to the Themes app, go to your profile and select Reset (if you have one available in your version) or just use the Classic theme that comes with your phone. The standard theme often overwrites the erroneous configurations.
If the problem persists, check for system updates. Xiaomi regularly releases security patches and patches for the MIUI and HyperOS shell. Your bug may already be known and fixed in the new version of the software.
Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI/HyperOS → Click on the logoIn extreme cases, if nothing works, you can reset all your phone settings. Remember, this action will delete all your data, so be sure to back up your contacts, photos and documents before starting the procedure. This step is guaranteed to return the phone to the state of “out of the box” by removing all third-party lock settings.
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The most reliable way to get rid of ads on the block is a combination of disabling the Carousel in the Themes app and denying access to the network for system advertising modules.
After all the manipulations, it is recommended to check the operation of the proximity and light sensors, since sometimes the reset can affect the calibration of the screen. If the lock screen is stable, shows the right time and does not offer unnecessary actions, then the setting was successful.