Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face an intrusive feature that periodically changes the image on a locked screen and shows news widgets. This is not just a change of picture, but a full-fledged Glance service, or Wallpaper Carousel, which consumes system resources and can be annoying with its activity.
The process of disabling depends on the version of the operating system, as in the new HyperOS shells and the latest versions of MIUI, the paths to settings may have changed. Below we will discuss in detail all possible options for solving the problem, including hidden settings and working with system applications, you can completely clear the lock screen from unnecessary visual noise.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why does it appear
Known as Wallpaper Carousel (or Lock Screen Magazine in global versions), the feature is a service that automatically uploads new background images every time a screen is turned on. Originally conceived as a way of personalizing, it has evolved over time into a channel for distributing advertising content and news, and it decides when to offer you a new picture, often ignoring user preferences.
The main reason for pop-ups is to activate the appropriate switch in the security menu or screen settings. In some cases, especially after a firmware update, this option can turn on automatically. The system’s recommendations often suggest “improvement” of the lock screen, which in practice means installing a third-party launcher or activating a news feed.
It's important to understand that this process is handled by a separate system application that has its own permissions to access the network and storage, and if you notice that the phone is starting to warm up in your pocket or discharge faster, it may be this service that is loading heavy, high-resolution images in the background.
⚠️ Warning: Turning off the wallpaper carousel does not affect the operation of the main functions of the phone, but will return the standard static background that you chose yourself.
Users often confuse this feature with regular live wallpaper, and the difference is that live wallpaper is the animation you choose, and the Carousel is the stream of content controlled by the manufacturer's servers. It's almost impossible to manage the flow, you can only completely stop it.
Disconnection through lock screen settings
The easiest and safest way to remove intrusive images is to use the standard settings menu, which works on most current models, including the Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 and newer devices, and you will need to find the section responsible for the appearance of the locked state.
Go to the Settings menu of your device. Find the Lock Screen (some versions may call it Wallpaper and Personalization) and be careful, because the interface may vary depending on the regional version of the firmware.
Inside this menu, you'll see a switch that activates the function, and next to it, you can have a "View" or "Settings" button that leads to a separate application, and you need to move the main switch to the "Off" position, and then the system will stop downloading new images from the network.
☑️ Checking screen settings
If the images flash after switching the tumbler, try clearing the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the Wallpaper Carousel list and select Clear Cache. This will delete temporary files that may have saved the old display settings.
In some cases, the system may insist on enabling the feature back through pop-up notifications. Just ignore them or select the option "Do not show again." persistence of these notifications depends on the version of MIUI, but disabling in the settings is a priority for the system.
Management through Security Application
A unique feature of the MIUI shell is the presence of a system application Security, which controls many optimization parameters, and this is where the settings of advertising services, including the Wallpaper Carousel, are often hidden, and this method is especially relevant if you do not find the right switches in the usual screen settings.
Run the Safety app with a green shield icon. In the lower right corner, click three dots or a gear to open the settings menu. In the list that opens, look for the Wallpaper Carousel, where you can not only turn off the feature, but also prevent it from receiving notifications.
- 🔒 Find the switch Turn on the wallpaper carousel and deactivate it.
- 📉 Turn off the Receive Recommendations option so that the system doesn’t offer new content.
- 🚫 Remove the box from the item Show statistics, if it is present.
After making changes, be sure to click OK or just exit the menu, settings are saved automatically. If the wallpaper carousel item is not in the security settings, this may mean that your regional firmware version does not support this feature natively, or it is hidden deeper.
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If you can’t find a point in the Security app, try changing the region in the phone’s general settings to India or Indonesia – there the ad settings are often more detailed, after which you can return your region.
It's worth noting that the Security app has deep system rights. The changes made here are higher than the settings in the regular menu. So if you want to get rid of pop-ups guaranteed, this is the most reliable way.
Specifics of configuration in HyperOS and new versions of MIUI
With the release of the HyperOS operating system, Xiaomi has significantly redesigned the interface and logic of services, menu items have been regrouped, and some functions have been combined, users of new smartphones such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 should look for settings in the personalization section.
In HyperOS, the path often looks like this: Settings → Wallpaper and personalization → Lock screen. There may not be a separate Carousel app, but all control is concentrated in one menu. Pay attention to the wallpaper item or Online content. Disabling this option is equivalent to turning off the Carousel.
The new system has also introduced a more aggressive widget policy: Weather or news widgets that visually resemble pop-up wallpaper can appear on the lock screen. To remove them, press and hold your finger on the lock screen (when the phone is unlocked but is on the home screen), then select edit mode and remove the extra widgets.
| Shell version | Location of settings | Name of service | Additional action |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12-13 | Settings → Lock screen | Wallpaper carousel | Disable in the Security app |
| MIUI 14 | Settings → Always on screen | Lock Screen Magazine | Clear the application data |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Settings → Wallpaper and personalization | Internet wallpaper | Remove widgets from the screen |
| Global ROM | Settings → System → Advertising | Glance / Lock Screen | Disable personalization |
If you still see movement after you turn off all settings, check the theme. Third-party themes may contain built-in ads and background change scripts that are not controlled by system settings.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party themes from the GetThemes store, disabling the Carousel may not be available until you return the standard Theme Classic".
Disabling Advertising and Recommendations in the System
Often users confuse wallpaper carousel with system advertising, which can be displayed as pop-ups or banners. To ensure the complete cleanliness of the interface, you also need to disable advertising recommendations. This is done through the hidden MSA (MIUI System Ads) menu.
Go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Access to Personal Data (or Special Features). In the list, find the msa app. Turn off the switch next to it. The system will try to dissuade you several times by offering to wait 10 seconds - be patient and press "Cancel" again.
- 🛑 Find in the GetApps list of apps and turn off notifications from it.
- 📢 In the Music and Themes app, go to the settings and turn off "Receive recommendations".
- 🔍 In the Explorer application, go to the settings and remove the tick from "Receive content".
These actions will not remove the wallpaper itself, but will prevent banner ads from appearing on top of them: a comprehensive approach ensures that your smartphone will work in the cleanest possible mode, without imposing content from the company's partners.
Once the MSA is disabled, it may be necessary to restart the device so that the changes take effect at the system process level.If you use a smartphone to work, this step is critical to maintaining privacy and focus.
Solving problems if the function is not disabled
There are situations where the wallpaper Carousel switch is inactive (gray) or the function is turned on again after a reboot, which may indicate a conflict of system files or hidden permissions, in which case a deeper intervention in application settings is required.
Try forcefully stop the service. Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Click three dots in the corner and select Show System Processes. Find Wallpaper Carousel (or Mi Wallpaper) in the list. Click Stop, then Memory, and Clear Everything.
⚠️ Warning: Forced shutdown of system processes can temporarily cause the lock screen to turn black.
If standard methods don't work, you can use a hidden settings menu. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##6484##. This will open the engineering menu, but be careful: changing unknown parameters can disrupt the device, and we only need this method for diagnostics if there is a suspicion of hardware failure of the memory module storing the settings.
In extreme cases, if the problem occurs after an update, resetting to factory settings can help. However, make sure to back up the data before doing so. Often the problem lies in a particular firmware version bug, and waiting for the next software update can solve the problem without drastic measures.
The Hidden Method Through ADB
Also check if you have a third-party developer’s software or antivirus that may have permission to change wallpaper, which often has its own database of “safe” images that they impose on the user.
How to set up static wallpaper after disconnection
Once you've successfully disposed of an intrusive Carousel, you should set the static image properly to make it look good. The system may offer a standard set, but you can download any high-resolution image from the gallery.
Go to Settings → Wallpaper and personalization. Select Wallpaper. Here you can select an image from the gallery. It is recommended to choose pictures with a resolution of at least 1080×2400 pixels so that there are no compression artifacts on the screen.
When you install wallpaper, the system will ask you whether you want to use it on the lock screen, on the main screen, or both. Select the lock screen to make sure that the Carousel does not exactly replace your image. If you choose the picture from the gallery, the system will no longer try to change it automatically.
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Using your own image from the gallery ensures that no system service will replace it with an advertising banner.
For those who like minimalism, you can install completely black wallpaper. AMOLED-Xiaomi smartphone screens not only look stylish, but also significantly saves battery power, as black pixels just turn off.