How to open and set up a wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi’s current smartphones offer users not just a static picture on the lock screen, but a dynamic system that updates automatically.This feature, known as Wallpaper Carousel or Glance, turns a locked display into a news feed with news, beautiful scenery and useful notifications. Many device owners have difficulty trying to activate this mode or, conversely, want to turn it off, but do not know where the desired switches are hiding.

In this article, we will take a look at all aspects of the service, how to find settings in different versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, how to manage subscriptions to only get relevant content, and what to do if the feature stops working correctly. Understanding these settings will allow you to personalize the device to your needs, making using your smartphone more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

It’s worth noting that the layout of interface elements may vary slightly depending on the firmware region (Global, China, EEA) and the operating system version. However, the basic principles remain unchanged for the entire brand ecosystem. We will look at universal paths that are relevant to most current models, including the Redmi Note series and Xiaomi flagship.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed

The wallpaper carousel is a system service integrated into the manufacturer's Android shell. Unlike regular live wallpapers that just animate the background, this mechanism completely replaces the standard lock screen. It uploads new images from the cloud every time the screen is turned on or at specified time intervals, which allows the user to see fresh visual content without having to manually search and install new images.

The main purpose of the feature is personalization and information. The service can display not only photos, but also weather widgets, pedometers, news and even advertising (depending on the settings). For many users, this is a way to turn a boring black screen into a source of inspiration. In addition, the system often offers themed collections dedicated to holidays or events, which adds personality to the device.

It is important to understand the difference between wallpaper in a gallery and wallpaper carousel. The former are static or live files stored in memory. The latter is an online service that requires an Internet connection to download content. Glance (as this feature is often called in global versions) is closely linked to the Mi Account and can synchronize preferences between devices.

💡

Use Wi-Fi to download the collection initially so you don’t spend mobile traffic downloading high-resolution images.

The service is constantly expanding, with recent updates including the ability to add your own photos to rotation, create mixed albums and adjust frame rate, making it a flexible solution for those who like to change the visual environment of their gadget often.

Where to find carousel settings in MIUI and HyperOS

Finding the entry point can be confusing, as Xiaomi often changes the structure of the menu. In most cases, the path lies through the general settings of the system. You need to open the Settings app and find the section responsible for the appearance. Depending on the version of the software, this section may be called Wallpaper, Always on screen and lock, or Lock screen.

In HyperOS, developers have changed the logic of the parameter grouping somewhat, and now lock screen management is often put into a separate menu or integrated into personalization settings. If you can't find the right item right away, search by settings. Type the word "Carousel" or "Glance" into the search bar, and the system will suggest you go to the right switch.

Let’s look at the basic navigation paths for different versions of the interface:

• 📱 The Classic Path: Settings → Wallpaper. → Wallpaper carousel.
• 🔒 Through the lock screen: Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper carousel.
• 🎨 In HyperOS: Settings → Personalization → Lock screen.
• 🔍 Search: Settings → search-line → "Glance».

If neither path has been successful, you may have a stripped-down version of your system or a specific regional firmware installed on your device, where the service can be hidden or replaced with an analog, in which case you should check for system updates or use the Themes app, where you can also manage some aspects of the design.

Step-by-step instructions for activating the function

The process of turning on the carousel takes only a few seconds, if you know where to click. Once you find the corresponding menu in the settings, you will see a switch that can be turned off by default. Activation of this switch starts the process of initial setting and loading the first batch of images.

Once the main switch is turned on, the system will suggest selecting categories of images that you are interested in, such as nature, architecture, animals, cars or abstractions, and the choice of categories directly affects what content will be loaded onto the lock screen, and this step should not be ignored, since it determines the visual perception of the device in the future.

Next, you need to adjust the refresh rate. You can choose to change the picture every time you turn on the screen, once per hour, once per day or manually. For maximum dynamics, it is recommended to set the "When the screen is turned on", but this can slightly increase battery consumption due to constant access to the network, although in modern models optimization is minimized.

⚠️ Note: When you activate the wallpaper carousel, the standard time and date display style may change to the one that dictates the chosen Glance template.

The final step is to confirm the terms of use of the service. Often consent to data processing is required to personalize advertising and content. Once the conditions are accepted, the lock screen will update and you will see the first image from the selected category. If the image does not appear immediately, check for an active Internet connection.

Managing Subscriptions and Content Categories

One of the biggest strengths of the system is flexible subscription management, you're not limited to just one set of images, but you can have a Subscription or Category section inside the carousel menu, where you can get all the available image sources, and you can plug in new themes and disable those that are no longer interesting.

Category settings allow you to filter content by mood, such as in the morning you can see motivating quotes and news, and in the evening you can see calm landscapes. Some categories require a separate download or subscription through your Mi Account. Managing this list helps to avoid unwanted or repetitive images.

You can also add your own photos to the carousel, which makes the service really personal, so you can create an album in a gallery and tell the system to use it as a source for the lock screen, along with online directories.

Below is a table describing the main types of content and their features:

It's important to review your subscription list periodically. Over time, tastes change, and what was relevant a month ago can be annoying today. Regularly cleaning your subscription list helps keep your lock screen fresh and pleasing to the eye.

Configure the display of widgets and notifications

The wallpaper carousel is not just pictures; it's a widget platform; it can display steps, weather, headphone charging status, or calendar on the lock screen, and it's set up in the same menu where you manage subscriptions, usually under the "Widgets" or "Screen Elements" tab.

You can choose which data to display and which to hide, for example, if you don't have to see the number of steps each time you pick up your phone, you can turn off this widget, which helps reduce visual noise and focus on the most important thing, time and notifications.

Notifications are also integrated into this interface, and can be displayed as app icons or deployed cards on top of wallpaper, and in privacy settings, you can hide the contents of messages by leaving only the sender's name, which is especially important for using the carousel in public places.

For minimalist fans, there is a Time Only mode that hides most widgets, leaving only the clock and date on the screen over the selected image, balancing the beauty of the carousel with the rigor of the classic lock screen.

Solution: Carousel is not working or has disappeared

Users often experience a wallpaper carousel that stops updating or disappears from settings after a system update. Most of the time, the problem lies in the app cache or version conflict. The first step should always be to delete the wallpaper carousel or glance cache in the Apps → All Apps section.

If cleaning the cache didn’t help, check for updates for system components. Sometimes the service requires an update through the GetApps app store or Google Play. The absence of an up-to-date version of the component can lead to incorrect operation or complete disappearance of the function from the settings menu.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party launchers or lock-in apps, they may conflict with the system carousel.

In rare cases, especially on custom firmware or after unlocking the bootloader, the service can be removed or damaged.The only solution is to completely reset or flash the device to the official version of the software. It is also worth checking whether the function is disabled in the "Energy Saving" mode, since some aggressive power saving settings block the background data load.

Another reason could be the device's overcrowded memory, the carousels need free space to temporarily store uploaded images, and cleaning up a few gigabytes of space often solves the problem of freezing new images to load.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)