Personalizing the look of a smartphone is the first thing many users start with after buying a new device. Xiaomi gadget owners often encounter an intrusive feature called Wallpaper Carousel, which automatically changes images on the lock screen. This service, also known as Glance, can be annoying with its activity or, conversely, become a desired feature for those who like variety.
Depending on your goal, the customization process will be radically different, with some users looking for a way to activate this mode to enjoy fresh landscapes every morning, while others are trying to get rid of random images and return a static image. In this article, we will discuss both scenarios in detail, focusing on the intricacies of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS system.
It's worth noting that the location of the switches can vary depending on the firmware version and the region for which the smartphone is released. However, the basic principles of how system components work have remained unchanged over the past years.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is needed
The wallpaper carousel is a system service integrated into Xiaomi’s Android shell, which aims to automatically change background images on a locked screen without user intervention, and is sourced from the company’s cloud storage, which is updated regularly to offer images of nature, architecture, animals and abstractions.
Many people confuse this service with the usual live wallpaper, which is animated when you touch it, but the carousel works differently: it changes the static picture to another static picture every time you wake the device or at specified intervals, and the functionality includes not only changing the background, but also displaying widgets such as the weather, steps or quotes of the day.
For some users, it's a way to decorate the interface without bothering to search for quality images on the Internet, it will select the content in high resolution, adapted to the diagonal of your screen, but it is worth considering that the function requires an active Internet connection, as images are uploaded online.
⚠️ Note: Using a wallpaper carousel can slightly increase battery consumption, as the system has to constantly download new data from the network and process it to display it.
In recent firmware versions, the service is often branded as Glance, and it has become more aggressive in its promotion, sometimes automatically activating after you upgrade, and understanding how it works will allow you to either customize it properly or shut it down completely if you don't need it.
How to turn on the wallpaper carousel through screen settings
If you want to activate this service, you don't need third-party apps. All the tools are already built into the system. First, unlock your smartphone and go to the main settings menu. Find a section called "lock screen" or "always screen and lock."
Inside this menu, you'll find the wallpaper carousel item, which, depending on the MIUI version, can be called "Glance" or "Wallpaper carousel," and clicking on this item will take you to the service management center, where you'll need to accept the terms of the user agreement to activate the download of content.
Once activated, you'll see a preview of what your future wallpaper will look like, and the system will ask you to select categories of images that you're interested in, whether it's nature, cities, space, or art, and the choice of categories will help the algorithm to select more relevant content for you.
☑️ Checklist for activation of the carousel
It's important to adjust the image rate correctly. You can choose "Every time you turn on the screen" so that the picture changes every time you pick up the phone, and the alternative is "Daily", which allows you to enjoy one image for 24 hours.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have a hidden menu item, and if you don't find one, try changing the region in your phone settings to India or Indonesia, as these regions are more popular.
Configure categories and image sources
Once the basic feature is enabled, you can access a more nuanced setup, and you're not limited to the default galleries, but the carousel control menu often has the option to subscribe to specific topics or even upload your own photos.
For personalization enthusiasts, the My Carousel feature is available, which allows you to use your personal gallery shots as a source for changing wallpapers, and it's a great way to remember nice moments every time you look at the lock screen, and the algorithm will randomly select photos from your chosen album.
You also need to look at the widget settings, and the carousel can display not only the picture, but also useful information, and you can set the pedometer, battery status, or weather forecast directly over the image, and that turns the lock screen into a full dashboard.
- 🌄 Nature and Landscapes: Mountains, Oceans, Forests and Sunsets in High Definition.
- 🏙️ Cities and architecture: streets of megacities, modern buildings and historical sites.
- 🎨 Art and Abstraction: Digital Drawings, Geometric Figures and Classical Paintings.
- 🐾 Animals: Photographs of wild and domestic animals from around the world.
Remember that choosing too many categories can cause images to change too often or not to match your mood.It is better to leave 2-3 favorite topics for a more predictable result.
Secret Quality Customization
Installation of your own photos in the carousel mode
One of the most popular features is the ability to create your own carousel from personal photos, which eliminates the dependence on Internet content and allows you to see only those images that you really like. The setup process is quite simple, but has its own nuances.
First, you need to go to the standard Gallery or Photos app. Choose the album you want to use, or create a new one and fill it with the best shots. It's recommended to choose vertically-oriented photos, as they best fill the screen space of a smartphone without trimming important details.
Then go back to the wallpaper carousel settings, find a item called "Local Wallpaper" or "My Photos," and the system will suggest you select an album from the device's memory, and once you confirm your choice, your photos will become part of the rotation.
| Parameter | Standard carousel | Local carousel |
|---|---|---|
| Source | The Internet (Xiaomi Cloud) | Memory of the device |
| Network requirement | Definitely (Wi-Fi/4G/5G) | Not required |
| Traffic consumption | There is. | Absent. |
| Control of content | Minimum (categories) | Full (you choose the photo) |
Using local photos is especially important in an unstable Internet environment or when saving traffic, and it ensures that there will never be an advertising or unwanted image on the screen that can sometimes leak into the shared feed.
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For better (visual effect), use photos with a resolution of at least the resolution of your smartphone screen. For example, for a full HD screen, look for a photo that is 1080x2400 pixels or larger.
How to turn off the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi
The issue of deactivating the service is as pressing as turning it on, and many users are annoyed by Glance’s obsession with seeing only time and notifications on the lock screen, and fortunately, the developers have left the option of completely disabling the feature.
To remove the carousel, you have to go back to the lock screen settings, find the switch that runs the carousel or Glance, and put it in the off position, and the system can ask you several times if you are confident in your decision, and try to suggest alternatives, but you need to insist on your own.
Once disabled, the service will stop downloading new images, but the last picture that you download may remain on the screen. To return the standard static wallpaper, just go to the Wallpaper menu and select any static image from the standard gallery or upload your own.
⚠️ Warning: If after the carousel is turned off, ads or strange pictures still appear on the screen, check the installed applications. Often the culprits are third-party memory cleaners or antiviruses that have their own lock screen modules.
In some cases, especially on Chinese firmware versions, a simple switch may not be enough, and then you may need to disable the corresponding system application through the Apps menu -> All Apps -> Wallpaper carousel -> Disconnect.
Solution: Carousel is not working or is not shut down
Users often experience situations where the settings are not saved or are not being kept in the same way, like you turned off the carousel but it turned on again after the reboot, or the images stopped changing even though the feature is active. Let's look at the underlying reasons.
Most often, the problem is the app's cache or version conflict, and if the carousel is stuck, try to clear the data, and then find the app in the installed list, click "Clean" and select "Clear all data," which will reset the service settings to factory.
Another common problem is the lack of Internet, and as mentioned, an online carousel requires a connection, and if you have a traffic saving mode on or have background restrictions for system applications, no new wallpaper will be downloaded.
- 🔄 Reboot: A banal but effective method: Reboot your smartphone to restart system processes.
- 📶 Network Check: Make sure you have internet access and not Flight mode enabled».
- 🛠️ Update: Check for system updates. New patches often fix bugs related to Glance's work.
If nothing helps and you want to (completely) get rid of the component, you can use it. ADB-commands to remove the system packet, but this requires a connection to the computer and certain skills.
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If a standard shutdown doesn’t help, check to see if you have a third-party security app installed that can intercept control of the lock screen.