How to remove Glance on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often encounter an intrusive service that automatically changes the wallpaper on the lock screen and shows news feeds.This feature, known as Glance for Mi, is built into the shell of MIUI and HyperOS by default, which causes irritation for users who prefer static images.

The problem is not only the change of images, but also the consumption of traffic, as well as the periodic appearance of ad units that can block important notifications. Fortunately, developers have left the ability to completely deactivate this module through the standard settings menu without requiring root rights or install third-party software.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at how to remove Glance on Xiaomi, regaining control over the appearance of your device, learn about the intricacies of system applications in different versions of firmware and get answers to frequently asked questions.

What is Glance and why does it appear on the screen?

Glance is a personalized content platform developed by InMobi in collaboration with Xiaomi, which aims to keep users’ attention by showing news, weather, currency rates and promotional offers every time you pick up your phone.

Often users are unaware that this is a separate application, as it is deeply integrated into the MIUI system. It works as an extension of the functionality of the screen blocker, replacing the standard static wallpaper with dynamic tape.

The main reason for this is the preset configuration when the smartphone is first launched. When the device is initially set up, the system often suggests turning on "Recommended Wallpaper" or "Wallpaper Carousel", which is essentially an activation of Glance. If the user did not read the terms carefully or quickly clicked "Next", the service automatically received permission to change the lock screen.

⚠️ Note: In some regions of the firmware, this service may be called “Wallpaper Carousel” or “Lock Screen Magazine”, but the essence of its work remains unchanged – imposing content without direct user request.

It is important to understand that disabling this service will not affect the basic functions of the phone, such as calls or messages, and it is only a cosmetic and information module that can be safely disposed of.

Disable Glance through lock screen settings

The easiest and most correct way to remove intrusive service is to use regular system tools, which is suitable for the vast majority of modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models running on the current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS.

You need to get to the screen control menu first. The action algorithm may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but the general logic is maintained. You need to go to Settings, then select Lock Screen or Wallpaper and personalization.

Inside this menu, find the subsection that's responsible for changing images, which can be called the Wallpaper Carousel, Glance for Mi, or just Wallpaper, and that's where the switch that activates dynamic change of pictures is hidden.

Once you find the right item, simply move the switch to the off position. The system may request confirmation of the action or suggest selecting a static image from the gallery for installation as the main lock wallpaper.

If the standard path doesn't work, try the alternative by looking for settings. Click on the magnifier icon at the top of the settings menu and type "Glance" or "Carousel" into the query, which will instantly go to the desired switch, bypassing long searches on the menu.

Management through Security Application

In some cases, settings may be hidden or the switch in the lock menu does not respond to clicks, then the system application Security comes to the rescue, which in Xiaomi devices performs the function of permission manager and memory cleanup.

Go to the Security app (green shield icon). At the bottom of the screen or in the Tools menu, look for Cleanup. Often this is where memory usage status and optimization recommendations, including screen function management, are displayed.

However, the more reliable path is through the settings of the security application itself. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. In the list that opens, look for the section related to Ad Blocking or Recommendations.

It is in the recommendations section that the switches responsible for receiving content from partners, including Glance, are often hidden. Turn off any items containing the words "Recommendations", "Advertising" or "Personalization".

This method also helps remove pop-ups in system applications such as Explorer or Music, which are often bundled with activated recommendation services.

Comparison of disabling methods on different versions of MIUI

The interface between the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS is constantly changing, and the location of settings can vary. Below is a table that will help you navigate where to look for a switch depending on your version of the system.

As you can see from the table, the names may differ, but the essence remains the same: If you don't find the exact match of the names, look for synonyms or use a search by settings.

It is worth noting that on global firmware versions (Global ROM), advertising modules can be less aggressive than in Chinese versions (China ROM), but they do not disappear completely without manual adjustment.

Problems with removal and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after disabling the function, it again turns on itself after a while or after updating the system. This can be due to the operation of background processes or cached application data.

In this case, you need to clear the system component responsible for wallpaper. Go to Settings -> Apps -> All applications. Find the Wallpaper app (or Wallpaper, Mi Wallpapers) in the list.

Inside the app menu, click Memory and select Clear Data and Clear Cache. This will reset all temporary files and settings associated with dynamic image change.

⚠️ Warning: Clearing the Wallpaper system application will reset your current lock screen design settings to factory. Save important images in advance if they are not synced to the cloud.

Another reason Glance is resurrected may be to update the Themes app through the GetApps store. The update often returns the default settings, so after each major system update, it is recommended to recheck the status of this service.

Alternative methods and third-party launchers

If standard methods do not give the desired result or you want to radically change the interface of the smartphone, you can use third-party solutions. Installing an alternative launcher allows you to completely ignore the system settings of the lock screen.

Popular launchers such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher have their own lock mechanisms or allow you to use standard Android lockscreen without Xiaomi modifications.

However, it is worth considering that third-party screen blockers can consume more battery power, as the system has to keep more processes active for instant unlocking.

There is also a method of disconnection through special ADB-And if you connect your phone to your computer, you can delete or freeze the packet that's responsible for Glance.

pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.personalassistant

This command disables the personal assistant, which is often associated with recommendation services, but beware: improper use of ADB can lead to unstable system operation.

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Use Do Not Disturb at night so that Glance doesn’t wake up the screen with bright pictures if you forget to turn it off during the day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Completely disabling Glance returns the smartphone performance and saves battery power, making the use of the device more comfortable and personalized.