MIUI 12 has brought many visual improvements, but with it has introduced a feature that annoys many users: automatic wallpaper change on the lock screen, a system known as Wallpaper Carousel or Glance, which constantly uploads new images, often of advertising nature, without the smartphone owner’s knowledge. For those who are used to static backgrounds, this behavior becomes a source of discomfort and unnecessary traffic consumption.
It’s easy to turn off this feature, but in Xiaomi and Redmi, the paths to settings can vary slightly depending on the regional firmware. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the available methods for deactivating automatic image change, from standard system settings to deeper methods through the engineering menu.
It's important to understand that a wallpaper carousel is not just a picture change, it's a full-fledged service integrated into the shell, it consumes processor resources and an Internet connection to download content. Full shutdown of Wallpaper Carousel requires not only switching the tumbler in the settings, but also cleaning the cache to prevent re-activation. Let's look at the process in detail.
What is Wallpaper Carousel and Why is it On by Default
Wallpaper Carousel is a system application developed by Xiaomi to dynamically change the background on a locked screen, originally conceived as a way to personalize a device, in recent versions of MIUI it has transformed into a channel for distributing advertising content. Images often contain brand logos, game announcements or online store offers.
The default activation is due to the manufacturer’s business model: Xiaomi sells smartphones at a minimal margin, offsetting costs through services and advertising. Automatic image downloads generate traffic and show the user ad integrations. For the device owner, this means not only visual noise, but additional, albeit small, battery consumption.
⚠️ Attention: Complete removal of the system application of the carousel through ADB-commands can cause unstable operation of the lock screen on some versions of firmware.
People often confuse the usual live wallpaper with the carousel. Live wallpaper is an animated background that is played locally, the carousel requires a constant connection to the server to receive new files. If you notice that new images with logos in the corner appear regularly on a locked phone, then you have the Wallpaper Carousel service activated.
Disconnection through standard MIUI 12 settings
The easiest and safest way to get rid of the intrusive feature is to use the built-in tools of the system. In MIUI 12, the developers have provided the ability to manually control this service. You don't need superuser rights or a computer connection. Just look at the settings menu carefully.
To start, you need to go to the personalization section. The path can vary, but most often it looks like: Settings → Wallpaper. In some versions of the firmware, this item is displayed separately or is located inside the Settings menu → Lock screen. Xiaomi interface is highly customized, so the location of the elements depends on the region (Global, China, EEA).
Find a switch called Wallpaper Carousel or Wallpaper Connected that can be activated by default. Once the switch is turned off, the system will request confirmation of action, since Xiaomi does not want to let the user off its advertising service easily. You will need to choose the option of "Disable" or "Disable" by ignoring the suggestions to leave the function on.
☑️ Disconnection algorithm in settings
Once you do this, you'll only have your static image, time and widgets on your lock screen. However, in some cases, especially on global firmware, deactivation is not enough. The system may try to reactivate the service when you update the components. It's recommended that you also clear the application data, which will be discussed in the next section.
Cleaning data and stopping the system process
If a simple switching of the switching switch failed, or the carousel turned on again after the reboot, a more radical method is to force the service to stop and clear its cache, which is guaranteed to delete all uploaded advertising images and reset the service settings to the factory.
You'll need access to the app management menu. Go along: Settings → Apps → All apps. In the list, find the wallpaper carousel app (could be called Wallpaper Carousel or Mi Glance). If it's hard to find in the general list, search by name or sort by size (it can take hundreds of megabytes due to uploaded pictures).
Inside the app menu, do the following:
- 🛑 Click the Stop button to complete the current process.
- 🗑️ Select “Clean” and then “Clean All” to delete cache and data.
- ⚙️ Make sure that the “Other Permits” section disables network and geolocation access.
This procedure is especially effective when banner ads continue to appear despite the settings being turned off. Data cleanup removes temporary files that may have been mothballed by the system.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning up the data, you will lose the ability to view the history of previously uploaded images of the carousel. If you have important photos stored there, back up in advance.
Management through Security Application
In Xiaomi’s ecosystem, the central hub for service is the Security app, which combines antivirus, cleaner and optimizer functions, and it’s often where additional ad settings are hidden that aren’t on the Android main settings menu.
Run the Safety app with a green shield icon. In the upper right corner, click on the gear to open the settings. Scroll down to the section related to Wallpaper Carousel or Recommendations. Here you can find the Receive Recommendations switch, which is also responsible for downloading content.
Also, in the Cleaner section, there are settings inside the same app, and if you click on the gear in the Cleanup section, you can see the Guidelines, and turning it off will prevent the memory cleanup promotions that often go along with the carousel, and the integrated approach to setting these parameters ensures maximum cleanliness.
Hidden settings in security
Don’t ignore this method, as the Security app has higher privileges than standard personalization settings, it manages background optimization processes that can force content download services to run, and checking these settings regularly after updating the firmware will help keep the smartphone “clean”.
Comparison of methods of turning off the carousel
There are several ways to solve a problem, and each has its own characteristics, depending on your technical background and the depth of intervention you want, and here is a table comparing the main approaches.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through Settings. | Low. | Medium | Minimum |
| Clearing the data | Low. | Tall. | Loss of history photo |
| Through Security | Medium | Tall. | Disabling Useful Notifications |
| ADB team | Tall. | Maximum | Possible system errors |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the best solution is a combination of the first two methods. ADB-Android Debug Bridge is only useful if the standard methods do not help or if you want to completely remove the system application, freeing up space in memory.
For advanced users, it is worth noting that the complete removal of the com.miui.misys or com.miui.personalization package may be required for cleaning. ADB And it's better for the average user to confine himself to the software methods inside the interface. MIUI.
Display problems and their solution
After the carousel is turned off, users may encounter artifacts, such as a black screen instead of wallpaper, or a fingerprint scanner (if it is embedded in the screen) may stop working, because the system processes responsible for rendering the lock may have been affected by the changes.
If you encounter a black screen, try changing the wallpaper manually. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and select any static image from the gallery or standard set. This will restart the SystemUI service that displays the interface. Often this will immediately return the functionality of the lock screen.
In the rare cases where the problem persists, it may be necessary to reset the lock screen settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Lock screen. Check if there are any experimental features or widgets that may have conflicted with the disabled carousel. Disabling all widgets on the locked screen also helps diagnose the problem.
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If the phone started to work faster after the carousel was turned off, then the background load of images was severely loading the processor, and it is also recommended to turn off auto-update applications in the Play Market to save resources.
Additional Personalization Settings
Once you have successfully removed the carousel, you should look at other personalization settings that can be annoying. MIUI 12 offers many effects, but some of them can reduce performance. From the Wallpaper menu, you can choose the theme "Classic", which completely ignores any dynamic elements.
It’s also a good idea to check your theme settings. If you’re using third-party themes from Themes, they may have their own background change mechanisms. Go to the Themes app, click on the profile avatar in the corner, and select Settings. Make sure that they turn off automatic theme updates and recommendations.
Control of the visual part of the system is the key to comfortable use of the smartphone. static background is not only more pleasant to the eye, but also saves battery power, since the screen does not need to constantly redraw complex graphic elements every time the display is turned on.
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Comprehensive shutdown of all advertising services in MIUI (carousel, safety recommendations, MSA) significantly increases the autonomy of the device and the speed of the interface response.
In conclusion, getting rid of the wallpaper carousel on the Xiaomi MIUI 12 is the first step to taking full control of your device. Following the instructions described above, you can make smartphone use more enjoyable and safe by getting rid of intrusive advertising content.