How to permanently remove the wallpaper carousel from the lock screen on Xiaomi Redmi 7

The wallpaper carousel on the Xiaomi Redmi 7 lock screen is one of the most controversial features of the MIUI shell. On the one hand, it offers a variety of background images that are automatically updated by the system. On the other hand, it annoys users who prefer static wallpaper or want to see only their chosen photo on the lock. Unfortunately, in the standard settings of the Redmi 7 there is no obvious switch to completely disable this feature, which causes confusion even among experienced smartphone owners.

Complicating the problem, MIUI versions below 12.5 have a hidden path to shutting down the carousel, or no path to the GUI. Many users mistakenly believe that changing the wallpaper by hand is enough, but the system continues to load new images every time you unlock the screen. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to remove the carousel, including methods for different versions of the firmware and hidden settings that are not written about even in the official documentation.

Why the wallpaper carousel appears on the lock screen

The Wallpaper Carousel feature was introduced in MIUI 9 as part of Xiaomi’s service ecosystem, originally marketed as a smart solution for personalizing the device, but has evolved over time into a tool to promote content from partners. On Redmi 7, the carousel is activated by default and works on the following principle:

• 🔄 Automatic rotation: the system downloads new wallpaper from Xiaomi cloud storage every 24 hours (or when connected to Wi-Fi).
• 📱 Mi Account Link: If you are logged in to Mi Account, the carousel syncs between devices.
• 🎨 Themes and collections: Wallpapers are selected based on the chosen theme or "recommendations" based on your activity.
• 🔒 Restrictions: on some firmware, you can only turn off the function through ADB or editing system files.

It's important to understand that the carousel is not just a "background image"; it's integrated into com.miui.gallery and uses your account data to generate content. For example, if you often view nature photos, the algorithm will load the landscape wallpaper, which explains why, after resetting settings or updating MIUI, the function can turn on again.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi 7 with firmware MIUI 10–11 forced shutdown of the carousel through system settings can cause a gallery to malfunction.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

If your Redmi 7 runs MIUI 12.5 or later, the easiest way to remove the carousel is to use built-in personalization options. However, the path to these is not obvious, since Xiaomi regularly changes the location of menu items.

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
3. At the top of the screen, find the wallpaper carousel switch (or Dynamic Wallpaper) and turn it off.
4. Select a static image from the gallery or upload your own.
5. Click Apply and restart the device.

If the item Carousel wallpaper is not on the menu, try an alternative way:

1. Press the finger free space on the desktop → Wallpaper settings.
2. Select the Lock Screen → Additional (three dots in the upper right corner).
3. In the drop-down menu, find the carousel settings and deactivate it.

On MIUI 10-11, this method may not work, so move on to the next method.

Method 2: Use hidden settings (for MIUI 10-12)

On older firmware versions, Xiaomi hid the option of disabling the carousel in the GUI, but left it in the system settings. To access these settings, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Settings app → The phone.
2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version until the notification appears You became a developer!
3. Return to the main Settings menu and select a new section → For developers.
4. Activate the switch Allow system settings to change.
5. Now go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
6. Find the Topics list (com.android.themes) and open its settings.
7. Select Warehouse → Clear the data and confirm the action.

This method resets the themes to factory settings, which often leads to the carousel shutting down. However, it has a side effect: all downloaded themes and wallpaper will be deleted. If you want to save them, pre-back up through Settings → Additional → Backup.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu), the Topic application data reset may result in the error "Unfortunately, the Topic app has stopped." APK through ADB.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods have failed, the most reliable, but technically challenging, method is to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool that allows you to directly interact with Redmi 7 system settings via your computer.

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 taps → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions for disconnecting the carousel through ADB:

1. Connect Redmi 7 to your computer and confirm the debugging permission on your smartphone screen.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Execute the command to disable the carousel: adb shell settings put global wallpaper_carousel_enabled 0
5. Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot

If the carousel is still active after the reboot, try an additional command to reset the wallpaper cache:

adb shell pm clear com.android.themes

This method works on all versions of MIUI, including custom firmware, but it requires caution: improper use of ADB can lead to system failures.

💡

Before working with ADB, create a restore point in TWRP (if installed) to help return the phone to working condition if errors occur.

Method 4: Removal of system applets (root access)

For users with an unlocked bootloader and a Magisk or SuperSU installed, there is a radical method of removing the system components responsible for the carousel, which is guaranteed to remove the function, but requires root rights and can disrupt other MIUI services.

You will need a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).

1. Open the file manager and provide root access.
2. Go to /system/priv-app/WallpaperCarousel or (for newer versions of MIUI): /system/app/WallpaperCarousel
3. Delete the WallpaperCarousel folder or rename it to WallpaperCarousel.bak.
4. Reset the device.

Alternatively, freeze the app via Magisk:

1. Install the App Systemizer module in Magisk.
2. Search the list of com.miui.wallpapercarousel and select Freeze.
3. Apply the changes and reboot.

⚠️ Note: Removing system applets may lead to update errors MIUI through OTA. Before installing new firmware versions, it is recommended to return deleted files to their place.

Alternative solutions: third-party launchers and wallpaper

If you don't want to interfere with system settings, you can bypass the limitations of MIUI with third-party apps. Here are some proven options:

• 🎨 Launchers: Nova Launcher: allows you to set static wallpaper for the lock screen, ignoring the settings MIUI. Action Launcher: has a built-in function to block wallpaper from changes.
• 🖼️ Wallpaper applications: WallpapersCraft: offers fixed wallpaper with the ability to block from changes. Backdrops: allows you to install wallpapers bypassing system settings.
• 🔒 Lock Screen Wallpaper Changer (requires root): Forced to capture selected image.

When using third-party launchers, be aware that they may conflict with MIUI services such as Second Space or App Lock. Check compatibility on forums (such as 4PDA or XDA) before installing.

Another trick that's not obvious is to install a blank wallpaper (solid color) through the system settings.

1. Download a solid color image (for example, a black background of 1080×2340 pixels).
2. Install it as wallpaper for the lock screen through the Gallery → Install it as → Lock wallpaper.
3. Turn off automatic color adjustment in Settings → Display → Color scheme.

💡

The side launchers are the safest way to get around the MIUI carousel, but they can increase battery consumption by 5-10% due to background activity.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you turn off the wallpaper carousel on Redmi 7, users experience typical errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check to see if you have hidden MIUI updates installed on your device. Sometimes Xiaomi adds new features through System Updates that don't appear in the standard interface to see them:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the icon with three dots → Package updates.
3. If there are uninstalled packages, update them and try to turn off the carousel again.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions