Modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi and POCO series, often come with a pre-installed wallpaper carousel service, which is designed to regularly update images on a locked screen, but in practice it often irritates users due to intrusive advertising, increased battery consumption and periodic system failures. Many device owners wonder how to remove the wallpaper carousel on the chōmi to return a standard, static lock screen without unnecessary “garbage”.
The problem is relevant for both the old MIUI shell and the new HyperOS. Developers periodically change the location of switches and menu item names, which can confuse even the experienced user. In this article, we will discuss in detail all known ways to disable this feature, from standard settings to advanced methods through ADB, and explain why completely removing an application is sometimes the only right solution.
It’s worth noting that the MIUI framework is deeply integrated with Google services and Xiaomi’s own services. Simply switching the switch doesn’t always guarantee that the ad items will disappear completely. In some cases, a comprehensive approach is required, including clearing the cache and banning background activity. Understanding how this mechanism works will help you manage your device effectively.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is annoying
Wallpaper carousel is a system application that automatically changes the background image on the lock screen, technically for aesthetics, but in fact the service serves as a platform for delivering advertising content. Users often notice that after unlocking the phone for a split second there is an advertising banner or an offer to install a “recommended” application.
The main reason for the negative attitude to this feature lies in its intrusiveness: even if the ads do not pop up explicitly, the process of downloading new images consumes mobile traffic and CPU resources. On budget models of smartphones, this can lead to noticeable micro-latency when unlocking the device.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (such as India or Indonesia), the carousel may be hard-stitched into the firmware and not have a standard off button in the settings menu.
In addition, the service often collects anonymized data about user preferences by analyzing which images you choose and which you skip. For those who value privacy, this is an additional incentive to find a way to turn off the wallpaper carousel on the shaomi forever.
Visually, it looks like a set of beautiful landscapes or abstractions, but technically it's a constantly working process in the background. It monitors the time, location and status of the network to download content. Turning it off often returns the phone to its former speed.
Disconnection through standard MIUI and HyperOS settings
The easiest and safest way to remove the carousel is to use the built-in system settings. The interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and shell, but the logic of action remains the same. You do not need root rights or a computer connection.
To start, open your smartphone's Settings menu. Find a section that could be called "Always on screen and lock screen" or just "Lock screen," and that's where the main switches that make the visuals look.
- 📱 Find the option “Wallpaper carousel” (or “Glance” in the global versions).
- 🔘 Translate the slider to the "Off" position».
- 🗑️ If the system offers to delete the uploaded images, agree to free up space.
- ✅ Check the result by blocking and unlocking the screen.
In some cases, especially on new HyperOS devices, the path may be different. Sometimes you need to go to Settings → Wallpaper. Here you will see a preview of the current carousel. When you click on it, you will be taken to the service management menu, where you can also find the activation switch.
To return a standard image, simply select any picture from the gallery or system library through the Wallpaper menu. This will overwrite the last frame of the carousel.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
Removing the Service through Application Management
If the standard switching of the toggler does not help, or if the carousel turns on again on its own, a more radical method is needed: it is a matter of forcefully stopping and removing updates to the system application responsible for this functionality.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, you need to find an app called “Wallpaper Carousel”, “Mi Wallpaper Carousel” or “Glance for Mi”. The name may vary depending on the region of the firmware.
After finding the application, perform the following sequence of actions:
- 🛑 Click the “Stop” or “Forced Stop” button».
- 🧹 Select “Clean” and then “Clean Everything” (this will delete the cache and data).
- 📉 Click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select “Delete Updates».
- 🚫 If available, select "Disable».
This method returns the application to the factory version, which often does not have actual ad modules, but the system can update it again in the background over time, and to prevent this, you can limit background activity.
In the same app menu, find the AutoStart option and turn it off. Also in the Permissions section, turn off geolocation and mobile network access, which will prevent the app from receiving commands from the server.
⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete system files through root-righted file managers unless you are sure of their purpose).
The ADB method for advanced users
For those who want to ensure that the wallpaper carousel is removed and not reappeared, the best solution is to use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) toolkit, which requires connecting the smartphone to the computer, but gives maximum control over the system.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI» or "Version" OS». After that, a new section “Additional” or “Extended settings” will appear in the settings menu, where you need to turn on “Debugging by USB».
Connect your phone to your PC with a cable. On your computer in the command line (after installing ADB drivers), type the following command to delete the packet:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.mishell.lockerFor global firmware versions, where the service is called Glance, the command will look different:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.glance.lockscreenThis command does not remove the application from the system partition completely (which is impossible without root), but deletes it for the current user. The effect is equivalent to a complete deletion: the icon disappears, processes do not start, the battery is not consumed.
To get it back to you (if you need it), use the command:
adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.mishell.lockerUsing ADB is the only way to get rid of the carousel entirely on models where developers have blocked standard switches in the menu.
What to do if your computer can’t see your phone?
Blocking Advertising through DNS and Special Applications
If you don't want to go into system files or use a computer, you can try to shut down the application's channel to the server. The wallpaper carousel only works when there's Internet. Blocking requests to Xiaomi ad servers will solve the problem.
One of the most effective methods is to set up a private DNS. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. Select the DNS Host Name mode and enter the address:
dns.adguard.comThis move will filter out most of the ad traffic across the system, including the carousel, but it may affect some legitimate ad integrations in free apps.
Another option is to use specialized blocking applications like Blokada or AdGuard, which create local locking applications. VPN-tunnel and filter traffic according to specified lists.
- 🛡️ Install a blocker application from a reliable source.
- ⚙️ Activate the protection and select the filter list “Base” or “Ads».
- 📱 Allow creation VPN-Connection when the system is requested.
- 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes.
The good thing about this method is that it doesn't require deep intervention and it shuts down easily at any time, but it doesn't remove the app icon itself, it just takes it away.
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Use of the DNS-Filtering will also speed up page loading in the browser and remove banners in some free games.
Comparison of methods of turning off the carousel
To make it easier for you to choose the right way, we have organized the information in a table, each method has its pros and cons, depending on your technical skills and goals.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI settings | Low. | Medium | Minimum |
| Clearing the data | Low. | Temporary. | Minimum |
| ADB Teams | Tall. | Maximum | Average (code error) |
| DNS Filter | Medium | Tall. | Blocking useful advertising |
As you can see from the table, for the average user, a combination of methods is the best option: disabling in settings plus cleaning data. For enthusiasts who want a clean system, ADB is indispensable.
Remember that after major system updates (OTAs), settings may reset, so it’s helpful to know where the switches are to quickly regain control of your device.
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The combination of methods (Settings + DNS) gives the best balance between simplicity and efficiency for most users.