Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often find themselves in a situation where, after another system update or installing a new app, the lock screen becomes unpredictable. Instead of the usual static image you chose, banner ads, news or random photos from the Internet appear on the display, a phenomenon especially characteristic of the Redmi Note 9 model, where the company’s aggressive policy of monetization introduces services like Glance or Wallpaper Carousel without the explicit consent of the user.
This behavior is not only visually annoying, it can also consume additional traffic and drain the battery in the background. The changing wallpaper is often disguised as a system function, which makes standard methods of removing them through the gallery do not work. To regain control of your device, you need to understand what mechanism is responsible for changing images in your particular case.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways to deactivate intrusive services, learn how to find hidden settings in the Wallpaper menu, how to disable advertising offers in system applications, and what to do if standard methods do not help. We will look at both software methods through the MIUI settings, and deeper ways to interfere with the system.
The reasons for the appearance of dynamic wallpaper on the Redmi Note 9
The appearance of “live” or ever-changing images on the Redmi Note 9 lock screen is usually due to the activation of one of two main services. The first and most common is Glance for Mi. It is a platform that delivers content (news, videos, pictures) to the lock screen in exchange for free use of certain features or simply as part of the ecosystem. The second option is the built-in Wallpaper Carousel feature, which is Xiaomi’s native product for cycling high-quality images.
Often users accidentally activate these features themselves when they first set up a smartphone or when they update the firmware when the system suggests “improvement of the experience of use.” Third-party apps from Google Play that have received permission to change the lock screen can also cause problems. Advertising modules in free versions of programs often use the lock screen as a platform for displaying banners.
⚠️ Note: Some miner viruses or adware may be masquerading as system wallpaper. If there is a sharp drop in performance along with changing images or pop-up ads elsewhere, it is recommended to check the device with antivirus.
Understanding the source of the problem is key to a successful solution. If it is a Xiaomi system service, it can be disabled in the settings. If it is a third-party application, it must be found in the installed list and removed. In rare cases, especially on global firmware, MSA (MIUI System Ads) is responsible for this, which requires a more careful approach to disabling.
Disconnecting Glance service on Xiaomi
Glance is the most common culprit for advertising and changing images on budget and mid-budget models, including the Redmi Note 9. It is deeply integrated into the MIUI shell, but has a simple activation switch. First, unlock your phone and go to the main settings menu. You will need to find the partition responsible for the appearance of the system.
Click on Wallpaper (or Themes, depending on the version of MIUI). Inside this menu, look for a tab or button that says "Settings" or a gear icon. This is where the switch that controls the behavior of the lock screen hides. Find Glance for Mi or "Glance Lock" and turn the switch to "Off".
💡
If you can’t find the Glance switch in the wallpaper settings, try typing the word “Glance” into the search box inside the “Security” or “Themes” app itself.
Once the service is turned off, the system may ask you to select a static image from a gallery or standard sets. Agree to fix the result. It's important to note that turning off Glance does not remove the application completely, it only stops it from working. It will remain in the device's memory, but it will stop consuming resources and showing content.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Wallpaper.
- 🔍 Find the wallpaper settings or gear.
- ❌ Turn off the Glance for Mi Tumbler.
- ✅ Select a static image to block.
The Wallpaper Carousel (Wallpaper Carousel)
Unlike Glance, Wallpaper Carousel is Xiaomi’s official tool for displaying beautiful photos. However, for many Redmi Note 9 users, it becomes a source of annoyance due to the inability to predict which picture will appear next.
Go to the Wallpaper app and go to profile or settings (human icon or gears). Find the wallpaper carousel section. Here you will see the wallpaper carousel switch. Deactivating this item will return the standard lock screen. However, if you want to leave the feature but customize it for yourself, use the available filters.
In the carousel settings, you can turn off the screen blocker display, leaving only the background change, or you can prevent connecting to Wi-Fi to download new images, which will save traffic. You should also pay attention to the Shift Frequency if you decide to keep the function active. To completely disable, just select Static Wallpaper as the source.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Where do the pictures come from? | Local / Gallery |
| Frequency | How often does the background change? | Off. |
| Wi-Fi | Download only over Wi-Fi | Included (if necessary) |
| Notifications | Alerts on new topics | Off. |
Removing Third-Party Blocker Applications
If Xiaomi’s system settings don’t have active switches for changing wallpapers, and they keep appearing, the reason lies in third-party software. Often these apps are bundled with other programs (“in the load”) or downloaded randomly when viewing ads, and they may have names like “HD Wallpapers”, “Lock Screen Master” or “Cool Lock Screen”.
To identify the culprit, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Carefully review the list. You don't just need to look for obvious names. Often, these programs don't have an icon or name (empty field) to go unnoticed. Sortirujte list by installation date - if the problem has recently appeared, look for apps installed in the same period.
When you find a suspicious application, click on it and select Delete. If the delete button is inactive (gray), then the application is granted device administrator rights. In this case, go to Settings → Password and Security → Device administrators (the path may differ depending on the version of MIUI, use the settings search).
⚠️ Warning: Be careful when removing system applications with names like Wallpaper, Themes or Mi Video. Only remove what you believe or have installed from the Play Market.
Disabling MIUI Advertising Services (MSA)
Some of the intrusive content, including some types of dynamic wallpaper, is managed by the MSA (MIUI System Ads) system process, which allows you to significantly clear the Redmi Note 9 interface from advertising, and you can find this service through a search in the settings or in the list of all applications if you have enabled the display of system processes (developer mode activation is required).
The easiest way to search is to type in the settings search box the word "msa" or "advertising." You should find the msa or Receive recommendations. When you try to turn off, the system will strongly discourage you by showing a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds) and asking you to leave the function on. You need to wait for the end of the timer and click "Stop" or "Disable".
☑️ Checklist for complete cleanup of advertising
After disabling the MSA, it is also recommended to disable personalized advertising. To do this, go to Settings → Password and Security → Access to Personal Data (or “Privacy”). Find Personal Guidelines and disable it. This action will break the link between your device ID and Xiaomi ad servers, which can also affect the content of lock screens.
Resetting settings and additional methods
In situations where none of the above methods helped remove the changing wallpaper on the Redmi Note 9, it is possible that the system configuration files or malware interference are damaged too deeply. In this case, resetting becomes an effective solution.Be sure to create a full backup of all important data before this step, as this process will delete all user files, contacts and applications.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The system will request confirmation of the unlock password and password from the Mi Account. Once rebooted, the phone will be as new. When you first set up, carefully monitor the ticks and do not agree to “enhanced” services and subscriptions.
What if the reset didn't help?
An alternative method for advanced users is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which by connecting the phone to a computer, you can force the packages responsible for the carousel and advertising to turn off, even if they are not removed through the interface. The command to disable the carousel is: pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.misystem (the name of the package may vary).
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB Removing system components can cause unstable phone operation or a “brick” and use this method only if you understand the risks and know the exact name of the packet being removed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I remove the Wallpaper app from Redmi Note 9?
Why did the MIUI update bring the changing wallpaper back?
Does the changing wallpaper affect the speed of the phone?
How to distinguish a virus from a system function?
💡
The complete solution to the changing wallpaper problem on the Redmi Note 9 is achieved by a combination of disabling Glance/Carousel services and banning personalized advertising in the privacy settings.