Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often experience intrusive content that appears immediately after the device is turned on. News feeds, app recommendations and banner ads can take up a significant amount of useful space, annoying users who appreciate minimalism, especially for new models where the MIUI or HyperOS system aggressively promotes its services.
Fortunately, the developers have left the option to disable these features, although the path to settings is not always obvious at first glance. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the methods that allow you to clear the lock screen from unnecessary visual noise, you will learn how to manage widgets, disable the Glance service and configure the system wallpaper without third-party applications.
It's important to understand that different versions of the firmware may have different names for menu items. We'll look at generic solutions that are suitable for most current models. Follow the instructions carefully so you don't miss the switches lurking in the submenu.
Reasons for the appearance of news feed and advertising
The presence of a locked screen is not a bug, but the result of pre-installed services. Xiaomi integrates partner news aggregators like Glance or GetApps directly into the system shell, which allows you to monetize devices sold at a low price.
Often users accidentally activate these features themselves when they first set up the smartphone. During a quick configuration, the system suggests enabling "personalized recommendations", and an inexperienced user can agree without reading the fine text.
⚠️ Note: some system widgets, such as Video or Music, can display track covers or previews even without a full-fledged news feed.
There are two main types of content: static widgets (weather, steps, calendar) and dynamic feeds (news, articles, ads). The former can be configured or removed through the editing menu, the latter require disabling services in the depth of settings. Understanding this difference will help you find the right switch faster.
Disconnecting Glance and News Feed
The most common source of news on lock screens is Glance (formerly known as Lock Screen Magazine), which automatically changes wallpaper and displays article titles, and to remove it, you need to find the appropriate item in the screen settings.
Go to the Settings menu and select the Lock Screen section. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be called "Wallpaper and personalization." Find a line with the service name, such as Glance for Xiaomi or Wallpaper Carousel. Click on it to reveal additional options.
Inside the service menu, you'll see a switch called "Enable Glance" or something similar. Put it in an inactive position. The system may ask for confirmation or offer an alternative -- ignore this and confirm the shutdown. Then, when you turn on the screen, only the static clock and date will be displayed.
☑️ Checklist for Glance shutdown
If the standard path doesn't work, try to find settings through a system search. Type "Glance" or "Block" in the settings search bar. This will immediately go to the desired menu, bypassing long searches in sections. On some global firmware, the path may be different: Settings → Always on screen and Lock Screen → Wallpaper carousel.
Customize widgets and shortcuts on the lock screen
Even after the news feed is turned off, there may be app shortcuts, pedometers, or weather widgets on the screen. Xiaomi's interface allows for flexible customization of this block. It often takes a long press on the free space of the lock screen or a swipe to the right to enter edit mode.
In editing mode, you'll see a grid of available widgets. You can remove extra items by clicking on the delete button (usually a cross or minus) or dragging them to the bottom of the screen to the "Delete" zone. You only need to leave the most necessary things, such as an alarm clock or weather, if you really need them.
| Interface element | Where to turn off | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|
| Stepper | Settings → Lock screen | Minimum |
| Weather. | A widget on the desktop | Average (GPS) |
| Camera/lamp tags | Settings → Lock screen | Absent. |
| Newsfeed | Glance/Wallpaper Carousel | High (Internet) |
Notice the shortcuts in the lower corners of the lock screen (usually the camera and flashlight) that cannot be removed completely without superuser rights, but can be replaced with other apps or swipe-off. To do this, go to Settings → Lock screen → Shortcuts and select No or replace the icon with an unnecessary app.
Secret code for resetting widget settings
Managing MIUI Notifications and Recommendations
Often, “news” is defined as pop-up notifications from system applications. MIUI and HyperOS like (push) recommendations for new games, in-store promotions, or memory cleanups. These notifications come on behalf of system services such as Security or Explorer.
To stop this stream, you need to go to the notification settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management. Find the system applications in the list: "Security", "Downloads", "Conductor", "Mi Video". Go to each of them and turn off the category "Recommendations" or "Marketing notifications".
There's also a separate switch to get recommendations from the system, which is located along the Settings path → Passwords and Security → Authorization and Review path. Here you can find the "Get recommendations" item and disable it. This action requires confirmation and can take a few seconds, as the system sends a request to the server.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling system notifications may cause you to miss important security update messages or critical system errors.
Don't forget to check the settings of the particular "Security" app. Inside the app itself, there's a separate settings menu (cogs) where you need to uncheck "Get recommendations" and "Enter the Improvement Program," which will significantly reduce the amount of junk that pops up.
Changing theme and wallpaper as a method of solving
Sometimes the problem is not the settings, but the specific theme that is set. Third-party themes from MIUI Themes may force their widgets and news feeds to be turned off by standard methods. If you've recently changed the design, try returning the standard theme.
To do this, open the Themes app, go to the profile (human icon) and select "My Themes." Click on a standard theme (usually called "Classic" or "Default") and apply it. This action will reset all custom lock widget settings tied to the previous theme.
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Before applying a standard theme, take a screenshot of the current widget settings if you plan to return to it, which will help restore the layout of the items if the standard theme does not like.
If you use live wallpaper or video wallpaper, they can also consume resources and conflict with widgets. Try setting a high-quality static image. Go to Settings → Wallpaper and select any static photo from the gallery or the options offered.
It is important to note that some themes may hide news switches. Returning to a stock theme is the most reliable way to guarantee that third-party lock screen modifications are removed. After changing the theme, recheck Glance settings as they may have reset.
Additional Personalization Settings
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell offer enhanced personalization capabilities that can duplicate the features of the news feed, such as the Video widget, which can preview videos from popular services, and is customized separately in the widget menu.
Press and hold your finger on the widget to see what you can do. Often there's a customization button (cog) or the ability to remove the entire widget. If the widget is system and doesn't get deleted, try resizing it or replacing it with a Google analog that's less intrusive.
Also, check the Smart Screen or One-step settings if available in your model, which can pull information from other apps, and disable integration with news aggregators in Settings → Special features.
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Comprehensive lock screen cleaning requires checking three locations: Glance services, system application notification settings, and the installed design theme.
After performing all the manipulations, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to apply changes and clear the widget cache. If the news is missing, but after a while it reappears, check whether the application has updated "Security" or "Themes" in the background, returning the default settings.