Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users a lot of personalization features, but sometimes standard settings can be annoying, especially when it comes to automatically changing images on a locked screen, known as “Wallpaper Carousel”, many device owners face a situation where instead of the usual static picture, the system offers to flip through advertising or thematic images, which is not always convenient.
Changing this situation is quite simple if you know exactly where the right switches are hiding in the MIUI or HyperOS shell. The process of turning off automatic change or completely replacing the background image does not require obtaining superuser rights or complex manipulation of the code.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways to control images on the lock screen, learn how to completely disable the obsessive carousel, how to set your photo and what to do if standard methods do not work. The key difference between new firmware versions is the separation of the theme settings and the system settings of the lock screen, which often causes confusion among users.
Why do pictures change and what is a carousel wallpaper
The feature that has raised the most questions from Xiaomi users is officially called Lock Screen Carousel, a service built into the MIUI shell that automatically uploads and shows new images every time you turn on a smartphone, and can be sourced from both built-in collections from the manufacturer and third-party services connected through the Themes app.
The main purpose of this feature is to diversify the visual experience and provide the user with interesting content, including news, facts or just beautiful landscapes. However, in practice, this often leads to the fact that a person can not quickly find the desired application or see important widgets due to the colorful background.
It's important to understand the difference between a normal wallpaper and a carousel. A normal wallpaper is a static image that you choose and doesn't change without your intervention. A carousel is a dynamic service that requires separate management. If you want to get rid of the constant change of pictures, you need to find and deactivate this service, not just change the background.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling the wallpaper carousel will not remove the Themes app from the system, but will stop showing advertising or swappable images on the locked screen.
Disabling the wallpaper carousel through screen settings
The most direct and reliable way to remove automatic image change is to use the system settings of the display. In different versions of the Android shell from Xiaomi, the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. You will need to find the section responsible for the state of the device in sleep mode.
To start, unlock your phone and go to the main settings menu. Find an item that can be called Always On and Lock Screen or simply Lock Screen. Depending on the version of MIUI, this section can be in the Wallpaper and Personalization category or be entered into a separate system settings menu.
Inside this menu, you'll see a switch called "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Wallpaper Change," which is responsible for activating dynamic mode. Once you turn this switch to off, the system will ask you to choose a static image that will be displayed permanently, which will instantly stop new images from downloading from the Internet.
☑️ Algorithm to shut down carousel
If the image functions continue to change after turning off, a third-party theme may be activated, in which case it is worth checking the settings of the theme itself or resetting it to a standard one. Sometimes the system cache may save the old settings, so it is recommended to completely restart the device after making changes.
Management through the app Topics and Wallpaper
An alternative way to manage visuals is hidden in the standard Themes app, which is pre-installed on all Redmi and Poco smartphones, and it stores global personalization settings, including those related to the locked state of the device, which is convenient if you want to not just turn off the carousel, but immediately replace it with something more suitable.
Run the Themes app on your device. In the lower right corner or in the user profile (human icon), find the Settings button. In the settings list that opens, you need to find the Wallpaper Carousel. Here you can not only turn off the feature, but also adjust the refresh rate if you decide to leave it on or select a specific set of images.
Also in this section, the “Get recommendations” option, which is responsible for displaying advertising content along with pictures, is often hidden, and turning off this option will make the carousel cleaner, but it will disappear completely only after the main switch is deactivated. For users who appreciate minimalism, the best option is to choose the “No carousel”.
Hidden settings in the app Topics
It’s worth noting that the Themes app may require an update to properly display all menu items. If you don’t find the settings described above, check for updates for this system component through the built-in GetApps app store or Google Play.
How to set a static image on the block
Once the intrusive image change is turned off, the user is faced with the question of choosing a permanent background, you can use the standard images that come with the device, or upload your own photo from the gallery, which makes the smartphone more personal and recognizable.
To set your photo, open the Gallery app and select the photo you want. Click on the More button (usually three dots in the corner of the screen) and select Set as Wallpaper. The system will suggest you choose whether to apply the image to the lock screen, desktop, or both screens at once. Select Lock screen.
If you want to use Xiaomi’s quality standard wallpaper, go to the lock screen settings and click on the current image preview. The system wallpaper gallery will open, where you can choose abstractions, landscapes or textures optimized for your smartphone’s display. These images are often high-resolution and look great on AMOLED and IPS arrays.
| Wallpaper type | Where to find out. | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard. | Settings → Wallpaper | Optimized for color and brightness |
| Personal photos | gallery → Set up how | Requires framing under the screen format |
| Topics | Annex Topics | May contain animations and widgets |
| Live wallpaper | Settings → Wallpaper → Live | They're using up more batteries. |
⚠️ Note: When installing personal photos, keep in mind that time and widgets can overlap important parts of the image, so choose a photo with a homogeneous background or a shifted center.
Solving the problem: the carousel turns on itself
Sometimes users experience a situation where the wallpaper carousel turns on again after turning off, which can occur after updating the system, resetting settings or installing a new theme, often because some topics take precedence over the system settings of the lock screen.
The first step in solving this problem should be to check the active theme. If you are using a third-party theme downloaded from the directory, try switching to the standard theme "Classic" or "No Limits", often in the files of third-party themes prescribed forced start of the carousel.
If the theme change didn't help, you may have left the wallpaper cache in the system. Try clearing the Topic and Wallpaper app data. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the app you want, click Memory and select Clear. Then reset the lock screen.
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If the carousel returns after each restart, try turning off the internet before turning off the feature and then turning it on again – this will prevent old settings from syncing.
In rare cases, the cause could be a conflicting screen locking app installed from Google Play.Check the list of installed programs and remove any "Lock Screen" apps, as they can intercept screen control from the Android system.
Set up widgets and clocks on a locked screen
By removing the wallpaper, many users want to adjust the display of time and notifications. The MIUI shell and HyperOS allow you to flexibly adjust the style of the watch, font and location of the widgets on the lock screen, which helps to make the screen not only clean, but also functional.
To change the style of the watch, tap the time area on the locked screen (if Double-Tap to Enable is active) or go to the lock screen settings and select Watch Style. There are different options available here: analog, digital, minimalist. The style choice depends on how much information you want to see.
You can also set up notifications in this section, you can hide the content of messages for privacy or turn off the display of app icons, leaving only time, which is especially true for those who prefer minimalist design without unnecessary details.
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Optimal lock screen setting combines static wallpaper, minimalist watch style and a disabled carousel, which provides quick access to the device and saves battery power.
Remember that some watch styles may only be available when using certain themes or after downloading additional components.If you don't find the style you want, check the Online section of the watch selection menu.