How to disable changing screensavers on Xiaomi: from carousel to blocker

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often encounter intrusive functionality that automatically changes wallpaper on the lock screen, a feature known as "Wallpaper Carousel" or "Glance," which can annoy users who prefer a static image or their own photos. The problem is compounded by the fact that the settings are scattered across different menus, and the system periodically returns them after updates.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to remove screensavers on the phone changing Xiaomi, regardless of the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. You will learn to disable not only the standard carousel, but also third-party blockers that could be installed with applications. We will touch on the settings of system themes, screen parameters and hidden security features.

Understanding the structure of MIUI will help you not only solve the current problem, but also to more deeply customize the device to suit yourself. Sometimes changing the images is not a single parameter, but a combination of theme settings and system services. So it is important to check each of the points described below to ensure that you do not automatically change images.

Disconnecting the standard wallpaper carousel

The most common source of changing images is the built-in Wallpaper Carousel, which is activated by default on many global firmware versions. To stop this process, you need to go to the basic settings of the device. Find the partition responsible for the appearance and lock screen.

Inside the settings menu, you'll need to find a item that's related to the theme or directly to the lock screen. Depending on the version of MIUI, the path may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. The system offers multiple image sources, and it's the source switch that needs to be deactivated.

Once you log into the merry-go-round menu, you will see the function activity switch, which must be put into an inactive state, and it is also recommended to clear the cache of this service to remove previously downloaded images from the device memory.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the Lock Screen section.
• 🎨 Find the wallpaper carousel item and click on it.
• ❌ Turn the switch Include the wallpaper carousel in the "Off" position».
• 🗑️ Click the Remove the uploaded wallpaper to free up space.

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If the carousel still changes after you turn off, check if you have a third-party theme installed. Some themes have their own background settings that work independently of the system.

Managing System Themes and Their Settings

Users often forget that the installed theme can dictate their own content display rules. Even if you disable the system carousel, the theme itself may contain an automatic image change script. The Themes app is the central node of Xiaomi’s visual style management.

To check, you need to open the Themes app and go to the user profile, and it stores all the downloaded and active interface elements, and you need to pay attention to the Wallpaper or Lock Screen section inside your profile, and if you have an update subscription or an auto update checkbox, you need to uncheck it.

⚠️ Note: When you reset the theme settings to standard ("Classic"), all custom background settings will also be removed.This is the fastest way to return factory behavior to the system if you are entangled in numerous switches.

You should also check the settings of the theme app itself. The top right corner usually has a menu with additional options, and there may be a "Update Wallpaper" or "Recommendations" item, which will prevent the content from being imposed on the shell developers.

• 🎭 Launch the Themes app on your smartphone.
• 👤 Go to Profile section (the icon of the person at the bottom right).
• ⚙️ Click on the gear settings in the corner of the screen.
• 🚫 Turn off the options Get recommendations and Auto Update.

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The Themes app takes precedence over the system settings of the screen, and if the theme is a third-party theme, its settings may overlap the global MIUI settings.

Setting up a static image instead of a slideshow

When all automatic functions are turned off, the question is, what will be displayed on the screen? Many users want to see a particular photo, not a black screen or a standard logo. It is important to properly install a static image so that the system does not try to replace it.

Choose the desired image in the gallery or through the wallpaper settings. When using the picture, the system will ask whether to install it on the main screen, on the lock screen or both. To completely replace the changing screensaver, you need to choose the option of "lock screen" or "both screens".

There's a nuance to resolution and image format. Live wallpaper or special effects images can behave unpredictable. Better use standard JPG or PNG formats. Also make sure that the screen settings don't tick the "Change wallpaper on schedule" box, which is sometimes found in the advanced display settings.

If you're using live wallpaper from the theme store, you also need to turn it off separately. Live wallpaper consumes more battery power and may conflict with static background settings. Switch to the standard set that comes with the device.

Blocking Advertising and Recommendatory Content

Sometimes what the user thinks is a “changing screensaver” is actually a banner ad or a recommendation widget. HyperOS and newer versions of MIUI actively promote content through the lock screen, which can be news, app suggestions or pictures with brand logos.

To remove this information noise, you need to go to the lock screen settings and find the section that displays widgets or recommendations, often disguised as "Recommendations" or "Blocking Services," and disabling these services will make the screen clean.

It's also worth checking the permissions for system applications like "Security" or "Download." If they're allowed to display content on top of other apps, they can display pop-ups that look like part of a screensaver. Limiting their background activity will help solve the problem.

• 🛡️ Open password settings and security.
• 📉 Find the Privacy or Advertising section.
• 🚫 Disable Receive recommendations and personalized advertising.
• 🔍 Check the list of applications with access to the lock screen.

⚠️ Note: After updating the firmware, the ad settings and recommendations can automatically be activated again. Check this section periodically, especially after major system updates.

Third-party screen-blocker applications

Not all changing screensavers are native to Xiaomi. Quite often, users install Google Play apps themselves, which take control of the lock screen, often called “Locker”, “HiLock”, or have names related to security and beautiful pictures.

If standard methods don't work, look carefully at the installed app list, look for programs that have the words "Lock," "Wallpaper," "Screen" in their name, and remove them will bring back control of the screen to the system, but simply removing them may not be enough.

You also need to revoke the app's special rights. Go to settings, select "Advanced Settings" or "Special Features." Find a suspicious app there and disable it. Without this step, it may continue to work or interfere with the installation of normal wallpaper.

Special attention should be paid to antivirus applications or memory cleaners from third-party developers, which often have built-in modules “Boost” or “News”, which are embedded in the lock screen, disabling notifications from such programs often solves the problem of flashing images.

Resetting of design settings and final verification

If none of these methods worked, there may have been a software failure in the system interface cache, in which case resetting the design settings to factory settings will help, not erase your personal data, photos or contacts, but return standard themes and fonts.

To perform the reset, go to the theme settings and select the default recovery option. Once the device is rebooted, the system will use a clean profile without unnecessary scripts. This is the only way to guarantee that you delete hidden carousel configuration files that may have been damaged.

Once reset, reset the desired static image. Make sure no random wallpaper switches are activated when you install. Run a test: lock the screen, wait a minute, unlock and lock again in 10 minutes. If the picture hasn't changed, the problem is solved.