How to remove the screensaver when you turn on your Xiaomi phone

Modern Xiaomi smartphones come with a variety of features designed to improve the user experience, but some of them may raise questions from device owners. One of these features is the screensaver, which activates automatically when the phone is connected to the charger or during downtime. For many users, this looks like intrusive behavior of the system, especially when the screen should simply go out or show time, and instead it appears on slides with photos or widgets.

The need to disable this feature is often dictated by the desire to save battery power, as the constant backlighting of the matrix consumes energy even if the device is connected to the network.In addition, some users prefer a minimalist interface or use their widgets that conflict with standard solutions of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. Understanding where the settings of this parameter hide will help make the use of the gadget more comfortable and predictable.

In this guide, we will go into detail on the algorithm for different versions of the operating system, how to find hidden menus, what parameters to change and what to do if the standard method does not work, and we will look at both software methods through settings and deeper ways to manage system applications.

What is the screensaver in Android and MIUI

The screensaver, or Daydream, is a feature that starts when the device is in standby mode and connected to charging. Unlike the usual screensaver on a computer, which simply prevents the screen from burning out, the purpose here is to demonstrate useful information. The system can show the clock, weather, news or photos from your gallery in the form of a slide show. In Xiaomi shells, this feature is often integrated with the wallpaper carousel service, which creates the effect of constantly changing the picture.

Technically, it's a separate system process that intercepts the control of the display when certain trigger conditions are met. USB The algorithm of the screensaver can vary depending on the source chosen: for the watch, for photos, other data. It is important to distinguish this function from the function of "Always On Display", which works on the computer. AMOLED-displays information in the locked state without full activation of the display.

Users often confuse screensaver with screen lock or live wallpaper. However, the screensaver is activated when the phone is already unlocked or in charging mode, but not actively used. If you notice that when you put the phone on charge, the screen lights up brightly and starts to flip pictures, this is it. Disabling this mode returns the standard behavior of the device: the screen goes out or only shows the time if AOD is turned on.

⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions may have different menu names than the Chinese versions. Look for sections with the word "Dream", "Zastavka" or sun/star icons.

Search for settings screensaver in different versions of the shell

The interface of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS is constantly changing, and the layout of system functions can migrate from one update to another. In most current versions of Android, the path to managing the screensaver is standardized, but Xiaomi often hides these settings deep in the Special Features or Screen Lock menu. The first step is always to move to the main settings of the device through the gear in the notification curtain or in the application menu.

In the newer versions of the interface, the logic of settings has changed. Now the function is most often in the Settings path → Screen and brightness → Screensaver. If this section is empty, it is worth checking the "Additional" subsection. In older versions of MIUI (before version 12), the path could look like Settings → Screen Lock and Password → Screen Lock Log, where you had to turn off the "Wallpaper Carousel", which was often the source of content for the screensaver.

If you can't find the right item, use the built-in Settings Search. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the Settings menu and type in the "Saveshow" or "screen saver" request. The system will tell you where this option is located on your particular model, whether it's Xiaomi Redmi Note or flagship Mi. This is the fastest way, because it takes into account regional localization features.

• 🔍 Use search in settings by entering “savenger” or “dream».
• ⚙️ Check the screen and brightness section first.
• 📱 On old models, look for a connection with the “Carousel wallpaper».
• 🌍 In global firmware, the menu may be called Screen saver».

It's worth noting that on Xiaomi Pad tablets, the logic of the screensaver may differ, and it's often used as a full-fledged information dashboard, so before you turn it off, make sure you don't mix up the devices, even though the algorithm for the settings menu remains almost identical for smartphones and tablets in the same ecosystem.

Disconnection through the menu of special features

In some cases, especially on devices with stripped-down or specific versions of software, the settings of the screensaver are placed in the special features section. This is due to the fact that the Daydream function was originally created as an assistive technology for the visually impaired, allowing you to receive information without touching the screen. To get to this section, you need to go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special features.

Inside this menu, scroll down to the end, and you'll find "Savenger" (or Screen saver) and you'll see the switch that's active by default when you click on it, and deactivating that slider will completely disable the function, and even if there's some mention left in the other settings, that's the system switch that's given priority in special features.

Sometimes the system may require confirmation of actions or warn that some functions will stop working. Agree with the changes, as this will not affect the basic functionality of the phone. Once the switch is turned off, the screen should stop lighting up when charging and show slides. If this does not happen, it is possible that a third-party launcher or a substitute screensaver application is activated.

⚠️ Note: If the switch in the Special Opportunities menu is inactive (gray), check if the Developer Mode is on or if access to settings is blocked by parental controls.

Control through the Wallpaper Carousel

Often the source of unwanted screensaver is the service "Lock Screen Magazine" (Lock Screen Magazine). This is a proprietary development of Xiaomi, which automatically changes the wallpaper on the locked screen, but can conflict with the settings of the screensaver. To fix the problem, you need to find the application in the list of installed programs. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Wallpaper carousel.

Inside this menu, find the "Enable Wallpaper Carousel" switch and turn it off. This action will stop new images from automatically loading and may remove the associated screensaver. It is also recommended to clear the cache of this service. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find "Wallpaper Carousel" (or Lock Screen Magazine), select "Memory" and click "Clean".

If you can't find an app in the standard way, you can use the app search in your settings. Type the name of the service and go straight to managing it. Disabling this service often solves the problem of intrusive advertising or images that appear instead of a black screen when it's down.

• 🖼️ Turn off the “Wallpaper Carousel” in the locking settings.
• 🧹 Clean the cache of the "Carousel Wallpaper" app».
• 🚫 Prohibit auto-start service in battery settings.
• 📂 Check if the source of the images is a third-party application.

It's important to understand that once you turn off the carousel, your wallpaper on the locked screen will become static. You can set any static image from the gallery. This brings back the classic look of the smartphone that most Android users are used to, and eliminates unnecessary traffic and processor activity in the background.

Resetting system screen applications

If manually turning off the switches doesn’t help, there may have been a software failure in the system component responsible for the screensaver, in which case the effective method is to reset the settings and data of the system application “Savenger”, which will return the component to factory state by removing all user configurations.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, look for “Savenger” (or Android Dream, Screen Saver). If there is no such app on the list, click three dots in the corner of the screen and select “Show System Processes.” Once you find the desired component, click on it, select “Memory” and then “Clean Everything” or “Reset.”

Once the data is cleaned, it is recommended to restart the device. When you first activate the screensaver (if you accidentally turn it on), the system will ask you about the choice of content source. At this stage, you can immediately refuse the offer or select "No" so that the function is no longer activated, this is guaranteed to remove any "tails" from previous settings.

⚠️ Note: Resetting system application data does not delete your personal photos or contacts, but can return screen design settings to factory values.

Use of Developer Mode and ADB

For advanced users who don’t have standard methods, you can disable the screensaver via USB debugging mode and ADB commands, which requires a computer and a smartphone driver installed. First, you need to activate the developer mode: go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI version or OS version.

Once you activate the developer menu, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → For developers and turn on “Debugging USB.” Connect your phone to your computer with a cable. On your computer, open the command line or terminal in the ADB tool folder and type in a command to search for a screensaver package:

adb shell pm list packages | grep dream

Usually, the system saver package is called com.android.dreams.basic or com.miui.dreams. To completely disable it, use the command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.dreams.basic

This command forcibly stops and hides the screensaver component for the current user. It doesn't physically delete the file, so you can get it back at any time with the pm enable command. It's the most radical and reliable way to ensure that the screensaver doesn't turn on under any circumstances, even after the system updates.

Comparison of methods of disconnecting the screensaver

The choice of method depends on your technical background and firmware version. Below is a table that will help you determine the best way to solve the problem for your case. Each method has its advantages and limitations.

If none of the methods worked, it’s worth checking if you have a third-party battery management or memory cleanup app installed that may force demo mode to be included, and the problem may be a specific Android version bug that is fixed only by waiting for a firmware update.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)

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Disabling the screensaver completely via ADB is the only 100% guaranteed method that will survive any system failures and interface updates.

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If you often use your smartphone as a navigator or photo frame, leave the screensaver on, but set the screen timer to turn off the screen for 1-2 minutes to combine functionality and energy savings.