Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where unwanted images, advertising slides or floating widgets appear on a locked screen or during a device downtime, a phenomenon that can be called different things: a screensaver, a screensaver, a wallpaper carousel or just an advertising module of the system. Understanding how to remove the screensaver from the screen of a Xiaomi phone is difficult due to the constant changes in the interface of the MIUI shells and the new HyperOS.
It should be understood that by “savenger” users often mean completely different functions, such as classic lock screen wallpapers that change automatically, or the system function “Screensaver” activated during charging, in some cases, third-party applications that inject their content on top of the system are the culprits.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at all possible sources of redundant images and provide algorithms to disable them, and you will learn to distinguish between system settings and third-party interventions, which will allow you to return a clean and familiar interface to your device.
Differences between screensaver, screensaver and wallpaper carousel
Before settings, it is important to clearly identify the problem. There are several mechanisms in the Xiaomi ecosystem that can be visually perceived as a "savenger", but are technically different services. The confusion in terms often leads to the user disabling the wrong feature and the problem remains.
A classic screensaver is a feature that only activates when the phone is connected to the charger and is at rest. It shows a clock, calendar or slideshow of photos. The wallpaper carousel is a service that changes the image on the lock screen every time you wake up the phone.
There is also the concept of “savenger” in the context of a tablet sleep mode or bedside mode, which turns a smartphone into a smartwatch, and understanding these differences is critical to choosing the right method of shutting down.
- 🖼️ Screensaver: Active only when charging, shows time and photos.
- 🔒 Wallpaper carousel: Changes the background of the lock screen every time the screen is turned on.
- ⏰ Standby mode: Special interface for horizontal position during charging.
⚠️ Note: Disconnecting system services through ADB-commands can lead to unstable operation of the interface if you are not sure about the purpose of a particular package.
Disabling the standard screensaver in the settings
If you're worried about the watch or the photos when the phone is charging, it's a standard screensaver feature, which is often hidden in the depths of the feature menu in the MIUI and HyperOS shells, and you need to go to the main settings menu of your device first.
Find a section that might be called "Additional Settings" or "Special Features." Depending on the version of the operating system, the path may vary slightly. Look for an item called Screensaver or Screensaver. In some firmware, it's placed in a separate "Screen Lock" menu.
Inside the menu, you'll see a switch that activates the function. Nearby are usually the style settings (clock, photo, slideshow) To completely remove the screensaver, you need to move the main switch to the "Off" position.
☑️ Checking the screensaver settings
After changing the settings, it is recommended to lock the screen and put the device on charge to make sure the image no longer appears.If the screensaver was turned on, the screen will now simply go out or show a standard lock screen.
Control of wallpaper carousel and lock screen
The most common complaint users have is the obsessive “Wallpaper Carousel”, which automatically uploads new background images and sometimes banner ads to the lock screen, which can be removed through the theme or lock screen settings.
Go to the Settings menu, then select Always on the screen and lock screen. This section has the wallpaper carousel switch, and if you turn it off, you return the static image you manually installed.
It’s also worth checking the settings of the Themes app, which often has a separate item inside it, in the user profile, that manages the wallpaper update subscription, and disabling here will prevent new content from automatically loading in the background.
- 🎨 Static Wallpaper: Set your image so it doesn't change.
- 🚫 Disabling Subscription: Removes Automatic Background Update.
- 📉 Traffic savings: Disconnecting the carousel reduces mobile internet consumption.
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If after turning off the carousel wallpaper still changes, check the installed launcher apps or weather widgets, which may have their own background settings.
It is important to note that in some regions the wallpaper carousel is built deeper into the system and may require the Wallpaper or MiuiDaemon service cache to be cleared to shut down completely.
Elimination of third-party screensavers and advertising modules
Situation when random pictures, news or ads appear on the screen at the wrong time is often caused by third-party applications, which can be “optimizers”, “lightlights”, “calendars” or games that have received permission to display on top of other windows.
To find the culprit, you need to analyze newly installed programs. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications. Carefully review the list for suspicious utilities, especially those that do not have an icon or a strange name.
The key here is the “Master over Other Windows” resolution.* Go to special features or permission management and take this access away from all applications that do not need it (for example, messengers or navigators).
⚠️ Note: If you see a floating window advertisement on the screen, most likely one of the apps you installed contains a malicious ad module.
An effective diagnostic method is to run the device in Safe Mode, and if the screensaver disappears in this mode, then the problem is guaranteed to be caused by third-party software, and remove the last installed applications one by one until the problem disappears.
Setting up the mode “Bedroom mode” and smart home
The new MIUI and HyperOS versions have introduced the “Bedside mode,” which turns the phone into a smartwatch when connected to a docking station or charging, which can activate automatically and wyświet a large screensaver with weather and time.
To manage this feature, use the search bar in the settings by entering the "Bedroom Mode" request, where you can set the activation schedule or turn off automatic start completely.
It’s also worth checking integration with the Mi Home ecosystem. If you have Xiaomi smart speakers or displays, the phone can sync with them by streaming the image. Check the connection settings under Connected Devices.
What to do if the mode does not turn off?
Turning off this mode will return the standard screen behavior while charging, which is especially important for those who use the smartphone as an alarm clock at night and do not want bright glow or changing pictures.
Comparison of methods of disconnecting screensavers
For ease of perception, we have systematized the basic methods of dealing with unwanted images, and the choice of method depends on what type of screensaver you are concerned about and what version of Android your device is running on.
The table below shows the main scenarios and solutions. Please note that menu item names may vary slightly depending on the regional firmware version (Global, China, EEA).
| Type of problem | Where to find a solution | Necessary rights | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screensaver when charging | Settings → Screensaver | Normal. | Low. |
| Wallpaper carousel | Settings → Lock screen | Normal. | Low. |
| Advertising windows | Annexes → Permits | Administrative | Medium. |
| System interface bug | Resetting settings/ADB | Root / ADB | High-pitched |
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In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by standard system settings without the need to install additional software or flashing.
Using a table will help you quickly navigate and not waste time looking for a solution in the wrong menu section.
Frequent questions and additional recommendations
To conclude, we will answer popular questions that users have when trying to customize the screen of their device. OLED-Always on Display features and screens that can be confused with screensaver.
Remember that completely disabling all display features can cause you to stop seeing time or notifications in sleep mode.
If standard methods don’t work, your firmware version may have specific bugs, in which case it’s recommended to check for system updates or, conversely, roll back to a stable version if the problem occurs after the update.
Regularly checking the list of installed apps and permissions is the best way to prevent unwanted content from appearing on your Xiaomi.