Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face a situation where standard system settings impose dynamic content, which may be due to updating the MIUI shell or pre-installed themes that automatically activate live backgrounds. Users notice that a static image is replaced by a video, which is not always convenient and can distract from the basic functionality of the device.
The main reason for wanting to change the settings is to strive for minimalism and save battery power. Animated backgrounds consume more CPU and screen resources, especially if we are talking about displays with a high refresh rate. In addition, the constant change of pictures or videos can annoy those who are accustomed to a strict and unchanging interface. To remove live wallpaper on Xiaomi can be in several ways, each of which depends on the version of the system and the installed theme.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods to disable animations, learn how to return a static background through the standard menu, how to check the settings of the themes and what to do if the Wallpaper Carousel function works as a live wallpaper. Following the instructions will help you personalize the device to your needs without unnecessary time.
Analysis of the causes of the appearance of animation
Before you start deleting, it is important to understand what exactly causes the movement on the screen. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, several different system components may be responsible for this. Most often, users confuse standard live wallpaper with the wallpaper carousel function, which periodically changes static images, but can include animated elements.
Another reason is the activation of special effects in the personalization section. MIUI shell and its modern version of HyperOS offer rich customization capabilities that are sometimes turned on by default after a software reset or update. Video wallpapers can be part of the system package or downloaded separately content that the system considers a priority.
It’s worth noting that on different models, whether it’s the flagship Xiaomi 13 or the budget Redmi Note, the paths to settings may differ slightly. However, the logic of the system remains the same: somewhere there should be a switch responsible for the type of content, and understanding the source of animation is the first step to successfully solving the problem.
Disconnection through standard wallpaper settings
The most direct way to remove live wallpaper on Xiaomi is to go to the basic system settings, which is suitable for most cases where the animation was manually installed by the user or activated by the system as a standard option, you need to access the background selection menu where the desired switch is hidden.
To start, unlock the device and go to the home screen. Find an empty space where there are no app icons, and make a long finger tap. In the bottom menu that appears, select Wallpaper. If you have a new version of the shell installed, this item may be called Personalization or have an icon with a picture. Inside the menu, you will see the current installed background.
Next, look at the top of the screen or the settings button (usually a gear or three dots). You need to find an option that allows you to choose the type of wallpaper. The system will offer categories: Static, Live or Video. Select a category of static images. In the list of available backgrounds, find the one you want to install and click on it. Once you confirm the selection, the animation will disappear and the screen will become static.
☑️ Algorithm of action
Make sure you apply changes to both screens if you want to get rid of motion completely. Sometimes the system requires a reboot to fully apply the settings, although most often the changes take effect instantly.
Management of the subject matter
Often, live wallpaper is an integral part of the set theme. Even if you change the background manually, the theme can force you to return your settings when you do certain things, such as unlocking the screen or starting a timer, in which case you need to check the settings of the Themes application.
Open the Themes app on your smartphone. Go to the user profile by clicking on the person icon in the lower right corner. Select the Topics section here. You'll see a list of all the designs installed. If the theme with animated elements is active, the system will try to replicate the author's idea. To remove the live wallpaper, try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme.
Also worth checking is the detailed settings of the current theme. In some cases, there is a separate Lock Screen module inside the theme package that works independently of the general wallpaper. Go to profile -> Topics -> Choose an active theme -> Click Apply again or select Components. Here you can turn off specific elements such as watches, widgets and, of course, background animations.
Why does the topic return after resetting?
If deleting the theme doesn't help, you may have cache left in the system. It's recommended to clear the theme app data through the smartphone settings menu. This won't delete your personal files, but resets the design settings to factory ones, which is guaranteed to remove any third-party live wallpaper.
Setting up the Glance wallpaper carousel
One of the most common causes of live lock screen behavior is the Wallpaper Carousel (known as Glance in some regions), which constantly changes images on a locked screen, downloading content from the Internet, and users often perceive frequent changes in pictures or embedded video snippets as live wallpaper that is difficult to get rid of.
To disable this feature, go to Settings on the main menu of your smartphone. Search by settings, type the word "Carousel" or "Glance." If the search does not yield results, go along the path: Lock screen -> Wallpaper carousel. Here you will see a switch that activates this service. Put it to the Off position.
Once you shut down, the system can suggest you give a reason or leave a review — it's standard procedure for collecting statistics. Agree or skip this step. Now, when you lock the screen, only the static image you chose will be displayed, which will also help save traffic, as the service will stop downloading new images.
⚠️ Note: After the wallpaper carousel is turned off, notifications of news and interesting facts that are often broadcast through this service will stop coming. If this feature is important to you, but you only want to remove videos, look for the Content Type setting inside the Carousel menu and select Photos Only".
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Turning off the wallpaper carousel is the most effective way to get rid of the intrusive change of backgrounds and video inserts on the lock screen.
Comparison of disconnection methods
To make it easier to solve a problem, we have systematized the basic methods in a table, which will help you quickly navigate which path will suit your situation, whether it is a system failure or a particular topic.
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change through Wallpaper menu | Low. | High (for current topic) | Reduces the cost |
| Resetting theme to Classic | Low. | Maximum | substantially reduces |
| Carousel shutdown | Medium | High (for lock screen) | Average decline |
| Cleaning the data of the application Topics | Tall. | Maximum (in case of failure) | Normalizes work |
As you can see from the table, the easiest and fastest solution is to change the wallpaper manually, but if the problem is deeper in system services, a more comprehensive approach is needed, and a combination of methods (such as changing the theme and turning off the carousel) gives 100% results.
The specifics of working with Super Wallpapers
Newer versions of the HyperOS shell and later MIUIs have introduced Super Wallpapers, complex animated backgrounds with planets or abstractions that respond to touch and unlock, and they look spectacular, but they are full-fledged live wallpapers that may not be switched off by the standard video switch.
If you have these, you can only remove them by replacing them with a regular set from the gallery. Go to Settings -> Wallpaper. Find the Super Wallpapers or Planets section. The system will show a preview. You need to scroll down or back to the Static or Local section and select a normal photo. As long as the Super Wallpaper mode is active, the screen will remain animated.
Some users try to disable animations inside Super Wallpapers, but there's no such feature in the standard interface. The mechanics of this component involve constantly rendering graphics. The only way to kill this feature is not to use it at all, which is especially true for owners of devices with mid-level processors, where such wallpapers can cause micro-twitching of the interface.
💡
For maximum performance and autonomy, choose simple black static wallpaper, especially if you have a wallpaper. AMOLED-It'll also extend the life of the matrix.
Solving problems with suspended settings
There are times when the user has done everything right, but the wallpaper doesn't disappear, and this may indicate a software failure or a conflict of processes, and in this situation, the forced shutdown of the system services responsible for the graphics helps, and this is a safe procedure that will not lead to data loss.
Go to Settings -> Apps -> All Apps. Find the Topic (Brush icon) and Wallpaper (or Wallpaper Carousel) app on the list. Go to each and click Stop. Then select Clear -> Clear cache. Don't confuse "Clean it all," although it's safe, but it will reset your settings to the factory themes.
Once the cache is cleared, be sure to restart your smartphone. When turned on, the system will re-index the graphics files and apply the previously selected static wallpaper. If that didn't work, check if the "Energy Saving" mode with special screen settings is on, although it usually turns off extra graphics.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning system application data, do not delete applications MIUI Home or System UI If you're not sure what you're doing, just clean the cache so you don't get all the icon and widget settings down.
In rare cases, live wallpaper may be part of malware disguised as a useful utility. If you have installed any suspicious "live wallpaper" from third-party sources (not from the official Xiaomi store), delete this application immediately.