How to remove the icon of the wallpaper carousel from the lock screen in MIUI 12: 5 proven ways

The lock screen on Xiaomi’s MIUI 12-shelled smartphones is often overloaded with visuals, among which the wallpaper carousel icon, a small icon in the lower right corner that suggests changing the background, is particularly annoying to many users. Despite its apparent innocuity, this element not only takes up space on the display, but can also accidentally activate when unlocked, interrupting workflow. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has not provided an obvious switch to turn it off in standard settings, forcing users to look for workarounds.

In this article, we will discuss all current methods of removing the icon of the wallpaper carousel from the lock screen, including hidden settings. MIUI 12, use ADB-We will focus on the security of each method, some manipulations can lead to malfunctions in the shell, so we will describe in detail the risks and ways to minimize them. If you are tired of the annoying icon and are ready to get rid of it, read on.

Why the wallpaper carousel icon appears on the lock screen

The wallpaper carousel icon is part of MIUI's proprietary functionality to make it easier to personalize the device, and the designers want it to:

• 🎨 Offer a quick change of wallpaper without switching to settings.
• 🔄 Update background images automatically (when activated with the appropriate option).
• 📱 Support integration with Xiaomi services, such as Themes or the Cloud.

However, in practice, many users are faced with the fact that the icon:

• 🚫 Interfering with unlocking (especially on small screen devices).
• 🔋 Increases battery consumption due to background wallpaper service activity.
• 🛠️ There is no obvious option to disable in the interface MIUI 12.

It’s important to understand that the carousel icon is not just a static icon, but part of the com.miui.gallery system process (or com.android.themes in some firmware), and is governed by shell settings that aren’t always available through the standard menu, which explains why there’s no simple switch for it.

Method 1: Disconnect via hidden MIUI settings (no root)

The safest method is to use hidden MIUI settings that do not require superuser rights or PC connectivity, which works on most devices with MIUI 12 (including Redmi Note 9/10, Poco X3, Mi 10/11), but may vary depending on the regional firmware.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the Wallpaper section → Lock screen.
3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Wallpaper Settings.
4. Scroll down and find the option to Show the icon of the change of wallpaper (or similar in meaning).
5. Turn off the slider. If you don't have an option, move on to the next step.
6. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → Special features → System settings.
7. Activate Developer Mode (if not already activated), then find the USB Debugging option and turn it on.
8. Connect your phone to your PC and use the ADB command (more in Method 3).

If you don't have the option to Show the wallpaper change icon, it means your firmware doesn't support displaying it in the interface, and then you'll have to use alternative methods.

Make a backup copy of the data|Check the version. MIUI (Settings → The phone)|Activate the Developer Mode|Install ADB-Drivers on PC (if you need the 3rd method)-->

Method 2: Use of third-party launchers (without root)

If you don't want to interfere with system settings, you can get around the problem with a third-party launcher that replaces the standard lock screen, which doesn't remove the icon physically, but makes it invisible by overlapping with another interface.

The best launcher options for Xiaomi:

• 📱 Nova Launcher (with Nova Lockscreen) – allows you to fully customize the lock screen, including removing system elements.
• 🎨 Action Launcher – Supports Hiding Lock Icons through theme settings.
• 🔧 Microsoft Launcher is a less flexible but stable option for basic interface replacement.

How to set up:

1. Install the selected launcher from Google Play.
2. Set it as the default launcher in the settings (Settings → Applications → By default).
3. In the launcher settings, find the Lock Screen or Themes section.
4. Turn off the display of system elements (in Nova Launcher it is an option Hide lockscreen icons).
5. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Some launchers may conflict with system services MIUI, Failure to unlock or gestures before installation, check for compatibility reviews with your Xiaomi model.

The advantage of this method is that there is no risk to the system, and the disadvantage is the additional battery consumption due to the operation of a third-party application. If you want maximum performance, consider other ways.

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If hidden settings don’t work and launchers don’t work, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool for debugging Android devices, which requires a PC connection, but does not need root permissions.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install. ADB-Drivers for your Xiaomi model (e.g., Google’s Platform Tools).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and type in the command line:

adb devices

(Your device should be coming up.)

adb shell settings put global hide_lockscreen_wallpaper_icon 1

If the command is correct, restart the device. The carousel icon must disappear. To return it, use:

adb shell settings put global hide_lockscreen_wallpaper_icon 0

This method works on most devices with MIUI 12, but is not guaranteed on custom firmware or regional versions (for example, MIUI for Russia may ignore this command).

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.themes

But keep in mind that this will disable all system themes, not just the icon.-->

Method 4: Editing system files (requires root)

For root users, the most radical method available is direct editing of the system files that display the icon, which is risky because wrong actions can lead to a bootloop, but it gives 100% results.

What you need:

• 📱 Device with unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk or SuperSU.
• 💻 PC fitted ADB and fileym manager with root support (e.g. Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 🔧 Backup of the system (required!).

Instructions:

1. Open Root Explorer and follow the path:

/system/priv-app/MiuiSystemUI/MiuiSystemUI.apk/res/layout/

1. Find the file. keyguard_bottom_area.xml (or similar in name, for example, keyguard_wallpaper_icon.xml).
2. Open the file in the text editor and find the line with the mention wallpaper_icon or com.miui.gallery.
3. Comment or delete the block of code that displays the icon.

<!--


<com.android.keyguard.WallpaperIcon




android:id="@id/wallpaper_icon"




android:visibility="gone" />




-->

1. Save the file, set the rights 644 (rw-r--r---).
2. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Editing system files may violate digital signature MIUI, This will result in the failure of updates over the air" (OTA). Before updating the firmware will have to restore the original files.

If the device does not boot after the changes, use a backup or reflash MIUI via Fastboot.

Method 5: Alternative solutions (if nothing worked)

If none of the above methods worked, consider alternatives:

If you're not ready for radical measures, you can just put up with the icon or use it as intended — for example, set up automatic wallpaper change through Settings → Wallpaper → Automan. This won't remove the icon, but will make it less intrusive.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When trying to remove the carousel icon, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 The icon returns after the reboot, meaning that the changes have not been applied at the system level. ADB-Check if the command is maintained after the reboot (enter adb shell settings list global). | grep hide_lockscreen). If not, use the root method.
• 🚨 The device froze after editing system files, most likely a critical file was damaged. MIUI via Fastboot.
• 🔌 ADB does not see the device - check the driver, turn on debugging USB And you can log in to the dialog box on your phone. USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 The launcher does not hide the icon - some launchers conflict with the MIUI. Try Nova Launcher with Nova Lockscreen plugin or turn off battery optimization for launcher in settings.

If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to focus on safe methods (launchers or hidden settings) or seek help from profile forums such as 4PDA or XDA Developers.

💡

Before any system manipulation, always back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset or with TWRP. This will save your data even in critical crashes.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions