Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face a situation where the usual lock screen suddenly changes, with new images changing every time the device is turned on, as well as intrusive notifications. This is not a virus or a system failure, but an activated feature called Wallpaper Carousel. The developers have implemented this service to personalize the interface, but many users are annoyed by its intrusiveness and traffic consumption.
There are a number of ways to remove the wallpaper carousel icon from the Xiaomi lock screen, but standard setting sometimes hides the switch in an unobvious place on the menu. In this article, we will detail the algorithms for different versions of firmware, including the current HyperOS and classic MIUI. You will learn how to completely deactivate the service so that it stops downloading content and displays in the interface.
The need to turn off is often dictated by the desire to return a static, familiar image to the lock screen, and background uploading of images can consume mobile Internet and battery power, which is especially critical for budget models of smartphones. Let's figure out where the settings of this component are hidden.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it turns on itself
The wallpaper carousel is a system application that automatically replaces the image on a locked screen. The service downloads content from the cloud, offering landscapes, architecture or abstractions. Often users find it turned on after a major system update or when a new smartphone is first activated, when the initial setup process suggests "improving" the experience.
The main reason for automatic activation is in the company’s marketing strategy: Xiaomi is committed to making the interface more lively, but for many it looks like advertising or spam. The application has its own access rights and can run in the background, periodically checking the servers for new images, which is why an icon or preview of a new picture can appear in the corner of the screen.
⚠️ Note: In some firmware regions (especially the Global version), the carousel may include app promotional recommendations. If you notice an ad on the lock screen, it is almost always a consequence of the service.
It's important to understand that it's not just a live wallpaper, it's a separate software module, and it can be called differently depending on the software version: wallpaper, wallpaper carousel or Glance. Turning off the standard wallpaper gallery doesn't always stop this process, because they're different system components.
Users often confuse this service with the theme of the design, but the themes change the icons and fonts, whereas the carousel affects the lock screen only. The interface can respond to random touches if the preview of the carousel is active, which leads to the opening of unnecessary windows, so completely disabling the function returns control of the device to the owner.
Where to find carousel settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Finding the right menu can take time, as Xiaomi engineers periodically change the structure of the settings. In most cases, the path lies through the general settings of the screen. You will need to open the Settings app and find the section responsible for the appearance. Depending on the version of Android and the shell, the names of the items may vary slightly.
The standard search algorithm is this: first, go to the basic settings of the system, then look for the block "lock screen" that is where all the parameters associated with the behavior of the device in sleep mode are concentrated. If you use HyperOS, the logic remains the same, but the visual design of the menu has become more minimalistic.
Sometimes the item is hidden inside the wallpaper menu, which can be confusing, because the user expects to see only a selection of static images, but it is in the wallpaper selection sub-menus that the switch is often hidden to automatically change images.
For ease of navigation, we will give the main ways that are relevant for most modern models:
- 📱 Settings → Lock screen → The wallpaper carousel is a classic way for MIUI 12-14.
- 🖼️ Settings → Wallpaper. → Wallpaper carousel is an alternative option for some assemblies.
- ⚙️ Settings → Always on screen and lock screen – typical for HyperOS.
- 🔍 Using Search by Settings: Type the word “Carousel” in the search bar from above.
If neither path has been successful, your firmware version may have a unique menu structure, and then it's best to use a built-in search that indexes all the hidden items and allows you to jump to the right switch instantly, bypassing long walks through the menu.
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Use a settings search (a magnifier at the top of the settings screen) by typing in the query "Carousel." This is the fastest way to find the hidden switch in any version of MIUI.
Instructions: how to turn off the carousel through the screen settings
Once you have found the partition, the process takes a few seconds to disable, but it is important not just to turn off the switchboard, but also to check the adjacent settings so that the function does not activate again. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you remove the icon and stop the loading of images.
First, log in to the wallpaper carousel menu. You'll see a switch at the top of the screen. It should be active (usually blue or orange). Click on it to deactivate. The system may request confirmation of action or show a pop-up asking you to stay - agree to shut down.
When you turn off the main switch, you'll notice the additional options, and often the "Show preview" or "Notifications" are active, and you'll also need to turn off them so that the carousel icon disappears from the corner of the lock screen permanently, and only a complete shutdown of all options guarantees a clean interface.
☑️ Checklist for full shutdown
In some cases, once the function is turned off, the current wallpaper may not change immediately. This is normal. You need to lock the screen and then unlock it again. If the image remains the same (from the carousel), try selecting the standard static wallpaper through the Wallpaper menu to force the background to be updated.
It's worth noting that some models with MIUI for Pad or tablets may have different paths, and they often have their settings in a separate Security or Theme app. If you don't find an option in the standard phone settings, check out those apps. The logic of the service is the same across the brand ecosystem.
Removal through Application Management
If the standard shutdown through the settings menu doesn't help, or the item is simply missing (which happens on custom builds), you can resort to a more radical method - managing the application itself. Wallpaper carousel is a separate system process that can be stopped or limited.
To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. In the list, find an app called Wallpaper Carousel, Wallpaper (with a gallery or landscape icon) or Glance. The name can vary depending on the regional version of the firmware (Chinese, Global, Indian).
Once you find the right item, open the properties, and you're interested in two main functions: Stop and Turn off. The Stop button will temporarily stop the process until the next restart or system trigger. The Turn off button (if available) will stop the application from running completely.
| Action. | The effect | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Stop it. | Temporarily removes the process from memory | Could be starting again on its own. |
| Shut down. | Complete launch ban | The choice of wallpaper in topics may disappear |
| Clear the data | Resets cache and settings | Safely, reset the selected pictures |
| Remove updates | Returns the factory version | Could bring back old bugs. |
It is also recommended to click on the Memory item inside the app properties and select "Clean" this will delete all uploaded images of the carousel, freeing up space in the device memory. After cleaning the cache and stopping the application, the icon should stop appearing.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove system applications through third-party file managers with Root rights unless you are confident in your actions.This can lead to a cyclical smartphone restart (bootloop).
What to do if the “Disable” button is inactive?
Disconnect via Hidden Menu and ADB (for Advanced)
For users who want to get rid of Xiaomi’s built-in services, there is a method of using USB debugging that allows you to send commands to the system directly, bypassing the GUI. The method requires a connection to a computer and installing ADB drivers.
The first step is to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click 7-10 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version) and a notification will appear, “You’ve become a developer.” Then a new section, “Advanced Settings” → “Developers” will appear in the settings menu.
Turn on the USB Debugging Toggler. Connect your smartphone to your PC. Open the command line on your computer in the ADB folder and type a command to disable the carousel packet. The package name usually looks like com.miui.mishare.connectivity or com.android.thememanager (depending on implementation), but most often it is enough to disable the Wallpaper component.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.wallpaper.carouselThis command forcibly disables the user's process of the carousel, the smartphone won't be able to start it even after it's restarted, and to get it back, it uses a command to replace disable-user with enable, which is considered the most effective method for cleaning the system of excess software.
Entering the wrong packet name can cause the interface to work in an unstable way. Always check the exact packet name through the adb shell pm list packages command before turning it off.
Why the carousel is turned on again and how to prevent it
Sometimes users find that after another system update or reboot, the wallpaper carousel reappears on the lock screen, which is because some system recovery processes can return standard Xiaomi configurations that include this service.
Also, when you install new Themes themes, theme writers can force the carousel to be activated as part of their design. If you like changing themes often, be prepared to check the lock screen settings after each change, often unobtrusively to the user.
To minimize the risk of re-activation, it is recommended that:
- 🚫 Do not select themes marked "Dynamic Lock Screen" in the store.
- 📉 Disable automatic update of system applications through GetApps.
- 🔒 To fix the lock screen settings by selecting a static photo from the gallery immediately after turning off the carousel.
It's also worth checking the permissions for the Security and Themes app, and if they have permission to change the system settings, they can return the carousel, and restricting the rights of these apps can help keep the interface looking like they want.
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The wallpaper carousel is a standalone application that can be reactivated when you update the themes or system. Regularly checking the lock screen settings will help keep the background static.
The impact of the carousel on battery and performance
While the wallpaper carousel seems to be a harmless feature, it has an impact on the device's resources: constantly downloading high-resolution images via a mobile network or Wi-Fi consumes traffic and battery power. For owners of models with small batteries (4000-5000 mAh), every percentage of energy counts.
Decoding images and displaying them on the lock screen uses a graphics accelerator and a processor. On older smartphone models, this can lead to micro-latency when unlocking the device. Disabling the feature often makes the interface more responsive.
In addition, the application’s background activity takes up RAM. In an environment where Android already actively manages memory, freeing up resources from unnecessary services can have a positive effect on multitasking. If you do not use the feature, it makes sense to turn it off for the sake of performance.