Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often come across the ambiguous term “active screen.” Depending on the context of the problem, it can hide completely different functions, from the annoying Wallpaper Carousel widget to system error messages or even an ad blocker. The right decision depends on what exactly you are watching on the display of your device. Wrong actions can lead to data loss or system disruption, so it is important to accurately identify the source of the problem.
In this article, we will take a look at all possible scenarios where you need to interfere with the boot or lock screen, learn to distinguish between MIUI and HyperOS system processes, and understand how to safely disable unnecessary interface elements. We will look at both software methods through settings and more complex options using USB debugging.
Before you start taking drastic measures like resetting your settings, try to identify the type of "active screen" that could be just a banner ad run by a third-party app or a system notification that can be turned off in a couple of clicks. Understanding the nature of the problem will save you time and nerves.
Identification of active screen type and blockers
The first step is always diagnostics. What the user calls an "active screen" is, in 90% of cases, either a wallpaper carousel function, an active app window, or a system error message. If an image with news or quotes appears on the screen when you turn on the phone, this is a standard feature of the MIUI shell, and deleting or disabling it is the most common task.
This is complicated when the active screen appears randomly while using the phone, a sure sign of malware or aggressive advertising embedded in free apps, often without a closing button or closing too quickly to read the text, in which case it is not a system function, but a virus or unwanted software.
There's also the concept of "Active Window" in feature settings, and some apps request this access to control the screen, which can lead to different interface elements appearing on top of other windows, and checking this setting is critical to the security of your data.
⚠️ Warning: If you have a message on your screen about a virus or a phone lock demanding payment of a fine, do not enter card details. This is a fraudulent script. Reboot the device in Safe Mode to remove the malicious application.
Disabling Wallpaper Carousel and Lock Widgets
The most common scenario where users are looking for a way to remove the screen is the Wallpaper Carousel, which changes the image on the lock screen and shows advertising or news widgets, which many people perceive as a virus or just an annoying element, and fortunately, you can turn it off by regular means without superuser rights.
First, you need to go to personalization settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all Xiaomi devices. You need to find the partition responsible for the lock screen. There is a switch that activates the wallpaper change.
After disabling the function, the system may suggest leaving a couple of favorite images or deleting all uploaded data. It is recommended to choose a complete deletion to free up space in memory and remove the cache. This action will not affect your personal photos in the gallery.
☑️ Checklist for Carousel shutdown
In some versions of HyperOS, settings may be hidden deeper, and if the standard path doesn't work, try searching by settings, type in the word "carousel" or "lock" and the system will specify the menu item it wants, which is especially true for new models that are released after 2023.
Removing Hanging Applications and Active Windows
If “active screen” means a suspended application that covers the entire interface and does not respond to clicks, you must force the process to end. Standard closing through the menu of running tasks here often does not work, since the application may have priority display.
To solve this problem, use Task Manager. On today's gesture-navigated Xiaomi smartphones, you need to swipe your finger from the bottom and let it go to open the menu of recent apps. Then find the problem window and swipe it up. If that doesn't work, you'll need access to the app settings.
Go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Find the program that is causing problems (often browsers, games or questionable cleaning utilities) and click on it and select Stop. This will force the process to close.
- 📱 Open the menu of recent apps with swipe from below.
- 🛑 Click on the cross or brush the problem window.
- ⚙️ If it doesn't help, go to Settings. → Annexes.
- 🗑️ Find the app and click “Stop” or “Delete».
In cases where the screen is completely locked and the menu is not called, only a reboot will help. Press the power button for 10-15 seconds. If this does not work, press the power and volume buttons at the same time to enter Recovery mode (but this is a last resort).
What to do if the application is not removed?
Set up special features and overlays
Often, extraneous elements are caused by permissions to “Overlap Other Windows” or access to “Special Opportunities,” which are designed for people with disabilities, but are actively exploited by app developers to display ads.
Checking these settings is a must-have diagnostic step. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. Here you will see a list of all services that have access to screen control. Check the list carefully: if you see an unknown application or program that you shouldn't trust, immediately disable it.
Special attention is paid to the Overlay Over Other Windows section (some firmwares have a Privacy or Protection section) and shows apps that can draw their interface over system windows, disabling this right for suspicious programs instantly removes pop-up ads.
| Access parameter | Where to find out. | Risk of inclusion | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special opportunities | Settings → Advanced settings | Full control of the screen | Disable for unknowns |
| Overlaying windows | Settings → Confidentiality | Advertising on top of the interface | Leave it only for messengers |
| Administrators | Settings → Passwords and security | Blocking removal | Check all points |
| Auto-start | Security → Permits | Hidden process start-up | Disconnect for games and utilities |
Be careful when disabling system services such as Security or MIUI Optimization, which can cause your phone to run unstable, and only change settings for third-party software you installed yourself.
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90% of the problems with the “active screen” are solved by checking the overlay rights of windows and special features in the privacy settings.
Removing system error messages and bugs
Sometimes an “active screen” is a cyclical system process error message, such as “com.android.systemui is not responding” or Google service errors, which can appear immediately after the phone is turned on, making it impossible to work.
First, try clearing the cache of the problem component. If the error points to a specific application (for example, YouTube or Vkontakte), go to the settings of this application and select Clear cache and Clear data. This will reset the application settings to factory, but will not delete your account.
If the error is system and not tied to a specific application, it may be that the update file or the system cache is damaged, in which case cleaning the Wipe Cache partition through the Recovery menu helps. This is safe for personal data, as opposed to a complete reset.
In more complex cases, when the phone goes into a cyclic reboot due to a screen error, you need to connect to your PC and use tools like the Mi Flash Tool or ADB. However, before you move on to complex methods, try to remove recently installed system or application updates.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t ignore persistent system errors. If a message appears after each turn on, it may indicate a partition damage or driver conflict after a failed update.
Resetting settings as a last resort removal measure
If none of the above methods helped remove the “active screen” and the phone continues to behave inadequately, the last software method is a complete reset to factory settings (Hard Reset), which is guaranteed to remove all third-party applications, viruses and erroneous configurations.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to back up important data. Reset will delete everything: contacts, photos, messages and installed applications. Save important files to your computer or to Mi Cloud / Google Drive cloud storage.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data. The phone will request confirmation of the unlock password and password from the Mi Account. Once confirmed, the cleanup process will begin, which will take a few minutes.
- ☁️ Create a complete backup of the data.
- 🔋 Charge the battery to at least 50%.
- 🔑 Remember the password from the Mi-account (required!).
- 🔄 Perform reset via the settings menu.
Once you reboot, the phone will look like new, if the problem was software, it will disappear, and if the odd screen is left even on a clean phone without apps installed, the problem lies in the hardware (display plume, matrix or controller).
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If your phone is locked with a Mi Account and you don't remember your password, resetting your settings won't unlock your device. You'll need a purchase check to contact the service center.