Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality and affordable price, but users often encounter intrusive advertising and system elements that are difficult to remove by standard methods. One of these elements is the so-called “wallpaper carousel” or Glance for Mi, which appears on a locked screen. This feature automatically changes the background image, but often accompanied by advertising banners, which causes irritation among device owners.
In MIUI 12.5, developers have slightly changed the structure of the menu and the algorithms of system applications, so the old methods of disabling may not work. Users notice that even after trying to set up, the ad returns or the function continues to work in the background, consuming traffic and battery power. In this article, we will discuss proven and current ways to permanently get rid of this interface element.
To perform most of the actions described below, you do not need superuser rights (Root) or complex debugging tools. All manipulations can be done through the standard settings menu, but it is important to follow the sequence of steps, since some options can be hidden or renamed in different versions of the shell. Deleting the system component msa (MIUI System Ads) is a key step to completely get rid of advertising in the system.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why does it appear
The wallpaper carousel is an integrated service that is activated by default on many Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones, and its main stated function is to automatically change the image on the lock screen from the cloud storage, but in practice, this mechanism is often used to broadcast advertising content that cannot be removed by simply replacing the picture.
The carousel is a product of the company’s policy of monetizing budget and mid-budget devices, and the system process behind it is integrated deep into the MIUI shell, operating independently of the main Theme app and having its own permissions to access the network and device data.
Many users confuse the standard screen lock feature with Glance, the difference being that a regular lock displays a static or dynamic image you choose, while Glance forcefully downloads content from the internet, which not only removes visual noise, but also increases the speed of unlocking the device.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings, it is recommended to back up important data to eliminate the risk of accidental loss of information during system failures.
Understanding the nature of this service allows you to effectively combat its manifestations. Instead of putting up with intrusive banners, you can reconfigure the system to your needs, regaining control over the appearance of your gadget.
Preparation for removal of system components
Before you start to shut down services, you need to make sure your device is ready to make changes. While the methods described are safe, having a stable Internet connection and a charged battery are prerequisites for successful execution of the procedure.
Check your firmware version first. In MIUI 12.5, the paths to some settings may be slightly different from earlier versions, and make sure that your Xiaomi account does not have any active restrictions that could block changes in system settings.
☑️ Preparation of the device for setting
It is important to understand that some system applications, such as MSA, may attempt to recover automatically after a shutdown, so the process may require a repeat of the action or use an additional locking method, which will be discussed below.
Disable MSA service through settings
MSA (MIUI System Ads) is the main source of advertising content in the shell, and turning it off is the first and most important step. To do this, go to the settings menu and find the section responsible for passwords and security. Depending on the regionalization of the firmware, this item may be called differently, but it is usually on the main list of parameters.
Inside the security menu, find "Access to Personal Data" or "Special Features." This lists the applications that have access to system functions. Search the msa list and turn off the slider. The system will try to dissuade you from doing so by running a countdown timer (usually 10 seconds).
When the timer expires, press "Cancel." If the first time the shutdown did not occur and there was an error, repeat the procedure 3-5 times in a row. This is a known system bug that requires persistence from the user. Once the permissions are successfully withdrawn, the service will stop receiving data and showing ads.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Access to personal data.
- 📉 Find the msa app in the list and turn off the switch.
- ⏳ Wait for the end of the timer and confirm the action with the button "Cancel".
- 🔄 If there is an error, repeat the action several times in a row.
The effect of disabling the MSA may not be instantaneous; it takes a while for the system to completely stop the background processes; in some cases, it may be necessary to restart the device to apply the changes.
What to do if the switch button is inactive?
Delete the Glance for Mi app
In addition to the MSA service, the wallpaper carousel is often provided by a separate Glance for Mi app (or simply Wallpaper) and in MIUI 12.5 it can be disguised as a system component, but it can be removed or disabled by standard Android tools.
Go to the application management section. Find Wallpaper or Glance in the list. If the "Delete" button is not available, select "Disable." This action will hide the application from the list and prevent it from running. If deletion is possible, safely delete the program - it will not affect the basic functions of the phone.
| Title of the component | Function | Deleting method | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSA | Systemic advertising | Withdrawal of permits | High (removes banners) |
| Glance for Mi | Carousel on lock screen | Removal/Disconnection | Average (changes wallpaper) |
| MIUI Daemon | Statistics collection | Withdrawal of permits | Low (confidentiality) |
| Analytics | Usage analysis | Disconnection in settings | Low (telemetry) |
After removing or disabling Glance, you need to check the lock screen settings. Go to Settings → Wallpaper → Wallpaper Carousel and make sure that the "Enable Wallpaper Carousel" switch is in the "Off" position.
DNS Blocking for Advanced Users
If standard methods have not yielded the desired result or the ad returns after the system update, you can use the blocking method at the network connection level. Using a private DNS allows you to block requests to Xiaomi ad servers even before they reach your device.
To do this, go to the connection settings. Find "Private DNS" (usually in the "Connect and Sharing" section or in advanced Wi-Fi settings). Select the "DNS provider hostname" mode and enter the address of the special server that blocks ads.
dns.adguard.comOnce you save the settings, the phone will start filtering all incoming and outgoing traffic through this server, which will not only remove the wallpaper carousel, but also block ads in many free apps and games, but it is worth considering that in rare cases, this can slow down the loading speed of some pages.
- 🌐 Open the Settings. → Connection and sharing.
- 🔒 Select a Private Item DNS.
- ✍️ Enter dns.adguard.com in the settings field.
- ✅ Save the changes and restart the device.
⚠️ Attention: When in use DNS-Some Xiaomi services (such as the Get Content theme) may stop working properly because they also use blocked domains.
Setting up the lock screen after cleaning
Once you've got rid of the obsessive merry-go-round, you should adjust the lock screen properly to make it look aesthetically and functional. Now you can install any static wallpaper or live wallpaper to your liking without the risk of replacing it with the system.
Go to the gallery, select your favorite image, click "More" and select "Establish as wallpaper." Select "Shield Lock" option, and now even with the Internet on, the system will not replace your image with advertising.
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Use a dark static wallpaper for AMOLED-screens – this saves battery power and looks stylish on a locked screen.
It is also recommended to disable the theme store feature in the lock settings if it is active, which will prevent suggestions to install new themes and fonts every time you pick up your phone.
Possible problems and solutions
During the cleaning process, users may encounter a number of typical problems, such as resetting the settings after a firmware update and the MSA service will have to be turned off again, which is normal system behavior that requires periodic monitoring.
Sometimes, after disabling system components, there may be errors in the interface, such as hanging the notification curtain or problems with the use of themes, in which case cleaning the cache of the application "Themes" and "Security" through the memory management menu will help.
If you accidentally delete an important system application, don't panic. You can restore it by resetting it to the factory settings, or try to re-install it through the GetApps store. But in the case of MSA and Glance, their absence has no effect on the stability of the phone.
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A comprehensive approach, including disabling MSA, removing Glance and setting up DNS, ensures complete elimination of wallpaper carousel and advertising in MIUI 12.5.