How to remove the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi 8: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face an intrusive feature that periodically changes the image on a locked screen.This system, known as the Wallpaper Carousel, is designed to delight the user with new images, but in practice it often becomes a source of irritation, consuming Internet traffic and battery. On the Redmi 8 model, which operates on the basis of the MIUI shell, this process can be especially noticeable due to the not the most top characteristics of iron by modern standards.

Many users are wondering why you can't just uninstall this app using standard methods, because Glance or Lock Screen Magazine (as they are called in different versions of the firmware) are system components. Normal removal through the app menu will not work here, because the "Delete" button will be inactive or absent. To get rid of the function completely, you will need to have deeper settings or use special tools.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to disable and remove the carousel. We will consider both standard methods through system settings that are safe for the average user, and advanced options using the carousel. ADB-You will learn to differentiate between service versions and properly configure your Redmi 8 for a comfortable work without unnecessary visual noise.

⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings or using debugging commands, make sure you have important data stored. Although the methods described are safe, any interference with the system requires care.

What is a Wallpaper Carousel and Why Does It Work?

Wallpaper carousel is a built-in MIUI shell service that automatically uploads and displays new images on the lock screen, which is technically positioned as a way to personalize the device, allowing you to enjoy quality photos of nature, architecture and art. However, technically, it is also a tool for displaying advertising and collecting usage statistics, which is often left behind the parentheses of marketing descriptions.

On Xiaomi Redmi 8, the service can run in two major modes, depending on the firmware version (Global or China) and region. In global versions, it is often integrated with Glance, which is an affiliate product. In other cases, it may be called Lock Screen Magazine. Understanding which service is active on your device is critical to choosing the right method to turn it off.

The main problem is that the system periodically loads content over the Internet, which leads to an imperceptible but constant traffic consumption, and background processes of the service can consume battery power, which for the Redmi 8 with its battery capacity of 4000 mAh can be a tangible factor, reducing autonomy by the end of the day.

It's important to understand that simply changing the image in the lock screen settings is not enough. If the service is active, it will ignore your static image and continue to broadcast its content, and it is necessary to deactivate the update mechanism itself, not just change its visual display.

Disconnection through standard MIUI settings

The easiest and safest way to get rid of intrusive images is to use the built-in tools of the system. Xiaomi manufacturers have left the ability to turn off this feature, although they hid it deep enough in the settings menu, this method does not require a connection to a computer and does not pose a risk to the stability of the smartphone.

You need to get to the lock theme control menu first, and the path may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version, but the logic remains the same, so you need to find the partition that controls the lock screen appearance and force the image source to switch to static.

Once you've found the right item, the system can offer you an alternative or show you an advertising banner suggesting you stay. Be careful and look for the switch or the switch button. Sometimes you need to click on the gear icon inside the carousel menu to see additional options.

If the standard path didn’t work, try the following action algorithm, which is relevant for most of the firmware versions on Redmi 8:

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Wallpaper. → Wallpaper carousel.
• 🔍 Find the switch Turn on the wallpaper carousel and move it to the "Off" position".
• 🔍 If you have the option “Update Frequency”, set the value “Never” or unsubscribe.
• 🔍 Check if the normal static image is back on the lock screen.

⚠️ Warning: Once the carousel is turned off, old uploaded images can remain in the phone's memory and can be manually deleted through the file manager, freeing up space.

Removing the system application through settings

In some versions of Xiaomi software, wallpaper carousel components are displayed in a common list of installed applications, which gives the theoretical possibility not just to disable the function, but to completely remove or freeze the application responsible for it.

However, it is worth checking the app list for Glance or Lock Screen Magazine. If you find an app like this and the Remove button is active (not grey), consider yourself lucky. This is rare, but on some regional firmwares it is possible. In most cases, you will only have the option of "Disable" or "Stop".

If the delete button is inactive, you can try to clear the application data before turning it off. This will help you reset all the accumulated cached images and settings. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find the desired service and choose Clean → Clear everything.

There's also a nuance of administrator rights. Some system services may have extended rights. Check if the carousel service is listed as a device administrator. The way to check is: Settings → Password and Security → Privacy → Special features → Device administrators. If there's anything about wallpaper, uncheck the box.

Using ADB to remove the service completely

For users who want to get rid of the Redmi 8 wallpaper carousel and make room for the system partition, there is a method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a tool from Google that allows you to control the device from a computer via the command line, which is effective but requires care.

The first step is to activate the developer mode on your smartphone. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and click 7-10 times in a row on the MIUI version field. After the message “You became a developer”, return to the main settings menu.

Now you need to enable debugging over USB. Find the section Additional → For developers (or just "For developers") and activate the debugging switch over USB. When you connect your phone to your computer, a request for debugging permission will appear on the smartphone screen - be sure to click "Allow".

On your computer, you'll need a set of Platform Tools installed. Once you connect your phone with a cable, open the command line in the ADB folder and type in a command to find a carousel package. Usually called com.miui.misystem or com.android.thememanager, but a separate package is often used for the carousel.

adb shell pm list packages | grep glance


adb shell pm list packages | grep lockscreen

Once you find the exact packet name (e.g., com.miui.personalassistant or the like), use the deletion command for the current user.This will not physically delete the file from the recovery partition, but will make it invisible and inactive to the system, which is equivalent to deleting it.

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Use the ADB AppControl graphical shell or Universal Android Debloater if you find the command line too difficult to work with, and these programs make it easier to remove system debris.

Comparison of disconnection and removal methods

The choice of how to deal with the wallpaper carousel depends on your technical skills and goals. Standard shutdown is safe and reversible, but can leave traces in the system. Using ADB gives a clean result, but requires preparation. Below is a table to help determine the method.

It's worth noting that using third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher doesn't remove the carousel, but often blocks it from working with its lock mechanism or simply ignores Xiaomi's system widgets.This is a good compromise for those looking to completely change the look of the Redmi 8.

But if your goal is to free up the system and eliminate unnecessary processes, then ADB is the leader, and it allows you to cut out a particular module without affecting the rest of the theme system.

Frequent problems and their solution

When you turn off the wallpaper carousel, Xiaomi Redmi 8 users may face a number of typical problems. The system can resist change, especially if you have synchronization with your Mi Account enabled. Sometimes after a reboot, the settings are reset and the images appear again.

One common reason is that the Receive References feature is activated in system settings. Even if you have disabled the carousel itself, this option can pull content from other sources. Be sure to check Settings → Password and Security → Privacy → Advertising Services and disable ad personalization.

The problem may also be the subject of the design. Some third-party themes downloaded from Themes store have a built-in forced wallpaper carousel. If you're using an informal theme, try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme and check if the problem has gone away.

• 🛠 Check Auto-Run Applications: Ban Wallpaper Service from Starting Automatically.
• 🛠 Clear the cache of the Themes app as it stores carousel data.
• 🛠 Make sure your phone settings are set correctly (some regions are less aggressive in terms of advertising).

⚠️ Note: If after all the manipulations, the carousel returns, it is possible that your phone received a firmware update that restored the system files.

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An integrated approach, including disabling in settings, banning auto-start and cleaning the cache, gives the best result in the fight against intrusive advertising.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions