Remove the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi Redmi 9T: from simple settings to system removal

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive service that periodically changes the image on a locked screen. On the Redmi 9T model running the MIUI shell, this feature is implemented through the built-in Wallpaper Carousel app. Despite its beautiful design, many users find it annoying, as it consumes RAM and can interfere with quick access to notifications.

There are several ways to turn this service off, from simply switching to standard settings to completely removing the system component. The method you choose depends on your technical training and the desired depth of cleaning. In this article, we will look at all the options available, from safe settings on the menu to advanced methods through the computer.

Before we start taking any drastic measures, it’s important to understand that the carousel is part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, and its work is closely related to the design theme and lock screen, and full removal may require special tools such as ADB or root-righted file managers, but in most cases, standard system tools are sufficient.

Disconnection through standard screen settings

The easiest and safest way to get rid of automatic image change is to switch the lock screen to the standard one. Redmi 9T allows you to flexibly configure this setting without having to get superuser rights. You just need to change the source of the images.

To start, open the settings menu for your smartphone. Find the look and lock section. It may be called differently in different versions of MIUI firmware, but the logic remains the same. Go to Settings → Lock screen. Here you will see the current status of the carousel.

Click on wallpaper carousel or connected devices (depending on the region of the firmware). Inside the menu, find the service activation switch, turn it to off. Then the system will prompt you to choose the standard lock style. Confirm the action, and the carousel will stop downloading new images.

It is important to note that even after a phone is turned off, cached service data can remain in the memory. Cash takes up space and sometimes causes phantom notifications. To clear the traces of work, it is also recommended to clear the application data. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find “Wallpaper Carousel” and click “Clear” → “All data”.

Removing updates and cleaning application data

If simply switching the toggle doesn’t help or the service continues to be active in the background, a deeper cleanup is needed. Often the problem is that the Wallpaper Carousel system application has up-to-date updates that force functionality back.

The first step is to remove all updates to this component. Go to the app management menu, find Wallpaper Carousel (or MiuiDaemon in some builds). Click three dots in the corner or the "More" button and select "Delete Updates." This will return the app to the factory version, which is often less aggressive in imposing content.

⚠️ Note: After removing updates, don't agree to re-install or update this component through the built-in GetApps store or system notifications.The system may again suggest "improve" the lock screen, which will actually return the carousel.

Next, you need to block the app from accessing the Internet. This is a critical step, because the carousel only works if you have a network to download new images. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Wallpaper Carousel → Data Use. Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Network. Now the app will not be able to physically download new content.

To consolidate the result, you should also disable notifications from this service. In the same menu of app settings, find the Notifications section and uncheck all the ticks. This will prevent the appearance of banner ads or offers to subscribe to new topics, which often come from Xiaomi system services.

Using the hidden MIUI menu for advanced users

There's a hidden engineering menu in the MIUI shell that gives you access to functions that aren't displayed in the normal interface, and you can control the behavior of the lock screen in more detail, and you use a special code in the Phone app to log in to this menu.

Open the dialer and dial the combination ##6484## or ##4636## (codes may vary depending on the Android version and region). If the code fits, the CIT or testing menu will open. Here, be careful: changing unknown parameters can lead to unstable work Redmi 9T.

If you have a section in your firmware region that is available, you can find the option "Use system lockscreen" and activate this option to force the carousel to be replaced by a static image or a standard clock.

Also in the hidden developer settings (available via Settings → About Phone → 7 times click on the MIUI version), you can find the option “Enable wallpaper for the carousel”. Disabling this option in the “Developers” section → “UI system settings” can help in some versions of the firmware.

Complete removal via ADB (no Root rights)

The most effective method to ensure that the carousel disappears completely is to remove the system packet through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging bridge, which does not require superuser rights (Root), but requires a computer and a USB cable. Redmi 9T perfectly supports this method of interaction.

First, you need to activate the developer mode on your smartphone. → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI». You'll see a message that says, "You've become a developer." Then go to Settings. → Additional settings → For developers and include “Debugging by” USB».

Connect your phone to your computer. The PC must have ADB drivers installed. Open the command line or terminal in the ADB folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

The debugging permission request will appear on the smartphone screen, confirm it. Once the device appears in the list, you can proceed to delete the packet. The name of the wallpaper carousel pack is usually com.miui.miwallpaper or com.miui.personalassistant (depending on the version of MIUI).

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.miwallpaper

Important: This command only removes the application for the current user (user 0) without affecting the system partition. This is safe and reversible when resetting to factory settings. If you're wrong with the packet name, the system will simply write that the packet is not found.

Work with system files and Root rights

For users who have an unlocked bootloader and installed Root rights (for example, through Magisk), the deletion process gets even deeper. You can physically delete the apk file of the carousel from the system partition. However, this requires caution, since the error can lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot).

If you use a file manager with root access (such as Root Explorer or MiXplorer), go to /system/priv-app/ or /system/app/. Find a folder called MiuiWallpaper or similar. Make sure to back up this folder to your memory card or cloud before deleting it.

After deleting files, you need to change access rights (if you delete manually) or simply restart the device. Magisk also allows you to hide system applications without physically deleting them, which is a safer alternative.

⚠️ Warning: When working with system files through Root, always do a full data backup (TWRP). Removing critical system components associated with SystemUI can make the phone unusable without flashing it.

Alternative solutions and replacement of the lock screen

If the built-in methods fail to remove the carousel or it returns after updates, you can completely replace the standard lock screen with a third-party. There are many applications in the Google Play Store that offer more functional and beautiful lock screens without advertising.

Popular applications like Hi Locker or KLCK Lockscreen allow you to create a unique design. Once you install such an application, Android can ask permission to use a third-party lock screen, but on MIUI this does not always work consistently due to aggressive battery optimization.

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To make the third-party lock screen work stably on Redmi 9T, go to the battery settings, find the blocker app, select “No restrictions” and lock it in memory (locks in the menu of running applications).

You can also use static but high-quality wallpaper in high resolution. Download an image from Unsplash or Pexels at 1080×2340 (native to Redmi 9T) and set it as wallpaper for a lock screen through the gallery. Often, the mere lack of dynamics is enough to forget about the problem.

In some cases, changing the region in your phone settings helps. Moving from India or Global to a region where Xiaomi services are less aggressive (such as some European countries) can automatically turn off the carousel. Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Region and experiment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The most reliable way to get rid of the carousel forever is to remove the package through ADB, as this eliminates the background operation of the service even when there is an Internet connection.