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

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive feature called “Wallpaper Carousel” (or Glance for Mi), which automatically changes the background image on a locked screen to broadcast news, ads and suggestions from partners. Although the developers’ idea is to personalize, in practice, users often perceive this as an annoying element, consuming traffic and distracting attention.

Deleting or disabling this feature completely requires understanding the structure of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. Depending on the firmware region (Global, Chinese, Russian) and the Android version, the paths to settings may differ significantly. In some cases, a standard switch may not appear on the menu, and then you will have to resort to deeper methods of system configuration.

In this guide, we will look at all the current ways to deactivate the service. We will look at the standard operating system tools, work with system applications and additional measures to clean the interface from advertising debris. It is important to understand that the wallpaper carousel is not just a picture, but a separate system application that can work in the background.

What is a wallpaper carousel and why does it appear

Known as Glance or Wallpaper Carousel, it is a content tape service that is activated by default when a new device is first turned on or after resetting if the user has agreed to the terms of use during the initial setup, and the main purpose of the service is to retain the user's attention and monetize through advertising integrations.

Technically, it’s a separate process that downloads images from the Internet, which means that even when the screen is turned off (when activated) or when unlocked, the device can consume mobile traffic.

It also collects data about user preferences by analyzing which images they like or miss, and privacy is being pushed aside in this case to personalize the results, which is why many advanced users are looking to get rid of this component of the system.

⚠️ Note: Disabling system components through special menus can lead to temporary instability of the interface.

It's worth noting that the process name can vary from one version to the next, and in older versions of MIUI it could have been called just "Wallpaper," in newer versions it could have been called Glance or "Screen Lock," and understanding which component you're dealing with will help you choose the right method of shutting down.

Standard shutdown via lock screen settings

The easiest and safest way to remove the carousel is to use the built-in system settings, which works on most devices with global firmware and an up-to-date shell version, and you don't need superuser rights or a computer connection.

To start, you need to go to the main settings menu of your smartphone, find the section responsible for the appearance and lock. Depending on the model, the path may look different, but the logic remains the same: look for the lock screen settings.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to Always On and Lock Screen.
• 🎨 Find the Wallpaper Carousel (or Glance for Mi) and click on it to enter the menu.
• 🚫 Translate the switch Include wallpaper carousel in the "Switched off" position».

Once these steps are done, the system will stop loading new images. However, the current image may remain in place until the next manual shift or reboot. If the switch is missing or immediately returns to active position, this may mean that the service is imposed by regional settings or hidden in the depths of system applications.

In some cases, especially on devices for the Indian or Russian markets, instead of completely shutting down, you may need to choose the source of the wallpaper.

Management through the menu "Receiving recommendations"

Often, users overlook that the wallpaper carousel is closely linked to another system service, Receiving Recommendations, which is responsible for (push) content, including news, app ads and, in fact, topics for the screen blocker.

To (radically) solve the problem, you need to disable not only the visual part, but also the mechanism of data acquisition, which will reduce the load on the processor and reduce the number of background connections.

Go to Settings → Password and Security (or Privacy) and find Receiving References (or MSA in some firmware) here, disabling this switch will prevent the system from downloading advertising content, which will automatically stop the carousel from updating, even if it is formally enabled.

It's important to understand the difference: disabling Receiving Recommendations won't remove the carousel app, but it will deprive it of fuel, new images, an effective way to pacify the system without risking instability.

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After disabling the receipt of recommendations, restart the smartphone so that the changes will take effect at the level of all system services.

Disabling the system application through settings

If the standard switches are not working or missing, you can try to disable the application itself, which is responsible for the functionality. In Android, many system components can be deactivated, turning them into “sleeping” processes that do not start and do not consume resources.

To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. In the list, you need to find an app called Glance for Mi, Wallpaper, Wallpaper Carousel or Lock Screen Magazine. The name may vary depending on the location.

When you find the right component, click on it. If the Disable button is active, use it. The system will warn you that the application will stop working. Confirm the action.

In some cases, the shutdown button may be inactive (darked), meaning that the application is critical to the current system configuration or protected by device administrator rights, in which case direct shutdown is impossible without the use of more sophisticated tools such as ADB.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove or disable applications that have the word "System", "Framework" or "Security" in their name unless you are 100% sure of their purpose.

Using ADB to remove system components

For advanced users who want to clean up the system of excess software, there is a method using debugging over USB and the utility ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which allows you to remove or disable system applications that are not available through the standard interface.

To start, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and click 7 times in a row on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). After that, a new section Advanced Settings → For developers will appear in the settings menu.

Turn on the USB Debugging Toggle. Connect your smartphone to your computer with a cable. The computer must have ADB installed. Open the command line or terminal in the utility folder and enter a command to check the connection:

adb devices

You'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen. You'll click "Allow." You can now manage packets. To find the exact name of the carousel packet, use the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep glance

adb shell pm list packages | grep wallpaper

Usually, the carousel package is called com.miui.misys or com.miui.wallpaper (be careful), or com.glance.lockscreen. For safe removal (actually hiding for the current user), use the command:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 name packet

This is the most effective method, but it requires care. A mistake in the name of the package can lead to unstable interface operation. If you are not sure, it is better to limit yourself to software methods of disabling.

Setting up static wallpapers and themes

Once the carousel is turned off, the question arises: what will be displayed on the lock screen? By default, the system can offer a standard set of images or leave the last frame of the carousel.

Use the built-in Themes app. Search for “Static” or any theme you like, making sure it doesn’t mention “Live Wallpapers” or “Lock Screen Magazine.” Using a third-party theme often overrides the system settings of the blocker.

• 🖼️ Go to the Gallery, select your favorite photo and click “More» → «Set as wallpaper» → «Lock screen».
• 🎨 Download a theme from the official Themes store, which is labeled as "Classic" or "Simple».
• 🚫 Avoid “Premium” or “Special” themes if they require additional permissions to operate the blocker.

It's also worth checking the Always On Screen (AOD) settings. Sometimes the carousel can integrate there. Go to Settings → Always On Screen and Lock Screen → Format and select No or Custom Image to rule out any speaker.

Frequent problems and their solution

Even after completing all the instructions, users may find the carousel "resurrects" on its own, often after a MIUI or HyperOS system update. The update may reset some user settings or reactivate system services.

If you notice that the images have started to change again, repeat the check procedure, pay special attention to the item "Get recommendations", because this is the item most often reactivated after an update, and check if a new system application with a similar name has appeared.

In rare cases, the problem may be related to your Mi Account account. Synchronizing your settings with the cloud can bring back old configurations. Try logging out, disabling the carousel, and then logging in again, refusing to sync your system settings.

⚠️ Warning: If the carousel returns after each update, this may be a feature of your specific regional firmware, in which case the only radical solution is to flash the device to a global version without advertising.

Remember that some third-party launchers may also have their own screen locking features. Make sure that the source of locking is Xiaomi’s system, not the app you installed.

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The wallpaper carousel is not a virus, but an integrated service that can be fully controlled through system and application settings without resorting to complex manipulations.