How to remove the wallpaper carousel and return the flashlight to the lock screen Xiaomi

After the latest MIUI update, many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO users found a nasty surprise: the flashlight button on the lock screen disappeared, giving way to an endless wallpaper carousel. Instead of fast access to the flashlight, you now have to flip through pictures or unlock your phone, which is inconvenient in the dark or emergency situations. Fortunately, you can return the flashlight - and this does not require root rights or complex manipulations.

The problem has arisen from changes in Xiaomi’s policy: the company is actively promoting AI-powered wallpaper service, sacrificing convenience for visual effects. However, users who are used to functionality are not willing to put up with this approach. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways of returning a flashlight, from standard settings to hidden MIUI features that the manufacturer does not advertise, and you will learn why after a reset or update, the problem can return, and how to avoid it.

Why did the flashlight on the lock screen go missing?

The main reason for the flashlight button’s disappearance is the automatic upgrade of MIUI to versions 13/14/15, where Xiaomi has implemented a new lock screen concept.

• 🔄 Wallpaper carousel – automatically changing background images (including AI-generated).
• 📱 Weather/calendar widgets – take up the place where the flashlight used to be.
• 🔒 Notifications with enlarged icons – shift interface elements.

The second reason is to reset the settings to factory or transfer data between devices, in which case the system returns the "clean" settings of the lock screen, where the flashlight is turned off by default, and the problem can also occur after:

• 📦 Custom Theme Installations from Mi Theme Store (Some Themes Redefined the Locking Mockup).
• 🔧 Manually changing parameters through ADB ore-menu.
• 🛠️ Security updates (patches often reset user settings).

⚠️ Attention: If you are using POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 or later, check out the version MIUI In Settings → On the phone, these models can be hidden because of the features of the HyperOS firmware. MIUI 2026).

Method 1: Standard lock screen settings

The easiest method is to return the flashlight through the settings menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-15 and does not require superuser rights.

Open Settings → Lock screen and follow the steps:

1. Slip on the item "Style of the lock screen".
2. Choose either Classic or Simple (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Scroll down and find the option “Tags” or “Fast Actions”.
4. Activate the switch next to the flashlight (or add it to the list if you need to choose from multiple shortcuts).

If there is no "Tags" item, try:

• 🔍 In the search box settings enter "lightlight" - sometimes the option is hidden in the submenu.
• 📱 Reboot your phone: After the update MIUI Some settings apply only after rebooting.

Check out the MIUI version in About Phone

Disable VPN (can block settings synchronization)

Make sure the battery is more than 20% charged

Close all background applications-->

On some models (such as Xiaomi 13T or Redmi K60), the flashlight option can be hidden behind an additional menu.

1. In the Lock Screen section, tap on "Additional settings" (or "Advanced features").
2. Find the "Control Elements" or "Fast Actions" item.
3. Turn on the flashlight and save the changes.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the path may be different: → Personalization → Lock screen → If the flashlight isn't on the list, try the method of using the ADB (described below).

Method 2: Disconnecting the wallpaper carousel

The wallpaper carousel not only takes up space, but it also blocks the display of labels, including the flashlight, to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Lock screen → Lock screen style.
2. Select "Static background" or "Normal" (name depends on the version of MIUI).
3. Turn off the option "Carousel wallpaper" or "Dynamic wallpaper".
4. Set a single static image as a background.

If the wallpaper carousel is not switched off:

• 🛑 Check if there's a theme installed from the Mi Theme Store that compulsorily includes dynamic wallpaper.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes changes are delayed.
• 📵 Turn off mobile data and Wi-Fi for 10 seconds: it will reset the cache of wallpaper.

Nana POCO-devices (e.g., devices, POCO X5 Pro) the carousel may be part of the brand launcher:

1. Keep your finger on the main screen → “Startup Settings”.
2. Find the wallpaper section and turn off Automatic Shift.

Lantern

Camera.

Google Assistant

Wallpaper carousel

None of the above.-->

Method 3: Using ADB to force flashlights to turn on

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a deep-tuning tool that works for MIUI 14+ and HyperOS, where the flashlight is hidden at the firmware level.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should appear the name of your device.
4. Execute the command to turn on the flashlight: adb shell settings put secure sysui_ql_torch 1
5. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

If the flashlight doesn’t show up, try an alternative command (for HyperOS):

adb shell cmd overlay enable com.android.settings.intelligence

💡

Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup. In rare cases, changes to system settings can cause crashes.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI China ROM) team ADB This will require unlocking the bootloader, which will reset all the data on the phone.

Method 4: Resetting launcher settings and themes

Sometimes the flashlight disappears because of a conflict with the themes or launcher set, to bring back the standard look of the lock screen:

Step 1. Reset the subject to standard:

1. Open the themes (the icon on the desktop).
2. Go to "My Subjects" → "Standard".
3. Use it and reboot the phone.

Step 2. Reset the launcher settings:

• 📱 Keep your finger on the empty seat of the main screen. → "Launcher settings".
• 🔄 Find the option “Reset settings” or “Restore by default".
• 🗑️ Clear the launcher cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Launcher → "Clear the cache".

If the flashlight does not appear after reset, check:

• 🔍 Are there third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher or Apex) that can override the lock screen.
• 📦 Are "Special Opportunities" activated (Settings) → Special opportunities → Lock screens that change standard behavior.

Method 5: Alternative solutions (if nothing helps)

If none of these methods worked, consider alternatives:

The flashlight widget on the main screen:

• 📱 Keep your finger on the main screen. → "Widgets".
• 🔦 Find the flashlight widget (or Quick Settings) and drag it to the screen.

Fast settings in the curtain:

• 📲 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🔧 Slip on the icon "Pencil" (or "Edit").
• 🔦 Find the flashlight and drag it to the active area.

Third-party annexes:

• 📱 Install Flashlight Widget or Torchie from Google Play.
• 🔧 Set up a gesture to turn on quickly (like shaking your phone).

Voice assistant:

• 🎤 Activate Google Assistant or Alice from Yandex.
• 🗣️ Say, OK, Google, turn on the flashlight".

💡

If a flashlight is critical (for work or safety, for example), consider buying a physical flashlight with a magnetic fastening.

How to prevent the flashlight from disappearing again?

To ensure that the flashlight does not disappear after the next MIUI update, follow the following preventive steps:

1. Turn off automatic updates to topics:

1. Open the Topics → Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
2. Turn off "Auto-Update Themes" and "Recommendations".

2. Block changes to the lock screen:

• 🔒 B Settings → Lock screen disable "Recommended Wallpaper".
• 📵 B Settings → Annexes → Application management → Wallpaper ban autostart and background activity.

3. Create a backup of the settings:

• 📀 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.
• 🔧 Select System Settings and save the configuration.

4. Keep an eye out for updates:

• 📡 Before installing a new update MIUI Check the reviews on the forums (for example, 4PDA or XDA Developers) for lock screen bugs.
• 🛑 If the update is known to have a flashlight problem, delay installing it or use a rollback through Recovery.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (such as Xiaomi 14) you may need to re-use after major updates ADB-Save them in a notebook for quick access.

FAQ: Frequent questions about flashlight on Xiaomi