Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones often face an unexpected problem: the standard wallpaper change feature on the lock screen stops working or disappears from the settings after the next MIUI update. This situation is puzzling, since yesterday beautiful images were replaced automatically, and today the screen is static. Users are looking for ways to restore this option, wanting to return the visual dynamics without installing third-party software.
There are several reasons why Glance for Mi or built-in carousel can be deactivated, and this may be due to regional restrictions, system application failures, or manually shutting down services to save battery life. Understanding the nature of the problem is the first step to successful recovery. In this article, we will discuss all known solutions.
Restore the carousel requires careful management of the system settings. You don't need Root superuser rights, but you have to dig through hidden menus or reinstall system components. Let's look at an algorithm that can help bring back the functionality to your Redmi 9.
Causes of disappearance of the function of changing wallpaper
The first step is to understand what caused the crash. Often users accidentally turn off the feature themselves in an attempt to optimize the smartphone, and the MIUI system tends to aggressively control background processes, which can lead to a stoppage of the desktop update service.
Another common reason is that you change your region in your device settings. Some features, like Glance or Mi Wallpaper Carousel, are only available when you select certain countries, like India or Indonesia. If your phone was reset or re-flashed, the region could change to a global one, where this option is hidden by default.
Also, consider possible conflicts after an operating system update, developers can change the structure of system applications, which leads to incorrect operation of old settings, and in rare cases, the problem lies in damage to the cache of the system launcher.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings, it is recommended to create a full backup of important data to a cloud server or computer.
Situation analysis allows you to choose the right solution vector. If you've recently changed a region or set questionable topics, the problem is likely software. If a function suddenly disappears without your actions, you're likely to have a system failure.
Checking the basic settings of the lock screen
Start your diagnosis with the obvious thing: checking the basic settings of the screen. Go to the settings menu and find the look section. The path may vary depending on the version of the shell, but it's usually at Settings → Lock screen.
In this section, you need to find the item that changes the images, which can be called different things: wallpaper carousel, wallpaper with tape or glance. Make sure the switch is activated. If the slider is gray and not pressed, then the function is blocked by system restrictions.
Pay attention to the network connection settings. The carousel needs Internet access because images load dynamically. Check if System Wallpaper has mobile data and Wi-Fi permission.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Passwords and security → Privacy and check permissions.
- 🌐 Make sure that the Lock Screen section includes the “Connect to the network” option».
- 🔄 Try temporarily disabling and re-enable flight mode to update network settings.
If the basic settings are all on, but the carousel doesn’t work, move on to deeper methods. Sometimes it helps to simply reboot the device, which clears temporary errors in the work of the task manager Xiaomi.
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If the wallpaper carousel switch is missing, try changing region to India in your phone settings - this will often unlock hidden MIUI features.
Setting up the Mi Wallpaper Carousel app
On many Xiaomi Redmi 9 devices, a separate system application is responsible for the function, it can be hidden or stopped, you need to find it in the list of all installed programs.
Go to the properties of this application. You need to make sure that it is not disabled. If the Enable button is active, click it. Then go to the Battery section inside the application properties and select No Limits mode, which will prevent the system from unloading the process from memory.
It's also worth clearing the cache and the data of this app, and it won't delete your personal photos, but it will reset the settings of the carousel itself to the factory, and after the data reset, you have to re-allow access to the gallery and location, if necessary.
☑️ Actions with the carousel app
An important step is to check autostart. In the MIUI shell, autostart control is put into a separate menu. Find the carousel app in the autorun list and activate it. Without this, after each phone restart, the function may not activate itself.
Changing the region as a method of activation
One of the most effective tricks for Xiaomi owners is to change the region, the functionality of the MIUI shell is highly dependent on geographical location, in some regions, advertising functions and services Glance are more active, in others – completely cut.
To activate the carousel, try changing the region to India or Indonesia. After changing the region, the phone may need to reboot. Don't ignore this requirement, as many system services only rebuilt at a cold start.
Once you turn on your phone, recheck the lock screen settings, often after you do this, you get an extra menu item or unlock previously unavailable functionality, because the carousel is the de facto standard in these regions.
| Region | The probability of a carousel | Features of MIUI |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | Medium | Strict privacy settings |
| India | Tall. | Full support for Glance and services |
| China | Tall. | Different from the global menu structure |
| Germany | Low. | Reduced functionality due to GDPR |
Remember that changing the region can affect the performance of some local applications and currency in standard services. Once the carousel is activated, you can try to bring the region back, but there is a risk that the function will disappear again.
⚠️ Warning: Changing region may lead to additional notifications and promotional content in Xiaomi system applications.
Installation and Updating of System Components
If standard methods didn’t work, you may have a version of the system app that is outdated or corrupted, and you’ll need access to the GetApps store (formerly the Mi App Store), which is pre-installed on all of the brand’s devices, and it’s through which updates to the system modules are distributed.
When you search for a store, type in the search for Wallpaper Carousel or Wallpaper. If the update is available, you'll see a button that matches it, and in some cases, the app may be accidentally removed by the user, and you'll need to download it and install it again.
It’s also worth checking for system-wide updates. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. Having fresh security patches often fixes bugs in the launcher and screen lock services.
What if GetApps doesn’t find updates?
For advanced users, there is a possibility of installing APK-However, on the Redmi 9, this can lead to signature conflict and cyclical reboot, so use this method only as a last resort.
Alternative solutions and third-party applications
When the built-in tools fail to return the carousel, third-party developers come to the rescue. There are many applications on the Google Play store that mimic the functionality of MIUI. They often work even more stable than system counterparts.
One of the popular solutions is the Lock Screen & Privacy Guard app, or Glance analogs, which allows you to adjust wallpaper rates, image sources and screen behavior when you lock, and installing these programs does not require in-depth knowledge.
When choosing an alternative, pay attention to access rights, the app will need permission to display over other windows and access the gallery. Without these rights, the carousel will not work. Also check reviews to make sure there is no intrusive advertising.
- 🎨 Widgetsmith – allows you to create complex widgets, but requires customization.
- 🖼️ Unsplash Wallpaper is a great source of high-quality photos, but without the lock function.
- 🔒 Hi Locker - a full replacement of the lock screen with support for slideshow.
Using third-party software is a trade-off: You get the functionality you want, but you may run into increased battery consumption. Xiaomi's Android system doesn't always work optimally with other people's lock launchers.
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Third-party apps are the best solution if the system carousel has been removed by developers in your firmware version.