Xiaomi smartphone owners often encounter an intrusive feature that periodically changes images on the lock screen without the user's knowledge.This service, known as Wallpaper Carousel, is designed to personalize the device, but in practice often causes irritation due to random taps and battery. Many users wonder how to permanently get rid of this feature and return a static image.
The deactivation process may vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, and the firmware region. In some cases, standard shutdown in the settings does not work and deeper methods of system intervention are required. Below we will look at all the available ways to solve this problem, from simple switches to the use of hidden menus.
It's worth noting that the carousel is often confused with regular live wallpaper or themes, but it's a separate system service. Understanding the difference between these components will help you not only remove the images, but also prevent them from being turned on again after system updates, and we'll take each step in detail so that even an inexperienced user can cope with the task.
What is a wallpaper carousel and why it is annoying
Wallpaper carousel is an integrated application that automatically uploads and shows new background images every time you turn on your smartphone screen. Formally, the feature is positioned as a way to diversify the visual experience by offering high-quality photos of nature, cities and abstractions. However, in practice, users often see banner ads or low-quality images that are difficult to remove.
The main problem is the aggressive behavior of the system, which can reactivate this feature on its own after updating the firmware, and the carousel consumes mobile traffic and battery power, constantly loading content in the background, which for many becomes a critical factor affecting the autonomy of the device.
Another negative aspect is the presence of advertising in some regions, and instead of beautiful landscapes, users can see promotional materials from third-party services that cover part of the screen, which is why the question of how to turn off the wallpaper carousel on Xiaomi remains one of the most popular in the communities of owners of these smartphones.
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If you like variety but don’t want advertising, use third-party wallpaper change apps that give you full control over content and don’t have hidden fees.
Standard way to disable through settings
The easiest and most secure method of deactivating the service is available through the standard system settings menu, which is suitable for most current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS shells. You do not need to install additional software or obtain superuser rights.
To start, unlock your smartphone and go to the main menu. Find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear. In the options list that opens, you need to scroll down to the section that controls the appearance of the device. Different versions of the firmware may call it differently, but most often it is Wallpaper or Always on screen and wallpaper carousel.
Once you log in, find a switch called Wallpaper Carousel. It should be active (lit in blue or green). Click on it to put it inactive. The system may request confirmation of action or suggest that you leave the function on - agree to shut down.
☑️ Shutdown algorithm
If images continue to change after these actions, an additional setting may be activated in the lock screen settings, check if the tick opposite the "Receive new wallpaper" option is worth checking, and disabling this option will prevent new content from downloading from the network.
Disconnection through the Topics app
In some cases, the system settings are not saved and the carousel is turned on again, because the function management is duplicated in the Themes system application, and to guarantee that the service is removed, you need to check the settings inside the application.
Open the Themes app on your device. In the upper right corner, click on the profile icon or user avatar. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Here you are interested in the Wallpaper Carousel section, which may be hidden in the sub-menus of additional features.
Inside the carousel settings, find the switch to Turn on the wallpaper carousel and deaktivate it. It is also recommended to turn off the Receive recommendations option if it is present. This will prevent pop-ups with a suggestion to activate the service in the future.
⚠️ Attention: Settings topics may reset after the app update. Check this section periodically, especially after major system updates.
There's also a hidden setting for the frequency of the image change, so even if you don't want to turn it off completely, set the wallpaper interval to Never or the maximum possible value, and that stops the constant change of images without completely removing the service.
Hidden settings in the theme
Use of special switching applications
If standard methods don’t help, specialized utilities created by enthusiasts to combat intrusive MIUI functions come to the rescue. One of the most popular solutions is the MIUI Wallpaper Auto Cleaner app or its analogues, available on the Google Play store or on the 4PDA forum.
These programs work by automatically detecting the carousel process and forcing it to stop, and they don't require root rights, but they can request enhanced access permissions, and once you install the application, you have to start and press the Disable or Disable button.
The way these tools work is by emulating user actions: they find the switch and turn it off faster than a person, and this is especially true for those versions of firmware where the switch button is hidden deep in the menu or is not working correctly.
| Name of utility | Demands a Root. | Difficulty | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Wallpaper Auto Cleaner | No. | Low. | Tall. |
| Disable Service | Got it (ADB) | Medium | Maximum |
| SetEdit (Settings Database Editor) | No. | Tall. | Medium |
It is important to download these tools only from trusted sources, using modified versions of system applications can lead to unstable smartphone performance, always check the reviews and developer rating before installing.
Advanced method: Disconnection via ADB
For users who want to achieve guaranteed results and have minimal technical skills, the method of disconnection through debugging via USB (ADB) is suitable. This method allows you to completely "freeze" the system package responsible for the carousel, making it impossible to start.
To start, activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in advanced settings, turn on USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your computer with a cable.
On your computer, install the minimum set of ADB tools. Open the command line in the tool folder and enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. On the phone screen, a request for debugging permission will appear - confirm it.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.misystemThe above command disables the system service. However, to remove the carousel, the command for the com.miui.miwallpaper or com.miui.wallpaper is more often used. Beware: disabling the wrong system components can lead to interface failures.
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The ADB method is the most reliable, as it blocks the launch of the service at the system level, ignoring the settings inside the smartphone itself.
To get things back to normal, use the adb shell pm enable com.miui.miwallpaper command. This is useful if you notice a loss of standard wallpaper or a failure in the lock screen after you turn off. Always have the option to roll back changes.
Problem Solving and Frequent Errors
Even after completing all the instructions, users may find that the carousel is returning, often due to synchronizing your Mi Account account, and if you logged in to Xiaomi on another device where the carousel is enabled, the settings can sync and return the function.
Check the sync settings in Account and Sync. Turn off sync for Topic or Wallpaper. It is also recommended to clear the Topic app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Topics → Memory and click Clear.
⚠️ Attention: Cleaning the Theme app data can reset your purchased themes and personalization settings. Use this method only if other methods have not helped.
Another reason could be a third-party theme that is forced to include a carousel, so try switching to a standard Classic or Default theme and see if the problem persists, and if the classic theme is not working, then it's a third-party design conflict.
In rare cases, changing the region of the device helps. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Region and select a country where the carousel service is not supported or less intrusive (for example, some European countries). After changing the region, the menu can reboot, and unnecessary items disappear.