Xiaomi and Redmi’s modern smartphones offer users many ways to personalize the interface, including changing background images. Instead of a static image that can get boring in a week, the system allows you to run a dynamic carousel that updates the background every time you wake up the device, not only aesthetic pleasure, but also a way to get relevant information directly from the lock screen, whether it is news, weather or inspirational quotes.
Device owners often face confusion in terms, as wallpaper carousels can be implemented through different system services. Depending on the firmware region and the version of MIUI or the new HyperOS, this feature can be called Wallpaper, Glance or Screen Blocker. Understanding the differences between these services is the first step to properly configuring your gadget without unnecessary advertising and notifications.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available methods for activating automatic image change. You will learn how to switch between standard themes and third-party services, as well as how to fine-tune content download options to save traffic and battery power. Glance for Redmi is pre-installed on global firmware versions by default and requires separate activation in lock screen settings.
Differences between Wallpaper and Glance Services
The first thing to do is to determine which image-change mechanism is available on your device. The Xiaomi ecosystem has historically developed two main approaches: the classic Themes app, which has built-in carousel functionality, and the second is Glance, which has replaced older solutions and is integrated deeper into the system.
The classic carousel through the Themes app is often perceived by users as lighter and less intrusive, allowing you to create your own selections from uploaded photos or use standard categories. However, the functionality here is limited to basic picture change without interactive widgets. At the same time, Glance for Redmi offers a richer experience, including interactive elements, but often accompanied by advertising integrations.
If you value minimalism and speed, you should look at standard MIUI shell tools, which consume less RAM. For those who want to see a news feed or beautiful animations on a locked screen, Glance will do the job, and it depends solely on your preferences and tolerance to advertising content.
- 📸 Standard carousel: works through the application "Themes", supports the upload of your photos, minimalist.
- 🌐 Glance: offers online content, news, interactive widgets, but may contain advertising.
- ⚙️ System settings: allow you to disable any of the services if it is no longer relevant to the user.
Activation of the carousel through the Topics app
Starting a standard carousel is a process that does not require complex manipulations. First, make sure that your device has installed and updated the Themes app from developer Xiaomi Inc. It hides the desired switch, which is often hidden from the user’s eyes in the depths of the menu.
Open the app and go to the user profile by clicking on the person icon in the lower right corner. Here you are interested in Settings. In the list of options, you need to find the wallpaper carousel. This is where the main mechanism of changing the backgrounds is controlled. If the switch is off, activation takes only one touch.
Once turned on, the system will suggest selecting the source of the images. You can choose the recommended categories, such as Nature, City or Technology. There is also an option to download new sets via Wi-Fi, which is critical to saving mobile traffic. Be sure to check the refresh rate settings if they are available in your firmware version.
☑️ Customize the carousel through the Topics
Importantly, in some regions, functionality may be trimmed. If you don't find "Wallpaper Carousel" in the app settings, try changing the region in the general smartphone settings. Often switching to India or Singapore will unlock hidden features, after which the region can be returned back, and the settings will remain.
Setting up the Glance for Redmi service
Glance is the standard for many of Redmi’s global models of recent years, integrated directly into the system and works without running any additional applications. To access its settings, you need to go to Settings → Lock Screen.
In this section, you'll see the Wallpaper Carousel or Glance for Redmi, and you'll click on it and you'll be taken to the Content Management Center, where you can not only turn on the feature, but also select the specific themes that will be displayed. The interface offers a preview of each set, which allows you to visually evaluate the style of images before activation.
⚠️ Note: When activating Glance, carefully read the Terms of Service. The Service may collect screen usage data to personalize promotional offers. If privacy is a priority for you, consider alternatives.
For advanced users, fine-tuning of the service behavior is available, you can allow or disable the display of news feeds, weather widgets and promotions, and Glance settings often include the “Show on the lock screen” option, which can be turned off by leaving the carousel only for the on screen, if this option is supported by a specific version of HyperOS.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Update on Wi-Fi | Downloading new wallpaper only when connected to a wireless network | Savings in mobile traffic |
| Frequency of updates | Interval of changing images (each turn on or once per hour) | Affects the frequency of network calls |
| Notifications | Permission to push notifications from wallpaper service | It can lead to advertising spam. |
| Widgets | Displaying more information on top of the photo | Increases battery consumption |
Using your own photos in the carousel
Many users prefer to see personal or family photos on the lock screen rather than stock images from the Internet. Xiaomi’s standard tools allow this scenario to be implemented, turning your gallery into a source for a carousel, which makes each unlocking of your smartphone more personalized.
To implement this method, you will need to create a separate album in the gallery, call it, for example, "Wallpaper" and upload all the desired images there. Then, in the carusob settings (via the Themes app or Gallery, depending on the OS version), select the source "My Photos" or "Album".
The advantage of using local files is that there is no advertising and no Internet connection dependency. Pictures are uploaded instantly, as they are already in the device's memory. In addition, you have full control over the quality of images, avoiding compression artifacts, which are often found in online directories.
How to improve the quality of photos in the carousel?
Consider that with more than 500 photos on an album, the system can be slower when selecting a random image, and in such cases, it is recommended to review the album once a month, removing the unsuccessful frames, which will help keep the lock interface fast at a high level.
Removing problems and removing advertising
One of the most common complaints users have about intrusive ads on wallpaper carousels. Fortunately, most displays of advertising content can be manually disabled without resorting to complex procedures like flashing. Ad integrations are usually hidden in the depths of the settings of the Glance service itself.
To get rid of advertising, open the carousel settings and find the section related to "Recommendations" or "Promoted content." You must uncheck all ticks allowing advertising to be displayed, and it is also recommended to disable receiving news and updates from the content provider, if this option does not affect the change of the background images themselves.
In some cases, users are faced with a situation where the carousel stops working or images are not updated, most often the problem lies in limiting background activity. MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving, which can kill the process of loading wallpaper.
- 🔋 Autorun: Allow the "Themes" or "Glance" application to autorun in battery settings.
- 📶 Network access: make sure the service has permission to use mobile data and Wi-Fi.
- 🧹 Memory Cleanup: Do not block the process in Task Manager if you want the wallpaper to change regularly.
⚠️ Note: Complete removal of the Glance system application without root rights is impossible and can lead to unstable system operation. ADB Only if you are a trusted user and understand the risks.
If standard methods don't work, you can try to clean the app data. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find a carousel service and select "Clear Data." This will reset the settings to factory and often solves the problems with the content loading freeze.
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Use third-party launcher apps or widgets if you don’t like the standard carousel. Apps like Widgetsmith or custom wallpaper widgets from Google Play can offer more flexible customization than Xiaomi’s built-in tools.
The impact of the carousel on the autonomy of the smartphone
The use of dynamic wallpaper inevitably affects battery life: constantly turning on the screen to show a new picture, downloading data from the network and working background processes require resources. For owners of models with large batteries, this may be invisible, but on budget devices, the difference is noticeable.
The main charge consumption occurs when a new image is loaded. If you have the "Update only over Wi-Fi" setting enabled, then when using mobile data, the carousel simply won't work, which will save your traffic, but will not save the battery when you connect to Wi-Fi. The processor and modem are activated every time you wake up the screen.
To minimize the impact on autonomy, use high-quality static images instead of video wallpapers, if available. Video carousels, while spectacular, can consume up to 15-20% more power than statics.
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The optimal balance between beauty and energy efficiency is achieved by using a local carousel from your own photos with an update over Wi-Fi and disabled widgets.
In conclusion, the wallpaper carousel is a powerful customization tool that turns a faceless screen into a personal storefront. When set up correctly, you can enjoy changing pictures without compromising performance or privacy. Experiment with sources, customize settings, and make your Redmi truly your own.