How to remove the Xiaomi Wallpaper Carousel app: the full guide

Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are faced with an intrusive feature called β€œMi Glance” (Mi Glance), which is a system application that automatically changes images on a locked screen, periodically showing banner ads or news reports. While this may be an interesting visual feature for some device owners, most device owners perceive this as an annoyance to the battery and mobile traffic.

The problem is that the standard methods available to the average user are not possible to completely remove this component. MIUI and the new HyperOS have deeply integrated this service into the shell, treating it as a core system component. However, there are proven ways to bypass these restrictions, allowing you to either completely deactivate the function or force the packet to be removed through the computer.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from simple menu settings to advanced USB debugging operations. You will learn how to clean your device’s memory of excess debris and regain control of your locked screen. It is important to understand the risks and follow the instructions clearly so that you do not disrupt other system processes.

Wallpaper carousel is Xiaomi's native application, designed to periodically change the background of the lock, it downloads content from the Internet, which can lead to unexpected traffic consumption. Unlike conventional programs, which can be simply removed through the application management menu, this component is protected by system rights.

The developers of MIUI position this feature as part of an ecosystem that provides quick access to news and discounts. However, in practice, users often see only ads. The standard "Delete" button in the application settings is usually inactive (serted), which confirms its status as a system.

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Before any manipulation of system files, be sure to back up your important data on an external medium or in the cloud.

There are several layers of protection for this application. At the basic level, you can only turn it off, but the files will remain on the disk. Complete removal requires access to deeper layers of system management, such as ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or Root rights. Without these tools, you can't get rid of the package completely.

Disabling the function through standard settings

The safest, though not the most radical, method is to completely disable the feature through the settings menu, which will not delete the application files from memory, but will stop all the processes associated with uploading images and displaying ads, which for many users is enough.

To do this, you have to go to the lock screen settings section, and the path may vary slightly depending on the MIUI or HyperOS version, but the logic remains the same, and you have to find the item that's responsible for the wallpaper carousel or Mi Glance.

  • πŸ“± Open the settings of your smartphone.
  • πŸ”’ Go to Lock Screen (or Always on Screen and Lock) and find Wallpaper CarouselΒ».
  • β›” Click on the switch to activate the function, and then select the β€œDisable” option in the confirmation window that appears.

Once you do this, the ads will stop appearing and the background image will become static, but the Carusol wallpaper will still take up space in the installed application list, an ideal method for those who are afraid of accidentally disrupting the system with complex commands.

πŸ“Š How annoying are you with the ads on the lock screen?
Very much intruding.
Irritating, but tolerant.
I like this function.
I didn't notice.

Using ADB for forced removal

For those who want to completely clear the device’s memory, the only effective way is to use the Android Debug Bridge toolkit (ADB). This method allows you to send commands from computer to smartphone, bypassing the standard interface restrictions. You don't need a superuser license (Root), but you need a computer and a computer. USB-cable.

The first step is to prepare your smartphone. You need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings β†’ About your phone and click 7 times in a row on the MIUI Version or OS Version field. Once you have the message "You became a developer", you can move to the next step.

β˜‘οΈ Preparation for removal through ADB

Done: 0 / 4

Next, you need to find and enable the Debugging by USB menu, and when you connect your phone to your computer, you'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, and you'll be sure to click "Allow." Now you can go to executing commands on your computer.

⚠️ Be extremely careful when typing commands. Removing critical system packages (not related to the carousel) can lead to a cyclic phone reboot (bootloop).

Open the command prompt (Terminal or CMD) on your computer in the folder with the ADB installed. Enter the following command to delete the packet:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.misystem

However, the carousel package may be called differently in different regions, and the most common package names are com.miui.miwallpaper, com.miui.personalassistant or com.android.thememanager (if the carousel is embedded in the themes). | grep wallpaper.

Table of names of system packages Xiaomi

Understanding the structure of packages is critical to successful removal, and the following is a table with the most common names of components associated with design and locking in the Xiaomi shell.

Packet nameFunctionSecurity of removal
com.miui.miwallpaperMain wallpaper serviceSafe (return to stock)
com.miui.personalassistantThe left screen (Google Discover)Safe.
com.android.thememanagerTheme store (contains a carousel)Dangerous (themes will be lost)
com.miui.mishare.connectivityConnecting Mi Share devicesSafe (if not used)

Use this data to accurately target unwanted software. If you delete excess software, you can always return everything back with the adb shell cmd package install-existing command. <packet>.

Alternative methods and third-party launchers

If you think it's too hard to mess with the command line, you can use third-party launcher apps. Installing an alternative shell, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, often allows you to override the system's lock settings.

There are also specialized applications to clean the system from Xiaomi, such as Universal Android Debloater.This is a graphical utility that connects to the phone and visually shows which packets can be safely removed.It automatically identifies system applications and flags those that are safe to remove in green.

Risks of using third-party debloaters
Using automated scripts can remove dependencies needed for a camera or gallery to work. Always check the list of things to be deleted before confirming.

Another option is to install a custom recavator (TWRP) and firmware modified system files, where the carousel is cut at the firmware level. However, this method requires unlocking the bootloader, which cancels the warranty and resets all data from the device.

Possible problems and solutions

When you delete or disable the system, you may experience unexpected behavior, such as when you remove the wallpaper pack, you may lose the ability to set a static image and the screen will turn black, in which case installing a simple third-party wallpaper installation app from the Play Market helps.

Sometimes, after updating MIUI, packets deleted through ADB can be restored, because when updating the system, the integrity of the system partition is checked, in which case the deletion procedure will have to be repeated, and to avoid this, some users turn off automatic system updates in the settings.

  • πŸ”„ Resetting: If the phone is unstable, try resetting to factory settings, but delete your Mi Account before doing so.
  • πŸ”‹ Battery consumption: If the battery still goes down quickly after the carousel is turned off, check the background processes in the Battery sectionΒ».
  • πŸ“‘ Network problems: Removing system components rarely affects the network, but if Wi-Fi is missing, check if you have hit the drivers.

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The most reliable way to combat intrusive advertising is a comprehensive approach: disabling in settings plus blocking advertising domains through Private DNS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it safe to remove the carousel wallpaper through ADB?
Yes, removing a particular com.miui.miwallpaper package is safe for system stability. The phone won't turn into a brick, it just stops changing the wallpaper function on the lock.
Will the application return after the system update?
In most cases, yes. The firmware update restores the original system partition, and you'll have to repeat the deletion or disabling procedure after each major MIUI/HyperOS update.
Do you need Root rights to remove?
No, the ADB method doesn't require superuser rights, but having Root rights gives you more freedom, allowing you to delete even more deeply integrated components through file managers like Root Explorer.
Can I just turn off the internet for this app?
Yes, this is an effective temporary method. Go to Settings β†’ Apps β†’ Wallpaper Carousel β†’ Traffic and prohibit data transfer over Wi-Fi and mobile network. Ads will stop loading, but the application will remain in memory.
Why did you lose the ability to block your photos?
This happens if the basic wallpaper management component has been removed, and is solved by installing any third-party wallpaper installation application or restoring the remote package through the install-existing command.