Are you frustrated with Glance constantly showing news, ads, and random wallpapers on your lock screen? If so, you’re not alone. Many users across various smartphone brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, Motorola, Google Pixel, iPhones (via widgets), and Huawei have reported issues where Glance turns back on after updates, drains battery, or consumes unnecessary mobile data.
📊 Did you know? Approximately 1 out of every 10 users disable Glance due to privacy concerns, battery drain, and unwanted content personalization (Source).
In this guide, I’ll walk you through all proven methods to disable Glance on any smartphone and how to stop it from reactivating unexpectedly.
Quick Summary: How to Disable Glance on Any Smartphone
Open Settings ⚙️
(Swipe down from top → Tap gear icon)
Select “Lock Screen & Wallpaper”
Select your device option:
- 📱 Samsung → “Wallpaper Services”
- 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco → “Glance for Mi”
- 📱 Realme/Oppo/Vivo → “Lock Screen Magazine”
- 📱 OnePlus → “Lock Screen Stories”
- 📱 Motorola → “Peek Display”
- 📱 Google Pixel → “At a Glance”
Select “None” to disable Glance
✅ Confirm selection
Your lock screen wallpaper stops changing automatically.
(Glance successfully disabled!)
If Glance persists, restart your device and verify again.
💡 Pro Tip: If Glance reactivates after updates, scroll down for advanced fixes.
How I Disabled Glance on My Device (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Open Settings
To begin, I navigated to Settings on my OnePlus 11 running OxygenOS. The easiest way to access this is:
- Swipe down from the top of your screen
- Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner
Step 2: Go to Lock Screen Settings
Once inside Settings, I scrolled to Lock Screen & Wallpaper, which controls lock screen customization options.
Step 3: Access Wallpaper Services or Lock Screen Options
Depending on the brand, the option might be listed differently:
- Samsung: “Wallpaper Services”
- Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: “Glance for Mi”
- Realme/Oppo/Vivo: “Lock Screen Magazine”
- OnePlus: “Lock Screen Stories”
- Motorola: “Peek Display”
- Google Pixel: “At a Glance”
I tapped the relevant setting and found that Glance was enabled by default.
Step 4: Disable Glance by Selecting ‘None’
Inside the Wallpaper Services/Lock Screen Provider menu, I:
- Selected None instead of Glance
- Confirmed the selection
Result: My lock screen wallpaper stopped changing, and Glance no longer appeared.
Step 5: Restart if Necessary
For some users, Glance may persist until a restart. If disabling it doesn’t immediately take effect, restart your phone and check again.
Why Does Glance Keep Turning On? (Common Issues & Fixes)
1. Software Updates Re-Enabling Glance
Problem: After a recent One UI/OxygenOS/MIUI update, my OnePlus Nord 3 reactivated Glance even though I had previously turned it off.
Fix: After every update, revisit Lock Screen Settings and re-select None. Some users also notice that other settings, like wallpapers or apps, become disabled after updates. If your apps appear greyed out after making changes, check out this guide on why apps get greyed out and how to fix them
2. Default Settings on New Phones
Problem: When I first set up my Redmi Note 12 Pro, Glance was enabled by default.
Fix: If you’ve just bought a new phone, make sure to manually disable Glance during setup.
3. Third-Party Apps Enabling Glance
Problem: Some apps request lock screen permissions that accidentally activate Glance.
Fix: Check Settings > Apps > Special Access > Modify System Settings and revoke access for any unknown apps.
4. Accidental Activation via User Permissions
Problem: When I installed a social media app, I granted all permissions too quickly, unknowingly enabling Glance.
✅ Fix: Be careful when granting permissions to apps and manually check if Glance was turned on.
5. Manufacturer & Carrier Settings
Problem: Some brands like Vivo, Realme, and Huawei enforce Glance at the firmware level, making it harder to disable.
Fix:
- Check for hidden ADB commands or a developer mode option.
- Contact your carrier support if the setting is locked.
Understanding Glance – Multi-Perspective Approach
1. Consumer-Centric Perspective
Users frustrated by unwanted lock screen ads, excessive battery drain, and high mobile data consumption often seek ways to disable Glance. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for a cleaner and distraction-free smartphone experience.
2. Technical & System-Level Perspective
Glance is a pre-installed lock screen feature that updates dynamically with news, ads, and recommendations. Since it’s embedded at the firmware level, different manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, etc.) provide different ways to disable it—some allowing a simple toggle, while others require deeper settings changes.
3. Privacy & Security Perspective
Glance uses AI-driven algorithms to personalize content, which means it collects user data, behavior, and preferences. Disabling it prevents tracking and unnecessary data collection, giving users more control over their privacy settings (Source).
4. Performance & Optimization Perspective
Users disabling Glance report improved battery life and faster unlock speeds because it stops consuming background data. Since Glance runs real-time content updates, removing it helps optimize RAM usage and lock screen efficiency. This can Also fix the Android lagging issues.
Beyond Disabling Glance: Additional Customization Tips
If you want an even cleaner lock screen experience, consider these settings:
1. Disable Swipe Left for Info Feeds
Even after disabling Glance, I found that swiping left on the lock screen still brought up an info feed.
✅ Fix:
- Open Settings > Lock Screen Preferences
- Locate Swipe Left for Info
- Turn it off to remove unwanted feeds
2. Customize Lock Screen Notifications
Too many notifications clutter the lock screen? Here’s how I fixed it:
- Go to Settings > Lock Screen > Notifications
- Turn off unnecessary app notifications
- Enable Hide Content for better privacy
3. Add Emergency Contact Information
One hidden feature I love is Contact Information on the lock screen:
- Open Settings > Lock Screen > Contact Information
- Enter your email or emergency number
This ensures someone can return your phone if lost! 🚀 you may also want to uninstall any Android launcher to switch to a completely different lock screen experience
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For more tech related FAQs are here:
Q1: Does Disabling Glance Improve Battery Life?
✅ Yes! Glance consumes background data and runs lock screen animations, which increase battery drain. Disabling it improves battery efficiency (Source).
Q2: Why Can’t I Find the ‘None’ Option in Wallpaper Services?
🔍 Some carrier-modified phones remove the None option. In this case:
- Check if Glance is installed as an app under Settings > Apps
- Disable it manually
Q3: Can I Replace Glance with Another Wallpaper Service?
✅ Yes! You can use Dynamic Lock Screen or third-party apps like Walli to customize your lock screen experience.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined above, I successfully removed Glance from my lock screen and ensured it doesn’t turn back on. If you’re experiencing issues with ads, battery drain, or unwanted lock screen content, I highly recommend disabling Glance today.
