Xiaomi camera takes a murky picture: reasons and 10 working ways to fix

You took out a Xiaomi smartphone to capture a momentous moment, but instead of a clear shot, you got a blurred spot? The problem with a cloudy shooting is one of the most common complaints of owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi. The reasons can lie in both banal contamination of the lens and serious hardware malfunctions. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes and offer 10 proven ways to restore the camera to its former sharpness, from elementary to advanced.

So it's important to understand that if you suddenly get cloudy, it's probably software or mechanical damage, and if you've been shooting poorly since birth, you might have a factory defect, and we can help diagnose the problem and tell you when to go to the service center and when you can do it yourself, and let's start with the simplest one.

1. Cleaning the lens: the first step to clear photos

It sounds trite, but up to 60 percent of blurry photos on Xiaomi are caused by a dirty lens, dust, fingerprints, fat drops or cosmetics that scatter light and spoil the picture, especially for smartphone owners with a protruding camera (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro or POCO X5 Pro), where the lens is more likely to come into contact with surfaces.

How to clean properly:

• 🧴 Use a microfiber wipe (for example, for glasses) – it does not scratch the glass.
• 💧 For persistent contaminants, moisten the napkin with distilled water or special optics fluid (Do not use alcohol or household chemicals!).
• 🔍 Check the flash and sensors next to the camera – their contamination also affects autofocus.
• 🚫 Avoid brute force: Do not rub the lens with your fingers or paper wipes.

After cleaning, take a test shot. If there's still turbidity, move on to the next point. By the way, on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the lens is protected by sapphire glass, you can clean it a little more actively, but without fanaticism.

2. Checking the protective film or cover

If you’ve recently glued a new film or a high-sided case, they can overlap the lens or press the camera module, especially for multi-camera models (e.g., the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with three lenses).

What to do:

• 📱 Remove the case and take a picture – if the quality has improved, the problem is in the accessory.
• 🔍 Examine the notch under the camera in the case: it should be 1-2 mm wider than the module.
• 📄 Check the protective film: sometimes it is glued curved or has bubbles above the lens.

⚠️ Attention: Cheap silicone cases can deform over time and press the camera, causing constant autofocus or blur. If you notice that the case "climbed" into the case, immediately replace it.

If the problem is not in the accessories, move on to the software settings.

3. Resetting camera settings to factory

Incorrect settings of the Camera application are a common cause of cloudy images, such as accidentally turning on the mode Portrait without an object in the frame or manually focusing on the near-ground when shooting a landscape, resetting will return everything to default.

Instructions:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Slip on the gear settings (usually in the upper right corner).
3. Scroll down and select Restore Default Settings.
4. Confirm the action.

After the reset, check:

• 🔄 Shooting mode (should stand Photo or Auto).
• 📏 Resolution (optimum – maximum for your model).
• 🎯 Focus mode (should be) AF — autofocus).

If the reset didn't help, it might be the firmware or hardware part that's to blame.

4 Update of firmware and the Camera app

Manufacturers regularly release updates to fix camera bugs. For example, POCO F5 had a problem with Night blur that was fixed in MIUI 14.0.5.

How to update:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates and install available ones.
3. Update the Camera app via Google Play (if there is one).

If there are no updates or they did not help, try rolling back the firmware to the previous version (if the turbidity appeared after the update). This will require unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery - a risky procedure, it is better to consult specialists.

5. Checking for hardware damage

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be physical. Here are 4 signs of hardware malfunction:

• 🔍 Continuous blurring on all modes (even in the Professional mode).
• 🔊 Strange sounds when focusing (squeaking, crackling).
• 📱 Vibration or backlash of the camera module.
• 💥 Artifacts in the photo (stripes, stains, distortions).

The most common hardware reasons:

• 🛠️ Damaged autofocus (for example, after falling).
• 🔧 The camera module is loose (often used by the POCO M4 Pro after a year of use).
• 💧 Moisture falling under the lens (even if the phone did not sink, condensation can spoil the lenses).

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone falls or gets wet, don’t try to disassemble it yourself, which can cause the camera to break completely or short!

Try this for a diagnosis:

1. Shoot video in 4K – if it’s also cloudy, the problem is precisely hardware.
2. Run the camera test through the engineering menu (code ##4636##, but does not work on all models).

6. Alternative applications for shooting

Sometimes the cloudiness is caused by bugs in the standard Camera app. Try third-party programs that use their own processing algorithms:

• 📸 Google Camera (GCam) is the best choice for Xiaomi (requires manual configuration).
• 🎥 Open Camera – Open source with flexible focus settings.
• 🖼️ ProCam X – for professional shooting with manual focus.

How to install GCam:

1. Download the APK for your model (for example, the Redmi Note 11 version from BSG or Shamim will suit).
2. Install the file by allowing installation from unknown sources.
3. Download. XML-Configuration for your model (see forums) 4PDA or XDA).
4. Import the config to the GCam by double-pressing the black area next to the shutter.

Even if the GCam photos are cloudy, the problem is definitely not in the software.

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Before installing GCam, check for Camera2API support on your Xiaomi. Install the Manual Camera Compatibility app and run the test. If support is partial (LEGACY), GCam may not work.

Calibration of camera sensors

Some Xiaomi models (such as the Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi K50 Pro) have a sensor calibration feature that helps fix focus problems. It's hidden in the engineering menu or service codes.

Instructions for models with Qualcomm Snapdragon:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##64663## (to check the camera module).
3. Choose Camera Calibration (if any).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to point the camera at a special template).

For models with MediaTek, try the code ##36446337## (Equipment Testing Menu will open).

⚠️ Note: Not all service codes work on newer versions MIUI. If nothing happens after entering the code, do not insist that you do not block access to the engineering menu.

If calibration does not help, the last step remains - resetting the phone to the factory settings.

8 Hard Reset as a last resort

If all previous methods have failed and the camera is still vague, it may be system conflicts or corrupt configuration files that are to blame, in which case a complete reset of the phone will help.

Important: Before resetting, save all data (photos, contacts, messages) as they will be deleted!

How to make a Hard Reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data (reset to factory settings).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 📱 Don’t restore data from backup right away – check the camera first.
• 🔄 Update all apps through Google Play.
• 📸 Take test pictures in different modes.

If the camera is still murky after reset, it is a 100% hardware problem. Contact Xiaomi Service Center or Authorized Repair.

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Factory reset removes all data, including photos in the phone’s memory, and if the turbidity appears after installing an app, try removing it first, rather than resetting the entire phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the cloudy camera on Xiaomi