The camera freeze on Xiaomi smartphones is a common problem that can manifest itself on any device, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The symptoms vary: the camera app does not open, the screen turns black when shooting, the image “hangs” for a few seconds or even crashes with an error. Most often the fault is software failures, but sometimes the cause lies in hardware malfunctions.
In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes, from trivial overheating to firmware conflicts, and offer 12 proven ways to bring the camera back to life. Importantly, some methods require resetting or manipulating system files, so back up your data in advance. If the problem occurs after a fall or moisture, immediately go to the section on hardware breakdowns — software fixes are not going to help here.
1.Rebooting your smartphone: why it works 60% of the time
It sounds trivial, but forced reboot eliminates camera freeze in most cases, because the camera module and its software work through a separate process android.hardware.camera, which can hang due to a lack of RAM or conflicts with other applications, and when you turn off / turn on, this process is not always restarted correctly.
How to reboot correctly:
- 🔄 Soft reboot: press the power button, select "Reboot." Suitable if the smartphone responds to presses.
- 🛑 Hard Reset: Clutch the power supply + Volume up for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears. Use if the screen is unresponsive.
- 🔋 Battery extraction (only for removable battery models, such as Redmi) 4A): Turn off the phone, remove the lid, remove the battery for 30 seconds.
After the reboot, check the camera in the regular app and through third-party programs (for example, Google Camera or Open Camera). If the problem disappears, the cause was a temporary failure of RAM. If not, move on.
2. Clearing the cache and data of the camera application
The cache of the camera app (com.android.camera) accumulates temporary files that can become corrupted over time, resulting in freezes, artifacts on the screen or complete module failure.Cache clearing is safe - it does not delete your photos/video, only service data.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the camera (Mi Camera or Camera).
- Select "Storage» → «Clear the cache».
- If it doesn’t help, click “Clear the data» (⚠️ This will reset the camera settings, but will not delete media files).
Make a backup photo in Google Photos
Close all applications in multitasking
Connect charging (if the battery level < 20%)
Check the space in the memory (need to be checked) ≥ 500MB)-->
If the camera still freezes after cleaning, try turning off battery optimization for the camera app:
- Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
- Find the camera in the list, select “Do not optimize”.
3. Overheating check and hardware restrictions
Xiaomi is actively using thermothrottle, a forced performance restriction when overheating. If the processor temperature exceeds 45-50 ° C, the system can lock the camera to reduce the load. This is a common problem for devices on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50 Gaming).
How to check:
- 🌡️ Install the app AIDA64 or CPU Monitor and look at the temperature of the processor.°C in simple - the problem is overheating.
- ☀️ Try using the camera in a cool room or after 10-15 minutes of resting your phone.
- 🔥 Remove the cover - it can block the heat sink.
What to do if the phone is constantly overheating?
If the camera only freezes when shooting 4K/8K video, the problem may be the limitations of the chipset. For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ cannot physically record 4K for long because of low cooling, the solution is to lower the resolution to 1080p or use an external cooler.
4. Update firmware and rollback to stable version
Camera failures are often associated with firmware bugs, especially if you are using MIUI betas or custom builds.For example, MIUI 14.0.3 for Xiaomi 13 had a bug with the camera hanging when HDR is turned on.
How to update firmware:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Click on “Check Updates” and install the available version.
- If there are no updates but the problem is relevant, check the forums (like 4PDA) for manual patches.
If the freeze started after the update, try to roll back:
- 📱 Through Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Click 10 times on the version to activate Developer Mode, then select “Roll Back Update»).
- 💻 Mi Flash Tool (requires unlocked bootloader and PC).
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Before updating your firmware, disable the VPN and clear the data of the com.android.updater application – this will speed up the download of files and avoid errors.
| Xiaomi model | The Problem Version of MIUI | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 12/12 Pro | 13.0.6–13.0.9 | Update to 13.0.12+ or retrace to 13.0.5 |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | 12.5.4 (EEA) | Install a global stable version |
| POCO F4 | 13.0.3 (beta) | Go to stable line |
| Xiaomi 11T Pro | 12.5.8–12.5.10 | Clean the camera cache + upgrade to 12.5.12 |
5. Conflicts with third-party applications and services
The camera may freeze due to conflicts with other applications, especially if they use the camera in the background (for example, messengers with QR scanning function, AR applications or spyware).
- 🤖 Google Play Services (especially on non-devices) GMS, where they are hand-mounted).
- 🔒 Antiviruses (e.g. Avast, 360 Security) – they block access to the camera for security reasons».
- 🎮 Game Turbo – limit resources for other applications.
How to find the culprit:
- Launch your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Safe Mode) If the camera is running, the problem is with third-party software.
- Remove the newly installed apps by checking the camera after each.
- Turn off auto-run for suspicious programs in Settings → Permissions → Auto-run.
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If the camera is in safe mode, but does not work in normal mode, third-party software is to blame. The most common culprits are: screen shooting apps, VPNs with camera locking, Chinese launchers.
Pay special attention to the permits:
- Check that the Camera app has access to the Camera, Microphone and Warehouse.
- Open Settings → Privacy → Special Access → Access to the camera and turn it off for unnecessary applications.
6.Reset camera and phone settings
If previous methods didn’t work, the next step is to reset the camera to factory settings, which will return all parameters (resolution, HDR, night mode) to default values, which often solves problems with freezes.
How to reset your camera settings:
- Open the Camera app.
- Tap on. ⚙️ «Settings» → «Restore the default settings».
- Confirm the action.
If that doesn't work, you'll have to do a full Hard Reset, which will delete all the data, so be sure to back up your phone via Mi Cloud or on your PC.
Instructions for discharge:
- Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select “Erase all data”.
- Enter your password (if required) and confirm.
⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) After the reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. Make sure you remember your login and password!
7. Hardware malfunctions: when to carry in the service
If the software methods didn't work, it's probably hardware, and here are the signs that the camera is physically out of order:
- 📸 Black screen when opening the camera (even after resetting).
- 🔍 Artifacts in the photo (stripes, blur, “broken” pixels).
- 💥 Hanging after falling/hitting or getting moisture.
- 🔊 Extraneous sounds (squeaking, crackling) when focusing.
Frequent hardware causes:
| Malfunction | Symptoms | Cost of repair (approximately) |
|---|---|---|
| Detachment of the camera plume | The camera works every time, freezes when the phone moves | 1 500–3 000 ₽ |
| Damage to the module (fall, moisture) | Black screen, artifacts, "failed to connect to camera" error | 3 000–8 000 ₽ (model) |
| ISP (image processing processor) malfunction | All cameras freeze, but the app itself opens. | 5 000–15 000 ₽ (Requires a replacement of the motherboard) |
What to do:
- 🛠️ You can try to reconnect the camera plume yourself (you need to disassemble the phone and experience).
- 🏥 The service will take 10-15 minutes to diagnose, and the average cost of repairing a camera is 2,000. ₽ (plume replacements up to 10,000 ₽ (plug-in).
⚠️ Warning: If the phone was in water, don't turn it on - it may cause a short circuit. SIM-card, battery (if possible) and take to the service.
8. Alternative solutions: GCam, custom firmware, ADB
If the camera is not working, you can try alternative methods:
1. Installation of Google Camera (GCam)
Many Xiaomi users are switching to GCam for better shooting quality, but this can also solve the problem of hanging. download a compatible version for your model (for example, GCam 8.4 by BSG is suitable for the Redmi Note 11 Pro+).
2. Custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
If MIUI bugs are the problem, custom firmware installation can help. However, it requires unlocking the bootloader and risks taking you out of warranty.
- 📱 Pixel Experience – Pure Android with GCam by default.
- 🔧 LineageOS - stable, but without branded features Xiaomi.
3.ADB Camera Reset Commands
If the camera freezes due to system conflicts, you can reset its settings via ADB:
adb shell pm clear com.android.camera
adb shell settings put global camera_hal_api 1To do this, you need Platform Tools and enabled USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
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Custom firmware and ADB-commands are extreme measures, they can lead to loss of warranty or "bricking" of the phone. Use only if other methods have not worked!