Mirror mode in the camera Xiaomi Redmi: a complete guide with settings and life hacks

Introduction: why you need a mirror mode in the camera of the smartphone

Have you ever taken a selfie on a Xiaomi Redmi and then wondered why the photo turned upside down compared to what you saw on the screen during the shooting? It's not a bug, but a feature of the camera's operation — and that's where SLR comes in, a feature that often goes unnoticed but can dramatically change your photography experience.

Mirror mode (or "mirror display") in the Xiaomi camera is an option that synchronizes the image on the screen with the final result. Without it, your selfie will appear as if you are looking in the mirror (left and right are swapped), and with the mode turned on, the way other people see you. But this is only the tip of the iceberg: the feature has nuances of work, depends on the smartphone model and even affects the quality of images in some scenarios.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔍 What is a mirror mode and how does it work technically?
• 📱 Which Redmi models have this feature (including old and new devices)
• ⚙️ Step-by-step instructions for switching on / off with interface pictures
• 📸 When is mirror mode useful and when is it best to avoid
• ⚠️ Common User Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

If you want your selfies to look natural or to keep a mirror aesthetic, this article is for you. In the end, we will answer the most frequent questions of Xiaomi Redmi users about mirror mode.

Mirror mode in the camera: a technical explanation

To understand how SLR works, you need to understand how your smartphone handles the image from the front camera. By default, most phones (including Xiaomi Redmi) show a mirror image on the screen — that is, the left and right sides are switched places. This is for convenience: when you look at the screen while shooting, your reflection behaves like a real mirror.

However, when saving a photo, the smartphone can:

• 📷 Keep the image as it is (mirror) – so the photo will look unnatural to an outside observer.
• 🔄 Automatically expand the picture (remove the mirror) – this is the “mirror mode” in the terminology of Xiaomi.

It's important to understand that mirror mode doesn't change the image on the screen during the shoot, it only determines how the photo will be saved in the gallery, so you will still see yourself in the mirror when you shoot, but the final shot will correspond to the real position of the objects.

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or Redmi 12) have a different DSLR mode, which turns off the DSLR at preview stage. This can be confusing, so always check the result in the gallery!

The feature is technically implemented at the software level of image processing. Xiaomi's camera algorithm analyzes the metadata of the image and rotates it horizontally if necessary (flip on the X axis). This does not affect the quality of the photo, but can slightly increase the time of saving the image on weak devices.

What models Xiaomi Redmi has a mirror mode

The function of mirror mode appeared in Xiaomi smartphones not immediately, and its availability depends on the firmware version. MIUI Below is a table with current information on popular devices (data for 2026):

If your model is not in the table, check for the function as follows:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to the front camera (selfie mode).
3. Touch the badge. ⚙️ (settings) or swipe the screen up to open the toolbar.
4. Look for an icon with two arrows ⇄ Or the inscription "Mirror display"/Mirror.

Important: On some firmware (e.g. custom or global versions) MIUI For Europe, the name of the function may be different – look for Flip selfie or Mirror image.

How to turn on or off mirror mode: step-by-step instructions

The activation process of the function depends on the smartphone model and version MIUI, But the general pattern looks like this:

Method 1: Quick camera settings (for new models)

This method works on Redmi Note 12, Redmi 12 and other devices with the same name. MIUI 14+:

1. Open the Camera app and switch to the front camera.
2. In the upper right corner of the screen, find the quick settings panel (images in the form of circles or squares).
3. Scroll to the left and find the icon with two arrows. ⇄ (This may be called Mirror or Mirror).
4. Touch the icon once – if it lights up, the mode is on.

Method 2: Additional settings (for older models)

On devices like the Redmi Note 11 Pro or Redmi 10 (if there is a feature), the path will be different:

1. Open the camera and go to selfie mode.
2. Push the gear. ⚙️ in the upper corner (or swipe up the screen).
3. In the settings menu, find the Front Camera or Selfie section.
4. Activate the mirror display switch or Save as mirror.
5. In some firmware, you need to restart the camera to make the changes take effect.

Note: If you don’t find a feature in a standard camera, try updating. MIUI Up to the latest version or install alternative camera software (e.g. GCam).

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On some Redmi models, the SLR resets after the phone is restarted. To avoid this, turn on the Save camera settings in additional settings.

When to use mirror mode and when not

Mirror mode is not a universal solution for all scenarios, but when it is really useful, and when it is better to turn it off:

✅ When to turn on mirror mode

• 📸 Selfies for social media: photos with mirrors turned off look more natural to viewers (for example, the text on the T-shirt will read correctly).
• 👗 Display of clothing or accessories: Without mirror mode, asymmetric patterns (such as prints or earrings) will be displayed incorrectly.
• 🎥 Video calls in Zoom/Teams. Many messengers automatically turn off mirror display, but in Xiaomi you can synchronize settings.
• 🖼️ Shooting documents or text. Without mirroring, text would be flipped, which is inconvenient for recognition.

❌ When to turn off mirror mode

• 💄 Applying makeup to a selfie, in a mirror image, it is easier to control symmetry (such as arrows or blushes).
• 🎭 Tiktok or streams. Many platforms deploy the video themselves, which can lead to double reflection.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Group selfies: mirror image can visually bring people together in photos that sometimes look better.
• 🎨 Art photography. Some photographers use mirroring to create unusual compositions.

On the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ SLR automatically turns off when shooting in Portrait or Night mode, since the image processing algorithms are optimized for "non-mirror" images.

⚠️ Warning: If you take a video in mirror mode and then upload it to Instagram Reels or TikTok, the platform may re-open the frame!

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Xiaomi Redmi users often experience problems with mirror mode, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

🔄 Problem: Mode turns on, but photos are saved unchanged

This is a mistake on devices with MIUI 13. The reason is a conflict between camera settings and system display parameters:

1. Go to Settings. → Screen. → Screen resolution and set a standard value (e.g, FHD+).
2. Open the camera, turn on mirror mode and restart the app (swipe it in the multitasking menu).
3. Take a test shot and check the result in the gallery.

📱 Problem: No mirror mode icon in settings

If the function is not in the interface, try:

• 🔧 Update MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → Updating the system.
• 📲 Install an alternative camera (e.g. Google Camera with Xiaomi support).
• 🔄 Reset camera settings: Camera settings → Restore the default settings.

🎥 Problem: Mirror mode works for photos, but not for videos

On most Redmi models, the mirror image in the video is disabled at the firmware level.

1. Take a video without mirror mode.
2. Use an editing app (like CapCut or InShot) to unfold the video horizontally.
3. Export the result with No Compression settings to avoid loss of quality.

Advice for the Redmi Note 11S: After the update MIUI DSLR is gone, try to roll back to the previous firmware version via Fastboot or contact the service center for flashing.

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Redmi with Snapdragon processor is more stable than on devices with MediaTek. MIUI.

Alternative ways to get a mirror image

If your Redmi model doesn’t support stock camera-level SLR, there are a few workarounds:

📱 Method 1: Third-party applications for the camera

Some alternative cameras offer flexible display settings:

• Google Camera (GCam): In the settings, find the Front camera mirror or Flip front camera. Works on most Redmis with support Camera2 API.
• Open Camera: Free, open source software. Mirror mode is included in Settings → Photo settings → Mirror front camera.
• Footage: Professional shooting application with manual display setting.

🖥️ Method 2: Editing after shooting

If the photo is already taken, it can be deployed in any graphics editor:

1. Open the photo in the Xiaomi Gallery.
2. Press Edit. → Pruning → Turn around.
3. Select the option to Reflect horizontally (the icon with two arrows) ⇄).
4. Save the changes (better in the new file so you don’t lose the original).

🤖 Method 3: Automation with Tasker

For advanced users: you can set up automatic unfolding of all selfies from the front camera:

Profile: New photo from the frontal


Condition: The path to the file [Contains /DCIM/Camera/]




Action: Execute shell command [cmd: magick input.jpg -flop output.jpg ]

You will need root rights or install Termux with ImageMagick.

Important: When using third-party cameras, SLR mode may conflict with features HDR Or Night Mode. Test your settings before an important shot!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)