Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face a nasty situation: you shoot a big event in high resolution, the timer goes on, but suddenly the recording stops. The screen has a message that the maximum video size has been reached and the shooting stops. This is especially annoying when you were expecting to shoot a long concert, lecture or gameplay without interruption.
The problem is not with the camera malfunction, but with the software limitations of the file system or the features of the MIUI and HyperOS firmware. The system forcibly breaks the file into parts or stops the recording to prevent data corruption. In this article, we will discuss the technical reasons for the 4 GB limit and provide working methods for circumventing it.
Ignoring this error can result in the loss of some of the footage, as the last fragment is often not saved correctly. Understanding the nature of this limitation will allow you to set the device correctly and forget about recording interruptions at the most inopportune time.
Technical reasons for limiting file size
The main reason Xiaomi’s camera stops writing video is the FAT32 file system, which is the default formatting system used on many external drives and internal Android partitions to ensure maximum compatibility. However, FAT32 has a tough limitation: it does not support a creation file larger than 4 gigabytes.
When you shoot at 4K or even Full HD at a high bitrate, the file quickly gains weight. Once the size reaches the 4GB mark, the system can't physically write a single byte more into that container, and the camera takes this as a critical error and stops the process so as not to damage the filesheet.
The second reason may be software crutches of the MIUI shell itself. Developers sometimes implement artificial limits on the duration of writing (for example, 30 minutes) to prevent the processor from overheating or overflowing the memory buffer. In such cases, the error message may be incorrect, but the essence of the problem lies in the energy saving algorithms.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to forcefully resize a file system cluster without backing up can result in complete loss of memory card data.
Also, consider the speed of the drive, and if you use a cheap memory card with a low Class 10 or lower speed, the camera buffer overflows faster than the data can be written, and the system interprets this as a limit hit or a write error and interrupts the shooting.
File system verification and formatting
The first step in solving the problem is to diagnose the drive, so you need to make sure that the video is written to a partition that supports large files. For modern smartphones, the optimal format is exFAT, which is free of the limitations of FAT32 and supports files of huge sizes.
To check the current format, go to the storage settings. If your memory card is formatted in FAT32, it needs to be reformatted. Note that this operation will completely delete all data, so copy photos and documents to your computer or to the cloud in advance.
The formatting process takes only a couple of minutes, but requires care. Choose the right file system type to avoid repeating the size limit error. Some users prefer to use third-party utilities on a PC for deeper formatting.
Once formatted in exFAT, the 4GB limit disappears and the camera will write video until the free space runs out.If the phone doesn't offer to choose exFAT when formatting, you may need to use a computer.
Instructions for changing the format through the computer
If the built-in smartphone doesn't have an exFAT file system, you'll need a Windows computer, which is the most reliable way to fix the root of the problem. USB-cable for phone connection in file transfer mode.
Follow the following steps sequentially to change the data structure on the drive without losing compatibility with Android:
- 📂 Connect a memory card or phone to a computer and open "This computer».
- 💻 Find your device in the list of drives, right-click and select “Format».
- ⚙️ In the File System field, select exFAT (or NTFS, If exFAT is not available, exFAT is preferred).
- ▶️ Click “Start” and wait for the process to be completed, then return the card to your phone.
After this procedure, the phone will recognize the drive again, and now when you try to record long video in 4K, the error "reach the maximum size" should no longer appear.
☑️ Checklist of storage preparation
It’s important to note that some older phone models may not support exFAT reading out of the box, which may require installing a dedicated driver or using the phone’s internal memory, which is usually formatted correctly.
Restrictions through camera settings
Sometimes the problem is solved not by changing the file system, but by adjusting the shooting parameters. In the Camera app on Xiaomi, there are hidden or explicit settings that affect bitrate and recording duration.
Try changing the video resolution from 4K to 1080p or reducing the frame rate from 60 fps to 30 fps. This will reduce the data flow and the load on the memory controller. It is also worth turning off the “Accelerated Video” or “Slow-Speed Shooting” function if they are active, as they create specific file containers.
In some versions of the firmware, cleaning the camera app data helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Camera → Memory and press “Clean” This will reset the camera settings to factory settings, removing possible software glitches that cause a false limit message.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting camera settings will remove your custom presets, watermarks and framing grid settings.
If the standard camera app continues to malfunction, it makes sense to consider alternatives: Third-party apps often ignore the system limitations of MIUI and allow you to write video continuously.
Use of third-party applications for recording
When regular funds don't help, specialized Google Play apps come to the rescue, and they have their own codecs and write algorithms that don't depend on the system constraints of Xiaomi's shell, which is the most effective way for bloggers and those who need stability.
One of the best solutions is the Open Camera app, which is completely free, open source, and allows you to flexibly configure bitrate, audio codec and file limits. Open Camera settings can explicitly specify "No time limit" or "No size limit."
Other popular options include Footej Camera 2 and ProCam X. These apps provide professional control over shooting options.They can record MP4 or MKV video, breaking the file into pieces automatically and unobtrusively to the user if the limit is reached.
| Annex | Price. | 4K support | Bypassing the limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Camera | Free of charge. | Yes (depends on device) | Complete. |
| Footej Camera 2 | Freemium | Yes. | Automatic breakdown |
| ProCam X | Paid | Yes. | Customizable |
| Camera FV-5 | Paid | Yes. | Manual control |
Using third-party software also gives you access to manual ISO settings and shutter speeds during video recording, which is not available in the base camera of many Redmi models, which makes the smartphone a full-fledged tool for video shooting.
Why is Xiaomi’s built-in camera so limited?
Memory card problems and their solution
A poor or damaged memory card is a common cause of write errors. Even if the file system is correct (exFAT), physical wear and tear on memory cells or slow write speed can cause failures. When the buffer is overflowing, the system thinks that the place is over.
Check your card’s speed class. 4K video requires a minimum of UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and V30. If the card is marked Class 10 without additional labeling, it may not be able to handle the 4K data stream, causing a maximum file size error.
Also, try to remove the memory card and run the recording on the phone's internal memory. If the problem is gone, then it's the drive. Xiaomi's internal memory is usually fast and has no FAT32 restrictions, as it uses a f2fs or ext4 file system.
💡
Use only proven brands of memory cards (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston). Cheap AliExpress cards often have broken capacity and real recording speeds below the stated one, which guarantees errors when shooting videos.
Regularly check the health of the memory card with utilities like SD Insight or H2testw on your computer, which will help you identify hidden defects before you lose important frames.
Specifics of the H.264 and H.265 codecs
Modern Xiaomi smartphones use the H.265 codec (HEVC) by default to save space. It compresses video more efficiently but requires more processing power. Sometimes it is the switching between codecs or the encoder failure that causes the recording to stop.
Try changing the video format settings in the camera app. Go to the settings and find "Video Format" or "Code." Switching from "High Performance" (H.265) to "Highest Compatibility" (H.264) can stabilize the recording process, although files will take up more space.
The H.264 codec is less resource-intensive and works better with older file systems.If your phone warms up while shooting, it could also be a trigger for recording stoppage, which the system mistakenly labels as reaching a size limit.
⚠️ Note: When switching to codec H.264 The amount of space will increase by approximately 30-40%. Make sure you have enough free memory.
Newer versions of HyperOS have a Permanent Record option that automatically creates a new file when the current one reaches a limit without interrupting the shooting process visually.
💡
Changing the codec from H.265 to H.264 and using internal memory instead of a microSD card are the quickest ways to fix the recording interrupt error without losing quality.