Are you trying to take a picture of a small object up close, but Xiaomi's camera stubbornly refuses to focus? Or, conversely, you notice a flower icon on the screen but don't know how to use it? The macro shooting mode in the brandโs smartphones is often hidden in an unobvious way โ its location depends on the model, firmware version. MIUI In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can find and activate macros, and give you practical tips on how to get clear images from a minimum distance.
Itโs important to keep in mind that not all Xiaomi devices support this mode out of the box, such as the Redmi Note series budget models or the Redmi Note series. POCO They may require manual activation through camera settings or even third-party apps, and flagships like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offer advanced macro capabilities using additional lenses. We will look at options for all categories of devices โ from old models to new products in 2026.
1. Where to look for macro photography in a standard camera app
In most Xiaomi smartphones, the macro mode is integrated into the main Camera app, but its location varies, starting with the most obvious option: search on the main screen of the shoot.
Open the Camera app and carefully examine the lower panel with modes (usually a strip with the words Photo, Video, Portrait, etc (๐ธ) If you don't have one, swipe the panel to the left, and it's often hidden behind a swipe. MIUI 14+ You may need to press three points (โฎ) or arrow to expand a list of all available modes.
- ๐ฑ Models with a separate macro lens (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi Note 11 Pro)+): The icon appears automatically when the camera approaches the object (distance) ~5cm).
- ๐ Devices without a dedicated lens (e.g, POCO X5): The mode may be called Supermacro or Ultramacro and require manual activation.
- ๐ If there is no icon: try switching to the main camera (not telephoto!) โ macro often works only with wide-angle module.
Some of the new versions (especially older versions) MIUI 12 and below, macro mode can be hidden in the menu More (or additional) to find it:
- Open the Camera app.
- Touch the badge. โฎ (three points; or โก (three lines) in upper right corner.
- Select the option More or Additional modes.
- Scroll down the list, and Macro or Supermacro may be hiding.
2. How to enable macro shooting in camera settings
If the macro icon is not on the home screen, it can be activated through the camera app settings.This method works for most models, including Redmi. 10, POCO F4 and other devices MIUI 13/14.
Step instructions:
- Open the Camera app.
- Put it on the gear. โ๏ธ (three-line โก) in the upper right corner to open the settings.
- Go to Camera Modes (or Additional Features)
- Find Macro (or Supermacro) and move the slider to the position VL.
- Return to the cameraโs main screen โ now the macro icon should appear in the modes bar.
On some devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) may require an additional step: after you turn on the mode in the settings, you need to restart the camera app to make the changes take effect. Even after that, the icon is not โ check if the mode in the system settings is turned off (more about this below).
Is macro mode enabled in the camera settings?
Distance to object 3-7 cm
Good lighting (natural or ring lamp)
Camera switched to main module (not telephoto)
Digital zoom is off-->
3. Macroscopy through "Quick Settings" (for MIUI 14+)
In the latest versions of the firmware MIUI 14 and later, macro mode can be enabled directly from the Quick Settings panel, which is convenient if you switch between shooting modes often:
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar. Find the Camera icon (or tap on the app icon on the desktop) and hold it, the quick mode menu will open. If there's a Macro on the list, tap it to start shooting right away. If not, your model doesn't support this, and you need to use the standard camera app.
Note: on some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) In the quick settings, you only have the main Photo mode, and you have to manually turn on the macro, and that depends on optimizing the firmware for the specific model.
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If the macro picture suddenly disappeared after the update MIUI, Try resetting your camera settings: go to Settings โ Annexes โ Application management โ Camera. โ Warehouse โ Clear the data. It'll bring back the standard settings, but it'll remove the stored filters and settings.
4. Macroshooting on older Xiaomi models (MIUI 11 and below)
If you have a smartphone before 2020 (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 9, Redmi Note 8 Pro), the camera interface may be significantly different. MIUI The macro regime was often called Supermacro and was hidden deeper:
Go to the Camera app, then:
- Tap on. โฎ (three points) in upper right corner.
- Select Extra or More.
- In the list, find the Supermacro (maybe at the bottom).
- If there is no mode, check if the firmware is updated to the latest version (in older versions, the macro may not be available at all).
On some devices (for example, Xiaomi Mi). A3 With pure Android, macro capture is activated automatically when the camera approaches the object at a distance of 2-4 cm, while the notification Macro mode is on on appears on the screen. If there is no notification, try clearing the camera cache or updating the application via Google Play.
What to do if macro is not in the settings?
5. Macroshooting on Xiaomi flagships (12/13 series, Ultra-models)
Xiaomi flagship smartphones like Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Xiaomi 12S Ultras, equipped with a dedicated macro lens with an optical approximation, and it's not the mode here, it activates automatically when you shoot up close, but you can force it to turn on.
To manually switch to macro lens:
- Open the Camera app.
- At the top of the screen, find the icon. 0.6x (wide-angle lens - tap on it.
- If the device supports macro, a flower icon will appear (๐ธ) Macro's.
- Bring the camera to the object at a distance of 1-3 cm - focusing will happen automatically.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra has a unique feature Ultramacro with support for shooting in the format RAW And you can manually adjust the diaphragm to activate it:
- Go to Pro mode in the camera app.
- Select Macro's lens (badge) ๐ธ).
- Set the settings manually: set ISO on 100โ400, Exposure 1/100โ1/200, a Focus - on the minimum value.
| Smartphone model | Type of macro lens | Minimum focal length | Automatic switching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | Dedicated macro lens (50 MP) | 1cm | Yeah, on approach. |
| Xiaomi 12S Ultra | Macro + Telephoto (combined module) | 2cm | Yeah, with a 1 to 2 sec delay. |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Programming macro (main camera) | 3-5 cm | No, it requires manual activation. |
| POCO F5 Pro | Ultra-wide + macro | 2.5cm | Yeah, when you switch to 0.6x |
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On Xiaomi flagships, macro photography works best in format RAW โ It saves more detail in post-processing. Use applications like Lightroom Mobile to adjust exposure and sharpness.
6. Problems with macro photography and their solution
Even if you find macro mode, you can have a problem: the camera doesn't focus, the pictures are blurry or too dark, and let's look at the typical problems and how to fix them.
Problem 1: The camera doesn't switch to macro
- ๐ Reboot your smartphone โ sometimes it helps to reset temporary data.
- ๐ฑ Check if third-party themes or launchers are installed โ they may conflict with the camera.
- ๐ง Update the Camera app via Google Play (if itโs available for updates separately from firmware).
Problem 2: The photos are blurry.
- ๐ก Increase lighting -- macro photography requires a lot of light. Use a flashlight or an external source.
- ๐ Observe the minimum distance (usually 2-5 cm, see the table above).
- ๐ผ๏ธ Turn on Pro mode and manually set the focus to the minimum value.
Problem 3: Macro mode disappears after update
- ๐ฒ Reset your camera settings (see tip above).
- ๐ Reverse to the previous firmware version if the update made critical changes.
- ๐ง Write in support of Xiaomi through the application Feedback โ sometimes modes are returned after user complaints.
๐ก
If macro photography is not working properly, try using third-party apps like Macro Camera or Open Camera, which allow you to manually adjust focus and exposure, which is especially useful for older models.
โ ๏ธ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) may turn off macro shooting when shooting in format HEIF or when on HDR. Before shooting, check the save format in the camera settings: switch to JPEG steady-work.
7. Alternative ways to shoot macro on Xiaomi
If your model doesnโt support hardware-level macro photography, there are a few workarounds:
1. Use of macro nozzles
Nozzles are attached to the main camera and allow you to focus at a distance of 1-3 cm Cost - from 300 to 1500 โฝ. Popular brands: Xenvo, Apexel, Bluetooth, and the main plus: they work even on budget models like Redmi. 9C.
2. Manual focusing applications
Install Open Camera or Manual Camera from Google Play, which allows you to manually set your focal length to a minimum (e.g., 1.0) to simulate macro photography. Minus: requires experience in adjusting exposure and white balance.
Pro mode in a standard cell
Even without a dedicated macro mode, you can take a close-up picture:
- Open Pro mode in the Camera app.
- Install. MF (manual focusing on the minimum value.
- Reduce. ISO 100 to 200 to reduce noise.
- Use a timer or remote to avoid shaking.
โ ๏ธ Attention: When shooting macro with manual settings, turn off the car-HDR โ This mode can spoil detail at close ranges. Also avoid digital zoom, which only worsens quality.
8. Tips for Perfect Macro Shooting on Xiaomi
To get clear and detailed pictures, follow these guidelines:
- ๐ Lighting: Shooting in natural light gives better results. Avoid direct sun - use a diffuser (for example, a sheet of paper).
- ๐ Distance: Experiment with distance. On Xiaomi 13 Ultra optimal 1-2 cm, on budget models - 4-6 cm.
- ๐ผ๏ธ Stabilization: Use a tripod or put your hands on a hard surface. Even a slight tremor spoils the frame.
- โก Format: Shooting in RAW (if supported) allows correcting exposure and color balance during processing.
- ๐ Focus: Press the screen to manually select the focus point. In macro autofocus mode, it can be wrong.
For post-processing, use Snapseed or Lightroom:
- Increase your sharpness by 10-15%.
- Raise the shadows to work out the details.
- Reduce noise with the Denoise tool.
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The easiest way to improve macro pictures is to shoot in format. RAW+JPEG (This gives you flexibility when editing without loss of quality.