Have you ever tried to tweak your makeup or hairstyle with a smartphone screen, but couldn't find where on a Xiaomi phone to turn on the mirror mode? Turns out, in MIUI, this feature is not as obvious as the competition. Unlike an iPhone or Samsung, where the mirror mode is activated with a pair of taps, Xiaomi (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Mi 13) will have to either dig through the camera settings or use hidden gestures.
In this article, we will not only show you where the mirror is in the Xiaomi phone, but also reveal a unique way to turn it on through the engineering menu (even on locked models).
Why does Xiaomi not have a separate Mirror app?
Many users wonder why MIUI doesn't have a standard Mirror app like Huawei or Honor, because Xiaomi has integrated this feature directly into the Camera app, but hidden it behind non-obvious gestures or settings.
- 📱 Saving space on the menu: MIUI It aims to minimize the number of individual icons by combining functions into universal applications.
- 🔍 Focus on the camera: Since the mirror uses the front module, it is logical to embed it in the camera app.
- 🛠️ Flexibility of settings: B MIUI mirror mode can be customized (for example, disable image inversion), which is not available in individual applications.
But this approach creates confusion, for example, on Redmi 10, the mirror is turned on with a double tap across the screen in selfie mode, and on Mi 11 Ultra, through a swipe up in the Camera app, and then we will analyze all the methods for different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).
Method 1: Turning on the mirror through the Camera application (standard method)
It’s the easiest and most versatile way to do it, and works on 90% of Xiaomi models, including Redmi, POCO and Mi.
- Open the Camera app (the camera icon on the home screen).
- Switch to the front camera (slip on the icon “turn the camera” or swipe up/down – depending on the model).
- You'll be reflected on the screen. To capture the mirror mode, do one of these things: 👆 Double tap on the screen (on most models). 👉 Swipe up from the bottom edge (on the MIUI 13+). 🔄 Click on the mirror icon in the upper right corner (if any).
If the mirror does not turn on after double tap, check the camera settings: go to Settings → Additional → Gestures and activate the option Mirror mode.
☑️ Checking before switching on the mirror
Method 2: Secret gesture for quick access (powered by MIUI 12-14)
Few people know, but MIUI has a hidden gesture to instantly turn on the mirror even from a locked screen, which works on most models released after 2020:
- Wake up the screen (don't unlock!).
- Swipe your finger upwards twice on the black screen (as if you were trying to open the notification bar twice).
- If the gesture works, a mirror-image selfie mode will open.
⚠️ Note: This gesture may conflict with other features (e.g., starting Google Assistant).If it doesn't work, check your gesture settings in Settings → Lock screen → Gestures.
Why does the gesture not work on some models?
Method 3: Engineering menu (for advanced users)
If standard methods don’t work, you can turn on mirror mode via the engineering menu, which is suitable for models where the function is disabled by default (for example, on some firmware for the Redmi 9A or POCO M3).
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337## (this is the code for entering the CIT - Camera Imaging Test).
- In the menu that opens, select Front Camera.
- Slip on Mirror Mode and select Enable.
- Save the settings and restart the phone.
To disable image flipping, do the following:
- Open the camera → Settings (cogs) → Additional.
- Find the option Mirror Image or Mirror Image.
- Turn it off (the switch should turn grey).
If you don’t have this option, try:
- 🔧 Use the engineering menu (see Method 3).
- 📱 Install a third-party app (e.g. Mirror: Selfie Camera) where there is manual reflection setting.
💡
On the Xiaomi Mi 13 Ultra and Redmi Note 12 Pro+, the default reflection is NOT flipped – this is due to the improved image processing algorithm in HyperOS.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after you turn on the mirror, you're facing a problem, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The mirror doesn't turn on with a double tap. | Disabled gestures in camera settings | Enable camera settings → Gestures → Mirror mode |
| Image lagging or slowing down | Many background processes or a weak processor | Close all apps through Recent or use Lite mode in the camera settings |
| The mirror only works for 10 seconds and shuts down. | Power saving mode activated | Turn it off in Settings → Battery → Power saving mode |
| No sound when recording video in mirror mode | Microphone is off for camera | Check the permissions in Settings → Applications → Camera → Permissions → Microphone |
If none of these methods worked, it may be a problem with the firmware. On some custom ROMs (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the SLR mode may not work due to the lack of MIUI Camera drivers.