How to take photos on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Modern smartphones from Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO are equipped with cameras that can compete with professional technology, but only if you know how to unleash their potential. Standard shooting mode often hides the real capabilities of the sensor, relying on aggressive algorithmic HDR, which does not always give the desired result.

In this guide, we’ll break down the hidden features, pro-mode settings, and specific settings that will turn your shots from amateur to professional. You’ll learn how to manage exposure, focus, and white balance in the way experienced photographers do.

Basic settings for a perfect start

Before we go into complex experiments, we need to set the basic parameters right so that the camera works as efficiently as possible. In the settings menu, which opens with a swipe from right to left or through the menu button, the first thing to pay attention to is the resolution and the format of the save.

Many users leave settings by default, missing out on the opportunity to get pictures with maximum detail. For flagship models like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Xiaomi 14 Pro, it is critical to activate high-resolution mode if you plan to crop shots.

It's also worth checking the aspect ratio. The standard 4:3 uses the entire matrix area, whereas 16:9 or 9:16 simply crops the frame programmatically, lowering the final resolution. If you don't need a specific composition for social media right at the time of shooting, you'd better choose the full format.

• 📸 Enable the frame grid to follow the rule of thirds and align the horizon.
• 💾 Set the maximum available resolution for the main camera in the settings menu.
• 🔇 Turn off the shutter sound if you plan to do covert reporting.
• 🧹 Clean your lens with microfiber regularly before each important shot.

Remember that MIUI or the new HyperOS software is constantly updated and some menu items may change location.

We understand in Pro-mode (Manual settings)

The real magic starts when you switch to Pro mode, where you have complete control over exposure, focus and white balance, allowing you to create in challenging light conditions.

The first and most important parameter is shutter speed, denoted as T or S. By shortening the shutter speed to 1/1000 of a second or faster, you can “freeze” the movement, for example, capture a splash of water or a fast-moving child without lubricating.

Conversely, long exposures open doors to the world of night photography, so if you put your smartphone on a tripod and you set the shutter speed of a few seconds, you can draw with light or make water flow silky, but you have to remember that when you shutter long, the matrix gets very hot.

The second key is the sensitivity of the ISO sensor: the lower the value (for example, ISO 50 or 100), the cleaner and more detailed picture in good light. Raising the ISO to 1600 and above, you gain in brightness, but inevitably lose quality, getting digital noise.

Secrets of night photography and long exposure

Night photography on Xiaomi smartphones has gotten significantly better with the introduction of Night Mode algorithms, but the manual approach often gives a more predictable result.

Use the Night mode for hand-held photography, where the smartphone takes a series of shots and glues them together to remove noise, but if you have the option to put the phone on a stationary surface, you'd better switch to Pro mode.

Set a minimum ISO (usually 50 or 100) and select the shutter speed experimentally, following the histogram. The histogram shows the brightness distribution: if the graph is shifted to the left, the frame is underexposed, to the right - overexposed.

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For night shooting without a tripod, use a timer of 3 or 5 seconds, which will eliminate the micro-shaking that occurs when you press the down button.

When you're shooting light trails from cars or fireworks, the long shutter speed is your best friend. Try the values from 2 to 10 seconds. It's important not to move the phone during the entire exposure process.

• 🌃 Use the Night mode to capture people in low light without flashing.
• 🔭 To shoot the stars, turn on the mode "More» → «Long exposure» → «Starry sky».
• 🚫 Avoid using digital zoom at night as it critically reduces quality.
• 🔋 Night shooting quickly puts the battery down, so keep the power bank on hand.

Portrait mode and work with focus

Portrait mode on Xiaomi uses software blurring (bokeh), simulating the operation of high-speed optics. To achieve the best result, the distance to the object should be in the range of 0.5 to 2 meters.

Modern models with telephoto lenses, such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or the flagships of the Mi series, allow for a more natural bokeh thanks to the optical zoom of 2x or 3.2x. Digital approximation in portrait mode often gives artifacts along the contour.

You can adjust the blur in the portrait settings, and you don't have to twist it to the maximum, because it's often unnatural and plastic. The values f/2.8 - f/4.0 are usually the most realistic.

If the camera gets it wrong and blurs out part of the face or decoration, try changing the angle or lighting. The contrast background helps algorithms better separate the object from the background.

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The perfect portrait on Xiaomi is obtained using optical zoom 2x-3x and moderate background blur, rather than maximum values.

Video shooting: stabilization and formats

Xiaomi smartphones offer impressive video capabilities, including 4K and even 8K recording on top-end models, but the choice of format affects the availability of other features.

When 4K mode is turned on, electronic stabilization is often turned off or zoom becomes unavailable. If you are shooting dynamic videos, for example, on the run or in traffic, you should choose 1080p at 60 fps with stabilization enabled.

Slow motion mode is used to create slow motion videos, depending on the model, you can shoot at 120 or 240 frames per second, and on some models, 960 fps, which gives ultra-slow action.

Special attention should be paid to the Movie Frame mode or “Cinema Effect”, which adds black stripes on top and bottom, and also changes the color profile to a flatter one for subsequent color correction.

Hidden codes and additional functions

There are many hidden features in MIUI and HyperOS shells, accessible through special codes in the "caller," one of the most useful for photographers is the code for checking the camera.

By entering the code ##6484##, you'll be taken to the engineering menu, where you can check every camera module, flash and focus, which is useful if you notice the strange behavior of the lens.

Also worth mentioning is the Documents feature in More mode, which automatically aligns the perspective of the document being shot and removes shadows, making the text readable, which works faster and better than third-party scanners.

For fans of macro photography in the new models appeared a special mode "Macro", which switches to ultra-wide-angle camera with the ability to focus from a distance of 3-5 cm This opens the world of microphotography without additional equipment.

Table of comparison of shooting modes

To make it easier for you to navigate in multitude modes, we have prepared a comparative table of the main use cases.

Understanding the differences between these modes allows you to instantly switch between them depending on changing shooting conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Mastering these techniques will make your smartphone a powerful tool for creativity, and don't be afraid to experiment with settings, because digital negatives cost nothing and the result can exceed expectations.