How to take pictures at night on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Night photography on a smartphone has always been the lot of professional cameras with a large matrix, but modern flagships and even budget from Xiaomi have changed the rules of the game. Image processing algorithms have gone far ahead, allowing you to get bright and detailed shots even in almost complete darkness. However, to make the result really happy, it is not enough to just press the down button.

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often underestimate the capabilities of a standard camera application, relying solely on automatic settings. This is a mistake. Understanding the physics of the process and the ability to properly adjust exposure will allow you to squeeze the most out of your gadget's optical system.

In this article, we will explore all the nuances of creating masterpieces after sunset, you will learn what settings to change manually, how to avoid lubrication and why a tripod becomes your best friend at night.

Preparation of equipment and stabilization

The first and most important rule of night photography is that there is no vibration, and even the microscopic tremor of the hands, when held for a few seconds, will turn any landscape into a blurred spot, and a tripod is not just an accessory, it is a necessity for quality work.

If you don't have a professional tripod, use any fixed supports, such as a parapet, a book on the table, or lean your phone against the wall, and lock the device so that you can press the trigger button without touching the case when you're exposed.

For owners of Xiaomi with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, a great solution would be to use a smartwatch or another phone as a remote control via the MI Home app or third-party cameras, which completely eliminates the risk of concussion when you press the screen.

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Wipe the lens before shooting - greasy spots from the fingers in the counterlight of night lights turn into ugly glare that cannot be removed programmatically.

⚠️ Attention: Digital stabilization (EIS) In video mode, it often crops the frame and can give artifacts when shooting static night scenes.

Use of Night Mode (Night Mode)

The main tool in the photographer's arsenal is Night Mode, which is usually marked with the moon icon or in the "More" menu on Xiaomi's camera interface, and the principle of its work is to create a series of images with different exposures and then add them together.

When this mode is activated, the AI algorithms analyze the scene, identifying light sources and dark areas, and the camera takes multiple frames with different shutter speeds, storing the details in the lights and raising the brightness in the shadows, then combining them into a single image.

It is important not to move the camera during the entire shooting process, which can last from 2 to 10 seconds depending on the smartphone model.The flagship models of the Xiaomi 13/14 Ultra series cope with this almost instantly, whereas budget models take longer.

• 🌙 Turn on the mode manually when the automation does not work.
• ⏱️ Keep your phone still until the countdown is over.
• 🎚️ Use the exposure slider to correct brightness.
• 🔦 Turn off the flash for natural color.

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Night mode is effective only at absolute immobility of the smartphone at the time of shooting.

Manual settings in PRO mode

For those who want to have full control of the process, PRO (or manual mode) gives you access to the matrix settings, where you can set shutter speed, ISO and white balance yourself.

The key is shutter speed (S). For nighttime shooting, it usually ranges from 1/15 to a few seconds. The longer the shutter speed, the more light will hit the array, but the greater the risk of lubrication.

The ISO is responsible for sensor sensitivity. Try to keep it at the lowest possible level (ISO 50-100) to avoid digital noise. If the frame is too dark, it is better to increase shutter speed than to pick up the ISO.

Recommended starting values:


Exposure (S): 1/4 - 2 seconds




ISO: 50 - 100




White balance (WB): 3500K - 4500K

White balance also requires attention. Automation often miscalculates artificial lighting, making the frame yellow or blue. Adjust the temperature manually until the colors become natural.

Starry Sky and Milky Way

To capture stars, you won't need the usual settings, you'll need Starry Sky mode (if you have one in your model) or deep manual tuning, and the method is the longest shutter speed possible to accumulate light from dim objects.

Find a place far from the city lights. Even in the suburbs, the lights can "clog" the faint glow of the galaxy. Point the camera at the sky and fix the focus manually on infinity, with an MF slider, shifting the focus to the far right position.

You can set shutter speeds in manual mode for up to 30 seconds or use Bullb (B) mode, where the shutter is open while you hold your finger on the button. For such long exposures, a tripod is a must, like air.

Comparison of low light shooting modes

Different scenarios require different approaches, and here is a table that will help you quickly navigate the optimal mode for your situation.

Use this table as a base, but don't be afraid to experiment. Each Xiaomi model has its own noise processing features, so the optimal values may differ.

Image processing and post-processing

A picture taken at night rarely looks perfect right after being created. MIUI Third-party apps like Lightroom Mobile can unlock the potential RAW-file.

First of all, work with shadows and light. Raise Shadows to show details in dark areas, and lower Lights to return the texture to bright lights. Don't overdo it with contrast so you don't lose volume.

Noise reduction is an important step, but removing noise completely turns a photo into a soap. Leave a light grain, it adds photos of art and looks more natural than a smooth plastic surface.

⚠️ Note: When shooting in format RAW Make sure your device has enough free memory before a long photo shoot.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many beginners make the same mistakes when they try to shoot, and the most common is using digital zoom at night, and approximating the frame software just cuts and stretches the picture, killing the detail and making noise.

Another mistake is ignoring the light sources in the frame. Trying to capture a dark object against a bright lamp without compensating for exposure will cause the lamp to become a white spot and the object to remain a black silhouette. Focus on the middle tones.

At night, light lines (roads, rivers, buildings) become the main characters of the frame. Build a composition around them using the rule of thirds or symmetry.

• 🚫 Don't use digital zoom.
• 💡 Keep an eye on the balance of lights in the frame.
• 📱 Keep your phone horizontally for stability.
• 🔋 Watch the battery charge, the cold quickly discharges it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)