Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often find themselves in a situation where the standard Camera app no longer meets their needs, which may be due to a desire to use more advanced photo processing algorithms, manual settings or specific features not available in the stockware. However, the system of Android on the shells of MIUI and HyperOS is designed in such a way that simply selecting another program from the list is not always the obvious way.
The problem with changing the main application for shooting is the deep integration of system services. When you press the camera call button from the lock screen or use voice commands, the device is guided to a rigid path. To redefine this priority, you need to perform a series of steps to clear the cache or reset system preferences. In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from simple switching to use. ADB-team.
It’s worth noting that installing third-party software like Google Camera or Open Camera doesn’t always automatically make them a priority, but you’ll need to follow the instructions to make sure the native app doesn’t exist when you do something, and here are some proven ways to do this for current firmware versions.
Why the system chooses a standard application
The architecture of the Android operating system assumes the presence of default handlers for basic actions. In the case of the camera, Xiaomi developers rigidly prescribe in the system files the priority of their application, this is done to ensure stability and fast loading of the shooting module in any conditions, even when there is a shortage of RAM.
When you first install a new photo program, the system may suggest that you choose the default, but users often miss this moment or click "Just now." QR-The system is not installed by the new application, but it continues to rely on the time-tested standard module.
Technical details of the work of Intent filters
In addition, many of the features of the shell, such as “In your pocket” or quick shooting from the off state, are tied exclusively to native software. So a complete replacement is not possible in all use cases, but to run from the app menu or through widgets is quite real.
- 📸 System priority is given to applications signed by the device developer.
- ⚙️ The Defult Apps store information about the user’s previous choices.
- 🔒 Some system calls are protected from redirection to third-party code.
Installation and preparation of a third-party annex
Before you try to change your system settings, you need to make sure that the alternative app is properly installed and has all the required permissions. Without this, any manipulation in the settings menu will be useless. Download the selected camera from the official Google Play store or a trusted source.
Once installed, take your time to start the program. First, go to your smartphone settings and find the application management section. You need to manually give the new software permissions to access the microphone, storage and, most importantly, the camera itself. Without these permissions, Android will not allow the application to run in the background or run on an external trigger.
☑️ Preparation of an alternative chamber
It is also important to check whether the new program is worth saving energy. Aggressive MIUI algorithms can kill the third-party camera process immediately after launch, which will be perceived by the user as a failure or a return to the standard interface.
Some advanced users prefer to use Google Camera ports (GCam), and it is critical for them to install the appropriate config file to keep the application running smoothly, and if the program crashes when it starts, the system will automatically switch to a backup option, the regular camera.
Changing the camera through default settings
The most legal and safe way to change priorities is to use the regular Android settings menu. However, in Xiaomi shells, the path to these settings can be hidden or different from pure Android. You will need care, since menu items can be called differently depending on the version of HyperOS or MIUI.
Go to the settings section, then select "Apps" and find "Default Settings" or "Default Apps." In the action list, find the Camera category. If the system allows you to change your selection, you will see a list of installed applications there. Choose the one you want.
However, it is often the case that this menu does not have the Camera option or the selection is inactive (locked in gray), which means that the current camera application has the status of a system and can not be replaced by a simple switch, in which case you need to force reset the settings of the current application, which will be discussed in the next section.
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If there is no Camera option in the Default Apps menu, try searching for settings to type the phrase “default” – this often opens a hidden action management menu.
Once you've successfully selected a new application, the system must remember this setting. Check it by trying to start shooting through a widget on the desktop or through a voice assistant. If the selected application opens, then the setup was successful.
Reset settings standard camera Xiaomi
If you can't make a direct choice, you use the opposite method, and we need to make the system forget that it has an app to shoot, so that the next time it asks you to choose a new one, we'll reset the settings of the standard Camera application.
Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps. Search the Camera (usually a lens-like logo) list and click on it and select Clear or Delete Data. Note: this action will reset all your user settings inside your native camera (filters, aspect ratio) but will not delete the photos you took.
Once you clear the data, go to the Default section inside the settings of the same app. If there's a Reset Default or Clear Silence button, click it, and this will break the link between the system calls and the native app.
⚠️ Warning: After the data reset is done when the native camera is first started (if it does start), you will need to re-accept the user agreement and adjust the basic parameters.
Now, try calling the camera in any way you want, and the system will give you a window asking, "What do you want to open?" and it will offer you a list of apps available. Select your new camera and hit "Always." From now on, the new choice will be given priority.
| Action. | Where to find out. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing the data | Settings → Applications → Camera → Clean | Resetting interface settings |
| Resetting silence | Settings → Applications → Camera → By default | Removing Start Priority |
| Disconnection (if available) | Settings → Applications → Camera → Disable | Complete launch ban (rarely) |
| Removal of updates | Settings → Applications → Camera → 3 points → Remove updates | Return to the factory version |
Using ADB to Force Change
For advanced users who are not helped by standard methods, there is a way through debugging over USB. Using the command line ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to directly interact with the package manager of the system and force you to change preferences.
First, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to About Phone and quickly click on MIUI version number 7 times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging USB." Connect your smartphone to your computer and open the ADB console.
To reset preferences for all apps at once (which often helps if a specific package is not defined), use the command:
adb shell pm reset-preferred-appsIf you know the exact name of your new camera package (e.g. com.google.android.GoogleCamera) and the activity name, you can try to establish it as preferred for certain purposes, but this requires a deep knowledge of the Android structure.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Unnecessarily freezing system packages can lead to a cyclic reboot of the device. Always have the opportunity to boot into Recovery at hand.
Once you've done the commands, restart the device, see if the behavior of the system has changed when you call the camera, a method that's particularly effective on older versions of Android, where the protection of system applications was weaker.
Features of working in HyperOS and new MIUI
With the release of the HyperOS shell, Xiaomi has strengthened security measures and integration of its own services. In new firmware versions (Android 14 and above), the ability to completely disable or replace the system camera through the standard menu can be completely blocked.
In such cases, the system ignores requests to change the default application for system calls (lock button, widgets).However, running through a shortcut on the desktop or a new camera widget must work correctly.
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On the new HyperOS firmware, full system camera interception may not be possible without root rights. The best solution is to use the new camera widgets on the home screen.
It’s also worth considering that the new image processing algorithms in Snapdragon and Dimensity chips are closely related to native camera drivers. Third-party applications may not have access to all matrix modules (such as an ultra-wide or TV camera) in full if the manufacturer does not provide open APIs.
If you upgrade to the latest version and the shift function is gone, it’s likely a security limitation, so you’ll have to rely on shortcuts or look for customized modules for Magisk if you have a bootloader unlocked.