How to scan documents on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways (with photos)

Scanning documents through Xiaomi’s smartphone has become an integral part of everyday tasks, from processing inquiries to sending contracts. Unlike traditional scanners, the brand’s phones offer instant photo-to-PDF conversion with perspective correction, text enhancement, and even OCR recognition. But how do you do it right so as not to get a blurred or skewed result?

In this article, we will analyze all the current methods – from built-in tools MIUI to specialized applications, compare them in quality and speed, and also reveal hidden settings of the Xiaomi camera that will improve scans on 30%. Particular attention will be paid to models with Leica optics (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or 14 Pro), where image processing algorithms work differently than on budget devices.

1. Built-in scanning in MIUI: where to look and how to use

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi’s firmware has its own scanning tool, the Document Mode in the Camera app, which automatically aligns perspective, removes shadows, and saves the result in PDF, but not everyone knows where to turn it on.

To activate the mode:

• 📷 Open the Camera app** on your Xiaomi.

The main advantage of this method is instant processing without third-party applications, but it has limitations:

⚠️ Warning: On Redmi Note 12 and older models, the default document is an 8MP resolution limit. To remove it, go to Camera Settings → Resolution → Maximum.

2.Scanning through Google Drive: Why it's better than a MIUI camera

If Xiaomi's built-in tool doesn't suit you, the alternative is Google Drive with Scan, which benefits by:

• 🔎 Text recognition (OCR) right in the cloud.
• 📁 Automatically upload scans to your Google storage.
• 🛠️ Ability to edit PDF after scanning (trimming, rotating, adding pages).

Step instructions:

1. Open the Google Drive app on your Xiaomi.

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If the scan turns dark, turn on the flashlight in Google Drive before shooting: tap the icon 🔦 in the upper right corner of the scan screen.

Google Drive has the advantage of integrating with other Google services, such as scanning text, which can be done immediately:

• 📋 Copy in Google Docs for editing.
• 📧 Send by mail via Gmail.
• 🗂️ Add to Google Tables as an attachment.

⚠️ Warning: When scanning passports or other IDs through Google Drive, turn off automatic upload to the cloud (set up in your account profile) to prevent data leakage when you hack your account.

3.Notes app: hidden scanner in Xiaomi

Few people know, but Xiaomi’s standard Notes app can also scan documents, a method that is convenient for quickly creating a PDF from multiple pages without installing additional programs.

How it works:

1. Open the Notes and create a new note.
2. Scan the icon + → Scan the document.
3. Take a photo of the page (the app will automatically trim the edges).
4. Repeat for the rest of the pages, then click Ready.
5. Select Save as PDF – the file will appear in the Notes/Scans folder.

Make sure the document is on a flat surface.

Turn on good lighting (avoid glare)

Turn off HDR in camera settings (may impair text clarity)

Check that Notes include saving in PDF (Settings → File retention)-->

The main advantage of this method is the ability to add pages to an existing PDF. For example, if you scanned a contract in two approaches, Notes will combine them into a single file. However, the quality of the scans here is worse than in Google Drive or specialized applications.

4 Third-Party Applications: CamScanner, Adobe Scan and Alternatives

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t do the job (e.g., scan a book on 100 pages or process color schemes), specialized applications will come to the rescue. We tested the top-3 solutions for Xiaomi:

For installation:

1. Download the app from Google Play (links: CamScanner, Adobe Scan).
2. Launch and allow access to the camera and storage.
3. Select Document Mode and follow the prompts on the screen.

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For Xiaomi models with Leica optics (13 Ultra, 14 Pro) in CamScanner, turn off the auto exposure and manually set the ISO to 100 – this will reduce the noise on the scans.

If you are scanning multi-page documents, CamScanner has a useful feature called Packet Mode:

• 📚 Take pictures of all the pages in a row.
• 🔄 The app will automatically align and trim them.
• 📎 Combine into one PDF and export.

5.Mi AI scanning: when it works better than standard methods

Mi AI, an artificial intelligence that not only recognizes objects, but also scans documents with improved processing, has appeared on devices with MIUI 14+.

• 📄 Handwriting (improving readability)
• 🎨 Color charts (retains original shades).
• 📜 Old documents (removes yellowness)

How to use:

1. Open the Camera and go to Mi AI mode.

Mi AI is particularly useful for scanning handwritten notes, converting them into printed text with an accuracy of 85 percent.

• ⚠️ Works only on flagships (Xiaomi 13/14 series, Mix Fold).
• ⚠️ Requires an internet connection for processing.
• ⚠️ Sometimes distorts small text (e.g., in contracts).

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If Mi AI is too blurry, turn off the Smart Improvement option in the camera settings before shooting (Mi AI → Additional).

6.How to improve the quality of the scan: 7 professional tips

Even the most advanced app can't save you if the original dokumenta photo is not done well. Follow these guidelines for the perfect result:

1. Lighting: Use two light sources from different sides to avoid shadows. On Xiaomi with AMOLED- screens (e.g., 13 Pro), you can turn on the white screen at maximum brightness as backlight.
2. Angle: Keep the camera strictly perpendicular to the document. In Document mode, MIUI has a grid-like hint.
3. Resolution: In the camera settings, set the aspect ratio: 4:3 and resolution: Maximum.
4. Focus: Slip the center of the document so that the camera focuses on the text, not the table.
5. Color profile: For black and white documents, select the C/B mode in the scan settings (saves space and improves contrast).
6. Stabilization: Use a delay timer (3 seconds) or headphone remote to avoid wiggling.
7. Post processing: After scanning, open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat and apply the Scan Cleanup filter.

For models with a telephoto camera (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro with 50x zoom), you can use the magnification to capture small details (prints, signatures).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even Xiaomi experienced users make scanning errors, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

• 🔴 Scan turned out to be curved: Enable the grid line option in the camera settings (helps align the document horizontally).
• 🔴 Text blurred: Check if Portrait or Night mode is on, they reduce the sharpness.
• 🔴 PDF weighs too much: In the scan settings, select Quality: Medium or convert to C/B.
• 🔴 Application does not save PDF: Give permission to access the storage (Settings → Applications → Permissions).
• 🔴 Scan with stripes: These are compression artifacts. In CamScanner, turn off Auto-Optimization.

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If you scan your passport or driver's license, always check the final PDF for artifacts. Some banks (such as Tinkoff) refuse to download documents with blurred edges.

So, you pay special attention to scanning bilateral documents, and many people forget to turn the page and take pictures of the back of the same file, which is chaos.

1. Scan the front side.
2. Save it as Page 1.
3. Turn the document over and scan the back as Page 2.
4. Combine it into one PDF.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions