Why is shooting with the screen off useful?
Modern Xiaomi smartphones allow you to shoot video even when the display is turned off, a feature that may seem unnecessary, but in fact solves several tasks. First, it saves battery power: the screen consumes up to 30% of energy when the camera is active. Second, discreteness – you can shoot invisibly for others, for example, at concerts or lectures. Third, reducing the heat of the device, which is especially important for models with powerful processors (Snapdr 8 Gen 2, Dimensity 9000+).
However, not all users know that this is possible. Moreover, depending on the Xiaomi model (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ vs POCO F5), the activation methods may differ, and in this article we will discuss all working methods, from standard settings to hidden commands through ADB.
Method 1: Using gestures in the Xiaomi camera
The easiest method is gesture activation, which works on most models with MIUI 12 and later, but requires pre-setting. Open the Camera app, go to Settings → Gestures, and turn on the "Gestural Video Shoot" option.
- 👆 Twice swipe up the screen and the recording will begin.
- 👇 Twice swipe down and the recording will stop.
- 🔄 To turn off the screen during shooting, press the power button (but don't lock the device!).
Important: On some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3), the gesture may conflict with system swipes, in which case, turn off full-screen gestures in the display settings.
Method 2: Google or XiaoAI Voice Assistant
If your Xiaomi supports voice control, you can start shooting without touching the screen.
- Activate OK, Google or XiaoAI in settings (Settings → Voice Assistant).
- Say, “OK Google, start recording video” or “XiaoAI, shoot video.”
- After the start of recording, block the screen with the power button - the shooting will continue.
⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) the voice assistant can ignore the camera commands.
Activate the voice assistant
Check access to microphone for the Camera app
Turn off Do Not Disturb mode.
Make sure the language of the voice commands matches the system-->
Method 3: ADB-Teams for Advanced Users
For Xiaomi owners with an unlocked bootloader or root rights, the method is available through ADB. It allows you to start shooting software even if the screen is off.
- 💻 Computer installed ADB and Xiaomi drivers.
- 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to unlock the developer menu).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
Connect your phone to your PC and do the following at the terminal:
adb shell am start -a android.media.action.VIDEO_CAMERA
adb shell input keyevent 27 # Record button (may be different!)
adb shell input keyevent 26 #Block screen⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 and later, input keyevent may not work due to security limitations:
Alternative ADB-script MIUI 14+
Method 4: Timer or stopwatch in the camera
A lesser known but working method is to use a delay timer. Open the Camera app, switch to video mode and:
- Click on the timer icon (⏱️) top-down.
- Choose a delay of 3 seconds or 10 seconds.
- Press the recording button and immediately block the screen - shooting will begin after counting.
This method is suitable for models without gestures or voice assistant, for example, Redmi 10A or POCO M4 Pro. The main disadvantage is that it is impossible to stop recording without unlocking the screen.
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If the timer doesn't work, check if the power saving mode is on. In Settings → Battery, add the Camera app to the exceptions.
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
Each method has its pros and cons. Below is a comparison table for quick selection:
| Method | Difficulty | It works on a locked screen. | Requires root/ADB | Suitable models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gestures | ⭐ | Yeah (after kickoff) | No. | MIUI 12+, except for the POCO F-series |
| Voice assistant | ⭐⭐ | Yes. | No. | All models with Google Assistant or XiaoAI |
| ADB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes. | Yes. | Any, but needs to be tuned. |
| Timer. | ⭐ | No (only after launch) | No. | All models. |
Critical information: On the Xiaomi 13T Pro and 14 Series, shooting with the screen off can be interrupted after 5 minutes due to battery optimization. To avoid this, turn off the Adaptive Battery in the developer settings.
Frequent problems and solutions
Even after setting it up correctly, users are faced with common errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔋 Video ends after 1-2 minutes: Enable Unlimited Background Activity for Camera app in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
- 🎥 Black screen when playing: This is a codec bug on some firmware. Install an alternative camera app, such as GCam or Open Camera.
- 🔊 Recording stops when blocked: Check if Extreme Energy Saving is on.
⚠️ Attention: MIUI Global version of some features may be limited in comparison to MIUI China.For example, on the Redmi Note 11 with global firmware, the camera gestures are unstable.
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If you're interrupted by overheating, use an external battery or cooling stand, and temperatures above 45°C force you to stop recording on most models.