Taking a photo on a Xiaomi smartphone is a matter of seconds, but figuring out how to flip it or rotate it 90/180 degrees sometimes turns into a quest. Especially if you first encountered a proprietary shell MIUI, where standard features are not always obvious. In this article, 5 proven ways to rotate the photo directly on the phone, including hidden features of the Xiaomi Gallery, built-in tools and third-party applications.
The problem with the orientation of the images occurs more often than it seems: photos automatically turn the wrong way, due to gyroscope errors, camera settings or bugs in MIUI. For example, after transferring photos from the iPhone to Xiaomi, pictures can be displayed upside down. We will discuss how to fix this without a computer and additional programs, and what to do if standard methods do not work.
At the end of the article, we have an FAQ with answers to frequent questions (for example, why the photo turns itself or how to keep the original orientation). If you are a user of the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or another model on MIUI 14, the instructions are also suitable for you: the gallery interface in the latest versions of the shell is unified.
1. Flip photo through the standard Xiaomi Gallery
The fastest way is to use the built-in tools of the MIUI Gallery. They are available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, regardless of the firmware version. Importantly, if you have a third-party gallery installed (for example, Google Photos), this method will not work – you need to open the standard application.
Step-by-step:
- Open the Gallery app (an icon with a flower on a white background).
- Find the right photo and tap it to open in full screen mode.
- At the bottom of the screen, click on the Edit button (pencil icon).
- In the tool menu, select Turn (circular arrow icon).
- Each click on the button turns the photo to 90.° clockwise, to flip 180.°, press twice.
- After adjusting, click Save (in the upper right corner).
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.5 for Redmi 9) the turn button is hidden in the optional menu. If it is not on the main toolbar, tap on three points (...) in the upper right corner of the edit screen.
Photo open in standard Xiaomi Gallery (not Google Photos)
The edit button is active (not gray)
MIUI version supports the turn tool (updated to MIUI 11 and later)
Photo not blocked (no lock icon in the corner)-->
2.Use the "Pruning" tool for mirror reflection
If you don't just rotate a photo, but mirror it (for example, to create a symmetrical image), there's a hidden feature in the Xiaomi Gallery. It works through the Pruning tool, but many users don't know about it.
How to make a mirror revolution:
- Open the photo in the Gallery and click Edit.
- Select the Trimming tool (icon with frame).
- At the bottom of the screen, you'll see additional buttons. Press the Mirror (two arrows pointing in different directions).
- Choose the axis of reflection: Horizontally (left to right) or Vertically (top to bottom).
- Save the changes.
This method is useful if you want to create a "reflection in water" effect or correct a photo taken through a mirror (for example, a selfie in the bathroom). EXIF-The photo (meta-information about the shooting) may be reset, and some programs will show it as “unturned».
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If after mirror reflection the photo looks too artificial, try to add a light filter "Portrait" in the same Gallery - it will smooth transitions.
3. Rotate through Google Photos (if Xiaomi Gallery is not working)
If the standard MIUI Gallery refuses to turn photos (for example, because of a bug in the firmware), you can use the alternative application Google Photos. It is preinstalled on many Xiaomi models (for example, POCO F4 or Xiaomi 13 Lite) and offers a more stable editing tool.
Instructions:
- Open Google Photos and find the image you want.
- Slip on the photo, then click on the icon Edit (pencil in the mug).
- In the lower menu, select Tools → Turn.
- Use the turn buttons or slider to manually adjust the angle.
- Click Save copy to avoid losing the original.
Google Photos has the advantage of being able to adjust the angle of rotation accurately (not just 90°), and also automatically correct perspective. However, keep in mind that when you save a photo, it will be compressed if you do not include the option to Save original quality in your settings.
Standard Gallery Xiaomi
Google Photo
Other (specify in the comments)
I don't know what I got.-->
4. Special applications for turning photos
If the built-in tools don't work, you can install third-party apps, and they offer advanced features: batch processing, patching. EXIF-Data, turn without loss of quality.-3 Proven programs for Xiaomi:
- 📱 Photo & Picture Resizer - allows you to rotate multiple photos at the same time, retains the original resolution. Supports formats JPEG, PNG, WEBP.
- 🔄 Rotate Image Fix – specializes in correcting the wrong orientation of the photo (useful for photos from iPhone or old cameras).
- 🎨 Snapseed is a professional Google editor with a tool called Turn and Perspective.
To turn the photo to Snapseed:
- Open the app and upload the photo.
- Select the Turning tool (icon with curved arrow).
- Use the slider to fine-tune the angle or 90° button left/right.
- Click Export and select the quality of preservation.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party apps, only allow access to photos and media, SMS geolocation is a sign of potentially dangerous software.
How to check the security of the application before installation?
5. Rotate the photo through the file manager (for experienced users)
Few people know, but some file managers for Android (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) can rotate images right in the preview window.
Instructions for Mi File Manager:
- Open Files (standard manager on Xiaomi)
- Go to the DCIM/Camera folder or the one where your photo is stored.
- Slip the file to open the preview.
- In the bottom panel, click on the Edit icon (pencil).
- Choose the Turn and apply the changes.
This method doesn’t work on all versions of MIUI, but it can help if the gallery is frozen or removed.The alternative is to use Solid Explorer with the Image Viewer plugin, which supports rotation and basic editing.
| Method | Suitable for | Keeps EXIF. | Package processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Gallery | MIUI 11 and newer | Yes. | No. |
| Google Photo | All models. | No (when compressed) | Yes. |
| Snapseed | Advanced editing | Yes. | No. |
| Photo Resizer | Packet turn | Yes. | Yes. |
| File manager | MIUI 12/13/14 | Yes. | No. |
Why the photo turns itself: causes and solutions
Sometimes photos on Xiaomi automatically turn without you being involved. EXIF-data (orientation meta-information) and display settings. Here are the main reasons and ways to fix it:
- 📸 Camera gyroscope: If you were shooting with your phone at an angle, the sensor might have misrecorded the orientation. Solution: manually rotate the photo in the gallery and save it.
- 🔄 iPhone portability: Photos from iPhone are often saved from EXIF-tagged Orientation=6 (turned 90)°). Solution: Use Rotate Image Fix to fix metadata.
- 🖥️ PC View: Some programs (e.g. Windows Photos) ignore EXIF Solution: Open the photo in Paint and save it again.
- 📱 bug MIUI: In the firmware MIUI 12.0.1-12.0.3 was a self-rotating error. Solution: upgrade to the latest version.
If the problem is recurring, check the camera settings:
- Open the camera. → press on ⚙️ Settings.
- Find the Autoturn or Orientation item and turn it off.
- Reboot the phone.
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If the photo is only rotated in certain applications (for example, in VK or Telegram), the problem is not with the phone, but with the algorithms of the social network. Try uploading the photo through the browser or editing it before sending it.