Why is Xiaomi’s camera not shooting as you expect?
You bought a new Xiaomi smartphone with a multi-megapixel camera, but the photos are dull, blurry or unrealistic colors? The problem is not the hardware — 90% of the quality of the picture depends on the right settings. Even budget models like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 are able to produce professional shots, if you know what parameters to adjust.
Manufacturer activates the default mode "AI-It's a camera that automatically adjusts exposure, contrast and saturation, which is convenient for beginners, but often results in overlit skies, blurred detail in the shade, or unnatural skin colors. In this article, we will discuss how to disable unnecessary “improvements”, configure manual settings and use hidden Xiaomi camera features for perfect photos.
Important: the instruction is suitable for all modern devices on MIUI 12-14, including the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra and mid-budget models Redmi Note 11 Pro+. Some points may differ for older versions of firmware (up to MIUI 11).
Basic camera settings: what to turn off first
Before you dive into manual modes, you should optimize the standard settings, many users do not even realize that half of the "problems" with the photo is solved by turning off unnecessary options in the camera menu.
Open the Camera app and tap the icon ⚙️ (The gear is in the upper right corner, and you're waiting for the key switches:
- 🔍 AI-camera -- turn it off if you don't like unnatural processing. Artificial intelligence often overstates saturation and smooths textures.
- 🌓 Automobile-HDR — It's useful for contrasting scenes (like a portrait against a bright window), but it can slow down.
- 📏 Grid – Enable the Rule of Thirds option for the correct composition.
- 🔄 Select 4:3 for maximum resolution or 16:9 for wide panoramas.
- 📱 Mirror display – turn off if selfies turn upside down".
Pay special attention to the item "Photo Resolution". In budget models (Redmi 10A, POCO M4 Pro) by default can be 9 MP instead of a maximum of 48-108 MP. Change this in the section "Additional" → "Resolution".
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12T Pro and new flagships when choosing the maximum resolution (200 MP) turns off the night mode and some effects. Use it only in good lighting.
Manual settings: exposure, white balance and focus
If the automatic mode fails, it's time to move to Pro mode (or "Professional" in Russian firmware), where you control every parameter of the shoot. How do you get there?
- Open the Camera app.
- Fly the shooting modes left to the "Pro" (or "M" on some models).
- At the bottom of the screen will appear a panel with sliders.
Let's analyze the key parameters:
| Parameter | What regulates | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| ISO | Light sensitivity | Daytime: 100–400Twilight: 800–1600Night: 3200+ (but expect noise) |
| Excerpt. | Shutter opening time | For static objects: 1/100–1/500 For night photography: 1/10–1" (use a tripod!) |
| White balance | Color temperature | Daylight: 5000–5500K Incandescent lamps: 2500–3000K |
| Focus | Sharpness of the object | For portraits: MF (manual) with a value of 1.5–2.0 For landscapes: AF (autofocus) |
Professional advice: if you shoot moving objects (children, animals), set a continuous shooting (multi-square icon in Pro mode), so you will take a series of frames and choose the best one.
Install a tripod or support for long exposure |
Check the battery level (Pro-mode consumes energy faster)|
Clean the lens of fingerprints |
Disable notifications so as not to interrupt the process-->
Night photography: how to take clear photos in the dark
Xiaomi cameras are famous for their night mode, but not everyone knows how to use it. The main mistake is to try to shoot with your hand in low light. Even optical stabilization (OIS) will not save you from lubricated frames at a shutter speed longer than 1/10.
The algorithm for the perfect night shot:
- Fix the smartphone on a tripod or hide in a stable surface.
- Open the "Night" mode (moon icon).
- Click on the screen to manually select the focus point.
- Wait for the label "Sustainable" - this means that the camera is ready to shoot.
- Press the down button and don’t touch the phone for 2-5 seconds (time depends on lighting).
For advanced users, MIUI 14 has the “Night Pro Mode” option (available on Xiaomi 13 Pro and 12S Ultra) that allows you to adjust ISO and shutter speed manually even in the dark. Try the ISO 1600 + shutter speed 2 combination for urban landscapes.
⚠️ Note: When shooting at night with the switch on AI-In the mode, the camera can artificially "lighten" the shadows, which will cause a lot of digital noise. AI natural-result.
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If your model doesn’t have a separate night mode, use Pro mode with settings: ISO 3200, shutter speed 1/4, white balance 4000K. The result will be almost the same!
Portrait Mode: How to Take Professional Selfies and Photos of People
Portrait mode (or Boque in some firmware) mimics the blurry background effect of DSLR cameras, but to make it work properly, you have to follow a few rules:
- 👤 The distance to the object is no closer than 1-1.5 meters, otherwise the camera will not be able to accurately separate the person from the background.
- 🌟 Lighting – avoid contrasting light (such as the sun behind your back) and it is better to shoot in shade or in diffuse light.
- 🔄 Shooting mode - for selfies, use the front camera with a resolution of at least 8 MP.
- 🎨 Bokeh effects – in the portrait mode settings, you can choose the blur style: “Natural”, “Studio” or “Soft".
The flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 2) have the "Portrait with Backlight" option, which adds virtual light sources for volumetric effect, to activate:
- Open Portrait mode.
- Slap the icon. ⚡ top-right.
- Choose the style of lighting: "Contour", "Monocromic" or "Studio".
On the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and later, the camera takes two shots with different settings and combines them to better detail the face. If this effect seems unnatural, turn it off in the camera settings (“Advanced” → “Portrait Improvement”).
Video Shooting: Settings for Cinematic Quality
Xiaomi cameras support video recording in resolutions up to 8K (on flagships), but by default it often costs 1080p.
- Open the Camera app and switch to Video mode.
- Slap the icon. ⚙️ and select "Video resolution".
- Set the maximum value available (e.g. 4K@30fps or 1080p@60fps).
For cinematic effect, include:
- 🎥 Stabilization – “Super Stabilization” option (available at WEB) POCO F4 GT newer).
- 🎬 Logarithmic profile – “Mi Log” (only for Xiaomi) 12S Ultra and 13 Pro: Allows you to adjust color flexibly in post-processing.
- 🔊 External microphone – if connected via USB-C Bluetooth.
Important: recording in 4K@60fps heats the processor and drains the battery. On Redmi and mid-range POCO (POCO X5 Pro, Redmi Note 12 Pro), limit yourself to 1080p@30fps for long shoots.
What to do if the video is “breaking” when recording?
Hidden features of the camera Xiaomi: what do not write in the instructions
There are some useful options hidden in MIUI firmware that are not on the surface.
- 📸 Double press the volume button - you can set a quick start of the camera even on a locked screen" → "Lock screen" → "Quick camera launch".
- 🔍 Macro mode on the main camera – on Xiaomi 12T Pro and 13 Lite main module supports focusing from a distance of 5 cm Enables a long tap on the object in the mode "Photo".
- 🎭 Cloning of objects – the function of “Double exposure” (available on flagships 2022-2023), allows you to combine two frames into one, for example, to shoot yourself against the background of your own silhouette.
- 📱 Shooting. RAW — In Pro mode, tap on the icon RAW (available on the Mi 11 Ultra, 12S Pro and newer. Files.DNG Weigh 20-40 MB, but give maximum data for editing.
Another little-known feature is Voice Camera Control, which allows you to take pictures with commands like Smile, Cheese or Light up, to include:
Settings → Additional → Voice Control → Select commandsThe feature works even when taking selfies with the front camera – convenient for group photos!
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Hidden features often depend on the firmware region. If a point is missing, upgrade MIUI to the latest version or switch to global firmware.
Post-processing: how to improve the photo directly on the phone
Even a perfectly shot can be perfected with Xiaomi's built-in editor, so open the photo in the gallery and tap "Edit." Here's what you need to fix:
- ⚖️ Exposure – lift the slider if the picture is too dark, but do not overdo it (noises will appear).
- 🎨 Saturation – Reduce by 10-15% for natural flowers.
- 🔺 Sharpness – Add 20–30% for clarity, but no more, or artifacts will appear.
- 🖼️ Cutting – use a 1:1 ratio for Instagram or 16:9 for covers.
For portraits, try the Blurring Background tool (circle icon) to correct the bokeh effect after the shot, and the AI Retouch feature (available on MIUI 13+) automatically smooths the skin and removes minor defects.
If the built-in editor isn't enough, install Google Photos or Snapseed. These apps support processing. RAW-Files and more tools for color correction.